ARKANSAS CAVES TO ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAW

by BSU.com

Wednesday, under pressure from retailing giant Walmart and other businesses, Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson asked lawmakers to submit a revised version of the proposed religious freedom bill he had been poised to sign. The watered-down bill was presented Thursday, and Gov. Hutchinson signed it into law only half an hour later.

The original bill allowed citizens to claim the law’s protection in private lawsuits, and granted protections to corporations along with individuals and family businesses. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled, in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., that corporations can indeed hold religious beliefs and that these beliefs are protected under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, opponents of the Arkansas bill claimed that the provisions would encourage discrimination against gays and lesbians.

In the firestorm of controversy surrounding the proposed bill, many business leaders cancelled proposed travel to the state, and many more were vocal in their opposition. Among these was Walmart, whose corporate headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas. In the end, Gov. Hutchinson caved in to pressure and asked the legislature to amend the bill to be more in alignment with the federal RFRA.

While supporters of the bill feel that important protections have been stripped from it, opponents are calling for an executive order expressly forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation. In a CNN interview, Arkansas Senator Bart Hester defended the bill, saying it would mean Arkansas citizens “would not have to perform a message that they don’t agree with.”

Why It Matters
This matter makes it clear that religious freedom isn’t nearly as important as money. The language which guaranteed true religious freedom has been removed, leaving a toothless bill that only guarantees protections already in place at the federal level. The calls for an executive order are an attempt to pull the few remaining teeth this bill has, and trample the religious rights the bill was intended to ensure.

Take Action
Tell Gov. Hutchinson you’re disappointed that he chose money over freedom, and that you oppose any more changes through executive order:

Phone: 501-682-2345

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