Georgia Republicans plan to overrule Atlanta's antidiscrimination law


A standoff between the city of Atlanta and a local country club that doesn't want to give spousal benefits to same-sex domestic partners has Republican state lawmakers planning to prevent the city from enforcing a local law that forbids antigay discrimination.

Rep. Earl Ehrhart, a Republican and new chairman of the powerful rules committee, introduced a bill Wednesday that would block Georgia cities from punishing groups that want to exclude gays and lesbians. Atlanta Democrats accused conservative lawmakers of hypocrisy: upholding local control unless they disagree with local decisions. "Atlanta is under attack," said Democratic representative Bob Holmes, chairman of the Fulton County delegation.