He said the hundreds of businesses who have come out in opposition to his proposal, SJR 39, are “bullying” Missourians who want to protect religious freedom. Supporters say it’s about religious liberty, but opponents said it would be state-condoned discrimination. Will it be a blow to Missouri’s economy, or a boon? He’s pastor of Abundant Life Church in Lee’s Summit, which has an average weekly attendance of 4,000 people.
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“We can not give one group of people certain rights and take away the rights of others that they’ve had for generations”, Hopper said.
Bob Onder, a Republican senator from St. Charles sponsored the bill.
At the heart of the debate Tuesday was a growing schism between two of the Republican Party’s most loyal constituencies. Mehan said. “While we recognize that SJR39 is probably more benign than what (other) states have enacted, it is, again, undeniable that there is concern over various areas of industry, tourism, and convention business that would be negative for the state of Missouri”.
“This is quite appalling. It is much more (narrowly tailored) than so-called religious freedom restoration acts in other states…it does not permit refusals of service more generally, for instance, a restaurant or a hardware store or a gas station”.
The measure has already passed the Missouri Senate.
Rep. Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield and the committee chairman, said he was hesitant about amending the bill. “So it could have a huge ramification for the hotel business here in town”.
Republican Rep. Anne Zerr, chairwoman of a House commerce committee said, “talent is gay and straight”. “I’m concerned that this will hurt us”.
Proponents are pushing the measure in response to last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. They contend the amendment is needed to prevent those with sincerely held religious beliefs from being punished by government.
“Let the people decide”, Kinder said. “Why are we letting my friends in the corporate boardrooms dictate to us?”
A couple of lawmakers questioned the broadness of the definitions in the bill and how it may create confusing situations for people.
That line greets visitors to the Missouri Competes website.
However, pro-abortion legislators on the committee spoke out against the bill Tuesday, calling it “extreme” and saying women’s lives would be in danger.
Rossi, director of advocacy and policy for the ACLU of Missouri, teared up as she laid out the ways in which she feared she and her partner could be denied service under the amendment.
The religious protections would apply to clergy, religious organizations and some businesses such as florists and photographers. Eventually House Minority Leader Jake Hummel, a St. Louis Democrat, stepped in.
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“That’s $51 million in economic impact and about $3 million in state tax revenue”, she said.
