Post by Logan on Apr 3, 2016 5:35:12 GMT -6
Sponsor pulls bill that would have protected funding for faith-based foster care agencies who denied same-sex couples
LINCOLN — The sponsor of a legislative measure to protect public funding for faith-based foster care agencies pulled the bill from consideration Friday.
State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward said he didn’t have at least 33 votes needed to cut off an expected filibuster. So rather than spend hours debating the measure in the waning days of the session, he opted to table the bill.
“We’ve had enough contention this year,” he said. “I’m a realist. If I don’t have the votes, I won’t fight the battle.”
Legislative Bill 975 would have barred the state from taking action against foster care and adoption agencies that refuse to provide or facilitate services based on the agencies’ “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Several such agencies would turn away same-sex couples who want to be foster parents.
Read more: www.omaha.com/news/legislature/sponsor-pulls-bill-that-would-have-protected-funding-for-faith/article_eff44d93-db6e-51af-b2f5-8f3bff9d6708.html
LINCOLN — The sponsor of a legislative measure to protect public funding for faith-based foster care agencies pulled the bill from consideration Friday.
State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward said he didn’t have at least 33 votes needed to cut off an expected filibuster. So rather than spend hours debating the measure in the waning days of the session, he opted to table the bill.
“We’ve had enough contention this year,” he said. “I’m a realist. If I don’t have the votes, I won’t fight the battle.”
Legislative Bill 975 would have barred the state from taking action against foster care and adoption agencies that refuse to provide or facilitate services based on the agencies’ “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Several such agencies would turn away same-sex couples who want to be foster parents.
Read more: www.omaha.com/news/legislature/sponsor-pulls-bill-that-would-have-protected-funding-for-faith/article_eff44d93-db6e-51af-b2f5-8f3bff9d6708.html