Sen. Rapert, Brummett Debate Constitutional, Religious Protections

State Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist John Brummett discussed a variety of constitutional and religious issues in a 30-minute taped conversation for this week’s TV edition of Talk Business & Politics.

The full interview can be watched at the bottom of this post.

A large portion of the discussion between Rapert and Brummett centered on statewide legislation that has been passed into law and is being debated that would prohibit local governments from establishing anti-discrimination ordinances.

“Doesn’t that boil down to an issue of the religion of some versus the rights of some?” asked Brummett, who also quizzed the senator of a number of LGBT issues.

“What we have happening now is something we never had before in the entire tradition of our country where you have cities – based upon agendas of special interest groups – who are now coming in, and I guess being so arrogant, as to say that they can describe for all of us what should be protected classes,” Sen. Rapert said.

SB 202 is one bill that was debated on the subject of discrimination. Gov. Asa Hutchinson allowed it to become law without his signature, signaling that he had issues with the measure of the takeaway of local control.

Conservatives led the push for the Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act (SB 202), which would “improve intrastate commerce by ensuring that businesses, organizations and employers doing business in the state are subject to uniform non-discrimination laws and obligations,” according to the law. Opponents argued that the bill would open up the state to possible discrimination lawsuits and infringe on the rights of the gay and lesbian community.

The debate over the issue has been discussed since an ordinance that would have banned discrimination in housing, work and public accommodations involving sexual orientation or gender identity, was passed by Fayetteville City Council members last year. The ordinance was later repealed during a special election in December.

Beyond gay rights and public policy, the Brummett-Rapert conversation also delved into majority vs. minority rights, federalism and states’ rights, separation of powers, social media, the Private Option and President Obama.

Watch the full video below.