Former presidential candidate Mitt
Romney and former House Speaker and CNN host Newt Gingrich are the
latest Republicans to urge Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican,
to veto a bill opponents say would legalize discrimination against
gay people.
The measure, known as SB 1062, states
that individuals and businesses can refuse service based on their
religious beliefs. Opponents have called the measure a license to
discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Governor
Jan Brewer denied reports that she had decided to veto the bill.
(Related: Apple,
which is investing heavily in Arizona, calls on Gov. Jan Brewer to
veto SB 1062.)
While SB 1062 has captured the nation's
attention, at least 8 other states are considering similar proposals.
“@GovBrewer: veto of SB1062 is
right,” Romney tweeted on Tuesday.
Gingrich answered his own show's
Crossfire question in a tweet.
“Veto RT @Crossfire If you were
Governor of AZ would you sign or veto the bill? Reply w/Sign or Veto
using #Crossfire,” Gingrich messaged.
The state's two Republican senators,
John McCain and Jeff Flake, also spoke out against the bill.
(Related: John
McCain says anti-gay bill would hurt Arizona's image.)
During an appearance on ABC News' This
Week, Matthew Dowd, former chief strategist for President George
W. Bush, described the bill as using religion to discriminate against
gays.
(Related: Former
Bush aide Matthew Dowd: Arizona anti-gay bill uses religion to
discriminate.)
Additionally, three Arizona GOP state
senators who voted for the bill, Senators Bob Worsley, Adam Driggs
and Steve Pierce, have since publicly stated their opposition to the
measure.
“While our sincere intent in voting
for this bill was to create a shield for all citizens' religious
liberties, the bill has instead been mischaracterized by its
opponents as a sword for religious intolerance,” the three
lawmakers wrote
in a letter addressed to Brewer. “These allegations are
causing our state immeasurable harm.”