Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, March 24, 2015
(STATEHOUSE) - The debate over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is now over. The Indiana House of Representatives overwhelmingly endorsed the bill in a 63-31 vote Monday afternoon.
It now goes back to the Senate to make sure everybody agrees with some changes. Then it heads to the governor's desk for his signature.
Governor Mike Pence says he is looking forward to signing the bill into law, but not everyone is happy about that.
Angie Alexander brought along her two children to help deliver 10,000 letters of protest against the bill. Her daughter, Patience Alexander, lived up to her name and showed great patience at the Indiana Statehouse Monday. She pulled her own weight and then some in a little red wagon. That wagon was full of letters from Hoosiers against the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
"Because I wanted to pull it," Patience told us outside the Speaker's office.
"With our having two children it's important to have the freedom everyone else has to in and out of establishments and not have to worry about being turned away and having to explain that to my five year old," Angie Alexander explained afterwards.
But lawmakers passed the bill they say is modeled after the federal religious freedom bill passed in 1993.
"It is absolutely not the case that is provides license to discriminate. This provides a framework for the courts to work within and this assures every single person in the US who has a religious belief gets the opportunity to practice those beliefs," State Representative Jud McMillin (R) from Brookville said on the floor of the House Monday.
State Representative Ed Delaney, a Democrat, fired back at Republicans who spoke earlier.
"There seems to be some confusion that conducting a commercial transaction constitutes a blessing. My profit had dinner with hookers......Was he blessing them? I hope he was," Delaney retorted.
Even those Hoosiers who showed up early to deliver those letters anticipated lawmakers would pass it, which they did, 63-31. But that didn't stop them from coming and it won't stop them as the leave.
"We have to press forward as best we can. Continue fighting at home. Maybe start our own business. Find different ways to cope in our community," Cynthia Alexander, who is also Patience's mother and Angie's partner, added.
"We will not let this bill stop us from living and living freely," Angie added.
"We want to be able to practice our faith, even in our businesses, in our homes, in our churches without fear of being prosecuted," said Cindy Holmes, a supporter of the legislation. "We hear stories all over the country where bakers and florists are losing their businesses and homes just because they wanted to practice their own faith."
"I'm a woman. I'm an African-American. I'm also a member of the LGBT community," said Whittney Murphy in opposition to the bill. "So, if I walk up to a store and there's a sign that says no LGBT people, I remember reading and learning in history that there were signs that said no AA and that was based off religion as well."
Governor Mike Pence issued a statement Monday saying, "The legislation SB 101 is about respecting and reassuring Hoosiers that their religious freedoms are intact. I strongly support the legislation and applaud the members of the General Assembly for their work on this important issue. I look forward to signing the bill when it reaches my desk."
Freedom Indiana campaign manager Katie Blair issued this statement:
"We're extremely disappointed that 63 members of the Indiana House suddenly believe we need a new law to protect religious freedom that's been enshrined in our Constitution for centuries. We all know Senate Bill 101 is about creating a license for some Hoosiers to discriminate against others in the name of faith, and we all understand that the law's unintended consequences could harm LGBT Hoosiers, undercut our economic growth and put our children at risk. We turn our attention now to Governor Pence who, like Governor Jan Brewer in Arizona, has the ability to stop this dangerous bill dead in its tracks when it hits his desk. When Governor Brewer vetoed the Arizona RFRA last year, she clearly stated that 'religious liberty is a core American and Arizona value. So is non-discrimination.' Will Governor Pence send the message that Indiana is open for business, or will our new message be that Hoosier hospitality is just an empty slogan?"
Indiana Right to Life's President and CEO, Mike Fichter:
"Indiana Right to Life is encouraged by the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in the Indiana House. We believe this is an important bill to protect pro-life Hoosiers. For example, this bill will allow a pro-life print shop owner to decline making posters for a pro-abortion rally or a caterer to decline serving meals at a Planned Parenthood fundraiser. We are thankful Gov. Mike Pence has said he will sign the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law. We also extend our thanks to the bill's authors, all those who voted for it and to the hundreds of Hoosiers who showed at the Statehouse in recent weeks to support the bill's passage."
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.