Nathan Deal makes a forceful, biblical case against Georgia’s ‘religious liberty’ bill (Atlanta: to rent, safe)

[stillinthesouth]

Originally Posted by lorilove

I am equally confused - is this in addition to the current bill or instead of? Plus I don't understand how this solves a problem.

I'm hoping the updated news article will explain the bill's intent in non-legalese.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by lorilove

I am equally confused - is this in addition to the current bill or instead of? Plus I don't understand how this solves a problem.

None of these bills solve a problem. They are vehicles for politicians to express their anti-gay animus and disagreement with the Supreme Court.

[Airforceguy]

A decision may be coming soon...
Nathan Deal says he

[Mattie]

I'd like to see some more strenuous threats from NC companies right now, just to push Deal into making the right choice. Being "disappointed" isn't saying much.

Businesses Are Joining The Fight Against North Carolina's Anti-LGBT Law

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

It looks like the general assembly is trying to pass another "religious liberty" bill. This time for businesses..
Lawmakers to take up 11th hour 'religious liberty' bill | www.ajc.com

Originally Posted by Cameron H

I confess I don't get this one. It provides cause for employees to sue if they are harmed by a company's violation of its own non-discrimination policy, if that policy extends beyond state and federal nondiscrimination law?

Is this attempting to disincentivize companies from extending antidiscrimination protections to non-protected classes?

You lawyers, what's the deal here?

Originally Posted by lorilove

I am equally confused - is this in addition to the current bill or instead of? Plus I don't understand how this solves a problem.

Originally Posted by stillinthesouth

I'm hoping the updated news article will explain the bill's intent in non-legalese.

Originally Posted by atltechdude

None of these bills solve a problem. They are vehicles for politicians to express their anti-gay animus and disagreement with the Supreme Court.

atltechdude hit the nail right on the head...

None of these bills solve any real problem. These bills only play to fears of perceived problems while creating massive new real problems that damage the state's image and economy (and ultimately its quality-of-life).

The key part of the article that Airforceguy linked to about the new 11th hour religious liberty measure is this part right here:

As lawmakers, lobbyists and business groups began to digest the new HB 904, many were coming to the conclusion that it is designed as a shot across the bow of Georgia businesses.

This new bill (HB 904) is basically retaliation to the business community for so vocally and strongly opposing HB 757 (the Georgia Free Exercise Protection Act).

It appears that they are basically threatening to open the business community up to a massive amount of litigation concerning their own anti-discrimination clauses if they continue to so vocally oppose HB 757.

The social ultraconservatives in the Georgia Legislature are basically attempting to declare all-out war on the business community (the national business community) for its very vocal opposition to HB 757.

The legislature pulled a retaliatory move like this back in 2015 when they took away Delta Airlines' tax credit in retaliation for Delta CEO Richard Anderson's opposition to last year's effort to pass state Senator Josh McKoon's RFRA bill which was added to this year's Free Exercise Protection Act.

[Airforceguy]

It looks like the 11th hour "religious liberty" bill has failed. Thank God....
Lawmakers to take up 11th hour 'religious liberty' bill | www.ajc.com

[Born 2 Roll]

Here is more about the new religious liberty measure that the legislature is considering at the 11th hour...

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Our AJC colleagues Aaron Gould Sheinin and Kristina Torres broke the story tonight about the late arriving “religious liberty” measure that is the talk of the Capitol.

HB 904 seems less of a potential fix to address concerns expressed by critics of HB 757, the bill sent to the governor last week, intended to offer legal shelter to opponents of same-sex marriage.

Rather, the bill appears to be punishment for one class of HB 757 critics — specifically, the Georgia business community.

The bill appears to make it easier for individuals to launch expensive class action suits — which Republicans in the General Assembly have historically opposed — against corporations with anti-discrimination policies that go beyond what is required by federal and state law. Specifically, LGBT protections.

Critics are already describing House Bill 904 as a shot across the bow at the industry groups that have maligned the Legislature for passing the “religious liberty” legislation. “It’s payback time,” said one influential lobbyist.

Here’s a copy of the bill. Let us know what you think.

But let us leave you with this thought: Revenge is usually sought after a cause is lost, and not before. You have to wonder the forces behind this legislation know something about Gov. Nathan Deal’s mind that we don’t.

"Latest entry in ‘religious liberty’ fight takes aim at business" (AJC/Political Insider)
Latest entry in ‘religious liberty’ fight takes aim at business* | Political Insider blog

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by Cameron H

"Sine die" refers to the final day the legislature is in session.

Originally Posted by stillinthesouth

Which is today, right?

Originally Posted by Cameron H

Yep.

THANKFULLY (and MERCIFULLY) today is the last day of the 2016 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly (a gathering that should otherwise be known as the annual "Georgia Demolition Derby").

This group has done more than enough damage to this state's image, reputation and long-term economic health and well-being in just one legislative session to last a lifetime.

[stillinthesouth]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

THANKFULLY (and MERCIFULLY) today is the last day of the 2016 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly (a gathering that should otherwise be known as the annual "Georgia Demolition Derby").

This group has done more than enough damage to this state's image, reputation and long-term economic health and well-being in just one legislative session to last a lifetime.

I think we all might have grounds for a class-action lawsuit for the pain and suffering they've caused us!

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by stillinthesouth

Ah, I think you meant Sunday... took me a moment (that was a strange autocorrect!)

It would be nice if he made it his first act of the day to veto that bill, but I'm betting he'll test the political waters a while longer before making a decision.

I am hopeful (but not certain) that Governor Deal will veto the bill. If he does decide to veto the bill he may take some time to make it appear to the supporters of this bill (who are an extremely powerful faction, much more powerful than might appear and many might seem to think) that he is giving very careful thought and consideration to their viewpoint and not vowing to pressure from (or selling out to) outside groups....Which is what the supporters of HB 757 will most certainly allege if Governor Deal vetoes the bill....That Deal sold out them and the state out to outside big business and LGBTQ interests.

Though, I do fear the possibility that the business community may potentially be overplaying its hand and forcing to Deal to think that he needs to appear to the supporters of this bill (who currently dominate the Georgia electorate) as if he is standing up to outside pressure by signing this bill into law.

The factions who oppose this bill have to keep in mind that the pressure on Deal to sign this bill into law is just as intense from the supporters of this bill as it is from the people who oppose this bill.

Numerous conservative interest groups are running robocalls and applying extremely intense pressure to the governor to sign this bill into law....So people who oppose and dislike this bill and view it as being catastrophically damaging to the state's image, reputation and economy have to be prepared for the possibility that the governor may potentially sign the bill into law despite the obvious and growing economic costs.