Idaho, competing with Kansas:

House panel keeps religious freedom bill alive

Idaho’s Capitol on Wednesday was again the focus of frustration among gay rights activists as lawmakers kept alive a bill that Republican religious conservatives argue is necessary to protect businesses from being forced to serve customers whose lifestyles offend their faith traditions.

The House State Affairs Committee’s 11-5 vote to send the bill to the floor came two days after 44 gay rights activists were arrested for barring entry to the state Senate. More than 500 people, nearly all foes of the bill, showed up.

Dozens who testified during the 3 1/2 hour hearing said they wanted it killed on the grounds that it enshrines discrimination in Idaho law.

However, Republican lawmakers on the panel said they favored the bill to expand an existing 14-year-old Idaho law, making it tougher to sue people who cite their religious faith for not serving, among others, gay and lesbian customers.

“If a person is being burdened in their free exercise of religion… they should have the ability to raise that as a defense,” said Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise and the sponsor.

Luker contends that his bill is necessary because existing Idaho law only helps protect religious people against lawsuits or claims filed by the government — not if they’re sued by individuals. He cited a lawsuit in New Mexico, where a lesbian couple sued a photographer after she refused to take pictures at their wedding, as an example of what could come to Idaho, if his bill isn’t passed.

All 11 lawmakers behind Luker’s bill were from the majority GOP.

Two Republicans, Reps. Kelly Packer of McCammon and Eric Anderson of Priest Lake, joined three Democrats against the bill.

[…]

One Republican on the Idaho committee, Rep. Ken Andrus from Lava Hot Springs, questioned why gays would want to be served by an anti-gay baker, anyway.

𠇍o you think the cake would be as good if he did it against his will, rather than if he did it of his own free will?” Andrus wondered aloud to Monica Hopkins, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho.

“It’s not just the cake bakers,” Hopkins said, contending that Luker’s bill would also protect Christian Identity adherents who may oppose mixed-race couples. “This is the Pandora’s box.”

Only two people, both from the conservative Christian Cornerstone Family Council of Meridian, testified in favor.

[…]

Now, the bill is in the full House, where it could be amended before lawmakers hold a final vote to send it to the Senate.

Gives new meaning to “Let them eat cake!”