ARIZONA: State's Largest Paper Urges Gov. Jan Brewer To Veto Anti-Gay Bill

From the editorial board of the Arizona Republic:

Gov. Jan Brewer’s pen is a powerful economic-development tool. She should use it to veto legislation that would allow businesses to refuse service to gays and lesbians on religious grounds. Doing so would further what Brewer calls “ongoing work to make Arizona the best state in the country for high-tech companies to do business.” Brewer voiced that optimistic hope for Arizona’s high-tech future in response to news that Google is considering building a superfast fiber-optic network in Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale. Business advocates tout Arizona’s potential to lure companies from Silicon Valley to relocate here. It’s a worthy goal. Legislation passed in the state House and Senate undermines those aspirations. Twin bills, SB 1062 and HB 2153, are promoted by socially conservative groups that oppose gay marriage. The proposed law is so poorly crafted it could allow a Muslim taxi driver to refuse service to a woman traveling alone. Lawmakers opposed to this bill list a series of such scenarios. The real target, however, is the gay and lesbian community.

At this writing Brewer has not yet responded to the passage of the bill. Hit the link and read the full editorial.