Arkansas governor says his son petitioned him to veto bill

by David McCabe - 04/01/15 12:47 PM ET

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said his son signed a petition asking him to veto a “religious freedom” bill that critics say would allow businesses to discriminate against gay and lesbian would-be customers.

In a news conference announcing his surprise decision to ask lawmakers to rewrite the bill, Hutchinson said his son’s views highlight a generational divide on the issue.

{mosads}”My son Seth signed the petition asking me — dad, the governor — to veto this bill,” he said at a press conference.

Before Wednesday, Hutchinson had indicated he would sign the bill into law. He said on Wednesday that he was concerned that the legislation did not mimic the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act closely enough.

Critics have said that the law, and a similar bill in Indiana, would allow businesses to say that their religious beliefs meant they could not serve gay people. Hutchinson declined to say whether he would support adding language that specified the bill would not permit discrimination.

Hutchinson said that he would not sign the bill that cleared the state Legislature this week and instead asked lawmakers to change it, either by recalling it or by passing clarifying legislation.

Tags Arkansas Asa Hutchinson gay rights religious freedom Same-sex marriage