More than 60 businesses including some of Missouri's biggest corporate names joined a coalition opposed to state legislation that would protect businesses objecting on religious grounds to same-sex marriages, the latest sign of a backlash against such proposals across the country.
Agricultural giant Monsanto, prescription drug benefits manager Express Scripts, and pet food maker Nestle Purina are among employers to join the recently formed Missouri Competes, according to gay rights PROMO, which released the list just hours before a House committee was to hear testimony.
The formation of the coalition comes amid business pushback to legislation in other states protecting those opposed to gay marriage.
Several states and cities have banned travel to Mississippi in response to a law signed by the Republican governor last week to let workers cite religious beliefs to deny services to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce, which opposes the Missouri measure, has pointed to Indiana as another example of the business backlash. A public-private tourism group has estimated that Indiana lost $60 million in hotel profits, tax revenues and other economic benefits after Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Pence last year signed religious-objections legislation.
Leaders of utility company Ameren and BJC HealthCare are among those who signed a letter earlier this month in opposition to business provisions in the Missouri measure.
Supporters argue the Missouri law is intentionally narrower than laws passed in other states and is necessary to protect some businesses from being forced to violate religious beliefs.
I asked Sen. Onder for a response to the economic damage #SJR39 may have on #KC tourism/events. This is what he said pic.twitter.com/KpeUkjuZbd
— Lexi Sutter (@LexiSutterTV) April 13, 2016
The proposal would allow voters to decide whether to amend the Missouri Constitution to ban government penalties against businesses that cite religion while declining goods or services of "expressional or artistic creation" for same-sex weddings. That would include florists and photographers.
The measure comes after bakers and florists have faced legal challenges in other states for declining to provide services for same-sex weddings. It also would shield clergy, places of worship and other religious organizations from being penalized for not participating in marriages involving same-sex partners.
In written testimony addressed to House committee members reviewing the bill, the Missouri Catholic Conference said "no person should be forced to personally attend and participate in a same-sex wedding ceremony if this violates their sincerely held religious beliefs."
Opponents say it would enshrine discrimination in the Constitution.
Hart Nelson, the vice president of public policy at the St. Louis Regional Chamber, said Tuesday that the legislation threatens the state's reputation and could make it difficult for businesses to recruit candidates for jobs.
St. Louis-based Monsanto has similarly decried the measure as an economic hindrance. Lobbyist Duane Simpson, in planned testimony provided by Monsanto, noted the company includes gender identity and sexual orientation in its non-discrimination policy and backs adopting similar policies statewide.
"We do not believe it is good enough to simply have the right corporate policies if our employees and customers don't enjoy basic freedoms and protections in their daily lives," Simpson said in a written copy of testimony.
Republican Rep. Paul Curtman, who is working to guide the measure through the House, has said he plans to continue pushing the legislation despite the business outcry and has said economic concerns should take a backseat to religious freedom.
Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, the only Republican who holds statewide office and a candidate for governor, plans to testify in favor of the legislation during the House hearing.
The measure passed the Senate in March following a failed 37-hour filibuster by Democrats. If passed by the GOP-led House, it would sidestep Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and head to voters this year.
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