Tag Archives: Asa Hutchinson

Via the Arkansas Times: Gov. Asa Hutchinson has appointed three special justices to fill openings on the Arkansas Supreme Court in a case to decide which justices should rule on the lawsuit challenging the ban on same-sex marriage. They are former Republican senator Shawn Womack, now a circuit judge in Mountain Home; former Republican attorney general candidate and former appointed …

Via the Arkansas News: Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday he plans to move quickly to appoint special justices to replace members of the state Supreme Court who recused themselves from a new case spun off from a challenge to Arkansas’ ban on gay marriage. On Wednesday, Chief Justice Jim Hannah and Justice Paul Danielson recused themselves from a new case …

CNN reports: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a religious freedom measure into law on Thursday after state lawmakers overhauled their proposal so that it mirrors the federal law. In the wake of intense backlash against a similar law in Indiana, first-term Republican governor had rejected the first version Arkansas lawmakers had sent to his desk, instead asking for two tweaks …

“I am happy that my Dad is now calling on legislators to rework HB 1228. I had communicated with him my opposition to the bill, along with thousands of other Arkansans and concerned citizens around the country. I’m proud to have made a small contribution to the overall effort to stop discrimination against the LGBT community in Arkansas, the state …

Hutchinson opened his press conference by noting that his own son had signed the petition asking him to issue a veto. The influence of Walmart in today’s decision cannot be underestimated.

At 10:30AM local time Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will hold a press conference on his state’s license to discriminate bill, which was sent to his desk yesterday by the Arkansas House. Hutchinson has vowed to sign the bill, but that was before Walmart stomped into the issue yesterday wearing their trillion-dollar boots. Watch live here. UPDATE: Here’s the full video.

Via Arkansas Online: Arkansas’s Religion Freedom Restoration Act was approved by the state’s House of Representatives on Tuesday in a final vote before it heads to Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s desk. Hutchinson has said repeatedly he will sign the measure into law despite opponents who have called it discriminatory and a backlash against similar legislation in Indiana that has that state’s …

Arkansas Online reports: The chamber voted 24-7 to approve House Bill 1228, the Conscience Protection Act, a day after representatives from the Human Rights Campaign spoke out against the bill in Little Rock and called it discriminatory. HB1228’s lead sponsor, state Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville, has said the bill will shift Arkansas to a strict scrutiny standard, which makes it …

After a strong social media campaign by activists, late yesterday Walmart finally denounced the Arkansas bill that bans LGBT rights statewide. Via the Associated Press: “Every day, in our stores, we see firsthand the benefits diversity and inclusion have on our associates, customers and communities we serve. It all starts with the core basic belief of respect for the individual. …

Via the Arkansas Times: Last-minute pleas that Gov. Asa Hutchinson veto SB 202, the gay discrimination legislation, won’t affect the outcome. I inquired of his press spokesman, J.R. Davis, if there was any chance the governor might change his position to allow the bill to become law, albeit without his signature. The succinct response: “The Governor’s position will not change.” …

Two weeks ago the Arkansas legislature approved a bill that would ban any municipality from enacting LGBT anti-discrimination ordinances. Without a veto from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, that law goes into effect tomorrow. Yesterday Lambda Legal, the ACLU, GLAD, and the NCLR issued a last-minute plea to Hutchinson. SB 202 was passed to thwart cities like Fayetteville and Eureka Springs that …

Last week the Arkansas legislature approved a bill that would ban any municipality from enacting an LGBT rights ordinance. Gov. Asa Hutchinson has said that he will allow the bill the become law without his signature, prompting a social media campaign urging him to issue a veto. The gay brother of state Rep. Charlie Collins yesterday posted a public letter …