In December, protestors gathered at the state capitol in Lansing to stop a MiRFRA bill being considered during the lame duck session.
LANSING – Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge,, chair of the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee, has confirmed with Between The Lines that the controversial Michigan Religious Freedom Restoration Act (MiRFRA) — introduced as SB 0004 by GOP Sen. Mike Shirkey of Clark Lake — will receive a hearing before the Senate Judiciary committee on Tuesday, April 28.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal GOP political strategy discussions, says the committee will accept only written testimony, and the committee will adjourn with no vote.
"Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, has asked that no vote be taken at this time," the source said.
Meekhof's office did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Amber McCann, spokeswoman for Meekhof, told the Detroit Free Press March 31 the RFRA issue is a priority for some of the members of the GOP caucus, but that it hasn't been identified as a "top priority." Shirkey's office was attempting to find time to arrange an interview with Between The Lines.
The committee will gavel in just as the Supreme Court is concluding arguments in four marriage cases which could dramatically alter the ground for marriage equality in the U.S. no later than the end of June. The release that the bill would receive a hearing came as the Senate was hearing a series of controversial bills which, if passed, would allow adoption agencies to refuse to adopt to otherwise qualified families based on sincerely held religious beliefs.
Jones said the timing was coincidental and was a response to Shirkey's requests for a hearing.
This hearing with no vote does not necessarily mean the legislation is dead. The Judiciary Committee could take it up at any time and send it to the full Senate for approval, and members of the Senate can file a discharge petition seeking to force a vote on the legislation.
Despite these options, the source believes the legislation is effectively dead for this session.
Progress Michigan, a liberal advocacy group opposed to the legislation, slammed the plans to hold a hearing.
"Clearly, the Michigan GOP has not learned anything from what happened in Indiana," said Sam Inglot, a communications person with Progress Michigan. "Conservatives in the legislature are so blinded by their ideology that they'll push for a bill that would hurt families, harm businesses and make us the laughing stock of the entire nation. The fact that this bill is even getting a committee hearing shows how out of line these far-right elected officials are with reality, public opinion and basic human decency."
Gov. Rick Snyder has told lawmakers he will not sign MiRFRA if the legislature doesn't amend the state's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. In fact, the Republican governor who is known for playing his cards close to the vest has gone so far as to issue a public veto threat.
Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He supports MiRFRA, and said in an interview that he thinks the LGBT community should as well.
"I'm really surprised that the LGBT community did not embrace RFRA and claim religious rights to marriage under Federal Law," Jones said.
He also thinks the controversy of similar legislation in Indiana was a political move meant to undercut the Presidential aspirations of Gov. Mike Pence.
"I believe this recent uproar was a political attack on Gov Pence because he is a republican and mentioned he might run for president.," Jones said.
Sen. Steve Bieda, the only Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he could confirm there would be a hearing on the legislation "at some point." He said he is a firm no vote and believes there are other committee members who would vote no as well.
"Their base — their radical right-wing base — really likes this," Bieda said of the GOP's push.
UPDATE, 1:45 p.m. April 23: Jones said late Wednesday that the Judiciary Committee will take oral testimony on MiRFRA as well as written testimony. The oral testimony will be limited because MiRFRA is not the only legislation on tap for a hearing Tuesday afternoon.
