Indiana Gov. Pence Poised To Sign Yet Another Controversial Anti-Gay Bill

[DonViejo]

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) is expected to sign into law a controversial "religious freedom bill" that would protect business owners from having to serve same-sex couples.

On Monday the Republican-controlled Indiana state House of Representatives passed the measure in a vote of 63-31, almost totally on party lines according to The Indianapolis Star.

Five Republicans sided with 26 Democrats in opposing the legislation. That vote follows the Indiana state Senate approving a very similar legislation in February. The bill was amended in the House, and returns to the Senate to be voted on again. If it passes, as it seems likely, the bill will then go to Pence for a signature or veto, according to Indiana's WISHTV. Pence has said he will sign the bill into law.

The Senate bill blocks state and local governments in Indiana from "substantially burdening" a person practicing their religion unless the government in question proves that it has both "a compelling interest," in the words of the Star, and is taking the least restrictive route.

Indiana has been a hotbed over the same-sex marriage issue. In 2013, an unusual alliance of corporate giants headquartered in Indiana and run by a Republican operative formed to fight efforts by state lawmakers to increase restrictions on gay marriage in the state.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pence-indiana-religious-freedom-bill

[Faux pas]

1. It amazes me that with

all the ings that need fixing in this country, all the rethugs can focus on is f-ing with people's basic human rights.

[OKNancy]

2. I'm sure many groups are getting their lawsuits ready

Too bad no Democrat did what a Democratic legislator did in Oklahoma... attach an amendment that made people publicly declare who they would discriminate against.

[DonViejo]

4. Exactly what I was thinking, OKNancy...

and given the ACLU was heavily involved in the Oklahoma maneuver, I gotta wonder; was the ACLU asleep or on vacation when this bill was being discussed and hearings were held about it?

I'm going to have to call my Republican leaning/married to a Republican sister, a resident of Indiana, to hassle her about the great forward looking state she lives in.

[NuclearDem]

3. Fuck Pence.

If anyone made me ashamed to be a Hoosier.