A bill would allow insurers to not pay for contraceptive services and abortions for religious reasons.

Rep. Mark Hilton, a Catawba County Republican, said he filed the bill after hearing from churches and other religious groups that provide insurance.

The state currently allows insurers to not include RU-486 and other so-called morning-after pills that provide emergency contraception.

The bill would extend that to "any drug or device that interferes with the development o an embryo after fertilization," which would include birth-control pills and other methods such as hormone injections.

It also includes a "conscience clause" that would allow businesses and insurance providers to avoid paying for contraception if it was against their "religious beliefs or moral convictions."

"They should have the discretion to decide what's covered," he said.

He said he did not have much hope that his bill would pass, though he thinks there's an outside chance it may get a hearing.

Planned Parenthood has announced its endorsements.

The Central North Carolina chapter of the reproductive health advocacy group has endorsed Barack Obama for president, Kay Hagan for U.S. Senate and Beverly Perdue for governor. All three are Democrats.

"It's simple. Barack Obama, Kay Hagan and Bev Perdue trust women to make personal reproductive health decisions without government intrusion," said Janet Colm, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Central North Carolina. "Their opponents do not."

The organization noted their support for comprehensive sex education, affordable birth control and expanded health coverage.