Luker: Bill ‘Corrects A Defect’

Rep Lynn Luker, R-Boise, pictured, presenting HB 407 this morning, said, “It corrects a defect in our religious freedom restoration act. … This bill makes the application consistent, regardless of the parties who are involved.” He said Idaho’s existing law allows people to use religion as a defense against a government action, but not to use it in private-party disputes involving a government action. “That’s a defect that was brought out in a New Mexico case recently,” he told the House State Affairs Committee. That New Mexico case involved a wedding photographer who refused to photograph a same-sex marriage ceremony, and was penalized under that state’s prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here .

More Eye on Boise coverage of this controversial bill:

• Testimony wraps up
• Testimony: ‘Legal cover for discrimination’
• Testimony: ‘People should have all the same rights’
• Testimony: ‘Do not codify prejudice in the name of faith’
• Testimony: ‘Render civil rights protections meaningless’
• Testimony: ‘Offensive,’ ‘unnecessary,’ ‘bill codifies discrimination’
• Testimony: ‘Literally hundreds of people came to testify this morning’
• Testimony: ‘Necessary technical update,’ ‘Fight discrimination,’ ‘Codifies cruelty’
• Testimony: ‘May jeopardize business in state, make Idaho haven for extremists’

Question: Any prediction re: outcome of this bill?