Michigan House Republicans just passed a religious “license to discriminate” bill, which would allow anyone to refuse service to anyone and claim their “religious beliefs” require them to discriminate.

The MichiganÂ House of Representatives, led by Speaker Jase Bolger (photo, above, left, with Gov. Rick Snyder,) just passed a bill that would allow discrimination to become sanction by the state. TheÂ Religious Freedom Restoration Act, akin to one that made nationwide headlines in Arizona but was vetoed, appears to merely force the government to step aside if a person’s “deeply-held religious beliefs” mandate they act, or not act, in a certain manner.

Supporters of these bills claim they allow people of faith to exercise their religion without government interference, but in reality, they are trojan horses, allowing rampant discrimination under the guise of religious observance.

For example, under theÂ Religious Freedom law, a pharmacist could refuse to fill a doctor’s prescription for birth control, or HIV medication. An emergency room physician or EMT could refuse service to a gay person in need of immediate treatment. A school teacher could refuse to mentor the children of a same-sex couple, and a DMV clerk could refuse to give a driver’s license to a person who is divorced.Â

MichiganÂ Speaker Bolger fast-tracked the bill, which passed on partisan lines, 59-50. It now heads to the Michigan Senate, and if successful, to Republican Governor Rick Snyder. It is not known if Gov. Snyder would sign it.Â

â€œI support individual liberty and I support religious freedom,â€ Bolger said today. â€œI have been horrified as some have claimed that a personâ€™s faith should only be practiced while hiding in their home or in their church.â€

MLive reports that Michigan’s RFRA is “modeled after a federal version that the Supreme Court has said should not apply to states.”

Editor’s note 12.07.14 3:33 PM EST: Without noting the change, (Google cache of original article, screenshot should that change,) MLive’s article now reads:Â

The Michigan RFRA,Â modeled after a federal versionÂ that the Supreme Court has ruledÂ does not apply to states, would establish a two-part balancing test for legal challenges, according to Bolger.

â€œThe idea that we need to â€˜restoreâ€™ religious freedom â€” rights that are already enshrined in the U.S. Constitution â€” is a farce created by conservative lawmakers for the sole purpose of appeasing their far-right donors and the religious-right,â€Â Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan, said in a statement.

EarlierÂ today a Michigan House committee failed to pass an LGBT non-discrimination bill after a local anti-gay pastor delivered scathing testimony.Â

“No one from the LGBT community has ever had fire hoses turned on them by the police department, they have never had to drink out of an LGBT water fountain,” Stacy Swimp told the committee. “There is no record of LGBT â€” homosexuals, lesbians being forced to sit at the back of the bus in an LGBT section.”

Some responses via Twitter:

The Michigan House GOP sure moves fast when they’re passing laws supporting the religious beliefs of their supporters. #RFRA #discrimination â€” Amy Lynn Smith (@alswrite) December 4, 2014

MI House follows #RFRA with bill letting agencies deny adoptions based on religious beliefs. So much for RFRA not leading to discrimination. â€” MI House Democrats (@MIHouseDems) December 4, 2014

Under #RFRA my pharmacist could refuse to fill my prescription. I should not be forced to follow religion of my pharmacist-@RepVickiBarnett â€” Progress Michigan (@ProgressMich) December 4, 2014

This bill does not guarantee free practice of religion, but to live by the religion of employers and others. #mileg #rfra @RepVickiBarnett â€” PlannedParenthoodMI (@mippadvocates) December 4, 2014

“What if we have a science teacher that because of their…beliefs will teach their students that the earth is 6000 years old?” #mileg #rfra â€” PlannedParenthoodMI (@mippadvocates) December 4, 2014

.@JeffMIrwin: The KKK used religious texts to justify their existence. #RFRA allows discrimination to be cloaked by religion. #MiLameDuck â€” Sam Inglot (@saminglot) December 4, 2014

Another reason to oppose #RFRA MT @ACLUofMichigan: Medicine, not religion, should guide patient’s care at hospitals. http://t.co/qeiOTwZhDj â€” Amy Lynn Smith (@alswrite) December 4, 2014

Testimony in support of #RFRA asks for evidence of judicial decisions that put religion over other rights. Hobby Lobby, anyone? #MILeg â€” Amy Lynn Smith (@alswrite) December 4, 2014

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