Arkansas Legislature passes "religious freedom" bill identical to Indiana's.

[retromike22]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/31/arkansas-religious-freedom_n_6979166.html

Arkansas passed a religious freedom bill on Tuesday that is similar to an Indiana law that has faced national backlash for legalizing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The bill cleared the Arkansas Legislature and now heads to the governor's desk, where it is expected to be signed. Like the Indiana law, the Arkansas legislation allows a person who feels his or her exercise of religion has been “substantially burdened” to cite that argument as a claim or defense in a private lawsuit. The legislation also grants corporations the right to religious freedom. This language is not in the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), and critics say it could be used to override existing anti-discrimination protections.

"The Arkansas and Indiana bills are virtually identical in terms of language and intent,” said Sarah Warbelow, legal director at the Human Rights Campaign. “They place LGBT people, people of color, religious minorities, women and many more people at risk of discrimination.”

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Not so fast, nancy boy!

-Arkansas

[Lambsbread]

"Several states have cut funding for travel to Arkansas, citing its recent controversial "religious freedom" bill. 'Well this just ruins my vacation plans' said one citizen. 'I mean, if I can't see the glorious, sprawling land that is Arkansas, I will surely feel as if something has been lost.'"

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

The Arkansas House also recently passed a bill to ban Californian wine because of the minimal regulations for chickens that California requires for eggs. Horrible state.

[t_host1]

 
For those wanting to visit, just behave yourself, u'l be alright.

If you need something to put you to sleep tonight, this will do it.

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2015/2015R/Bills/HB1228.pdf

Seems I do recall redundancies in law, this is more of it. What I didn't know, was, that this is an emergency act, to reaffirm. It appears when a Muslim tells you to convert or dye, you will be able to pull out the judge and say, "nope". I might be reading more into it, yet all I think this is, is, an extension of the conscientious objection rule.


This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Religious 1 Freedom Restoration Act". 2
16-123-402. Legislative intent. 3
It is the intent of the General Assembly to: 4
(1) Ensure that in all cases in which state action substantially 5 burdens the exercise of religion strict scrutiny is applied; 6
(2) Provide a claim or defense to a person whose exercise of 7 religion is substantially burdened by state action; and 8
(3) Implement Article 2, § 24, of the Arkansas Constitution, 9 which states that "[N]o human authority can, in any case or manner 10 whatsoever, control or interfere with the right of conscience”.

Thought control, is, understandably, an emergency; I'm sure everyone here would agree, no problem here, so, invoking the liberal media rule, move on. 

[ElectionsGuy]

It'll probably spread around the country again like it did in 2014.

[Brewer]

It appears when a Muslim tells you to convert or dye, you will be able to pull out the judge and say, "nope".

Them are fightin' words, t_host. Your crusade against the evils of the Muhzlims and their attacks on your right to prevent yourself from artificial color change does not go unnoticed.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Not so fast, nancy boy!

-Arkansas

Indiana Republicans wound up being incredibly surprised at the backlash their action cause.

Arkansas saw that intense backlash, saw Indiana Republicans sweating it out a bit, and said "we know what we're in for, we want to join the culture war too." Good job, guys.

[t_host1]

...hold the phone, govs' son says the constitution needs to be re-written for special circumstances. oh', this is going to be fun.  

http://www.wcvb.com/politics/arkansas-about-to-adopt-religious-freedom-law/32113950

I'm off to Wal-Mart to pick me up some.

[Türkisblau]

Hutchinson says he won't sign it and that he wants it recalled to be more in line with the 1993 federal law.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

PRAISE BE TO THE LORD!  Good-natured, God-fearin' Christians should never have to punch their ticket to the fiery depths by supporting the sinful lifestyle of the GAY-O-SEXUAL!

"He hath shalt by stoned whoth sodomizes in the bum"
Robertson 3:15, Verse 9

[MaxQue]

Hutchinson says he won't sign it and that he wants it recalled to be more in line with the 1993 federal law.

The power of Wal-Mart, apparently.

[Lambsbread]

This seems like an april fools joke.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

"Several states have cut funding for travel to Arkansas, citing its recent controversial "religious freedom" bill. 'Well this just ruins my vacation plans' said one citizen. 'I mean, if I can't see the glorious, sprawling land that is Arkansas, I will surely feel as if something has been lost.'"

Arkansas is actually a really fun place to visit, I didn't find diamonds though.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Hutchinson says he won't sign it and that he wants it recalled to be more in line with the 1993 federal law.

Good.

I'm perfectly fine with a bill that just specifies that you can't force people to provide wedding-related services. But these "religious freedom" bills allow anyone to forbid any service to anyone - Dry Cleaning, Food Service, Car Washing, Taxi Service, etc. - for any reason - not just sexual orientation but also political affiliation, religious affiliation, occupation, etc. - as long as the would-be provider can point to some obscure reference in a holy text as the reason for it. Ridiculous.

[JerryArkansas]

I'm glad that the state listened to big business this time.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

So many of our posters here are as tone-deaf to the America around them as Pence is, I see.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

WalMart won't stand for this.

[TDAS04]

Hutchinson says he won't sign it and that he wants it recalled to be more in line with the 1993 federal law.

Good news. 

[Likely Voter]

The conflict between the instinct to pander to the bible-thumping base vs the fealty to their corporate masters must be driving these GOP governors crazy.

[Rockefeller GOP]

"Several states have cut funding for travel to Arkansas, citing its recent controversial "religious freedom" bill. 'Well this just ruins my vacation plans' said one citizen. 'I mean, if I can't see the glorious, sprawling land that is Arkansas, I will surelyp feel as if something has been lost.'"

Arkansas is a much prettier state than Pennsylvania.

[RFayette]

Hutchison is a sodomite-supporting RINO.  It's time we had real Biblical punishments.  Stonings and all!

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Hutchison is a sodomite-supporting RINO.  It's time we had real Biblical punishments.  Stonings and all!

LOLOLOLOL.

Hutchinson is so far a sensible governor doing good work for Arkansas. At this time, I don't regret endorsing him.

[Lambsbread]

Arkansas is a much prettier state than Pennsylvania.

1. Pennsylvania was not at all mentioned in my OP
2. I happen to think that Pennsylvania is also a sprawling wasteland

so I'm not really sure what the point you were trying to make was.

[Mr. Illini]

"Several states have cut funding for travel to Arkansas, citing its recent controversial "religious freedom" bill. 'Well this just ruins my vacation plans' said one citizen. 'I mean, if I can't see the glorious, sprawling land that is Arkansas, I will surelyp feel as if something has been lost.'"

Arkansas is a much prettier state than Pennsylvania.

This says much more about Pennsylvania than it does Arkansas.