'Religious freedom' bill fails to pass in Maine
Bill LD 1428 would have guaranteed that no state law could impact on the free exercise of religion
Maine state Senator David Burns' Facebook Ppge
A 'religious freedom' bill that could have had an impact on Maine's gay marriage law failed in the state's House of Representatives, effectively killing it for this legislative session.
Known as LD 1428, the legislation was defeated 89-52. According to The Bangor Daily News, most Democrats, and all four independents, voted against the proposal.
A majority of Republicans, and three Democrats stood for the bill. Five Republicans were against it.
Sponsored by state Senator David Burns, a Republican, the act would have kept any law of the New England state from abridging religious rights unless there was a 'compelling state interest.' Anyone who thought his religious rights were being infringed would have had a legal defense in court.
Earlier in the week the proposal was struck down in the state Senate, 19-6.
During the House debate, the bill's supporters maintained it served all Maine citizens.
'LD 1428 does not allow religious people to get away with anything they want,' said Assistant House Minority Leader Alex Willette, according to the Daily News. 'It does not harm anyone with a religious trump card. Instead, LD 1428 creates a mere balancing test. … It does not say the government must roll over and play dead.'
Equality Maine, a LGBT rights organization, thanked the legislators for striking the bill down.
'This law would have undermined Maine's marriage and hate crime laws,' Ian Grady, the group's spokesperson, said to Gay Star News. 'It was very broad and over reaching.'
Grady added 'the legislation was a solution to a problem that did not exist' because the state has consistently supported 'fairness and religious freedom.'
'Equal treatment of LGBT people and religious people will continue,' Grady said.
Known as LD 1428, the legislation was defeated 89-52. According to The Bangor Daily News, most Democrats, and all four independents, voted against the proposal.
A majority of Republicans, and three Democrats stood for the bill. Five Republicans were against it.
Sponsored by state Senator David Burns, a Republican, the act would have kept any law of the New England state from abridging religious rights unless there was a 'compelling state interest.' Anyone who thought his religious rights were being infringed would have had a legal defense in court.
Earlier in the week the proposal was struck down in the state Senate, 19-6.
During the House debate, the bill's supporters maintained it served all Maine citizens.
'LD 1428 does not allow religious people to get away with anything they want,' said Assistant House Minority Leader Alex Willette, according to the Daily News. 'It does not harm anyone with a religious trump card. Instead, LD 1428 creates a mere balancing test. … It does not say the government must roll over and play dead.'
Equality Maine, a LGBT rights organization, thanked the legislators for striking the bill down.
'This law would have undermined Maine's marriage and hate crime laws,' Ian Grady, the group's spokesperson, said to Gay Star News. 'It was very broad and over reaching.'
Grady added 'the legislation was a solution to a problem that did not exist' because the state has consistently supported 'fairness and religious freedom.'
'Equal treatment of LGBT people and religious people will continue,' Grady said.
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