Arkansas Joins the Fray

Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday approved a religious-freedom bill similar to the one recently passed in Indiana that critics say creates the potential for businesses and others to legally discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation.

The state’s Republican-led House gave final approval to the bill, which prohibits the state and local governments from infringing on a person’s religious beliefs without a “compelling” interest.

The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has said he will sign it into law.

Doug McMillon, the CEO of Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, issued a statement Tuesday pressing Hutchinson to “veto this legislation,” and adding that the law would “undermine the spirit of inclusion” in the state.

“[It] does not reflect the values we proudly uphold,” McMillon’s statement read.

This week, hundreds of protesters filled the Arkansas Capitol urging Hutchinson to veto the bill, which is almost identical to the Indiana bill.

Both appear to state that a person could deny another person a service, based on a religious belief, and use that circumstance as a legal defense.

One frequently used example is a baker refusing a wedding cake order from a gay couple.

Pence and the leaders of the state’s Republican-led legislature have argued their bill does not legalize discrimination and is similar to a 1993 federal law signed by President Clinton and to legislation in 19 other states.

And it has been supported by such social conservatives and potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Dr. Ben Carson, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

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