I think the hangup is, Hollywood has used the pent as a symbol of evil, mark of the devil. Many people don't know Wiccan* from wicker and might be down on the administration for spending tax money on it.
You can say, well that's their problem that they're ignorant, but if they're voters it becomes the politicians problem. It's a case of doing what's right for a small minority vs political expediency. Of course we all know where that goes.
* even spellcheck doesn't know