(Tennessee Gov.) Haslam reverses Metro's anti-discrimination law

[Newsjock]

Source: The Tennessean

Gov. Bill Haslam has signed the bill reversing Metro's new nondiscrimination ordinance, dealing a blow to opponents who had mounted a campaign urging him to veto the bill.

Haslam signed the Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce Act, HB 600, Monday afternoon, a spokesman confirmed without additional comment. The bill effectively reverses an ordinance passed by the Metro Council that required contractors with the city to agree to follow Metro's rules barring discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgendered people.

The move comes despite an effort by opponents of the bill to convince Haslam not to sign the bill, which passed by a more than two-thirds margins in the Republican-led state legislature. Gay rights activists from across the country have been pushing companies to issue statements against with the legislation.

The campaign led the executive committee of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which had supported the bill while it was in the legislature, to reverse its position Monday.

Read more: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110523/NEWS02/110523033/Haslam-reverses-Metro-s-anti-discrimination-law?odyssey=mod|breaking|text|FRONTPAGE

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'Expect a Lawsuit' on HB600, Attorney Says
Source: Nashville Scene

Nashville-based attorney Abby Rubenfeld tells Pith that a lawsuit challenging HB600, the bill that prevents Tennessee cities from enacting nondiscrimination policies different from the state's, is in the works. Rubenfeld's comments come hours after Gov. Bill Haslam signed the bill into law Monday afternoon.

"Yes, you can expect a lawsuit," Rubenfeld said. "We're working on it."

She wouldn't provide details but said a New York-based national firm would be assisting local attorneys in the suit. She also said they are finalizing plaintiffs and backers.

Read more: http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2011/05/23/2460595-expect-a-lawsuit-on-hb600-attorney-says

[Tanuki]

1. "Metro" refers to Nashville

and surrounding Davidson County

[indepat]

2. I remember a moderate-sounding Republican campaigning for governor, but

seeing him, freshly elected, rubber-stamping a litany of extreme RW garbage masquerading as legislation. :patriot:

[msongs]

3. wonder what religion he is? nt

[Tanuki]

6. Presbyterian. nt

[socialist_n_TN]

4. Well we tried.............

But the state legislature had to let us know who's boss.

[LonePirate]

5. Why isn't the solution to move forward instead of backward?

How about making the state's law in line with that of the largest city in the state? Why is the default stance for Republicans to fall back on every single thing?

Oh how I hate the bigots and ignorant than run the Republican party throughout this country.

[roguevalley]

7. these states are planning my travel itinerary for me. I always wanted

to go to Tennessee. Oh well.

[NightHawk63]

8. Mine too.

In July I will be leaving Memphis for Canada. Between the guns in bars, the can't say Gay and this crap, I can't get out of here fast enough.