A Nebraska Senate panel won't act on a
bill outlawing local municipalities from enacting gay protections
laws, the Omaha
World-Herald reported.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Brad
Ashford said Wednesday that the panel was unlikely to act on Senator
Beau McCoy's measure which seeks to block cities and counties from
enacting anti-discrimination rules beyond those which the state has
approved.
Introduction of the bill coincided with
a proposal before the Omaha City Council which would ban
discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the
areas of employment and service providers such as restaurants, hotels
and bars. The proposal would exempt religious organizations.
Omaha City Councilman Ben Gray has
previously said he thinks that McCoy is attempting to undermine his
anti-discrimination bill.
“The timing is suspicious, first of
all,” Gray said. “Secondly, there are some issue that are more
unique to Omaha than the rest of the state. We need the flexibility
and latitude [to pass local ordinances], and it's getting kind of
frustrating that the Legislature keep trying to micromanage the
city.”
McCoy said businesses need uniform
anti-discrimination rules.