Wilkinson, Gasaway ‘Disappointed’ in Religious Freedom Bill Veto

Stephens County’s state legislators are reacting to Governor Nathan Deal’s veto this week of Georgia House Bill 757, the “religious freedom” bill.

Both 28th District State Representative Dan Gasaway and 50th District State Senator John Wilkinson spoke to WNEG on Wednesday.

The bill stated that pastors who opposed could not be required to perform same-sex marriages. It also stated that faith-based organizations did not have to provide jobs or services to people if doing so violated the organization’s religious beliefs.

Both Gasaway and Wilkinson voted in favor of the bill in the House and Senate, respectively.

Gasaway said he is disappointed in the governor’s veto.

“I know there were a lot of competing interests and they really raised the pressure,” said Gasaway. “My biggest concern is the competing interests did not really read the words on the paper. There is so much politics that the words on the paper don’t matter. The words on the paper clearly said it was not a discriminatory piece of legislation.”

Wilkinson said he is also disappointed.

“I felt like we had worked together and come up with a piece of legislation that would ensure everyone’s rights,” said Wilkinson. “I did not feel it was discriminatory to any individual or any group of people. I thought it was fair.”

There has been talk of the House calling a special legislative session to attempt to override the Governor’s veto.

Gasaway said while he would support such a session if it were called, he does not feel it is worth it because the votes do not appear to be there to override the veto or even call the session.

“I think we are off about eight votes to have the numbers to call a legislative special session,” said Gasaway.

Wilkinson also said that the votes to override the veto do not appear to be there, also noting that a special legislative session would cost the state $41,000 a day.

However, Wilkinson said he does not feel that the legislation will completely go away.

“Most of the conversation I am hearing now is to try to work on some legislation at the beginning of next year’s session and come up with something that the Governor is comfortable with,” said Wilkinson.

Supporters of the bill said it was needed to protect religious freedoms, while critics called it discriminatory towards gays and lesbians.