Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Gov. Jan Brewer has vetoed SB 1062.
She said Wednesday evening:
"Senate Bill 1062 does not address a specific and present concern related to religious liberty in Arizona. I have not heard of one example in Arizona where a business owner’s religious liberty has been violated.
The bill is broadly worded and could result in unintended and negative consequences.
After weighing all of the arguments, I vetoed Senate Bill 1062 moments ago.
To the supporters of the legislation, I want you to know that I understand that long-held norms about marriage and family are being challenged as never before.
Our society is undergoing many dramatic changes. However, I sincerely believe that Senate Bill 1062 has the potential to create more problems than it purports to solve.
It could divide Arizona in ways we cannot even imagine and no one would ever want.
Religious liberty is a core American and Arizona value, so is non-discrimination.
Going forward, let’s turn the ugliness of the debate over Senate Bill 1062 into a renewed search for greater respect and understanding among ALL Arizonans and Americans."
Earlier in the day, supporters and foes of SB 1062 descended on the Capitol to make their last-minute pitches for Jan Brewer to see things their way, and some local business people in the West Valley were hoping for a veto from the governor.
“We don’t agree with it (SB 1062). It makes no sense. Everyone is welcome in our business," said Pat McGurgan at New York West Bakery along Grand Avenue in Sun City.
“I’d be happy if it gets vetoed it shouldn’t be a law anyways,” said Thomas Moore Owner of Cornerstone Graphics in Peoria.
Terry Eldridge, doctor of chiropractic at Cactus Chiropractic in Peoria, said:
“I wouldn’t personally turn any one away. My philosophy is everybody deserves to be healthy no matter their race, religion or what their lifestyle is. I don’t discriminate. The way it would affect me is if businesses don’t move here. It could cut down on my business. Tourism could go down. I encourage her to veto that greatly. Not only for the personal lives of people but for the general economy for the whole state.”
At the Capitol, Sheila Kloefkorn, a member of the national board of the Human Rights Coalition dropped off boxes of petitions at the governor’s office asking for a veto - after showing them off to reporters. She said her organization believes SB 1062 would lead to more discrimination against gays.
Asked, however, about the fact it’s already legal to discriminate based on sexual orientation, Kloefkorn said that just proves the measure is not needed.
But Doug Napier, attorney and senior vice president for the Alliance Defending Freedom, took the same facts to reach a different conclusion. He said the measure has nothing to do with gay rights and everything to do with protecting religious freedom.
"We’re seeing growing hostility in America against people of faith,’’ Napier said. He said while courts have been good about protecting freedom of religion in a synagogue or church, that hasn’t extended to daily life.
"People don’t just live out their faith on Sundays or Saturdays,’’ he said. "They have to be protected throughout the week as well.’’
Amid all the media hoopla, the controversy claimed its first identified victim: the city of Phoenix.
The Hispanic National Bar Association announced Wednesday it was killing its scheduled 40th annual convention scheduled for the city for September 20154.
"As a national association of lawyers committed to promoting the ideals of equal protection, equal opportunity tolerance and inclusiveness, it is imperative that we speak up and take immediate action in the presence of injustice, said Miguel Pozo, the organization’s national president in a prepared statement. He said his board, which made the decision unanimously, classifies SB 1062 among "laws that return us to a darker time in the nation’s history.’’
The rest of the story:
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