Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer today vetoed a bill that would have allowed Arizona business owners to deny service to gays and lesbians.
Business leaders in Arizona and around the country, including the chief executive of American Airlines, had urged Brewer publicly and privately to veto the measure. Some legislators who supported the bill now say they regret their vote and also encouraged Brewer to veto it.
The bill was pushed by the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative group opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage. The group said it would promote religious freedom and protect individuals from what it called the increasing persecution of people due to their religious beliefs. Ref. CNN
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said today that she will not seek re-election, saying it was time for her to pass the torch of leadership.
As Arizona secretary of state, Brewer automatically succeeded Janet Napolitano as governor in 2009 when the Democrat became President Barack Obama's Homeland Security secretary. Brewer, a Republican, was elected in her own right in 2010 and is in the final year of that term. Ref. CNN