Indiana governor stands behind religious ‘ burden’ law
Indiana’s governor defended the new state law that’s garnered widespread criticism over concerns it could foster discrimination against gays and said Sunday it wasn’t a mistake to have enacted it.
Gov. Mike Pence appeared on ABC- TV’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos to discuss the measure he signed last week prohibiting state laws that “substantially burden” a person’s ability to follow his or her religious beliefs. The definition of “person” includes religious institutions, businesses and associations.
Some national gay- rights groups say it’s a way for lawmakers in Indiana and other states where such bills have been proposed this year to essentially grant a state- sanctioned waiver for discrimination against gays and lesbians as the U. S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments next month over the constitutionality of same- sex marriage.
Supporters of the law, including Pence, contend discrimination claims are overblown and insist it will keep the government from compelling people to provide services they find objectionable on religious grounds. They also maintain courts haven’t allowed discrimination under similar laws covering the federal government and 19 other states. Arkansas is poised to follow in Indiana’s footsteps, with a final vote expected next week in the state House on legislation that Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson has said he’ll sign.
Since Pence signed the bill into law Thursday, Indiana has been widely criticized by businesses and organizations around the U. S., as well as on social media with the hashtag # boycottindiana. Already, consumer review service Angie’s List has said it will suspend a planned expansion in Indianapolis because of the new law.
Pence, a Republican, did not answer directly when asked six times whether under the law it would be legal for a merchant to refuse to serve gay customers.
“This is not about discrimination, this is about empowering people to confront government overreach,” he said. Sexual orientation is not covered under Indiana’s civil rights law. Pence has said he “won’t be pursuing that.”
Pence told the Indianapolis Star on Saturday that he was in discussions with legislative leaders over the weekend and expects a clarification bill to be introduced in the coming week.
He was adamant that the measure, slated to take effect in July, will stick. “We’re not going to change this law,” Pence said.
Josh Earnest, President Barack Obama’s spokesman, appeared on This Week just after Pence, and said the debate isn’t a political argument.
“If you have to go back two decades to try to justify what you’re doing today, it may raise questions,” Earnest said, referring to the 1993 federal law Pence brought up. He added that Pence “is in damagecontrol mode this morning and he’s got some damage to fix.”
State Rep. Ed DeLaney, an Indianapolis Democrat, told a large, boisterous crowd outside the Statehouse Saturday to protest the law that it creates “a road map, a path to discrimination.”
Pence addressed critics Sunday, saying: “This avalanche of intolerance that’s been poured on our state is just outrageous.” Asked if he would be willing to add sexual orientation to the list of characteristics against which discrimination is illegal, he said, “I will not push for that. That’s not on my agenda, and that’s not been an objective of the people of the state of Indiana.”