GOP Lawmaker Pushing Even Broader Religious Freedom Law

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM/NO Times Picayune

A Louisiana lawmaker has introduced an anti-gay religious freedom bill that is broader than the controversial one Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) pushed in Indiana and then was forced to clarify after national criticism.

The Louisiana bill, introduced by state Rep. Mike Johnson, lets businesses refuse to serve same sex couples, just like the one in Indiana.

But the Louisiana proposal also goes a step further and allows a private company to not offer benefits to same-sex married couples if there are religious objections, according to the New Orleans Times Picayune. Notably, the legislation also blocks the Louisiana government from taking away state contracts and tax benefits from business owners because of the owners' views on same-sex marriage.

In Louisiana, some local parishes (New Orleans, Shreveport) have ordinances that protect gay people from employment discrimination. Johnson's bill would not affect local parishes so those protections would stay in place, the Times Picayune said.

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/louisiana-mike-johnson-religious-freedom-law

[Mr.Bill]

1. We need a meme

that shows the entire Supreme Court doing a facepalm.

[DonViejo]

2. Everyone except Scalia and Thomas. eom

[msongs]

3. we need the rapture to come take away all these people nt

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Isn't Louisiana like $1 billion in debt? This type of thing should help a lot.