Arkansas governor will not sign hate law, calls on legislature to make changes

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)

Hey there, public pressure can work on even the Republican governor of Arkansas. Or maybe it's the Walmart pressure that worked. In any case, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced late Wednesday morning that he will not sign the license-to-discriminate bill passed by his state's legislature. Instead, he called on the legislature to change the bill before sending it back for his signature.

"I've asked them to recall it and change the language," Hutchinson said at a news conference, a day after Arkansas legislators approved the measure; attempts during the legislative process to bar discrimination against gays and lesbians failed.

"Bill that is on my desk at the present time does not precisely mirror the federal law." Hutchison notes the use in private party lawsuits.
— @sarahposner

It wasn't just the general public and Arkansas businesses asking Hutchinson not to sign the bill:

Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson: "My son Seth signed the petition asking me to veto the bill." http://t.co/...
— @chrisgeidner

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence continues to defend his state's law that provoked the backlash that led Hutchinson to back away, but now Pence's defense looks that much worse. It's not yet clear how the Arkansas legislature will respond, though, so this story continues to bear watching.

1:11 PM PT: Ooh, good point:

A Dem oppo researcher points out: If AR Gov. Hutchinson doesn't veto RFRA legislation within 5 days, it becomes law without his signature.
— @PostReid