Mike Pence is doubling- down in support of Indiana’s Religious freedom law and said the controversial legislation some deem as “anti-gay” in not going away any time soon. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act reportedly mirrors federal legislation signed into law by President Bill Clinton and was passed unanimously in Illinois when President Barack Obama was a state senator.
Opponents of Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s religious freedom law have stated that the mandate sets the stage for discrimination against members of the LGBT community. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest responded the Mike Pence camp, noting the 1993 era actions by Clinton and states which have passed similar laws over the year.
Josh Earnest had this to say about the Mike Pence comments and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
“If you have to go back two decades to try to justify something that you’re doing today, it may raise some questions about the wisdom of what you’re doing. It should be easy for leaders in this country to stand up and say that it is wrong to discriminate against people just because of who they love.”
Supporters of the religious freedom law endorsed by Mike Pence were quick to note that the Constitution is a lot older than a few decades and is routinely referenced by the Obama administration when executive orders are signed and used to guide legal decisions across the country every day.
Mike Pence called the massive amount of media coverage concerning the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as “shameless rhetoric.” The Indiana governor feels that the law protects First Amendment rights and religious freedom for all citizens.
“We’re not going to change the law, but if the general assembly in Indiana sends me a bill that adds a section that reiterates and amplifies and clarifies what the law really is and what it has been for the last 20 years, than I’m open to that,” Governor Pence said during and ABC News interview with George Stephanopoulos.
Stephanopoulos asked if a gay couple could now be legally turned away from a floral shop when seeking to purchase flower for their same-sex wedding in Indiana.
Mike Pence further explained the intend of the religious freedom law.
“The question here is if there is a government action or a law that an individual believes impinges on their religious liberty, they have the opportunity to go to court, just as the Religious Freedom and Reformation Act that Bill Clinton signed allowed them, to go to court and the court would evaluate the circumstance under the standards articulated in this act.”
What do you think of the comments made by Indiana Governor Mike Pence and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act?
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