Pence this morning on Fox and Friends: 'I stand by this law'

Gov. Mike Pence appeared on Fox and Friends Tuesday morning and said lawmakers will clarify Indiana's controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but declined to offer specifics.

"I stand by this law," Pence told the morning show anchors. He did not say how the law might be amended or clarified.

The brief appearance followed an an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal that appeared in Tuesday's print edition.

"I abhor discrimination. I believe in the Golden Rule that you should 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' If I saw a restaurant owner refuse to serve a gay couple, I wouldn't eat there anymore," Pence wrote in the piece.

Pence repeated on Fox and Friends that he believes the media has mischaracterized the "religious freedom" law, but he said Indiana is "open for business."

"If we have to make adjustments to this law to make it clear...this law was never intended to create the impression that businesses can turn away customers on the basis of sexual orientation, we are going to fix that," Pence said.

When asked whether he would support a clause that would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation, Pence responded: "That has not been my position."

But he said if the state legislature wants to consider it, they can "have that debate."

Pence's office on Monday highlighted the following excerpts from his op-ed in the Wall Street Journal:

"I want to make clear to Hoosiers and every American that despite what critics and many in the national media have asserted, the law is not a 'license to discriminate,' either in Indiana or elsewhere."

"As governor of Indiana, if I were presented a bill that legalized discrimination against any person or group, I would veto it. Indiana's new law contains no reference to sexual orientation. It simply mirrors federal law that President Bill Clinton signed in 1993."

"Some express concern that Indiana's RFRA law would lead to discrimination, but RFRA only provides a mechanism to address claims, not a license for private parties to deny services. Even a claim involving private individuals under RFRA must show that one's religious beliefs were 'substantially burdened' and not in service to a broader government interest — which preventing discrimination certainly is. The government has the explicit power under the law to step in and defend such interests."

"The hospitality and character of Hoosiers are synonymous with everything that is good about America. Faith and religion are important values to millions of Indiana residents. With the passage of this legislation, Indiana will continue to be a place that respects the beliefs of every person in our state."