Nathan Deal Will Veto Georgia’s “Religious Liberty” Bill
Greg Bluestein of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, “Gov. Nathan Deal said he will veto the ‘religious liberty’ bill that triggered a wave of criticism from gay rights groups and business leaders and presented him with one of the most consequential challenges he’s faced since his election to Georgia’s top office.” The two-term Republican governor stated that the bill did not reflect the values of the state and would allow bigotry under the guise of religious freedom. “Their efforts to purge this bill of any possibility that it would allow or encourage discrimination illustrates how difficult it is to legislate something that is best left to the broad protections of the First Amendment,” Deal said.