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WATCH: Bobby Jindal 'Disappointed' by Fix to Discriminatory Indiana Law

WATCH: Bobby Jindal 'Disappointed' by Fix to Discriminatory Indiana Law

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On Meet the Press, Jindal also dodges a question about an even harsher measure proposed in his state, Louisiana.

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Bobby Jindal, the Louisiana governor and potential Republican presidential candidate, is "disappointed" about changes to Indiana's controversial "religious freedom" law, saying he's worried about discrimination against Christian business owners.

Appearing on Meet the Press Sunday, Jindal told hold Chuck Todd he was concerned about such business owners being forced by the government "to participate in wedding ceremonies that conflict [with] their religious beliefs."

The law originally passed would have amounted, many activists said, to a "license to discriminate" against same-sex couples and others who might offend a business operator's religious beliefs. After public outcry, lawmakers approved and Gov. Mike Pence signed alternative legislation with an antidiscrimination provision. Arkansas legislators recently passed a law similar to Indiana's original one and then responded with a similar fix.

"I'm disappointed," Jindal told Todd. "Let's remember ... what this debate was originally all about. This was about business owners that don't want to have to choose between their Christian faith, their sincerely held religious beliefs, and being able to operate their businesses." Although Todd mentioned both states, Jindal addressed only Indiana directly.

"We're not talking about day-to-day routine commercial transactions," the governor continued. "We're talking about a very specific example here of business owners, of florists, of musicians, of caterers who are being forced to either pay thousands of dollars [in potential fines] or close their businesses if they don't want to participate in a wedding ceremony that contradicts their religious beliefs."

Jindal avoided Todd's question about a law proposed in Louisiana that would allow businesses to deny spousal benefits to recognize employees in legal same-sex marriages. "Let me look at the bill," Jindal said repeatedly.

Jindal is a longtime and staunch opponent of LGBT rights; he's recently claimed that conservative Christians are the real victims of discrimination and called for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Watch his exchange with Todd below.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.