Washington (CNN)Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he does not plan to sign the religious freedom bill that sits on his desk right now, instead asking state lawmakers to make changes so the bill mirrors federal law.
The first-term Republican governor said he wants his state "to be known as a state that does not discriminate but understands tolerance."
His decision comes in the wake of an uproar in Indiana, where Gov. Mike Pence has faced pressure from businesses, sports associations like the NCAA and popular culture figures to backtrack on a similar religious freedom law he signed last week. In Arkansas, it's been Walmart heaping apply the most pressure.
Hutchinson asked lawmakers to recall the law that the Arkansas House had given final approval on Tuesday -- or to send him follow-up legislation that makes the changes he requested.
Meanwhile, Hutchinson said, he's considering signing an executive order that bars discrimination among the state's workforce.
"The issue has become divisive because our nation remains split on how to balance the diversity of our culture with the traditions and firmly held religious convictions," Hutchinson said. "It has divided families, and there is clearly a generational gap on this issue."
READ: Who is Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson?
Case in point, Hutchinson said: His son Seth signed a petition asking him to veto the bill -- and also gave his father permission to tell reporters he'd done so.
Hutchinson said he supports Arkansas adding a religious freedom law to its books -- but he wants it to directly mirror the federal version that President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1993.
"We wanted to have it crafted similar to what is at the federal level," Hutchinson said. "To do that, though, changes need to be made. The bill that is on my desk at the present time does not precisely mirror the federal law."
Hutchinson is the latest Republican governor to back away from religious freedom measures in the wake of Indiana's controversy. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said earlier this week that such a law "makes no sense."
That leaves Pence alone as the public face of the issue -- and it complicates the issue for 2016 Republican candidates, too, who'd backed Pence but now will face questions about Hutchinson's position.
Likely Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton seized on the issue, urging Hutchinson to veto the bill.
The first-term Republican governor said he wants his state "to be known as a state that does not discriminate but understands tolerance."
His decision comes in the wake of an uproar in Indiana, where Gov. Mike Pence has faced pressure from businesses, sports associations like the NCAA and popular culture figures to backtrack on a similar religious freedom law he signed last week. In Arkansas, it's been Walmart heaping apply the most pressure.
Hutchinson asked lawmakers to recall the law that the Arkansas House had given final approval on Tuesday -- or to send him follow-up legislation that makes the changes he requested.
Meanwhile, Hutchinson said, he's considering signing an executive order that bars discrimination among the state's workforce.
"The issue has become divisive because our nation remains split on how to balance the diversity of our culture with the traditions and firmly held religious convictions," Hutchinson said. "It has divided families, and there is clearly a generational gap on this issue."
READ: Who is Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson?
Case in point, Hutchinson said: His son Seth signed a petition asking him to veto the bill -- and also gave his father permission to tell reporters he'd done so.
Hutchinson said he supports Arkansas adding a religious freedom law to its books -- but he wants it to directly mirror the federal version that President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1993.
"We wanted to have it crafted similar to what is at the federal level," Hutchinson said. "To do that, though, changes need to be made. The bill that is on my desk at the present time does not precisely mirror the federal law."
Hutchinson is the latest Republican governor to back away from religious freedom measures in the wake of Indiana's controversy. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said earlier this week that such a law "makes no sense."
That leaves Pence alone as the public face of the issue -- and it complicates the issue for 2016 Republican candidates, too, who'd backed Pence but now will face questions about Hutchinson's position.
Likely Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton seized on the issue, urging Hutchinson to veto the bill.
