Public Advocate's Eugene Delgaudio: "Michigan Twin Victories - Defeat of anti-family bill, passing of religious freedom bill"
"We have previously publicized our efforts in Michigan dozens of times to the news media. We now have twin victories in Michigan. The defeat of the Pedophile Protection Act is a victory. The passing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is a victory. God Bless you Michigan supporters and residents who made known their pro-family support for defeating one bill and supporting the other and God Bless America," said Eugene Delgaudio, president of Public Advocate.
Detroit Free Press reports
Quote "The first full week of the lame-duck session of the (Michigan) state Legislature was full of controversial topics...
PASSED...
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, HB 5958, which provides protections for people who object to providing services because of a sincerely held religious belief, passed the House without a single vote from Democrats, who call it a license to discriminate. Republicans call it a protection to practice faith without fear of reprisals. The GOP-led Senate is expected to at least discuss the bill.
FAILED...
Two proposals to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to the LGBT community failed to get enough support to get out of committee. Democrats, who won't vote for a bill that isn't fully inclusive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, want to discharge their fully inclusive bill from the committee for a vote on the House floor. But Republican Speaker of the House Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, said that is not going to happen. " unquote
http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/08/michigan-legislature-lame-duck-session/20066535/
Gay rights bills likely dead, religious freedom act still up for debate
Michigan legislation that would ban discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals remains stuck in committee despite another strong push from business leaders and advocacy groups.
The House Commerce Committee adjourned Wednesday after an hour of public testimony - both for and against - separate proposals that would amend Michigan's Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
"It looks as if today we do not have support for either bill," state Rep. Frank Foster, R-Petoskey, said as he wrapped up the hearing. "So today, we will not be voting."
http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/12/historic_hearing_on_gay_rights.html
LEFTIST LEGISLATIVE LEADER CONCEDES DEFEAT
Leftist pro-gay rights legislator Brandon Diller bemoaned his lose to
Public Advocate supporters on the defeat in the Michigan House
"Michigan missed an opportunity last week to take the next step .... to extend civil rights protections to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, (yet) the will of backward-thinking "leaders" effectively killed the effort."
pro-gay rights slant on defeat
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/12/guest_column_failure_to_add_lg.html
'Religious freedom' measure moves forward in Michigan
MSNBC reports:
Michigan's Republican-controlled House of Representatives has passed a controversial religious freedom bill, teeing up what civil liberties advocates fear will be another wave of GOP-backed legislation that could cripple LGBT rights.
The bill, HB 5958, zipped through the House Judiciary Committee Thursday morning and then the full chamber on a 59-50 party-line vote - all in one day. It now heads to the Republican-controlled state Senate for consideration, and then to the desk of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/religious-freedom-measure-moves-forward-michigan