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Campaign archive · 2018

April 13, 2018: Religious freedom and the Amazon bid

In April 2018 Hill argued in print that a state religious-freedom law would not hurt Georgia's chances of landing Amazon's second headquarters. The campaign post at this address carried the same theme.

Original address
/single-post/2018/04/13/Religious-Freedom-is-good-for-Amazon-and-Georgia
Date of the original post
Status
Archive note written by the Public Record editors. The campaign's original text is not reproduced.

What was published

On April 11, 2018 the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran an opinion piece under Hill's byline titled "Religious freedom law would be good for Amazon and Ga." The campaign post at this address, dated two days later, used nearly the same title.

In the op-ed, as we read it, Hill made three points: that a state Religious Freedom Restoration Act modeled on the 1993 federal law would not drive business away, pointing to other states with such laws; that Georgia's existing standard asked government only for a "rational" reason to burden religious practice, so a state law would raise the bar; and that clearer rules would give businesses a more predictable climate.

The debate it was part of

Amazon was still choosing a site for its second headquarters, with Atlanta among the finalists, and local outlets such as WGXA had asked whether religious-liberty bills could hurt the city's chances. In 2016 Hill had voted for HB 757, a religious-liberty bill that Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed after objections from business leaders and gay-rights groups. In April 2017 he told the Marietta Daily Journal he would sign a state bill modeled on the federal law (via OnTheIssues).

Supporters, Hill among them, presented such a law as protection for religious practice and as compatible with a strong business climate. Business leaders and gay-rights groups had opposed HB 757 two years earlier. We report both positions as they were stated.

How it turned out

Hill finished third in the May 22 primary. His wider views are on the positions page.

Sources

  1. Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Opinion: Religious freedom law would be good for Amazon and Ga., by Hunter Hill (Apr. 11, 2018)
  2. OnTheIssues: Hunter Hill on civil rights (HB 757, 2016; MDJ, Apr. 2017)
  3. Atlanta Journal-Constitution: In bid for Georgia governor, Hill focuses on shelving income tax (May 8, 2018)
  4. WGXA: Will religious liberty bills hurt Atlanta's chance at new Amazon headquarters?

This page sits at an address once used by a campaign post. It is an independent archive note, not campaign material, and it does not ask anyone to vote for, support or oppose any candidate. Spotted an error? See corrections.