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Feb. 26, 2014 / 8:38 PM

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoes controversial anti-gay bill [BREAKING]

The legislation would have made it possible for businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians on religious grounds.

UPI/Gary C. Caskey

UPI/Gary C. Caskey | License Photo

PHOENIX, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Wednesday that she had vetoed Senate Bill 1062, which would have given businesses the right to refuse services to gay people on religious-freedom grounds.

Brewer tweeted this photo of herself vetoing the legislation:

Moments ago, I vetoed #SB1062. pic.twitter.com/gdQn0dG2vB
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— Jan Brewer (@GovBrewer) February 27, 2014

Arizona governor's signature vetoing #SB1062 in Arizona: pic.twitter.com/7PiNlM7WIz
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 27, 2014

Brewer's decision capped off a week of pressure from LGBT advocates, Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, and even the National Football League.

Opponents of SB 1062 called the legislation discriminatory and detrimental to Arizona's economy. Even 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney called for her to veto the bill.

.@GovBrewer: veto of #SB1062 is right.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) February 25, 2014

In a press conference announcing her decision, Brewer said, "I have not heard of one example in Arizona where business owners' religious liberty has been violated."

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"Our society is undergoing many dramatic changes. However, I sincerely believe that Senate Bill 1062 has the potential to create more problems than it purports to solve," she added. "It could divide Arizona in ways we cannot even imagine and no one would ever want. Religious liberty is a core American and Arizona value, so is non-discrimination."

[The Arizona Republic, Washington Post]

Jan Brewer
John McCain
Jeff Flake

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