Pence received a "fix" from legislative leaders today. While the "fix" deals exclusively with the LBGT issue it leaves the Hobby Lobby/Citizens United/Reproductive Rights issue embedded in the bill. Note that citizens are not being included in the discussions.
Indiana Republican leaders are vetting a deal with key business leaders that grants protection for gay and lesbian residents from the state's controversial "religious freedom" law.
A copy of the language obtained by The Indianapolis Star was being presented to Gov. Mike Pence Wednesday morning. The measure would specify that the new religious freedom law cannot be used as a legal defense to discriminate against residents based on their sexual orientation.
Read the whole story at the Indianapolis Star:
Exclusive: 'Religious freedom' proposal with limited LGBT protections taken to Pence
There's more over the jump ...
House Minority Leader Scott Pelath said .... "There's a much simpler path if they're willing to accept it and that is to promptly repeal the law and have hearings resulting in passage of protections for everybody and that includes people based on their sexual orientation," he said. "To repair Indiana's image, you've got to get rid of it and you've got to decisively and understandably demonstrate that we're welcoming to everybody."
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On a separate but closely related note ...
Every time I think about those nuns in medieval habits grinning like Cheshire cats at Pence's secret signing ceremony, I wonder: why are they there? What do they have to gain by this bill?
There is a lot of chatter behind the scenes that this bill will also open the door (via the Hobby Lobby and Citizen's United decisions) to businesses refusing to provide contraception in the health insurance coverage they offer to their employees.
This would provide another avenue to chip away at Roe v Wade.
Is this another piece of the puzzle that needs to be exposed? Sooner rather than later?