Ga. legislative committee considers religious freedom bill
ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A highly controversial religious freedom bill is moving through the Georgia General Assembly.
On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee heard from the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth).
Setzler argues SB 36 allows Georgians to exercise their religious faith without federal, state, and local government intrusion.
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“It’s about creating a simple balancing test that weighs the person’s right to practice their religion, with the necessary duties of government,” said Sen. Setzler.
More than 30 people signed up to speak for or against the measure.
The only Jewish State Representative, Esther Panitch (D-Sandy Springs), was seen visibly upset as the sponsor spoke. She testified without an amendment to include an antidiscrimination clause, the bill is simply a discrimination tool.
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“This is going to be used as a sword and not a shield,” said Rep. Panitch.
Georgia Equality Director Jeff Graham and other LGBTQ-friendly faith leaders spoke in opposition to the bill and said it’s not just the LGTBTQ community, minorities, women, and unmarried couples could be discriminated against.
“Being used to discriminate against unmarried straight couples who are trying to check into a small hotel. In rural Georgia, we could see single women discriminated against if they are single mothers,” said Graham.
The Georgia Faith and Freedom Coalition penned a letter in of the bill. The letter states, “It upholds the rights of Georgia citizens to live out their faith in a way that has long defined our nation.”
“This is enshrining what our founders intended. The Declaration of Independence and what has been in place really in our Constitution when the 1st Amendment rights to practice your faith,” said Georgia Faith and Freedom Coalition Executive Director Mack Parnell.
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In 2016, a similar bill ed out of the General Assembly. Then-Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed the bill after pushback from the business community.
The Georgia Faith and Freedom Coalition said they’re sure if the General Assembly es the bill, it will become law because Gov. Brian Kemp has previously said he would a religious freedom bill like the one suggested.
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