Arkansas Senate Approves Religious Protection Bill [View all]

[LiberalArkie]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/arkansas-senate-approves-religious-protection-bill-29954966


Arkansas inched closer Friday toward becoming the second state this year to adopt a law that critics say would sanction discrimination against gays and lesbians, with the state Senate approving a religious protection bill.

The bill, approved by the Senate 24-7, prevents state and local government from taking any action that substantially burdens someone's religious beliefs unless a "compelling" interest is proven. The measure heads for a final vote next week in the House, which has already approved an initial version. The proposal faces an easy path forward, because Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson has said he'll sign it into law.

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Six of the Senate's 11 Democrats voted against the measure. Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, the governor's nephew and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was the only Republican to oppose the measure. Hutchinson and Democratic Sen. David Burnett both switched their votes to against after approving it in committee earlier this week.

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"I think there are instances where religious activities are over-regulated, but in my estimation that does not outweigh the chance that somebody uses religion to do what Jesus would not want to be done in his name, which is to discriminate against somebody and offend a brother or sister," Hutchinson said after the vote.