The governors of North Carolina and Michigan, where legislators are weighing bills to strengthen religious freedom protections, are cooling to the idea after similar pushes in Indiana and Arkansas ignited controversy, media reports indicate.
According to the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, 15 state legislatures considered state-level religious freedom bills this year, but only Arkansas and Indiana enacted measures, each amended to protect civil rights.
In North Carolina, Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, isn't saying he will veto the pending state "religious freedom restoration act" legislation, but is clearly uneasy about the measure. McCrory spoke with reporters Monday as opponents delivered thousands of petitions opposing the measure, media reports indicate.
"Im not even sure it will get to my desk, so why comment?" he told the Charlotte Observer. "I need the process to work to see if it will even get to my desk."
The bill has come under pressure from businesses and lobbyists that contend it will endorse discrimination against gays and lesbians.
"IBM has a large number of employees and retirees in North Carolina and is gravely concerned that this legislation, if enacted, would enable discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation or identity," Robert Greenberg, the technology firm's senior state executive, wrote in a letter to McCrory.
Earlier, McCrory told NPR affiliate WFAE he wasn't sure the measure was needed.
"What is the problem they're trying to solve? I haven't see it up to this point in time," the governor told the station's Mike Collins.
Michigan, a state that considered and shelved a religious freedom bill last year, may pass a measure in 2015. But Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has pledged a veto even though the measure hasn't been voted out of committee yet.
"Given all the events that are happening in Indiana, I thought it would be good to clarify my position," Snyder told the Detroit Free-Press, adding, "I would veto RFRA legislation in Michigan if it is a standalone piece of legislation."
The newspaper reported Snyder might approve the bill if an accompanying measure strengthening protections for lesbians and gays was passed at the same time.
In response, the state senator who sponsored the religious freedom measure said he would push to give Snyder that veto opportunity.
"That's the governor's prerogative, but I intend to give him that chance," to veto the bill, state Sen. Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, told the newspaper. "I'm not surprised, but I'm not deterred."
According to the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, 15 state legislatures considered state-level religious freedom bills this year, but only Arkansas and Indiana enacted measures, each amended to protect civil rights.
In North Carolina, Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, isn't saying he will veto the pending state "religious freedom restoration act" legislation, but is clearly uneasy about the measure. McCrory spoke with reporters Monday as opponents delivered thousands of petitions opposing the measure, media reports indicate.
"Im not even sure it will get to my desk, so why comment?" he told the Charlotte Observer. "I need the process to work to see if it will even get to my desk."
The bill has come under pressure from businesses and lobbyists that contend it will endorse discrimination against gays and lesbians.
"IBM has a large number of employees and retirees in North Carolina and is gravely concerned that this legislation, if enacted, would enable discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation or identity," Robert Greenberg, the technology firm's senior state executive, wrote in a letter to McCrory.
Earlier, McCrory told NPR affiliate WFAE he wasn't sure the measure was needed.
"What is the problem they're trying to solve? I haven't see it up to this point in time," the governor told the station's Mike Collins.
Michigan, a state that considered and shelved a religious freedom bill last year, may pass a measure in 2015. But Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has pledged a veto even though the measure hasn't been voted out of committee yet.
"Given all the events that are happening in Indiana, I thought it would be good to clarify my position," Snyder told the Detroit Free-Press, adding, "I would veto RFRA legislation in Michigan if it is a standalone piece of legislation."
The newspaper reported Snyder might approve the bill if an accompanying measure strengthening protections for lesbians and gays was passed at the same time.
In response, the state senator who sponsored the religious freedom measure said he would push to give Snyder that veto opportunity.
"That's the governor's prerogative, but I intend to give him that chance," to veto the bill, state Sen. Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, told the newspaper. "I'm not surprised, but I'm not deterred."