Arizona Senate Passes Bill Allowing Discrimination On Basis Of Religious
Freedom

The Republican-controlled Arizona state Senate voted along party lines
Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 1062, a measure that would allow
businesses to reject service to any customer based on the owners’
religious beliefs.

The bill reads:

"Exercise of religion" means the PRACTICE OR OBSERVANCE OF
RELIGION, INCLUDING THE ability to act or refusal to act in a manner
substantially motivated by a religious belief whether or not the
exercise is compulsory or central to a larger system of religious belief.

Arizona Democrats, who argue the legislation is a way to legalize
discrimination against LGBT individuals, sponsored eight amendments in
an attempt to thwart the legislation -- all of which were rejected by
Senate Republicans.

"SB 1062 permits discrimination under the guise of religious freedom,"
state Senate Democratic Leader Anna Tovar said in a statement Wednesday.
"With the express consent of Republicans in this Legislature, many
Arizonans will find themselves members of a separate and unequal class
under this law because of their sexual orientation. This bill may also
open the door to discriminate based on race, familial status, religion,
sex, national origin, age or disability."

As testament to the bill’s mission, state Sen. Steve Yarbrough (R), one
of three lawmakers sponsoring the bill, cited a 2013 New Mexico Supreme
Court ruling that banned wedding photographers from refusing to shoot
same-sex ceremonies, according to the Associated Press.

"This bill is not about allowing discrimination," Yarbrough said during
a nearly two-hour debate on Wednesday. "This bill is about preventing
discrimination against people who are clearly living out their faith."

Arizona Sen. Steve Farley (D), another opponent of the controversial
bill, said the legislation could have a negative economic impact if it
became law.

"I think this bill makes a statement ... that we don't welcome people
here," Farley said. "This bill gets in the way, this bill sends the
wrong message around the country and around the world."

“I believe our economy is strengthened by different people, and
different backgrounds, and different beliefs, and different motivations,
coming in and working together in our economy to make this state and
this country stronger," he also said. "Discrimination hurts that. It
hurts that in so many different ways."

Similar religious liberty bills, which have popped up in response to a
series of federal court rulings overturning same-sex marriage bans, were
recently quashed in Idaho, Kansas, South Dakota and Tennessee.

Arizona’s SB 1062 now heads to the Republican-majority state House,
where it is expected to pass.

http://tinyurl.com/n8q8lca

- - - - - - - - - -

It's right-wing republican religious stupidity like this that will put
Hillary in the White House in 2016.

Imagine the fun when a group of Hasids or Sikhs whose plane has to land
in Arizona for an emergency is turned down by an Arizona innkeeper who
claims the visitors are an affront to his fundie christian religious
beliefs.

And where does such legislation rear its ugly head? In the stupid states.

On 2/21/2014 11:09 AM, F*O*A*D wrote:
Arizona Senate Passes Bill Allowing Discrimination On Basis Of Religious
Freedom

The Republican-controlled Arizona state Senate voted along party lines
Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 1062, a measure that would allow
businesses to reject service to any customer based on the owners’
religious beliefs.

The bill reads:

"Exercise of religion" means the PRACTICE OR OBSERVANCE OF
RELIGION, INCLUDING THE ability to act or refusal to act in a manner
substantially motivated by a religious belief whether or not the
exercise is compulsory or central to a larger system of religious belief.

Arizona Democrats, who argue the legislation is a way to legalize
discrimination against LGBT individuals, sponsored eight amendments in
an attempt to thwart the legislation -- all of which were rejected by
Senate Republicans.

"SB 1062 permits discrimination under the guise of religious freedom,"
state Senate Democratic Leader Anna Tovar said in a statement Wednesday.
"With the express consent of Republicans in this Legislature, many
Arizonans will find themselves members of a separate and unequal class
under this law because of their sexual orientation. This bill may also
open the door to discriminate based on race, familial status, religion,
sex, national origin, age or disability."

As testament to the bill’s mission, state Sen. Steve Yarbrough (R), one
of three lawmakers sponsoring the bill, cited a 2013 New Mexico Supreme
Court ruling that banned wedding photographers from refusing to shoot
same-sex ceremonies, according to the Associated Press.

"This bill is not about allowing discrimination," Yarbrough said during
a nearly two-hour debate on Wednesday. "This bill is about preventing
discrimination against people who are clearly living out their faith."

Arizona Sen. Steve Farley (D), another opponent of the controversial
bill, said the legislation could have a negative economic impact if it
became law.

"I think this bill makes a statement ... that we don't welcome people
here," Farley said. "This bill gets in the way, this bill sends the
wrong message around the country and around the world."

“I believe our economy is strengthened by different people, and
different backgrounds, and different beliefs, and different motivations,
coming in and working together in our economy to make this state and
this country stronger," he also said. "Discrimination hurts that. It
hurts that in so many different ways."

Similar religious liberty bills, which have popped up in response to a
series of federal court rulings overturning same-sex marriage bans, were
recently quashed in Idaho, Kansas, South Dakota and Tennessee.

Arizona’s SB 1062 now heads to the Republican-majority state House,
where it is expected to pass.

http://tinyurl.com/n8q8lca

- - - - - - - - - -

It's right-wing republican religious stupidity like this that will put
Hillary in the White House in 2016.

Imagine the fun when a group of Hasids or Sikhs whose plane has to land
in Arizona for an emergency is turned down by an Arizona innkeeper who
claims the visitors are an affront to his fundie christian religious
beliefs.

And where does such legislation rear its ugly head? In the stupid states.

Spend a little less time minding other peoples business and spend more
time trying to straighten out your own affairs. Just sayin.

On Fri, 21 Feb 2014 11:09:29 -0500, F*O*A*D wrote:

Absolutely nothing about the union corruption and malfeasance in this country...especially in the
schools.