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

[Airforceguy]

The senate passed it. Now it goes to Gov. Deal for a signature. The next week should be interesting to see whether or not Gov. Deal will veto the bill...
Republican lawmakers prepping religious liberty compromise | www.ajc.com

[fourthwarden]

So, taking bets, how long until this gets pulled up to the supreme court and stricken down as Unconstitutional?

Bonus bet, how much money will the state loose because of this bill, both in lost business and in legal fees defending it?

That's assuming it gets through Deal, though.

[magnetar]

I'm angry to see it pass but I'm not hopeless yet. Nathan Deal is a conservative, but he's also very pro-business and term-limited. The extreme fringe of the Republican party, who has been convinced by the media they consume that white Christians are the most discriminated-against segment of society, are not his base. Business leaders are his base. He's conservative, but he's not dumb. I think he'll veto it.

[-thomass]

Originally Posted by magnetar

I'm angry to see it pass but I'm not hopeless yet. Nathan Deal is a conservative, but he's also very pro-business and term-limited. The extreme fringe of the Republican party, who has been convinced by the media they consume that white Christians are the most discriminated-against segment of society, are not his base. Business leaders are his base. He's conservative, but he's not dumb. I think he'll veto it.

Even that loon, Erick Erickson, doesn't like Nathan deal anymore.

[Born 2 Roll]

I know that progressives (along with much of the big business community, particularly in Metro Atlanta) are not going to like this bill.

But for a state like Georgia with a deeply conservative and deeply religious electorate that has been increasingly anxious in recent years as same-sex marriage has been legalized nationwide, this bill is a good compromise (as good as it gets anyways).

The federal RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act) language that social and religious conservatives had been trying to push through the legislature for the past 3 years was passed as part of the bill but has the anti-discrimination language that Republican moderates and Democrats tried to add to the bill in the 2015 session.

[magnetar]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

this bill is a good compromise (as good as it gets anyways).

The federal RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act) language that social and religious conservatives had been trying to push through the legislature for the past 3 years was passed as part of the bill but has the anti-discrimination language that Republican moderates and Democrats tried to add to the bill in the 2015 session.

Can you find for me the anti-discrimination language you're talking about? Here is the text of the bill: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/157608.pdf

I've read it twice, and don't see any sort of anti-discrimination language. I don't believe that this is a compromise at all.

[fourthwarden]

Here is Govenor Deal's domestic contact page. Give him a shout against this bill.

[magnetar]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

Here is Govenor Deal's domestic contact page. Give him a shout against this bill.

You can also call and leave a message when his office opens tomorrow morning at 404-656-1776.

[toll_booth]

The single best thing Deal can do to the "religious liberty" bill is to veto it in its entirety.

Anything less than that and he is going to have a lot of explaining to do.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by magnetar

Can you find for me the anti-discrimination language you're talking about? Here is the text of the bill: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/157608.pdf

I've read it twice, and don't see any sort of anti-discrimination language.

The version of the bill that you linked to was the version of the bill that only has 157 lines and was passed by the Georgia Senate back in February (...the version of the bill where the Senate added the much more controversial FADA ("First Amendment Defense Act") to the less-controversial PPA ("Pastor Protection Act")).

This is the version that was passed on Wednesday night that has the 'anti-discrimination' language in it beginning on Line 211...
http://www.georgiapol.com/wp-content...-3.54-PM-1.pdf

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:
(1) Permit invidious discrimination on any grounds prohibited by federal or state law:

Originally Posted by magnetar

I don't believe that this is a compromise at all.

If you are against discrimination of any kind, you will likely most definitely NOT consider this a compromise....And it does not appear that the business community will consider this a compromise, either.

But if you are a member of the supermajority Republican caucus in the Georgia Legislature (particularly if you are one of the many members of the supermajority Republican legislative caucus who is facing a challenge from your ultraconservative right flank in the May primary) this is unfortunately what you would consider a compromise in a deeply conservative legislative body in a somewhat hostile climate in an election year.