If the Arizona Senate voted again on the anti-gay discrimination bill that has aroused a national backlash, the bill would likely fail.
That’s because three Republican senators have said in the last few days that they regret their vote. The legislation originally passed 17 to 13 — flip those three votes, and the bill would be defeated, 14 to 16.
“While our sincere intent in voting for this bill was to create a shield for all citizens’ religious liberties, the bill has instead been mischaracterized by its opponents as a sword for religious intolerance,” the three senators — Adam Driggs, Steve Pierce and Bob Worsley — wrote in a letter urging Republican Gov. Jan Brewer to veto it, according to the Arizona Republic. “These allegations are causing our state immeasurable harm.”
Brewer is being lobbied from all sides to veto the legislation. The state’s Republican U.S. senators have asked her to, as has one of the leading GOP candidates to succeed her as governor. The Arizona business community has sent multiple letters to Brewer, asking her to strike down the bill.
“This has taken a life of its own. It’s taken a label that is very harmful to the state,” Worsley said in an interview with Arizona radio host Mike Broomhead. “I think it’s time to end the discussion and the debate. We certainly did not intend to pass something that was discriminatory, and so we’re saying let’s get this off the table.”
Brewer has said she will “do the right thing” regarding the bill. She can either sign it, veto it or let it become law without her signature.
