Cathi Herrod, the head of the very powerful theonomy-lobbying group Center for Arizona Policy, doesn't do a ton of press, usually preferring to work behind the scenes to advance her organization's agenda in the legislature, but she did turn up on CNN today to discuss SB 1062. For some reason, CNN hasn't uploaded the entire video up online as of yet, but Media Matters is featuring this delightful selection in which Herrod won't answer if the law would allow restaurants to exclude customers based on their sexual orientation (or if she thinks that would be acceptable), instead asking viewers to read the bill.

For what it's worth, Ms. Herrod, I'm a Christian, I don't think my rights to practice my faith have been violated in this country ever and the bill bothers me very much. I don't have "hostility" towards religious freedom, I just hate when a group of people start telling me what I believe and how my faith should be practiced.

Meanwhile, Jan Brewer, at a conference for governors in Washington, DC, is still trying to get her "hands around" the bill (whatever that means), but she does acknowledge that it's "controversial" at least, so there's that:

Well, it’s a very controversial piece of legislation. We know that. We know that it’s failed in a lot of states across the country. ... I’ve been reading about it on the Internet and I will make my decision some time before ... by next Friday ... if I do decide to sign it. But it’s very controversial, so I’ve got to get my hands around it.

Not surprisingly but still notable, Visit Tucson (formerly the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau) opposes SB 1062:

Dear partners and visitors,

Many of you have called our office with questions about SB1062, the Religious Freedom Act currently sitting on the Governor's desk awaiting signature or veto. Visit Tucson has been in contact with different organizations including the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association to analyze next steps and the potential impact for our industry. If you are not aware of the content of this Bill, here are some basic points reported by AZ Central.com regarding what the bill proposes:

• Expand the state's definition of the exercise of religion to include both the practice and observance of religion

• Allow someone to assert a legal claim of free exercise of religion regardless of whether the government is a party to the proceedings

• Expand those protected under the state's free exercise of religion law to "any individual, association, partnership, corporation, church, religious assembly or institution or other business organization."

• In order to assert a free exercise of religion defense, the individual, business or church must establish that their action is motivated by a religious belief, that the belief is sincerely held, and that the person's beliefs are substantially burdened.

A Bill like this will potentially lead to discrimination, and could result in groups being discouraged in conducting business in Arizona. Specifically we are concerned about, again, running the risk of organizations, individuals and businesses deciding not to visit or meet in Arizona.

You can email or call the Governor's office to voice your opinion on this potentially harmful piece of legislation.

If you are emailing the Governor please send it to the following address with copies to the staff noted below:

Governor Janice K. Brewer - 602-542-4331 - [email protected]
Chief of Staff Scott Smith - 602-542-1371 - [email protected]
Director of Policy Michael Hunter - 602-542-1371 - [email protected]

Sincerely,

Brent DeRaad
President & CEO
Visit Tucson

J. Felipe Garcia
Executive Vice President
Visit Tucson

• From Christine Jones' webpage.

Christine Jones, who you might remember from her singing tribute to Joe Arpaio, has made her statement on SB 1062, which seems to be "I'm fine with laws against gays, but this isn't the best timing because economy."

I support protecting the First Amendment and believe that government must not dictate to private business owners or professionals that they must violate their long-held religious convictions. To the extent SB 1062 strives to affirm that fundamental truth, I agree. However, I strongly urge the state legislature, and its leadership, to focus its time and energy on policy development that will help stimulate Arizona's economy, lay a foundation for job creation, and improve Arizona's reputation on the national and international stage. SB 1062 will simply be used to caricature our state and hurt our economic growth and should, for that reason, be withdrawn.

UPDATE: Ken Bennett is also against the bill, calling it "divisive":

UPDATE @BennettArizona now 3rd GOP #AZGOV candidate, w @Mayor_Smith & @JonesForGov, to oppose #SB1062. Statement: pic.twitter.com/GZoyHEBMmt

— BrahmResnik (@brahmresnik) February 21, 2014

Meanwhile, according to Brahm Resnick, Doug Ducey can't take a position, because he hasn't read the bill.

• A map shows Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller's home (in black) just around the corner from the repvaving project on Oasis Road that she picked over staff recommendations to pave major arterials elsewhere in District 1.

When four members of the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted this week to move an estimated $800,000 in road-repair funding from District 1 to District 4 earlier this week, District 1 Supervisor Ally Miller was outraged.

Miller said the other supervisors were targeting her because she has relentlessly been dogging them as corrupt big spenders who are mismanaging the county.

But Supervisor Ramon Valadez says political differences on the relative value of budget items—such as support for the county’s southside University of Arizona Medical Center South Campus (formerly Kino Hospital), programs to help Mission Manor Elementary School students attend a special science and math program at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and spending on the Hughes Access Road to support Raytheon, Tucson International Airport and other potential high-tech companies—do not equal mismanagement.

“When you disagree on public policy, that doesn’t mean it’s mismanagement,” Valadez told The Range yesterday. “That means there’s a disagreement.”

Valadez says the Miller opened the door to losing the District 1 road dollars by ignoring staff recommendations regarding how the money could be spent. When the Democrats on the board voted to include $5 million in road-repair dollars, they did it with a caveat that “it has to go to regionally significant and major arteries,” Valadez said. “Why? Because then I can go to my voters and say, ‘This road might be located outside your district, but you take Oracle Road, don’t you? You take River Road, don’t you?’ And you can make the argument that we all benefit.”

Instead, Miller moved the money away from major arterial roads and to her own priorities.

One of those priorities—and the one project that got done before the remainder of the District 1 funding was moved to Colossal Cave Road this week—was Oasis Road between Camino de Oeste and the Marana town limits.

As it turns out, that road happens to be just a block from Miller’s own home.

“Miss Miller lives on Camino del Oeste,” Valadez says. “She had Oasis Road paved from Camino del Oeste to Twin Peaks (Road).”

Miller did not return a call for comment regarding why her office had shifted funds from the staff’s recommendations to a road in her own neighborhood.

But Valadez says he did get a chance to see the work when he recently visited the Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton.

“We did a really good job, I have to tell you,” Valadez said.

Wingspan, Tucson's LGBT community center, is calling for a protest today against SB1062 at 4 p.m. with a rally at the community center's headquarters, 430 E. Seventh St., followed by a march to the governor's Tucson office at 400 W. Congress St.

Under the dubious name of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the bill allows businesses to refuse service to anyone based on the owner's religious beliefs. Next stop is Jan Brewer's signature. The LGBT community is a clear target of this bill. Show up.

Arizona once again makes The Daily Show as a punchline for a segment about how even Kansas rejected the anti-gay legislation that passed the AZ Legislature yesterday.

Meanwhile, Mother Jones looks at how similar bills are cropping up in state legislatures across America:

Republicans lawmakers and a network of conservative religious groups has been pushing similar bills in other states, essentially forging a national campaign that, critics say, would legalize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Republicans in Idaho, Oregon, South Dakota, and Tennessee recently introduced provisions that mimic the Kansas legislation. And Arizona, Hawaii, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Mississippi have introduced broader "religious freedom" bills with a unique provision that would also allow people to deny services or employment to LGBT Americans, legal experts say.

"This is a concerted campaign that the religious Right has been hinting at for a couple of years now," says Evan Hurst, associate director of Truth Wins Out, a Chicago-based nonprofit that promotes gay rights. "The fact that they're doing it Jim Crow-style is remarkable, considering the fact that one would think the GOP would like to be electable among people under 50 sometime in the near future."

• Republican candidate for governor Scott Smith

While the remainder of the Republican candidates for governor have not responded to requests for comment on SB 1062, former Mesa mayor Scott Smith released a statement today that seems to signify that he opposes the bill, although in classic "I'm running for an office" style, he doesn't exactly say as much:

As a Christian conservative, I am very troubled that religious rights are being trampled as part of the current debate on changes in our society. But, I am also a member of a church that has experienced severe persecution because of its beliefs. I firmly believe that discrimination or bigotry in any form is unacceptable. I am concerned that SB1062 carries the real potential for unintended legal consequences that could negatively impact our most basic rights, including the freedom of religion. This bill also could have a detrimental impact on Arizona's business environment at a time when our economy is still fragile. Our state must keep focused on creating jobs and building a strong future for our children.

Not super surprising, but Democratic candidate Fred DuVal is more outspoken on the matter:

If I were governor, I wouldn’t have waited for this bill to get to my desk. I would have stopped it before it passed. I would have made it very clear to the legislature that they shouldn’t bother sending me this legislation. This bill won’t solve any of the problems facing Arizona families; it won’t create jobs or improve education. In fact, it will be a job killer. It’s going to hurt our businesses and hurt our state’s reputation across the country — it’s just plain wrong.

I urge Governor Brewer to consider the opinions of Arizonans such as Senator John McCain, who has said he wouldn’t support SB 1062, and organizations such as the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, which called this bill ‘anti-business.’”

Now is the time for the Republican candidates for Governor — Doug Ducey, Ken Bennett, and Christine Jones — to show some spine: Will they stand up against legalized discrimination or bow down to Cathi Herrod? Anyone who wants to lead the State of Arizona, ought to speak clearly and honestly about where they stand on legalized discrimination. November is coming.

UPDATE: Christine Jones released a statement supporting the bill in theory, but not its timing, stating that it should be "withdrawn." Ken Bennett also opposes the bill, calling it "divisive."

Doug Ducey, who counts Cathi Herrod among his advisors, won't comment yet, according to Brahm Resnick, since he hasn't read the bill. Cap'n Al Melvin, who is still exploring a run last we checked, voted for the bill.

• Photo courtesy of Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria.
• "We reserve the right to refuse services to Arizona Legislators."

Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria is notorious for its prolific witty and eye catching messages on their marquee. But pizzeria owner Anthony Rocco DiGrazia really outdid himself with a small window display to reserve the right to refuse services to Arizona Legislators:

This caught the Huffington Post's attention:

"A customer posted the sign to my Facebook feed, so I printed it up and laminated it," owner Anthony Rocco DiGrazia told The Huffington Post Friday in a Facebook message. "The response has been overwhelming and almost all positive from across the globe. I just want to serve dinner and own and work in a place I'm proud of. Opening the door to government sanctioned discrimination regardless of why is a huge step in the wrong direction. Thanks for all the support."

Photographer Eric Kroll made some photographs of the cowboys and cowgirls at La Fiesta del los Vaqueros this week. The rodeo is back in full swing this weekend. Details here.

Diana Butler Bass is one of my favorite Christian authors (her book A People's History of Christianity is a great read on what following Jesus has actually meant historically) and a former Arizonan. On her Facebook page this morning, she posted a letter to Jan Brewer regarding our current legislative fiasco.

As far as I'm concerned, her perspective is far more Christlike than what Cathi Herrod is trying to sell:

Dear Governor Brewer,

I love Arizona. I grew up there, a proud honors graduate of Saguaro High School, where I was president of the Teen-Age Republicans. Indeed, I was such a good teen-age Republican that in 1976 Sen Goldwater named me Arizona State Teen-Age Republican of the Year. I still have his letter.

Not only do I love Arizona, but I love religion. That might sound odd. But I hold three advanced degrees in the subject: a college minor, a seminary MA, and a Ph.D. in the History of Christianity from Duke University. I have spent my adult life as a professor of religious studies, a best-selling author of eight books in the field, and an internationally-known expert in religious trends. And, more humbly, I hope, I am a serious, practicing Christian. I was confirmed in faith at Scottsdale United Methodist Church on Miller Road when I was 14 years old.

It pains me to say it, but I am now ashamed to read the words, "Arizona" and "religion" in the same sentence regarding HB2153, the legislation making its way to your desk under the guise of protecting religious freedom. One of the things Christianity teaches me is that God is love, and the God of Love loves everybody, even when we struggle to do the same. Yes, our religious denominations teach many different things about what is sin or what is sinful — and our Constitution gives each of us the right to practice our religion as we choose. But as children of God and citizens of a great nation, we should not legally aid discriminatory or hateful acts against those whom we might not want to embrace. As I read HB2153, it seems to care more about protecting exclusion than about creating a society where all citizens have equal rights under the law. I make not like someone or approve of their choices on the basis of my religious faith, but we all must understand that faith also demands that every human being is treated with respect and dignity (that's actually in my church's baptism vows).

Please veto this bill. I no longer live in Arizona. But I am a daughter of the beautiful state in the desert, a person whose own journey was deeply shaped by living in a place where God is present in every sunrise and sunset. My native friends taught me that the Great Spirit lives in us all. I pray that you would be strengthened by the God whose heart is ever-open, and the God who through all of human history has challenged us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Most sincerely yours,

Diana (Hochstedt) Butler Bass, Ph.D.
Saguaro High School, class of 1977
Student government officer and former TARS president