Mike Theiler/Reuters Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington last week. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is facing mounting pressure from fellow Republicans, civic leaders and business groups to veto a bill that would grant business owners the right to invoke religion to refuse service to gays and others, as my colleague, Fernanda Santos has reported.
On Twitter, the former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney joined Arizona’s United States Senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, both also Republicans, in urging Governor Brewer to veto the bill.
On Wednesday morning, Ari Fleischer, a White House press secretary for the former President George W. Bush, posted on Twitter:
Using a hashtag to refer to the bill, SB 1062, which was sent to her desk on Monday by the Arizona Legislature, Ms. Brewer posted on Twitter early Thursday: “I assure you, as always, I will do the right thing for the State of Arizona.â€
The governor, who returned to Phoenix from Washington on Tuesday, has until Saturday to make up her mind on vetoing or signing the bill into law.
On the other side of the debate, supporters of the legislation are asking her to sign it because they said it protects religious freedom.
It is unknown what specific economic impact enacting the bill might have on Arizona. But as Ms. Santos has reported, executives from Apple Inc. and American Airlines have urged Ms. Brewer to reject the law.
Others, including Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, a Democrat, have called on the National Football League to consider finding a new location for the Super Bowl, scheduled to be played in Arizona next February, if the bill is signed into law.
A spokesman for the N.F.L. told USA Today that league officials were closely watching developments.
The controversy has spurred rallies at the State Capitol and brought unwanted national attention to Arizona.
Some Arizona businesses have used the debate as an opportunity to communicate their position toward their customers, as my colleague, Ms. Santos posted on Twitter.
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