Pennsylvania Republican celebrates MLK Day with proposal to legalize discrimination

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Raw Story

Pennsylvania Republican celebrates MLK Day with proposal to legalize discrimination
By David Ferguson
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 11:38 EST



A Republican lawmaker in Pennsylvania is seeking to invalidate the state’s nondiscrimination law by adding a faith based amendment that would allow discrimination for religious reasons. According to RH Reality Check, state Rep. Gordon Denlinger (R) proposed the amendment on Monday, the federal holiday observing the birthday of slain civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Philly.com wrote that under Denlinger’s proposed Freedom of Conscience Amendment, “employers, store owners, realtors, motel managers, etc., could deny jobs, groceries, homes or rooms to anyone (tall, short, pregnant, Catholic, Jewish, gay, Goth, Democrat, newspaper columnist) offending their beliefs. Just as long as those beliefs are ‘sincerely held.’”

In a memo circulated on Monday, Denliger wrote, “”Specifically, I plan to propose a new section in Article I – the Pennsylvania ‘bill of rights’ – that will prohibit government from punishing an individual or entity if the individual or entity makes hiring or other employment decisions, or provides services, accommodations (including housing accommodations), advantages, facilities, goods or privileges based on sincerely held beliefs.”

The arch conservative state politician’s inspiration for the conscience exemption arose out of his efforts to block the reproductive health mandate in the Affordable Care Act. Denlinger is close friends with a Mennonite family that runs a lumber company.


Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/21/pennsylvania-republican-celebrates-mlk-day-with-proposal-to-legalize-discrimination/

[heaven05]

1. this mofo

is seriously insane and/or just stupid. I pick the former.

[madrchsod]

4. i`d flip a coin but why bother?

the guy is creepy looking plus he`s brain damaged.

just think of the people who elected him....

[weissmam]

2. what about unconstitutional does this bozo not understand

I would propose an amendment that would allow me, to punch this guy in the face because its a sincerely held belief that he is an ass-whole

BTW how do you prove sincerely held beliefs , which are a choice and can change from day to day

[blkmusclmachine]

10. The Hobby Lobby case is trying to enforce religious discrinimation into law, yes?

[GeorgeGist]

3. We can disagree on causes, we can disagree on solutions but we can't disagree on outcomes ...

The Delinger's of America are an indictment of our educational system.

[icymist]

5. The 99th Pennsylvania State Legislative District:

And here are the people who voted this guy into office:

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 99
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 99th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Lancaster County and includes the following areas:[1]

Brecknock Township
Caernarvon Township
Earl Township
East Earl Township
Ephrata
Ephrata Township
New Holland
Salisbury Township
Terre Hill

Representatives
Representative Party Years District home Note
Prior to 1969, seats were apportioned by county.
Harry H. Gring Republican 1969 – 1976
Noah W. Wenger Republican 1977 – 1982 Stevens
Terry R. Scheetz Republican 1983 – 1994
Leroy M. Zimmerman Republican 1995 – 2002 Died on December 2, 2002[2]
Gordon Denlinger Republican 2003 – present Caernarvon Township Elected on March 18, 2003 to fill vacancy[3]
Incumbent

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives,_District_99

[tabasco]

6. Who says the republicans are the party of no ideas???

They have LOTS of really shitty ideas.

[bigworld]

7. Lancaster County, I could have guessed

Got out of there a few years ago. The crazy, it runs deep.

[Moral Compass]

8. Wow

So, if I sincerely just don't like someone, if I'm a business owner that deals with the public, I can refuse them service.

Wow. That means you could refuse anyone service that you just don't like. That's one hell of a catch. Pennsylvania would become a really great place that we'd all avoid. I would be unsure whether I'd be served at any given moment.

[blkmusclmachine]

9. I know we don't have much of the Constitution/Bill of Rights left intact after 9/11, but...

[MissMillie]

11. discrimination: the Christian thing to do