Democratic lawmakers see religious freedom, nondiscrimination as separate issues

Democratic lawmakers see religious freedom, nondiscrimination as separate issues

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SALT LAKE CITY — Democratic lawmakers aren't keen on the idea of folding anti-discrimination and religious freedom proposals into one bill.

House Minority Leader Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, said the two concepts are related but "very separate."

"I think we can discuss these two things together but they are not the same thing," said King, who has a resolution to make Jan. 16 "Religious Freedom Day" in Utah. "I think it's a hard thing to wrap it into one bill."

Democrats touched on the issue Friday during a news conference outlining their priorities for the 2015 Legislature.

Republicans tied the issues together shortly after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this week called for the state to preserve religious rights while also protecting LGBT Utahns from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

GOP leaders said they don't expect legislation to come quickly or easily. But when it does, House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said it would be one bill.

"I think (the church's) announcement says we've got to start looking at this as the same endeavor. It's the same endeavor in terms of how we treat one another. I think that's a good approach," he said.

Democrats support SB100, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace and housing, as a stand-alone bill.

Senate Minority Leader Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City, said religious freedom and anti-discrimination are distinct issues. He questioned whether the law should allow public officials to opt out of performing a same-sex marriage if it goes against their religious beliefs.

"The devil is in the detail and how far we got with that," Davis said.

Nondiscrimination and religious rights were only two of several issues Democrats have targeted this year.

Utah Democratic Party Chairman Peter Corroon said the party believes in a strong middle class.

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Corroon said Democrats, who are greatly outnumbered in the House and Senate, want to see a good education system, fair wages, a healthy environment and affordable health care.

"These are family issues," Davis said. "They keep stability in our homes."

King blasted Republicans for what he says is a "steady degradation" of public school funding the past two decades.

"What we have right now is a chronically, year after year, undernourished, starving budget system for our public education," he said.

Democrats are also calling for election and campaign finance reform. They lauded the governor's proposal to create an inspector general position to oversee government ethics.

Davis also has a bill for full Medicaid expansion.

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Dennis Romboy

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