In a 6-6 vote this afternoon, the majority of Missouri’s Emerging Issues Committee voted against the SJR 39, a controversial proposal that opponents claimed would have discriminated against members of the LGBT community. Six other Republicans voted for it.
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The proposal already passed the Senate last month after a lot of debate, including a record, 40-hour filibuster.
Some very upset Republicans and religious groups’ leaders immediately said they would try to quickly revive the issue.
On Wednesday, a panel in the Missouri House failed to approve a religious freedom measure attracting national controversy. And I don’t need a law to tell me how to worship. I know this was hard decision for many committee members and that pressure was intense from all sides.
But it drew opposition from some of the state’s top corporate names, including agricultural giant Monsanto, brewer Anheuser-Busch and prescription drug benefits manager Express Scripts. Bob Onder argues his proposal is narrower than measures passed in other states.
Lawmakers face a May 13 deadline to pass legislation.
The bill also would expand the state’s castle doctrine law by giving people the right to use deadly force to defend themselves and their property against intruders.
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Commenting on the emotional testimony that ultimately defeated the egregious bill, state Rep. Mike Colona (the state’s only openly gay legislator) said, “What you witnessed here today was a reflection of what Missourians are really all about”.
