‘Religious freedom’ bill days away from vote in Mississippi
March 7 at 8:30 am
By Reid Wilson
The Mississippi House of Representatives could vote as early as Friday on a measure that would allow businesses to refuse service to customers based on religious beliefs, which opponents say could be used to discriminate against gays and lesbians.
The measure, dubbed the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act, is similar to a bill passed by the Arizona legislature last month. The Arizona bill became a national lightening rod as civil rights activists and business groups lobbied Gov. Jan Brewer (R) to veto the legislation, which she did last week.
But in Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant (R) is unlikely to come under the kind of sustained national pressure that descended on Brewer. Bryant’s office pushed for an amendment to the bill that would add the words “In God We Trust” to the state seal, and he has indicated he is likely to sign the measure.
The Mississippi Senate passed the bill in January. A state House committee referred it to the full House earlier this week. The House has until midnight on March 12 to act, though a vote has yet to be formally scheduled.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/03/07/religious-freedom-bill-days-away-from-vote-in-mississippi/
