Today, Indiana state lawmakers are scrambling with how to handle the new RFRA law and the backlash against it. The state GOP leadership wants to clarify the law to say that it is not meant as a license to discriminate. The state Dems say that's not enough. They want the entire law repealed (Yes!) and the state's anti-discrimination laws updated to include protections for LGBT folks.
From Towleroad:
Republicans David Long (above left) and Brian Bosma (above right), the state legislature's senate president pro tempore and house speaker, respectively, insisted Monday that the law would not and was not intended to allow discrimination against anyone.
"It is not the intent of the law to discriminate against anyone and it will not be allowed to discriminate against anyone," Long said. "To the extent that we need to clarify through legislative action that this law does not and will not be allowed to discriminate against anyone, we plan to do just that."
The pair came out repeatedly hammering home that the law was not intended to and would not allow businesses to deny services to gay and lesbian individuals in Indiana, which Indiana's Republican Gov. Mike Pence repeatedly refused to say several times during an interview Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
From the state Dems:
Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane issued the following statement:
"Governor Mike Pence won’t say it, but we will: discrimination is wrong and should be illegal in our state. Republican leadership has utterly failed in the handling of this situation and our reputation as a welcoming state has been badly tarnished. Businesses are heading for the exits and everyday Hoosiers are fearful their neighbors will be subject to state-sanctioned discrimination. To quell these concerns we must send a strong signal. We do not condone discrimination: we do not tolerate discrimination: we won’t legislate discrimination. We need to take clear, actionable steps to repair the image of our state. To that end, Senate Democrats are ready to pursue a full repeal of this ‘license to discriminate’ and have drafted legislation to achieve just that. There’s no compromise when it comes to discrimination. This is a second chance and it’s precious. We owe it to every Hoosier to get this right. We can’t afford to forfeit a single job or drive out a single talented individual. We have a responsibility to every Hoosier. Nothing short of repealing this hateful act and setting out clear protections will accomplish this aim.”