Indiana Gov. responds to furor over religious objections law

Last Updated Mar 29, 2015 11:31 AM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Gov. Mike Pence defended the new state law that's garnered widespreadcriticism over concerns it could foster discrimination and said Sunday it wasn't a mistake to haveenacted it.

Pence appeared on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" to discuss the measure hesigned last week prohibiting state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his orher religious beliefs. The definition of "person" includes religious institutions, businesses andassociations.

Since the Republican signed the bill into law Thursday, Indiana has been widely criticized bybusinesses and organizations around the nation, as well as on social media with the hashtag#boycottindiana. Already, consumer review service Angie's List has said it will suspend a plannedexpansion in Indianapolis because of the new law.

Pence, a Republican, did not answer directly when asked six times whether under the law it wouldbe legal for a merchant to refuse to serve gay customers. "This is not about discrimination, this isabout empowering people to confront government overreach," he said. Asked again, he said, "Look,the issue here is still is tolerance a two-way street or not."

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Pence told the Indianapolis Star on Saturday that he was in discussions with legislative leaders overthe weekend and expects a clarification bill to be introduced in the coming week. He addressed thatSunday, saying, "if the General Assembly ... sends me a bill that adds a section that reiterates andamplifies and clarifies what the law really is and what it has been for the last 20 years, then I'm opento that."

But Pence was adamant that the measure, slated to take effect in July, will stick. "We're not going tochange this law," Pence said.

Some national gay-rights groups say it's a way for lawmakers in Indiana and several others stateswhere such bills have been proposed this year to essentially grant a state-sanctioned waiver fordiscrimination as the nation's highest court prepares to mull the gay marriage question.

Supporters of the law, including Pence, contend discrimination claims are overblown and insist itwill keep the government from compelling people to provide services they find objectionable onreligious grounds. They also maintain courts haven't allowed discrimination under similar lawscovering the federal government and 19 other states. Arkansas is poised to follow in Indiana'sfootsteps, with a final vote expected next week in the House on legislation that Republican Gov. AsaHutchinson has said he'll sign.

Josh Earnest, President Barack Obama's spokesman, appeared on "This Week" just after Pence, andsaid the debate isn't a political argument.

"If you have to go back two decades to try to justify what you're doing today, it may raise questions,"Earnest said, referring to the 1993 federal law Pence brought up. He added that Pence "is indamage-control mode this morning and he's got some damage to fix."

State Rep. Ed DeLaney, an Indianapolis Democrat, told a large, boisterous crowd Saturday gatheredoutside of the Statehouse to protest that the law creates "a road map, a path to discrimination."Rally attendees chanted "Pence must go!" several times and held signs that read "No hate in ourstate."

Demonstrators gather at Monument Circle to protest a controversial religious freedom bill recentlysigned by Governor Mike Pence, during a rally in Indianapolis on March 28, 2015.

REUTERS/Nate Chute

Rachel Cowgill and Amy Knopf have been married for 15 years.

"I don't want my child living in an environment where she's made to feel like her family is somehowless than other families," Knopf said.

The protest echoed growing opposition online as companies from Apple to pharmaceutical giant EliLilly took to social media to express reservations about the law. Angie's List had sought an $18.5million incentive package from Indianapolis' City-County Council to add 1,000 jobs over five years.But founder and CEO Bill Oseterle said in a statement Saturday that the expansion was on hold"until we fully understand the implications of the freedom restoration act on our employees."

Salesforce.com has already canceled planned events in Indiana.

Cowgill works for that company. She and Knopf fear for their family and their jobs.

"Both of our employers have started sending out notices about not wanting to be here," Knopf said.

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Pence addressed the critics Sunday, saying: "This avalanche of intolerance that's been poured on ourstate is just outrageous." Asked if he would be willing to add sexual orientation to the list ofcharacteristics against which discrimination is illegal, he said, "I will not push for that. That's not onmy agenda, and that's not been an objective of the people of the state of Indiana."

U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, released a video statement on his Facebook page Saturday,saying: "We'll work together to reverse SB101 and we'll stand together to make sure that here inIndiana, we welcome everyone, every day."

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican who opposed the law, has said he and other cityofficials will talk with businesses and convention planners to counter the uproar.

The Indianapolis-based NCAA has expressed concerns about the law and has suggested it couldmove future events elsewhere; the men's Final Four will be held in the city next weekend.

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