Business and tourism groups and at least one public official in Savannah supported Gov. Nathan Deal’s decision to veto the “religious exemption” bill passed earlier this year by Georgia’s Republican lawmakers. A statement from the Savannah Tourism Leadership Council said the organization respects the sentiments of the legislative action, but found it unfortunate the legislation did not include an anti-discrimination clause. “While the wording of the bill may not have been discriminatory, the public perception was,” the tourism council’s statement said.