Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer likely to veto religious discrimination bill

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer will likely veto the religious discrimination bill that most see as nothing other than anti-gay legislation as businesses, including Apple, are urging her to not sign the bill.

Several sources close to Brewer spoke with NBC News and said she will likely veto the bill.

Her political adviser Chuck Coughlin noted, "It's been her proclivity in the past to focus on the priorities she wants them [the legislature] to accomplish, and this was clearly not part of her agenda." Another source added, "She doesn't want to take any actions that could jeopardize the economic momentum" in the state.

Arizona GOP Senators John McCaine and Jeff Flake have publicly urged the governor to veto the bill, as have three who originally signed SB 1062.

Companies have started weighing in and have put pressure on Brewer to veto the bill. According to CNN, Apple is one such company who has urged the governor against signing the anti-gay legislation into law, as well as American Airlines and Marriott. They all feel the move would be unwise.

If the bill were to be signed into law, it could potentially harm a sapphire glass plant Apple CEO Tim Cook announced they were going to build, which would add jobs to the state.

The NFL is also monitoring the situation as the 2015 Super Bowl is scheduled to be held in Arizona, notes The Washington Post. "We do not support this legislation," the Super Bowl host committee said in a statement.

The statement added that the NFL was "following the issue," and noted that the organization promotes inclusiveness, but no further comment on the issue was released.

Brewer has until Saturday morning to make her decision on the controversial bill.

image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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