Brewer's staff worked on religious bill

[rug]

by Bob Christie, Associated Press
Video reports by Reporter Brandon Lee and 3TV Political Editor Dennis Welch
Posted on March 10, 2014 at 1:25 PM
Updated today at 1:40 PM

PHOENIX (AP) -- Gov. Jan Brewer's staff worked with proponents of a bill that would have allowed businesses to refuse service to gays before the legislation was introduced in January, according to emails released by her office.

The meetings between Brewer's legal counsel and policy director came as the Center for Arizona Policy tried to make changes to a bill that was vetoed last year to make it more palatable to the governor. As Senate Bill 1062 made its way through the Legislature last month, it drew fierce opposition from Democrats, gays, civil rights activists and later the business community.

Brewer vetoed the legislation on Feb. 26. In a brief statement, she said the bill "could divide Arizona in ways we could not even imagine and no one would ever want." She also said the bill was broadly worded and could result in unintended negative consequences.

Brewer's veto came after companies including Apple Inc. and American Airlines and even national Republicans including Sen. John McCain urged her to veto the bill, saying it would hurt the state and could alienate businesses looking to expand there.

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Brewers-staff-worked-on-religious-bill-249332662.html

She almost got away with it.

[cbayer]

1. Her veto was 100% politically based and had nothing to do with ideology.

She saw any chance as a national candidate circling the drain and balked.

She's really horrible.

[okasha]

2. Not surprised.

I'm sure her staff were acting explicitly on her instructions. Gods, I miss the old Republican Rockerfeller-style liberals almost as much as I miss the old Democratic leftists.