Some Texas lawmakers oppose changing religious objection law
AUSTIN—Texas lawmakers and top business leaders vowed Tuesday to kill two proposed constitutional amendments they say will promote anti-gay discrimination and could lead to backlash similar to recent reactions in Indiana and Arkansas.
Opponents say the proposals, sponsored by Republicans Rep. Matt Krause and Sen. Donna Campbell, would morph the business-friendly Lone Star State into a costly state for corporations and negatively affect tourism.
Texas’ Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1999 allows a Texas resident to sue state and local governments if he or she feels that a government entity is burdening their religious beliefs or practices. Lauded as “carefully crafted” by gay rights advocates, the act explicitly states it cannot be used to undermine federal or state civil rights or take precedence over local ordinances.
The proposed amendments do not explicitly say the law can’t be used to justify discrimination based on sexual orientation, mirroring the original language of the laws passed recently in Indiana and Arkansas that sparked boycotts and strong opposition. Those states’ Republican-controlled legislatures both revised their laws last week.
Krause said his proposed amendment would give constitutional strength to Texas’ law. It would also trump local laws, including cities’ nondiscrimination ordinances already in place, such as Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.
Dozens of states have similar religious freedom laws, largely modeled after a federal law enacted in 1993 with broad bipartisan support. Texas is one of 29 states that have no protections for gays and lesbians in nondiscrimination laws. Similar debates are going on in other statehouses, as Republican governors
in Michigan and North Dakota are urging lawmakers to extend anti-discrimination protections for gays.
Flanked by Democratic lawmakers at a news conference, Texas Association of Business’ Chief Executive Officer Bill Hammond called the GOP-backed
measures “misguided legislation.”
Dallas Democratic Rep. Rafael Anchia said that, like in Indiana and Arkansas, people in Texas are concerned about the economy. He added a bipartisan group of legislators “will stop this thing in the House.”