Do note that this is only a problem for CHRISTIANS. Muslims, who believe
in hanging or stoning for homosexuality, won't even be bothered.
David
"If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it
costs when it's free
"If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it
costs when it's free."*---P. J. O'Rourke*
On 2/21/2014 11:18 PM, [email protected] wrote:
*Arizona governor asked to nix bill angering gays*
(AP, February 21, 2014)
Phoenix âEUR" Four years after igniting a national uproar over
immigration, the Arizona Legislature has jumped into the battle over
gay rights with a piece of legislation that had opponents on Friday
predicting business boycotts against the state.
The legislation allows business owners with strongly held religious
beliefs to refuse service to gays, and all eyes are on Republican Gov.
Jan Brewer as she decides whether to sign the bill. A decision is
likely next week.
The conservative governor is already feeling pressure from the
business community to veto the bill passed late Thursday. A prominent
Phoenix group believes it would be another black eye for the state
that saw a national backlash over its 2010 immigration crackdown law,
SB1070. Opponents also pointed out that the legislation would serve as
a major distraction as Arizona prepares to host the Super Bowl next year.
But Brewer also will be heavily pressured to sign the bill by social
conservatives who backed it as a religious-rights bill.
Brewer, who is deeply religious but also pro-business, is caught
somewhere in the middle. She hasn't taken a public position on this bill.
Social conservatives and libertarian-minded members of the GOP believe
the legislation protects the First Amendment rights of business owners
who are expressing their religious beliefs.
The new legislation was passed over the shrill objections of Democrats
who said it was clearly designed to allow discrimination against gays.
All but three Republicans in the Legislature voted in favor of the bill.
Greater Phoenix Economic Council President and CEO Barry Broome urged
the governor to veto the bill and said four companies have already put
their plans to open facilities in Arizona on hold until they see if
the bill becomes law. The impact could mean the potential loss of
"thousands of jobs," Broome said.
In terms of wooing businesses, Broome said the bill is far more
damaging than SB1070 was.
"This is coming out of left field ... from a bunch of demagogues who
don't care about Arizona's future," Broome said. "I think the
political consequences are gonna be greater than people might think."
Republicans defended the proposal during two days of debate in the
House and Senate, saying the bill is only a "modest update" of the
state's existing religious freedom law, which mirrors existing federal
legislation. They frequently cited the case of a New Mexico
photographer who was sued after refusing to take wedding pictures of a
gay couple and said Arizona needs a law to protect people in the state
from heavy-handed actions by courts.
"The world's on its ear," said Rep. John Allen, R-Scottsdale, who
supported the bill. "It's alien to me that a business owner can't
reflect his faith in his business."
The bill allows any business, church or person to cite the law as a
defense in any action brought by the government or an individual
claiming discrimination. It also allows the business or person to seek
an injunction once they show their actions are based on a sincere
religious belief and the claim places a burden on the exercise of
their religion.
Arizona is one of several states with religious freedom laws on the
books, and the proposal in question would expand the act in ways that
supporters say do not amount to radical revisions.
The ultimate fate of the bill will be clear sometime next week. Brewer
will have five days after her office receives the bill to act, and it
likely won't reach her desk until Monday.
She did veto similar legislation last year, but that came during a
bill-signing moratorium she put in place while she battled to get
recalcitrant conservatives in the Legislature to pass a Medicaid
expansion. Still, the veto might be a hint that she won't go along
again. And she's knocked down other controversial bills, including a
2011 bill that would have required President Barack Obama and other
presidential candidates to prove their U.S. citizenship before their
names could appear on the state's ballot.
Rep. Demion Clinco, a Tucson Democrat who is openly gay, called the
bill "toxic" and said it will validate attacks on gays and lesbians.
"It actually creates some sort of credibility to be able to tell
someone 'I'm sorry, I can't serve you in my restaurant or my place of
business or provide you services because you're different or because
of your sexuality,'" Clinco said.
Josh Kredit, an attorney for the Center of Arizona Policy which helped
draft the legislation, said it wouldn't add any new substantive legal
rights for business owners.
"We are clarifying the protection we thought existed. We're not saying
you have carte blanche to do whatever you want," Kredit said.
Religious groups were split. Kredit's group is evangelical Christian,
and the Arizona Catholic Conference backs the bill. The Episcopal
Diocese of Arizona opposes it.
About 250 protesters gathered outside the state capitol Friday,
holding signs with messages such as "This is Ridiculous" and "What
About Love Thy Neighbor?" Another protest was planned in Tucson, where
a march to Brewer's southern Arizona office was planned.
Meanwhile, Republican Secretary of State Ken Bennett issued a
statement calling the bill "an unnecessary measure to protect a
God-given right already assured by the Constitution."
After hearing that the legislation was approved, Rocco DiGrazia, owner
of Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria in Tucson, put up a sign on a
window Thursday night that reads "We reserve the right to refuse
service to Arizona legislators."
DiGrazia calls the bill's approval "appalling."
DiGrazia, who grew up Catholic but doesn't follow any religion now,
said he cares more about dishing out pizza to customers âEUR" gay or
straight. He isn't sure if he'll follow what's on his sign.
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