BobbyJindal plans to issue an executive order enforcing intent of religious freedom bill

[TexasTowelie]

Gov. Bobby Jindal issued a statement Tuesday (May 19) saying he plans to issue an executive order to enforce the intent of a religious freedom bill that effectively died about two hours earlier, in the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee.

Read the full statement below:

"We are disappointed by the committee's action to return the Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act to the calendar. We will be issuing an Executive Order shortly that will accomplish the intent of HB 707 to prevent the state from discriminating against persons or entities with deeply held religious beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman.

"This Executive Order will prohibit the state from denying or revoking a tax exemption, tax deduction, contract, cooperative agreement, loan, professional license, certification, accreditation, or employment on the basis the person acts in accordance with a religious belief that marriage is between one man and one woman."

Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Bossier City, the sponsor of the religious freedom legislation, said he supports the executive order. Asked if he knew Jindal was issuing the order, Johnson said, "I had heard all sorts of rumors over the last few weeks."

Rep. Neil Abramson, D-New Orleans, chairman of the committee that returned Johnson's bill to the calendar Tuesday afternoon, did not know when the House convened around 2 p.m. that an order was issued. The hearing on the religious freedom bill ended shortly after noon.

A joint statement from Equality Louisiana, an LGBT rights group, and Louisiana Progress Action, says the proposed executive order would hurt the state's economy if it seeks to accomplish the same goals as Johnson's bill. The statement also attributed the move to the governor's presidential aspirations.

Read more: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/bobby_jindal_executive_order_r.html