Arizona businesses want veto of bill angering gays

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer

PHOENIX — Arizona’s biggest business advocacy group is calling on Gov. Jan Brewer to veto a bill allowing business owners with strongly held religious beliefs to refuse service to gays.

The legislation passed last week has triggered a national backlash from supporters of gay rights, and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is among business groups requesting a veto.

The chamber said today the bill could hurt tourism, make it hard to recruit new businesses and open the door to lawsuits against businesses.

But conservative groups supporting the legislation are pushing back and hoping Brewer signs it in to law.

The state Senate is expected to formally send the already approved bill to Brewer as early as today. She would then have five days to act.