Reps. Ballinger, Tucker To Discuss RFRA At Political Animals Club

The August 7th meeting of the Political Animals Club will feature State Reps. Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville, and Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, to discuss the back story of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The event will be held at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in west Little Rock and tickets are $20 per person at the door and it includes lunch.

From Political Animals Club President Rex Nelson:

During the waning days of the 2015 regular session of the Arkansas General Assembly, Arkansas received national attention as Rep. Bob Ballinger of Hindsville led an effort for a religious freedom bill.

Groups across the country claimed that the bill would allow LGBT Arkansans to be targeted for discrimination. The original bill would have prohibited state and local governments from infringing upon someone’s religious beliefs without a compelling reason.

Rep. Clarke Tucker of Little Rock was among those leading opposition to the bill. Gov. Asa Hutchinson asked lawmakers to recall the bill, amend it or pass a follow-up measure that would more closely mirror a federal religious-freedom bill. New legislation was passed stating that the act be interpreted consistent with the federal RFRA Act of 1993.

Ballinger and Tucker will discuss the inside story of the legislation and field questions.