Pence to support legislation to clarify Religious Freedom Restoration Act

cbs4indy.com ^ | 03/28/2015 | Rebecca Bennett

[GIdget2004]

After a day filled with protests and the announcement Angie’s List is halting its expansion plans, Gov. Mike Pence told the Indianapolis Star Saturday he will support legislation to “clarify” the Religious Freedom Restoration Act he signed into law Thursday.

“I support religious liberty, and I support this law,” Pence said in an exclusive interview with The Star, our newsgathering partner. “But we are in discussions with legislative leaders this weekend to see if there’s a way to clarify the intent of the law.”

Pence didn’t provide details on the exact language, but said he expects the legislation to be introduced into the General Assembly this coming week.

[Secret Agent Man]

I would assume the current law is perfectly clear, at least its intent is, and that Pence is looking to somehow backtrack.

[headstamp 2]

Here comes the big back off as usual.

[SoConPubbie]

What is it with these so-called conservative leaders that once they do the right thing, they don’t have the courage of their convictions?

Am I ready this wrong?

Was there anything wrong with the original bill he signed?

[Timber Rattler]

Pence going wobbly.

[headstamp 2]

My guess is he’s being hammered by business groups in private.

Its money over everything after all.

[Olog-hai]

We don’t need the Two Percent playing their games again.

[Lisbon1940]

Pence is good if he resigns.

[eekitsagreek]

Its money over everything after all.

Money trumps everything, pure and simple. How many politicians have been bought over the years? Even Christ himself was sold out for 30 pieces of silver.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

I assume that too, but it is being grossly misrepresented by its opponents and the media.

[Theodore R.]

This is what happened to that awful governor AZ has or had.

[Bronzy]

It is a tantrum. Let’s bully a possible presidential candidate. I hope the governor holds course. It is Alinsky in action.

[backwoods-engineer]

Time to "compromise!" Which means that Chicago liberals couldn't stand that neighboring Indiana passed a law that 19 other states (including my own Alabama) already have on the books, so these libs applied personal pressure to Pence and others, and now he's ready to back down.

Just my guess. Yours is as good as mine.

[Bronzy]

You mean if he resigns by demomrat protests. I want to keep Pence because that is why I voted for a constitutional republican.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

I thought of that too. Why go ape on Pence and Indiana when nineteen other states have similar laws, and there is a federal law to boot?

[Olog-hai]

Personal attack on Pence, sounds like to me; one of the few conservative GOP leaders left.

[Lisbon1940]

He can stay as the Governor or resign and have a chance to be Pesident.

[Teacher317]

The language of the law is pretty clear, and simple... it parrots the first clause of the First Amendment:

"a governmental entity may not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion".

THAT is what the LGBT folks are screaming about, and somehow getting every business in the country to make statements against.

We are truly in interesting times.

[Teacher317]

You are correct. See post 18.

The law says nothing more than "a governmental entity may not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion". That's it.

(Lots of legal mumbo jumbo accompanies it, but that is the one and only operative phrase... and it is even followed by the caveat that government CAN burden religious exercise if they have a compelling reason and do it in the least intrusive way possible.)

So millions of folks are being told to get angry about THAT.

[Amendment10]

"What is it with these so-called conservative leaders that once they do the right thing, they don’t have the courage of their convictions?"

I suspect that conservative politicians, as opposed to constitutional politicians (arguably sysonymous with unicorns), don’t know the Constitution any better than liberals do.