Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Signs Controversial Bill on ‘Religious Freedom’

Published at 5:23 pm, March 26, 2015

EastIdahoNews.com Staff

Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call(INDIANAPOLIS) — Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a controversial bill on Thursday that could allow business owners to refuse service to people based on their sexual orientation.

“Today I signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” Pence said in a statement Thursday, “because I support the freedom of religion for every Hoosier of every faith.”

I signed SEA 101 today to ensure religious liberty is fully protected under IN law http://t.co/vCOASZBZnH pic.twitter.com/CMFJh6aLDx

— Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) March 26, 2015

While critics say the bill could allow for discrimination, Pence says it is not about that. “If I thought it legalized discrimination in any way in Indiana, I would have vetoed it,” he said.

Pence clarified that the bill “does not even apply to disputes between private parties unless government action is involved.”

Pence pointed to lawsuits filed by the University of Notre Dame and a private business against provisions within the Affordable Care Act. “The Constitution of the United States and the Indiana Constitution both provide strong recognition of the freedom of religion,” Pence said. “But today, many people of faith feel their religious liberty is under attack by government action.”

Indiana state Sen. Tim Lanane took to Twitter to voice his disagreement with Pence. “Athough not unexpected, it is still extremely disappointing that Governor Pence endorses this out-of-touch, discriminatory legislation,” Lanane wrote.

Although not unexpected, it is still extremely disappointing that Governor Pence endorses this out-of-touch, discriminatory legislation.

— Senator Tim Lanane (@TimLanane) March 26, 2015

Not only is this law unnecessary, it already has portrayed IN as intolerant, unfriendly & backwards; things which I believe Hoosiers reject

— Senator Tim Lanane (@TimLanane) March 26, 2015

#RFRA can only hurt our state’s economy and our desire to be welcoming to every person.

— Senator Tim Lanane (@TimLanane) March 26, 2015

I’m disgusted that they made this a priority over everything else & then were too ashamed to sign this bill anywhere but behind closed doors

— Senator Tim Lanane (@TimLanane) March 26, 2015

“No matter how privately Gov. Pence tries to put his stamp of approval on #RFRA, fact remains he owns this unwanted law and its consequences,” Lanane continued.

No matter how privately Gov Pence tries to put his stamp of approval on #RFRA, fact remains he owns this unwanted law and its consequences.

— Senator Tim Lanane (@TimLanane) March 26, 2015

With the college basketball’s Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis next week, NCAA President Mark Emmert released a statement Thursday expressing concern over “how this legislation could affect our student-athletes and employees.” Emmert says the NCAA “will work diligently to assure student-athletes competing in, and visitors attending, next week’s Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis are not impacted negatively by this bill.”

Emmert also said that the NCAA would “closely examine the implications of this bill and how it might affect future events as well as our workforce.”

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