Birth Control and Small Businesses

Today I attended a lecture by Scott Moscrip, founder of 10 companies, including Internet Truckstop, which holds the biggest share of its market in "matching up" Trucking companies with companies wanting to transport goods in the $3 Trillion trucking industry.

I really enjoyed hearing about his big break in entrepreneurship, which was in 1995 when he founded this online company, right as internet companies were taking off. Besides talking about his corporate jet he took to come speak to us so he could leave on his own time, he also brought up something that is going on right now in the U.S. government that I was not aware of.

Last month the Department of Health and Human Services ruled that all employers must provide free access to birth control for female workers. This has had a lot of opposition by the Catholic Church, since they do not want to be forced to pay for things against their moral beliefs.  President Obama gave an "accommodation" to religious institutions to force the insurance to pay for them, however, the Catholic Church in Washington D.C. is self-insured, meaning they would still have to pay the bill. This ruling is part of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, supports the ruling.

Scott Moscrip brought up an interesting perspective on this: he said it is just another impediment to entrepreneurs and small businesses. I can't imagine my employer having to ask me what birth control I would like so they can provide it/reimburse it! It seems to me that the government is just getting too involved in our personal lives. Overall, Scott Moscrip believes that the government's purpose in business is to prevent it from happening. I tend to think he's right. Maybe the government should stop using birth control on businesses.