By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | Governor Nathan Deal made us proud last week when he vetoed the so-called “religious freedom” bill that the Georgia House had passed unanimously 161-0. While his action was courageous, we also see it as something that defines the people of the state of Georgia.
Governor Deal, on issuing the veto, said this:
“This is about the character of our state and the character of its people. Georgia is a welcoming state filled with warm, friendly and loving people. Our cities and countryside are populated with people who worship God in a myriad of ways and in very diverse settings. Our people work side by side without regard to the color of our skin, or the religion we adhere to. We are working to make life better for our families and our communities. That is the character of Georgia. I intend to do my part to keep it that way.
“For that reason, I will veto HB 757.”
We cheered on Monday when we heard of his decision. We feel it put the State of Georgia in a good light, as Governor Deal showed the nation that Georgia and its people are forward-thinking and progressive. But it also flew in the face of many of Governor Deal’s supporters.
But remember, this veto came toward the end of Governor’s second term of office. He doesn’t have to face the voters any more. He stood his ground and vetoed legislation which would have cast the state in a bad light. He did his duty.
Opponents of House Bill 757, prior to the governor’s action, saw in the bill several ways in which the State of Georgia would be harmed had the bill become law. In their interpretation of the bill, it would have been a disaster for economic development, possibly chasing some businesses, which could locate or operate anyway, away from Georgia. That red flag alone should have caused sponsors of the legislation to consider its worth. Yet these proponents did not read it that way, and pushed for the passage.
Deal
In striking down the measure, Governor Deal might have been remembering what happened in Indiana when a similar bill passed their Legislature last year. In that state, which sent a “religious freedom restoration act” to the desk of Gov. Mike Pence, all sort of fireworks erupted when he signed the bill. There was a nationwide backlash.
And in effect, it forced Indiana to do a 180-degree turn, considerably revising the bill.
Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, was quoted as saying: “Deal’s veto is important. I think Pence’s experience in Indiana, which is one where he gave the [social] conservatives what they wanted and got crushed…, was very instructive for Governor Deal.”
So now the bill aimed at protecting ministers won’t be given the light of day in Georgia. The Legislature wasted a lot of time on a bill that wasn’t needed. Happily, the governor recognized this. There are other problems that the Legislature could address than this ill-conceived measure.
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