WASHINGTON, D.C. — Charlotte's U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger is facing controversy after he said private employers should have the freedom to fire employees based on their sexual orientation.
He made the comments during a town hall meeting in Ballantyne in September.
Channel 9's Washington Bureau tried to meet with Pittenger on Wednesday to clarify statements he made to a blog implying businesses have a right to discriminate based on sexual orientation.
At a town hall in Ballantyne, Pittenger is quoted as saying, "You need to respect the autonomy of somebody running their business."
Pittenger stood by his comments Wednesday.
"Well, the government should not be imposing morals on business," he told Channel 9 on Wednesday.
House Democrats filed a discharge petition to try to force a vote on the issue, but it's unlikely to work because they need a full majority of the house to sign on.
"I think we're better served by having less government," Pittenger said Wednesday. "This is a struggle we're trying to create jobs right now. We have a regulatory environment that is very difficult for any business."
Pittenger told Channel 9 he personally doesn't discriminate in his own business based on sexual orientation.
The bill banning that kind of discrimination did pass the senate last year, but Republican leadership in the House don't want to bring it up for a vote.
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