Bobby Jindal Stands Against Big Business to Protect Religious Liberty

Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA) did what a Louisiana House panel failed to do – uphold the Constitution and protect religious liberty.  Jindal issued an executive order after state lawmakers in the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee voted 10-2 against HB 707, Louisiana’s Marriage and Conscience Act yesterday.

“In Louisiana, the state should not be able to take adverse action against a person for their belief in traditional marriage,” Jindal said. “That’s why I’m issuing an Executive Order to prevent the state from discriminating against people, charities and family-owned businesses with deeply held religious beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman.”

“We don’t support discrimination in Louisiana and we do support religious liberty. These two values can be upheld at the same time,” Jindal added. “Indeed, we celebrate diversity of belief in Louisiana. Diversity of belief and religious liberty are the foundation of our law and Constitution and they should be protected. As long as I’m Governor, we will fight to protect religious liberty and not apologize for it.”

IBM who is building a new technology and service center in Baton Rogue sent a letter to Jindal on April 15, 2015 objecting to the bill.

“A bill that legally protects discrimination based on same-sex marriage status will create a hostile environment for our current and prospective employees, and is antithetical to our company’s values,” IBM vice president James Driesse wrote in the letter to Jindal. “IBM will find it much harder to attract talent to Louisiana if this bill is passed and enacted into law.”

“I appreciate the letter, but fear that you are confused about what the bill would accomplish in practice, and I hope I can clear up some misconceptions,” Jindal replied in a response to IBM.

Jindal responding to IBM’s characterization of the bill said that The Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act “will absolutely not ‘protect discrimination’ or legalize discrimination in any way.”

“All the bill seeks to do is ensure the STATE cannot discriminate against an individual or entity on the basis of that persons sincerely held religious view about traditional marriage,” Jindal added.

Alliance Defending Freedom senior council Austin Nimocks affirmed that the law protects religious liberty in a released statement yesterday before the vote. “Nobody should be punished by the government for believing that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. The Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act forbids the government from revoking the tax-exempt status or professional license of any person or organization that affirms marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The government should not be empowered to force anyone to choose between embracing same-sex marriage and losing their livelihood or their ability to carry out their organization’s mission. The bill secures freedom by limiting government intrusions into the lives and minds of all Louisianans,” Nimocks stated.

Louisiana State Representative Mike Johnson (R-Bossier City) who sponsored HB 707 approved the executive order. “I applaud Governor Jindal for this Executive Order.  This Executive Order will go a long way to preserve the most fundamental freedom of all Louisianians which is our religious liberty.  As was just mentioned a few weeks ago in oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court, it is incumbent upon every state to address this important issue as soon as possible.  This is a good resolution for our state for now and we intend to bring this legislation again at the earliest opportunity,” Johnson stated.

You can view Jindal’s executive order below:

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. BJ 2014 – 8
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MARRIAGE AND CONSCIENCE ORDER
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WHEREAS,  Article I, Section 1 of the Louisiana Constitution is titled “Origin and Purpose of Government”, and provides:

All government, of right, originates with the people, is founded on their will alone, and is instituted to protect the rights of the individual and for the good of the whole.  Its only legitimate ends are to secure justice for all, preserve peace, protect the rights, and promote the happiness and general welfare of the people.  The rights enumerated in this Article are inalienable by the state and shall be preserved inviolate by the state.

WHEREAS,  in 1974, the people of the State of Louisiana chose to adopt the exact language found in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America regarding religious free exercise as Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution of Louisiana:

No law shall be enacted respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

WHEREAS,  in 2010, the Governor made part of his legislative package and signed into law the Preservation of Religious Freedom Act to further protect the free exercise of religion by making clear:

Government shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a facially neutral rule or a rule of general applicability, unless it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is both:
(1)  In furtherance of a compelling governmental interest.
(2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

WHEREAS, the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act contains virtually identical language to prohibit the federal government from imposing a substantial burden upon a person’s exercise of religion absent a compelling governmental interest and a showing that the action taken is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest;

WHEREAS,  in June, 2014, the United States Supreme Court, in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 134 S.Ct. 2751 (2014), expressly held that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 prohibits the federal government from requiring a “person” to act in contravention of a sincerely held religious belief, and that the definition of “person” includes individuals, non-profit, or for-profit corporations;

WHEREAS,  federal and state law each contain nearly identical, expansive definitions of “person”, while the Preservation of Religious Freedom Act’s definition includes certain terms, but does not exclude the more expansive state law definition:

“Person” is defined by La. R.S. 1:10: “Unless it is otherwise clearly indicated, the word ‘person’ includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not.”

“Person” is defined in 1 USC 1: “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, unless the context indicates otherwise—…the words ‘person’ and ‘whoever’ include corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, societies, and joint stock companies, as well as individuals;…”

“A person” is defined in La. R.S. 13:5234: “‘A person’ includes an individual and also includes a church, association of churches or other religious order, body or institution which qualifies for exemption from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. Section 501).” (Emphasis added.)

WHEREAS, it is of preeminent importance that government take no adverse action against a person, wholly or partially, on the basis that such person acts in accordance with his religious belief that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, but that this principle not be construed to authorize any act of discrimination.

WHEREAS, specifically, government should take no adverse action to:
1. Deny or revoke an exemption from taxation pursuant to La. R.S. 47:287.501 of the person who is acting in accordance with his religious belief;
2. Disallow a deduction for state tax purposes of any charitable contribution made to or by such person;
3. Deny or exclude such person from receiving any state grant, contract, cooperative agreement, loan, professional license, certification, accreditation, employment, or other similar position or status; or
4. Deny or withhold from such person any benefit under a state benefit program;

WHEREAS, the state should consider any person who would be accredited, licensed, or certified but-for a determination against such person on the basis that the person acts in accordance with his own religious belief about the institution of marriage, to be accredited, licensed, or certified for purposes of Louisiana law.

NOW THEREFORE, I, BOBBY JINDAL, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1:  All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and political subdivisions of the state are authorized and directed to take cognizance of the definition of “person” contained in La. R.S. 1:10 when complying with the Preservation of Religious Freedom Act (La. R.S. 13:5230-5242), the interpretation of the virtually identical federal law definition contained in 1 USC 1 by the United States Supreme Court in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby in its holding that the federal government is prohibited from requiring a “person” to act in contravention of a sincerely held religious belief, and that the definition of “person” includes individuals, non-profit, or for-profit corporations.

SECTION 2: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and political subdivisions of the state are authorized and directed to comply with the restrictions placed upon government action in the Preservation of Religious Freedom Act and, including more specifically, on the basis that such person acts in accordance with his religious belief that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, shall take no adverse action to:

287. Deny or revoke an exemption from taxation pursuant to La. R.S. 47:287.501 of the person who is acting in accordance with his religious belief.
     B. Disallow a deduction for state tax purposes of any charitable contribution made to or by such person.
     C. Deny or exclude such person from receiving any state grant, contract, cooperative agreement, loan, professional license, certification, accreditation, employment, or other similar position or status.
     D. Deny or withhold from such person any benefit under a state benefit program.
     E. Deny, revoke, or suspend the accreditation, licensing, or certification of any person that would be accredited, licensed, or certified for purposes of Louisiana law but-for a determination against such person on the basis that the person acts in accordance with his own religious belief.

SECTION 3:  All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and political subdivisions of the state are authorized and directed to cooperate with the implementations of the provisions of this Order.

SECTION 4:  This Order is effective upon signature and shall remain in effect until amended, modified, terminated or rescinded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 19th day of May, 2015.

/s/ Bobby Jindal_____________
GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA

ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR

/s/ Tom Schedler_________
SECRETARY OF STATE