Storm swells for GOP over state religious freedom bills

The controversy over state religious liberty legislation snowballed Wednesday as Indiana lawmakers scrambled to change the state’s new law before it takes effect and the Republican governor of Arkansas rejected a similar bill he’d backed days earlier.

The tempest surrounding the measures, which critics say would sanction discrimination against gays and lesbians, has split evangelicals and business leaders — two stalwart Republican constituencies — while threatening to embroil GOP presidential hopefuls in an early debate over the very types of social issues party strategists hope to avoid.

{mosads}Almost all the top Republican prospects have voiced strong support for the state laws, staking out a conservative position that will likely benefit them in the GOP primaries. But that rightward tack also risks alienating younger voters in the general election, a dynamic that dogged GOP nominee Mitt Romney in his unsuccessful challenge to President Obama in 2012.

That generational dilemma was highlighted Wednesday when Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), reversing his earlier position, said he’ll oppose a religious freedom bill passed by Statehouse conservatives the day before, at least partly upon the urging of his son.

“My son Seth signed the petition asking me — Dad, the governor — to veto this bill,” he said at a press conference.

Hutchinson called on the Legislature “to take a look at this bill, to recall it, or to provide me a changed bill that will make Arkansas’s [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] law mirror the federal law.”

That surprise announcement came a day after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R), who is weighing a presidential run, made a similar request for legislators to “clarify” religious liberty legislation he’d signed into law with enthusiastic support last Thursday.

The Indiana law, like the Arkansas proposal, is designed to protect individuals and businesses from being compelled by the government to take actions that violate their religious beliefs. Supporters say the measures merely prevent the government from encroaching on constitutionally guaranteed rights. But opponents contend they provide a legal basis for discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Pence rejected charges that the legislation empowers such discrimination, saying the controversy has been based on a media-fueled “mischaracterization” of the law.

But he also asked for a “fix” that “makes it clear that this law does not give businesses a right to deny services to anyone.”

Democrats have hammered the state laws, saying they hearken back to an era of sanctioned discrimination against blacks and accusing the Republican supporters of being out of step with the voters they represent.

But Democrats are hardly alone, and the growing number of corporations, prominent business leaders and entertainers denouncing the legislation has only heaped more pressure on state lawmakers to add explicit anti-discrimination language.

Fueling the criticisms, reports emerged Wednesday of an Indiana pizzeria that’s vowing to refuse catering services for same sex-marriages, the very concern being voiced by critics of the legislation.

The controversy has brought unwanted attention to Pence and Indiana ahead of the NCAA men’s basketball finals, which will take place in Indianapolis on Saturday and Monday. The NCAA, based in Indianapolis, has been among the vocal critics of the legislation.

Keeping the pressure on the Republican-led states, White House press secretary Josh Earnest weighed in Wednesday to applaud Hutchinson’s decision, saying it’s appropriate because the legislation “could be used to justify discriminating against individuals because of who they love.”

“Gov. Hutchinson is obviously responding to [the] outcry,” Earnest said. “The next step will be for the leaders of Arkansas to determine.”

The Republican presidential field, meanwhile, has been almost united in its support for the states’ legislation.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday that Pence “has done the right thing” and “once the facts are established, people aren’t going to see this as discriminatory at all.”

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) defended people’s “right to live out their religious faith in their own lives.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued a statement Monday saying he’s “proud to stand with” Pence “for his support of religious freedom, especially in the face of fierce opposition.”

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) tweeted Monday, “Religious freedom is worth protecting.”

And the office of Scott Walker (R) said this week that, “as a matter of principle,” the Wisconsin governor “believes in broad religious freedom and the right for Americans to exercise their religion and act on their conscience.”

Hutchinson suggested Wednesday that the debate has taken on a political edge that’s left substance behind.

“This is a bill that in ordinary times would not be controversial,” he said. “But these are not ordinary times.”