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Pence Signs RFRA "Fix"

State of Indiana

Exactly one week after signing Indiana’s religious freedom bill into law, Governor Mike Pence Thursday signed a follow up bill meant to quell the firestorm of controversy that erupted over the  measure.

The follow up bill explicitly states that the recently-passed law known as RFRA can’t be used to deny  service to anyone on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Conservative groups, including  Indiana Right to Life and Advance America, considered RFRA’s staunchest supporters, decried the  new language. They say the clarification bill undoes the religious freedom defenses RFRA provided  and urged the governor to veto it.

But in a statement, Pence says RFRA still enhances protections  for churches, clergy, and religious organizations.

And while some say the follow up bill doesn’t go far  enough, the governor says signing it resolves the controversy and makes clear that everyone is welcome  in Indiana, which he says is the best thing for the state. 

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.