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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMichigan Senate panel set to debate controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act
LANSING, MI — A Michigan Senate panel is set to debate — but not vote on — a controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act proposal Tuesday, the same day the state's gay marriage ban goes before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The hearing comes just weeks after Indiana approved a religious liberty bill that sparked national backlash and prompted a quick fix intended to quell fears that businesses would be able to discriminate against gay and lesbian customers.
"I think what happened in Indiana was a political assassination of Gov. (Mike) Pence," said Senate Judiciary Chairman Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, who scheduled the hearing and supports the bill. "He mentioned he might want to run for president, and I believe this was just all stirred up nonsense."
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has already made clear that he would veto the proposed Religious Freedom Restoration Act unless it was paired with an expansion of the state's anti-discrimination law to include protections for gay people.
While the Senate Republican caucus wants to debate the RFRA bill, it will not be moved out of committee at this time and there are no plans to take it up on the floor, according to Amber McCann, a spokesperson for Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof.
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http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/04/michigan_religious_freedom_res_1.html#incart_river
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Purveyor
(29,876 posts)LANSING, MI — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's blessing is likely the only thing standing in the way of legislation that would formally allow faith-based adoption agencies to decline working with gay parents on religious grounds.
A five-member panel on Wednesday advanced a House-approved package to the Senate floor, where Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof has already expressed a strong interest in the bills.
The votes may already be there for passage in the GOP-dominated Senate, but a spokesperson said earlier this week Meekhof won't rush action amidst ongoing talks with the administration.
"He wants to make sure that, ultimately, any thing that comes to the governor is signed by the governor," said spokeswoman Amber McCann.
Snyder, for his part, has not definitively stated whether he would sign or veto the bills. But he "has raised concerns" with earlier and current versions, spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said Thursday.
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http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/04/snyder_closely_reviewing_relig.html#incart_river
blkmusclmachine
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Initech
(100,081 posts)I wonder who is pushing this bullshit? 
