PHOENIX (CBS5) -
Arizona lawmakers are in the national spotlight over a proposed birth control bill that would allow employers to deny contraceptive coverage for religious reasons.
"The tea party politicians are engaging in an absolute assault on women's rights," said state Sen. Linda Lopez.
Lopez went on the offensive Wednesday with fellow Democrats by her side outside the state Capitol.
Democrats want to send a message that if Republicans are thinking about bringing back House Bill 2625, they should reconsider.
The bill would allow Arizona employers to deny birth control coverage on religious grounds.
"If it were truly about religious freedom, we would allow Christian scientists and Jehovah Witnesses to refuse to pay for coverage of life-saving blood transfusions for employers," said Lopez, "religious freedom means I get to choose whether or not to be religious and if so, how."
The bill has drawn complaints from women's groups across the country insisting that a woman should not have to explain why they are using contraception or have to provide personal medical information to her employer or representative with a health insurance company.
"What's even more disturbing is that this bill gives employers the right to fire women if they don't approve of how they are using birth control," said Rep. Katie Hobbs.
But the bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko of Glendale, disputes the Democrats' claims.
Lesko claims many of the news stories about her bill have been misleading, and her main objective is to give employers with a religious objection a way to opt out of a federal mandate to provide contraception.
"I am a woman, I would never do anything to hurt women's rights," said Lesko, "that is not what my bill does, it protects religious freedom which is guaranteed to use under the First Amendment."
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