Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) told MSNBC that he hasn’t seen a controversial Arizona bill that would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT customers on the basis of religious belief.
In an interview with host Chuck Todd on Wednesday Scott was repeatedly asked whether he thought Brewer should sign the bill. Other Republicans have said she shouldn’t. Each time he was asked, Scott refused to answer saying he hadn’t seen the legislation.
“Chuck, I’ve not seen that bill,” Scott said in response to a question from MSNBC’s Chuck Todd on the bill.
The bill has been a primary topic in politics this week as Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) mulls whether to veto it or not. She plans to make her decision by Friday. A number of prominent Arizona businesses have also called on Brewer to veto the bill.
Todd asked if Brewer “signed a bill like this that made it as if a lot of businesses would feel as if they might want to do business in Arizona, you would, as governor [of] Florida, would you raid those spring training teams?”
“Well, look, I go after the spring training teams. I’m competing with governors across the country to bring more jobs to Florida,” Scott responded. “Then again, Chuck, I haven’t seen the bill. I want all of the spring training teams to be back here, first day of spring training today.”
When Todd rephrased the question Scott’s answer was the same.
“Do you think religious — do you think a bill like that, religious beliefs, should be used as a basis of denying services to a gay couple?” Todd asked.
“I haven’t seen the bill, but I can tell you I’m trying to recruit companies every day to our state,” Scott said.
In a statement to TPM, former Gov. Charlie Crist (D), Scott’s likely opponent in the general election, slammed Scott for not taking a position:
Discrimination has no place in America. None in Arizona. None in Florida. For Governor Brewer, this should be the ultimate no-brainer. Veto the law.
Moreover, the fact that Governor Scott won’t take a stand on whether Governor Brewer should veto the Arizona discrimination law is stunning. We should always be sending the message that Florida is open for all of our residents, open for all tourists and open for all businesses.
This story was updated.
