Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley and chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, offered this statement following today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that certain corporations may claim religious-freedom protections.

“For the second week in a row the court has found that the Obama administration overreached its authority. Today’s ruling confirms that Obamacare went too far, and strikes down the mandate that would force these employers to go against their religious convictions. It is good news for many people of faith.

“I’m glad a majority of the justices recognized that people are not required to automatically check their religious beliefs at the door simply because they choose to open a business.”