Several groups held a news conference in St. Louis today to criticize Sen. Roy Blunt's conscience amendment, which may be voted on in the next few weeks.

The groups wrote about the news conference in a press release.

Among them: A minister, a representative of the National Abortion Rights Action League, and the Communication Workers of America.

From the news release:

“Sen. Blunt’s amendment could have dire consequences for women all over Missouri,” said the event’s organizer, Julie Terbrock of the Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition. “The senator should protect guaranteed access to preventive health care, including birth control, for his constituents instead of leading the charge to give insurance companies and employers power to interfere in decisions that should stay between a woman and her physician.”

Critics say the Blunt amendment would allow any employer could cancel insurance coverage for employees if the employer has a "moral objection" to the coverage.

Blunt has defended the amendment as a restoration of employer rights that existed for decades. He says employers should not have to pay for coverage that they object to on the basis of religion or morality.