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By Maria Saporta, Contributing Writer

A group of business leaders who oppose religious freedom legislation approved Friday by the Georgia Senate are stepping up their fight.

The Georgia Senate approved legislation that combined two religious freedom bills: the “Pastor Protection Act,” which would assure clergy they would not have to perform same-sex marriages; and the “First Amendment Defense Act,” which would allow religious nonprofits to deny services to same-sex marriages.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber gave a letter to every Georgia senator – stating that it had signed the Georgia Prospers pledge, an initiative led by former Republic Senate Majority Leader Ronnie Chance. The letter says the organization has more than 300 Georgia-based companies that have signed on.

Mary Moore, founder and CEO of Cook’s Warehouse, said the religious freedom legislation could become “a big problem” for Georgia’s economic future.

“If this moves forward, it will be a huge step backwards for Atlanta,” Moore said in a telephone interview on Sunday.

“We will become a national poster child for discrimination.”