Hutchinson asked for changes to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act bill the state legislature passed this week, responding to a nationwide backlash against a similar Indiana law that was threatening to whip through Arkansas. <\/p>\n
Hutchinson had previously said he would sign the RFRA bill if it \"reaches my desk in similar form as to what has been passed in 20 other states.\" <\/p>\n
The Arkansas measure definitely fits the bill. But on Wednesday, Hutchinson said he wanted it to more closely mirror the federal RFRA, which is notably different from the Indiana law and doesn't face the same criticism that it could allow discrimination. <\/p>\n
So who is this governor who appears to have narrowly escaped the still-brewing controversy? <\/p>\n
Hutchinson only took over the governorship this year, but he's been a mainstay in Arkansas and national politics for nearly two decades. <\/p>\n
READ: Arkansas governor sends religious freedom bill back to legislators <\/p>\n
Hutchinson won a seat to the House of Representatives in 1996 after serving more than a decade as a successful U.S. attorney and lawyer in Arkansas. <\/p>\n
His background as a federal prosecutor would rocket him into the spotlight just two years later, when he was tapped as one of the 13 managers effectively, prosecutors of President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial. <\/p>\n
Hutchinson has since said he has no regrets despite initial reluctance to take the job because it wasn't good politics in Arkansas, where he took some flack for his leading role in prosecuting the state's former governor and the only Arkansan elected president. <\/p>\n
Hutchinson even took heat from his opponent during last year's gubernatorial campaign over his role in the impeachment. <\/p>\n
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Here is the original post:<\/p>\n
Religious freedom law: More controversy<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hutchinson asked for changes to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act bill the state legislature passed this week, responding to a nationwide backlash against a similar Indiana law that was threatening to whip through Arkansas. Hutchinson had previously said he would sign the RFRA bill if it \"reaches my desk in similar form as to what has been passed in 20 other states.\" The Arkansas measure definitely fits the bill. But on Wednesday, Hutchinson said he wanted it to more closely mirror the federal RFRA, which is notably different from the Indiana law and doesn't face the same criticism that it could allow discrimination. Continue reading