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The battle over Kentucky clerk Kim Davis' refusal to issue gay marriage licenses is beginning to raise the issue in statehouses as to whether lawmakers should enshrine religious accommodations for public officials -- with some warning that failure to do so will only lead to further standoffs. Some point to states like North Carolina, which earlier this year passed a law allowing court officials to refuse to perform gay marriage responsibilities because of their religious beliefs -- while letting other officials step in for them, so eligible couples can still get their licenses. At least one bill has been pre-filed for the 2016 session in Kentucky that would protect county clerks who refuse to issue marriage licenses on religious grounds. But that session begins in January, and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has said he sees "no need" to spend extra state resources on a special session before then when most county clerks "are doing their jobs." Davis and her attorney nevertheless renewed their call Tuesday for state action, as she was released from a local jail after five days.
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Topic: Kentucky clerk battle fuels debate over religious accommodation laws (Read 231 times)
