Free Republic

A bill that would allow businesses to refuse service to customers based on personal, religious beliefs is now on the desk of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, as protests continue. The state legislature passed the bill late Thursday, but not without a fiery debate. "This is simply protecting religious freedom that is recognized and defended and supported in the First Amendment that the founders wanted, nothing else," said Republican Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, who sponsored the bill. "There's only type of equality," said House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, a Democrat. "And it's equal." Brewer, a Republican, vetoed a similar bill last year...

A bill significantly curtailing local eminent domain powers was approved Thursday by a legislative panel. The Arizona House Committee on Federal Mandates and Property approved the legislation by a 6-3 vote. The proposal, sponsored by House Majority Leader Eddie Farnsworth, allows localities to only take slum or blighted properties. Current law allows local governments to take properties for redevelopment purposes. The bill would also make local governments hold onto those properties for 10 years before selling or leasing them to the private sector. GOP leader Farnsworth says the bill is about protecting property rights from overzealous government powers. Eminent...