Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson tries to spin the controversy surrounding the Religious Freedom legislation by saying there is a generational divide about the law which isn't true at all, but he's doing that to try and save face for himself and said this morning that he won't sign the state's Religious Freedom legislation until changes are made so that it mirrors the 1993 federal bill.
Conservative talkers, including Indiana's Mike Pence have been arguing that this is the same legislation that Bill Clinton signed into effect, but Gov. Hutchinson dispels that falsehood in his statement to the media.
CNN:
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he does not plan to sign the religious freedom bill that sits on his desk right now, instead asking state lawmakers to make changes so the bill mirrors federal law.
The first-term Republican governor said he wants his state "to be known as a state that does not discriminate but understands tolerance."
His decision comes in the wake of an uproar in Indiana, where Gov. Mike Pence has faced pressure from businesses, sports associations like the NCAA and popular culture figures to backtrack on a similar religious freedom law he signed last week. In Arkansas, it's been Walmart applying the most pressure.
Hutchinson asked lawmakers to recall the law that the Arkansas House had given final approval on Tuesday -- or to send him follow-up legislation that makes the changes he requested.
Meanwhile, Hutchinson said, he's considering signing an executive order that bars discrimination among the state's workforce.
"The issue has become divisive because our nation remains split on how to balance the diversity of our culture with the traditions and firmly held religious convictions," Hutchinson said. "It has divided families, and there is clearly a generational gap on this issue."
This is a very positive step against this very harmful legislation and let's hope the dominoes continue to fall against all those that continually try and force discrimination down the throats of all American citizens.
