Arkansas Gov Wants Changes
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From the Left
Arkansas governor cites his son while rejecting religious freedom bill. That says it all.
In his announcement Wednesday that he wouldn't sign a "religious freedom" bill that had reached his desk, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) offered a personal example of the contentiousness of the issue.
"My son Seth signed the petition asking me to veto the bill," he said.
Given Hutchinson's son's politics, that's not a big surprise. Seth Hutchinson is an organizer with the Texas State Employees Union and has been "a progressive since college days," according to this Arkansas Times story.
From the Right
Arkansas passes 'religious freedom' bill similar to new Indiana law, sparking more protests
Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday approved a religious-freedom bill similar to the one recently passed in Indiana that critics say creates the potential for businesses and others to legally discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation.
The state’s Republican-led House gave final approval to the bill, which prohibits the state and local governments from infringing on a person's religious beliefs without a "compelling" interest.
The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has said he will sign it into law.
From the Center
Arkansas Governor Calls for Changes to Religious-Freedom Bill
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday called for changes to a religious-freedom bill passed by the state’s legislature, after it sparked an outcry akin to the one that followed a similar law in Indiana from groups and companies who say it could be used to discriminate against gays and lesbians.
Mr. Hutchinson, a Republican, asked lawmakers to recall the bill at a news conference Wednesday morning, saying that its language must make clea
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