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February 25, 2015 3:30 PM
February 25, 2015 3:30 PM
West Virginia lawmakers have advanced a bill that would ban towns and cities from enforcing local non-discrimination ordinances.
In a heated debate that lasted about one hour, the West Virginia House Committee on Government Organization just passed a bill that bans local governments from enforcing non-discrimination ordinances that expand the state's non-discrimination law. The vote was 16-8.
Targeted at the LGBT community, the bill, if it becomes law, would nullify the non-discrimination laws in six West Virginia cities, and would ban other jurisdictions from enacting non-discrimination laws that protect LGBT people, the elderly, and veterans.
The legislation is being pushed through as a commerce bill, under the claim that it will attract businesses from out of state who would prefer to not have to deal with varying laws in different cities. In truth, most businesses have far stronger non-discrimination policies than any in the state.
The bill, HB 2881, known as the West Virginia Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act, was filed just Monday and scheduled Tuesday night, displaying Republican's desire to push it through without time for factual debate.
It mirrors a similar bill that just became law in Arkansas, another that is being debated in Texas, and one that is already law in Tennessee. Opponents say it undermines local control.
HB 2881 is sponsored by Republican Rep. Lynne Arvon (photo), who is also sponsoring an anti-gay, religious license to discriminate bill, the West Virginia Freedom of Conscience Protection Act.
The bill moves to the full House for a vote.
Arvon, the bill's sponsor, says it's simple. "Sometimes we overthink things as a body."
— Whitney Burdette (@wburdette_DM) February 25, 2015
Image via Facebook
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