Romney: Veto Ariz. bill

Mitt Romney on Tuesday joined a growing chorus of Republicans urging the Arizona governor to veto a bill that would allow business owners to cite their religious beliefs in refusing service to gay people.

The former Massachusetts governor tweeted at Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), saying it “is right” to veto the bill passed by the state legislature last week.

.@GovBrewer: veto of #SB1062 is right.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) February 25, 2014

Brewer has not said whether she would sign or veto the measure. However, a number of media outlets have reported people close to her expect her to veto it.

{mosads}Brewer told CNN she would weigh both sides before deciding the right thing to do. She noted she is pro-business and appreciated the business community’s input. She has until Friday to make a decision.

Both Arizona Sens. John McCain (R) and Jeff Flake (R) sent out short tweets earlier this week encouraging the governor to veto the bill.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Tuesday said the bill is “ill-timed” and is totally unrelated to “religious liberty.”

The bill has caught the ire of gay rights advocates and the business community in the state. They say it would codify discrimination and drive business out of the state. The NFL, which is set to host the Super Bowl in Arizona next year, has said it is following the debate.

Proponents of the measure note Arizona already has a religious freedom law on the books and claim the current proposal is seeking to clarify it.