A Freedom of Conscience
A quick look at how the new North Carolina Freedom to Discriminate bill is working out for their state.
Over 100 CEOs signed a letter calling for the repeal of the bill. It's a who's who of businesses, including the largest in the state, Bank of America. http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources/NC_CEO_Letter_%283%29.pdf
Four states have banned nonessential travel, New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Washington. NYC, San Francisco and Chicago have also, and many more are considering it.
Film and TV production companies. are either having second thoughts or, in at least one case, moved their production to Canada. A&E network; "Production on 'Six' is already under way, however we will not consider North Carolina for any new productions."
High Point Market is a furniture trade show organizer and the states largest economic event. It brings in $5.8 billion and generates 600,000 visitor hours. They released a statement, "Based on the reaction in just the last few days, hundreds and perhaps thousands of our customers will not attend Market this April." I feel bad for HPM. Instead of promoting their upcoming expo they're having to defend themselves against a law they had no part of.
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That brings us to Mississippi. They have a 6.5% unemployment rate (tied for 49th worst), Their education system ranks 47th in the country and they have the most people living in poverty, 20%. Last week their Republican led legislature passed a bill with a real catchy title, the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act." (a more appropriate name might be To Hell With Our Citizens, Let's Make Some Lawyers Rich Act) It arrived on the governors desk today but he hasn't said if he''ll sign it. This bill puts the NC bill to shame. It's a pretty easy read http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2016/html/HB/1500-1599/HB1523CS.htm
Besides the usually same sex marriage stuff, "Marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman", there's also this little nugget, "Sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage", which could mean that a landlord can turn away any unmarried couple or even a single parent, if their religious convictions led them in that direction.
This line is rampant in the bill, " The state government shall not take any discriminatory action against" and follows it up with very long lists:
(a) Photography, poetry, videography, disc-jockey services, wedding planning, printing, publishing or similar marriage-related goods or services; or
(b) Floral arrangements, dress making, cake or pastry artistry, assembly-hall or other wedding-venue rentals, limousine or other car-service rentals, jewelry sales and services, or similar marriage-related services, accommodations, facilities or goods.
A gay couple (or even an unmarried couple according to section 2 of the bill) could be denied a car rental or a hotel room.
Section 9 of the bill is for the states lawyers: "This act shall be construed in favor of a broad protection of free exercise of religious beliefs and moral convictions, to the maximum extent permitted by the state and federal constitutions.", and since these types of discrimination are already against federal law, as soon as the first Kim Davis at an Avis refuses service, the lawsuits will begin. And their state will lose after spending large amounts of tax payer dollars (money they obviously don't have) to defend discrimination. Just like they did last week when the courts overruled their same sex adoption ban, the last state in the country to have such a ban.http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/03/31/judge-kills-same-sex-adoption-ban/82487958/
Sadly no big banks, technology companies or studio execs will be writing letters calling for the Gov. to not sign the bill. They have have no dog in this fight, having decided long ago that Miss. wasn't a good fit for their personnel.
So instead of trying to do something, anything, to help their states economic woes they chose to do the opposite and insure themselves of even more hardship. One could say, "Oh well, that's their problem. You get what you vote for.", just remember that for every dollar Mississippi pays the Government in federal taxes, the Government (us) has to give them three dollars back just to help feed and house their citizens.
But at least they'll be able to discriminate with a Freedom of Conscience, which in turn will get them sued. Then they'll find themselves in a Federal court and paying a hefty fine, (causing even more hardship) all because of their elected leaders poor judgement.
Over 100 CEOs signed a letter calling for the repeal of the bill. It's a who's who of businesses, including the largest in the state, Bank of America. http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources/NC_CEO_Letter_%283%29.pdf
Four states have banned nonessential travel, New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Washington. NYC, San Francisco and Chicago have also, and many more are considering it.
Film and TV production companies. are either having second thoughts or, in at least one case, moved their production to Canada. A&E network; "Production on 'Six' is already under way, however we will not consider North Carolina for any new productions."
High Point Market is a furniture trade show organizer and the states largest economic event. It brings in $5.8 billion and generates 600,000 visitor hours. They released a statement, "Based on the reaction in just the last few days, hundreds and perhaps thousands of our customers will not attend Market this April." I feel bad for HPM. Instead of promoting their upcoming expo they're having to defend themselves against a law they had no part of.
.
That brings us to Mississippi. They have a 6.5% unemployment rate (tied for 49th worst), Their education system ranks 47th in the country and they have the most people living in poverty, 20%. Last week their Republican led legislature passed a bill with a real catchy title, the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act." (a more appropriate name might be To Hell With Our Citizens, Let's Make Some Lawyers Rich Act) It arrived on the governors desk today but he hasn't said if he''ll sign it. This bill puts the NC bill to shame. It's a pretty easy read http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2016/html/HB/1500-1599/HB1523CS.htm
Besides the usually same sex marriage stuff, "Marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman", there's also this little nugget, "Sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage", which could mean that a landlord can turn away any unmarried couple or even a single parent, if their religious convictions led them in that direction.
This line is rampant in the bill, " The state government shall not take any discriminatory action against" and follows it up with very long lists:
(a) Photography, poetry, videography, disc-jockey services, wedding planning, printing, publishing or similar marriage-related goods or services; or
(b) Floral arrangements, dress making, cake or pastry artistry, assembly-hall or other wedding-venue rentals, limousine or other car-service rentals, jewelry sales and services, or similar marriage-related services, accommodations, facilities or goods.
A gay couple (or even an unmarried couple according to section 2 of the bill) could be denied a car rental or a hotel room.
Section 9 of the bill is for the states lawyers: "This act shall be construed in favor of a broad protection of free exercise of religious beliefs and moral convictions, to the maximum extent permitted by the state and federal constitutions.", and since these types of discrimination are already against federal law, as soon as the first Kim Davis at an Avis refuses service, the lawsuits will begin. And their state will lose after spending large amounts of tax payer dollars (money they obviously don't have) to defend discrimination. Just like they did last week when the courts overruled their same sex adoption ban, the last state in the country to have such a ban.http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/03/31/judge-kills-same-sex-adoption-ban/82487958/
Sadly no big banks, technology companies or studio execs will be writing letters calling for the Gov. to not sign the bill. They have have no dog in this fight, having decided long ago that Miss. wasn't a good fit for their personnel.
So instead of trying to do something, anything, to help their states economic woes they chose to do the opposite and insure themselves of even more hardship. One could say, "Oh well, that's their problem. You get what you vote for.", just remember that for every dollar Mississippi pays the Government in federal taxes, the Government (us) has to give them three dollars back just to help feed and house their citizens.
But at least they'll be able to discriminate with a Freedom of Conscience, which in turn will get them sued. Then they'll find themselves in a Federal court and paying a hefty fine, (causing even more hardship) all because of their elected leaders poor judgement.
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