By Ian Millhiser | Think Progress
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) may have vetoed SB 1062, the legislation Arizona lawmakers passed in the hopes that it would enable business owners to discriminate against gay people, but the fight over whether business owners have a legal right to discriminate is far from over. To the contrary, the Supreme Court could give anti-gay businesses sweeping new authority to discriminate in a pair of cases being argued next month. And, unlike the Arizona bill, a Supreme Court decision cannot simply be vetoed to prevent it from working a great deal of mischief.
Related: Religious freedom vs. gay rights. What’s happening in 10 states
NEWS RELEASE 3-3-14
From Rep. Jeff Dial
Upon further reflection, I determined that my vote on SB 1062 was a mistake. While I cannot change my vote, I urged Governor Brewer to veto the legislation.
Keeping government out of Arizonans’ lives is always my primary objective when voting on legislation. I will always support Arizonans’ right to religious freedom and protection under the first amendment. However, I believe this legislation, though drafted with sincere intentions, mistakenly
sends a message to our citizens, our businesses, and the nation that Arizona is not “Open for Business” as our Governor has eloquently said.
Unfortunately our great nation has a painful history of discrimination, and I now recognize that this legislation, albeit unintentionally, has the potential to re-open those wounds.
I have personally expressed my opposition to SB 1062 to Governor Brewer today, and I intend to return my focus to making Arizona the greatest state in America for our citizens to live, work and raise a family.
