Georgia Gov. to veto religious liberty bill

Atlanta, Ga. — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal will veto the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

According to the governor’s office, the bill "doesn't reflect the character of (Georgia) or the character of our people." Deal said state legislators should leave freedom of religion and freedom of speech to the U.S. Constitution.

"Efforts to purge this bill of any possibility that it would allow or encourage discrimination illustrates how difficult it is to legislate something that is best left to the broad protections of the First Amendment," he said.

Many people have been waiting to see whether Deal would sign the bill. He has received a lot of pressure from gay rights groups and companies, including AMC, Disney and Google, that don't support the bill. The bill triggered waves of criticism and presented Deal with one of the biggest challenges he's faced since his election to Georgia's top office.

Several companies and businesses have been vocal in opposing the bill, saying it encourages discrimination.

"The negatives will be unbelievable," said Hyatt Regency Atlanta general manager Peter McMahon.

McMahon told WSBTV that he believed that his hotel could lose $1 million in business over the next 18 months if Deal signed the bill. The Human Rights Campaign called on Hollywood film companies to abandon Georgia if Deal signed the measure, and the NFL warned that it could risk Atlanta's bid for future Super Bowls.

Deal, who is in his final term, officially had until May 3 to act on the bill.

The measure, which surfaced on March 16, would bar government penalties against faith-based organizations that refuse to serve someone if doing so would violate a "sincerely held religious belief" or hire someone "whose religious beliefs or practices or lack of either" violate its religion. It includes language based on a federal "religious freedom restoration act," which prevents government from burdening religious belief.

Public employees who refuse to perform their duties, such as a probate judge issuing marriage licenses, would not be covered. The bill says it doesn't permit discrimination prohibited by federal or state law.

It also would allow religious officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages and protect any individual who refuses to attend a marriage that conflicts with his or her faith.

The governor's planned veto will likely infuriate religious conservatives who considered the measure, House Bill 757, their top priority. This is the third legislative session in which they have sought to strengthen legal protections for opponents of same-sex marriage, but last year's Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex weddings galvanized their efforts.

It is also likely to herald a more acrimonious relationship between Deal, who campaigned on a pro-business platform, and the evangelical wing of the Georgia Republican Party. Prominent conservatives vowed to revive the measure next year if Deal chose not to sign it.

Cox Media Group