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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBreaking in Indy: Nine CEOs call on Pence, legislature to modify 'religious freedom' law
Nine CEOs call on Pence, legislature to modify 'religious freedom' lawJeff Swiatek and Tim Evans 5:47 p.m. EDT March 30, 2015
"We are deeply concerned about the impact it is having on our employees," letter says.
Top executives at nine major Indiana companies today called on Gov. Mike Pence and legislative leaders to reform the newly passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act so it can't be used to "justify discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity."
The one-page letter was released this afternoon after being hand-delivered to Pence, House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President David Long.
"Regardless of the original intention of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, we are deeply concerned about the impact it is having on our employees and on the reputation of our state," the letter says.
More at Link: http://www.indystar.com/story/money/2015/03/30/nine-ceos-call-pence-legislature-modify-religious-freedom-law/70689924/
Other executives (joining CEO of Cummings) signing the letter were Bill Oesterle, CEO of Angie's List; Joseph Swedish, CEO of Anthem; Jeff Smulyan, CEO of Emmis Communications; Dan Evans, CEO of Indiana University Health; Jack Phillips, CEO of Roche Diagnostics; John Lechleiter, CEO of Eli Lilly and Co.; and Tim Hassinger, CEO of Dow AgroSciences.
These are some of the largest employers in the state. You have also had calls from several Universities (IU, Butler, DePauw, and a quieter non political statement from Purdue (where Mitch Daniels is Pres)
I can not recall a situation like this happening before.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Myrina
(12,296 posts)calimary
(81,467 posts)Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)these people are.
Lets be aware of who exists for the sole purpose of hate, and who doesn't.
This is a good way of finding out who belongs in what column.
Pence is angry, BTW, that there is any blow-back and he is threatening something, not sure what.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)Who wants to be the next state or governor to deal with this sort of thing?
It's already a net gain, though repeal or functional defanging also seems inevitable at this point.
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)businesses with hate signs and those with love signs, if you know what I mean.
I wanna know which businesses support this and which dont...
I want their bigoted asses out in the open
salin
(48,955 posts)and suddenly... very silent. Alot has happened today. Yet his voice is not one I have seen reported (just replays of his 5 minutes of infamy when he wouldn't state that this would not allow discrimination.)
calimary
(81,467 posts)"MY religion trumps your rights" laws (MRTYR - HAH!!!! OMG look at THAT!!!! "Martyr"!!!!!!!! ROFL!!!!!!!) and GET RID of them, too.
And reverse the Hobby Lobby blunder.
And that one that pence keeps trying to point out that President Clinton signed ("but... but... but... CLINTON did it too!!! CLINTON did it TOO!!!!!!" - THAT one has to be revisited as well.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)calimary
(81,467 posts)libdem4life
(13,877 posts)My poor, liberal sister lives there. Pity.
safeinOhio
(32,719 posts)is to find a loop-hole in the Bible. Money always wins.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)I'm waiting to see what our idiot Republican-controlled legislature does in NC. Governor McCrory isn't too thrilled with what they're proposing. He's trying to lure one of the big auto manufacturers here, and the good ol' boys aren't helping.
Apple has a data center in Maiden, NC and Tim Cook has already spoken out:
Apple CEO, Gov. McCrory Call Out NC Religious Freedom Proposal
http://www.twcnews.com/nc/triad/news/2015/03/30/apple-ceo--gov--mccrory-call-out-nc-religious-freedom-proposal.html
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)These companies and more have been working against this law from the beginning. This is not just a case of them coming on board since the uproar. They have been supportive of Freedom Indiana since the early days. Freedom Indiana was formed to oppose the effort to pass a Gay Marriage Ban amendment, which was procedurally defeated before the existing law was tossed by the courts altogether.
Many of us here in Hoosierland have been fighting this idiocy for years, and that includes many of the larger businesses located here.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)Cha
(297,655 posts)on board against the gov and his legislature.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)It is sad companies who choose not to discriminate will be caught up in this but I give credit to the companies which have stepped up. Pence is going to have to man up to the religious groups and say he is not going to discriminate against citizens if his state. Until these groups are shut down and stopped from pushing their beliefs on others they will not stop.
sdfernando
(4,941 posts)and if not, why not?
salin
(48,955 posts)but the teaparty doesn't listen very well.
Until it hits crisis.
sdfernando
(4,941 posts)I would be less enthused about a CEO that only came out against it because of the falling $$$ signs.
herding cats
(19,567 posts)In enacting RFRA, the legislature and Pence untypically defied the wishes of Indiana's largest corporations, including Lilly, Cummins, Cook Group and Anthem.
Cummins and other companies actively testified against RFRA legislation at public hearings. Other companies weighed in with letters and talking to legislators from their home districts.
It would appear Pence acting surprised, has been exposed for just that, acting. These major companies attempted to be heard prior to the passage if this law and were ignored by the state lawmakers.
Cha
(297,655 posts)herding cats
(19,567 posts)It's the Republican way.
Nice to see you, Cha.
Most have been supportive of Freedom Indiana since the days of fighting the Gay Marriage Ban amendment.
Almost all big businesses in Indiana are against this.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)They're going to get away with pretending this was all an unintended side-effect.
yardwork
(61,708 posts)These laws are being written and passed in legislatures around the country for a very specific reason. The timing makes it clear that these laws are specifically designed to allow discrimination against gay folks, now that we've come out of the closet and won't shut up.
they are so dishonest, they will not own their own bigotry
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)they pretend no one wrote, passed & signed the law. Cowards & liars, every one of them.
sheshe2
(83,900 posts)his hate without repercussion. He's learning differently.
mnhtnbb
(31,404 posts)But, Republicans will definitely respond to $$ pressure.
sunnystarr
(2,638 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)Trillo
(9,154 posts)druidity33
(6,446 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)Interesting. Divide and Conquer would be their strategy.
Found this.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2015/0330/Who-s-pushing-the-religious-freedom-legislation-in-states
KingCharlemagne
(7,908 posts)either since at least 1974 (Watergate and Tricky Dick's resignation).
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)would I stop doing everything I can to boycott the state of Indiana even if this law were repealed? It will still be the same state..same bigoted governor, same bigoted, fundy legislature, same rednecks who elected all of them. Why let up on them when this is just a very small change in all of that?
Cheviteau
(383 posts)You just can't mask hatred.
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)I called Clabber Girl (talked to a person), ESPN (talked to a person), and NCAA (closed for the day).
You can make a difference
Clabber -812-232-9443
ESPN -888-549-3776
NCAA - 317-917-6222
matt819
(10,749 posts)Fucking cowards. Demand that it be reversed.
bullwinkle428
(20,630 posts)Thespian2
(2,741 posts)MONEY got a real loud voice!
Pence has probably spent hours on the phone, looking for all those corporations who asked for this legislation...or did they? One can never trust the lying liars.
ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)Released about an hour ago, and re-posted with permission:
Statement on Indianas Religious Freedom Rights Law
Wabash College is committed to being a welcoming academic community. Indeed, for the last 25 years our Faculty Statement of Principle Concerning Diversity has stated, While in no way wishing to abridge the free exchange of ideas, we believe that
actions that threaten or embarrass people because of their race, gender, religion, occupation, sexual orientation, national origin, physical disability or ethnic group hurt all of us. Such insensitivity to any individual or group betrays the spirit of the liberal arts. (Adopted 1990.)
I am following the evolution of the newly approved Religious Freedom Rights Act (RFRA) that is set to become law in the State of Indiana on July 1, 2015. The RFRAs wording is vague and its legal application is unknown. Reports suggest that there may be an amendment to the law, which will clarify the extent to which it either implicitly or explicitly provides an avenue for discrimination against valued members of our society.
I call on our legislators to take immediate action to make it clear that Indiana is a state that will not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
Gregory D. Hess
President of Wabash College
salin
(48,955 posts)As an alumna of a rival institution - never felt the call to yell that out loud - but reading this - I did.
Proud that an increasing number of institutions of higher education in this state are lining up firmly against this law.
ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)I'm a proud Wally, and thank you for the kind words.
salin
(48,955 posts)as are some of my former students, and numerous talented colleagues.
I am, indeed, a graduate of the just south school on the old Monon (sp?) line.
Am so glad to read that the leader of both schools have come out against this law.
ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)I'm also pleased they've both spoken out against this horrid piece of legislation.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)How does this bill differ from the RFRA signed by Clinton in 1993, and why wasn't there a big uproar over that? I wasn't even aware of the federal version till this came up at state level. But then, when Clinton was in office I wasn't paying attention to politics, sad to say.
If I'm not mistaken the language in this bill was based on the language in the federal bill.
salin
(48,955 posts)the website of "The Atlantic Monthly" website that highlights the very specific differences.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)BTW, it's theatlantic.com. I looked for atlantic.com first and it's a different site. thanks so much for the reference though.
MysticHuman
(219 posts)The federal bill from the 90s does not apply to individual states so many states have taken it upon themselves to enact similar bills. All 19 other states and the federal bill are specifically worded to protect individual religious rights from "Government" interference. Such a Muslim wishing to wear a beard in a federal prison... or a Native American wishing to honor his culture again on federal level. So it would be private citizen vs federal or state government. The Indiana law would expand this to private citizen vs private citizen. Thus the fear of a business owner being legally able to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. Arizona also tried to expand the religious freedom law in 2012 the same as the Indiana bill does and if you recall the response was swift and severe. The NFL threatened to pull the Superbowl... countless corporations were ready to pull out of the state.... tourism feared a drastic drop... in the end... our favorite Republican Governor Jan Brewer decided the bill was a huge mistake and vetoed it. Governor Pence wasn't so insightful....and of course now we are seeing the same outrage as we did with the Arizona law.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)I just hope this works against the GOP in 2016.
Cha
(297,655 posts)about to bring down on his Indiana state. YAY, for civilized people!
Mahalo salin
TNNurse
(6,929 posts)Generic Brad
(14,275 posts)Any aspirations he may have had for higher office have been destroyed by his own hand.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)This hateful bill isn't going to last long
salin
(48,955 posts)Amazing turn of events.
salin
(48,955 posts)Sorry the changing events (snowballing in a single direction) keep requiring updates. They are easily buried given the speed of posting on GD.
This one seems equally important - per the likelihood of forcing the gov. and the super majorities in both houses of the legislature to act.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026439503#post2
glinda
(14,807 posts)closeupready
(29,503 posts)I obliged him, and continue to do so. In fact, they are practically giving Barilla pasta away at my supermarket, but I'm NOT BUYING.
Pence will likely learn that hate is not a selling point for either current business owners or for those who wish to establish a base of operations in the Midwest.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)[center]♪ ♫ my true gave to me,
Nine CEOs gripping they might lose some money.
And they want for Pence to turn back the hands of time! ♫ ♪ [/center]
- I dunno. It just ain't as catchy as the old one......
K&R
Thought they could have it both ways, did nothing. Discovered they can't........
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)interests and vote these ignorant bigots out?
olegramps
(8,200 posts)Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I certainly don't trust that legislature to 'modify' it.
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)Or an e-mail address?
We need to become activists on this issue right now!!!!!!!!!!
Myrina
(12,296 posts)And, his staff's phones and VM's have been left unattended since last Thursday.
handmade34
(22,757 posts)should be the only acceptable action
tridim
(45,358 posts)And more confirmation that mass ridicule works.
It is much more powerful than money, which scares the crap out of anyone in power.
VWolf
(3,944 posts)bottom line."
There. Fixed the quote.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)I am in Indy and the company I work for (not one of the ones listed) is also international like Cummins and Lilly and has a firm stance on equality - we have Womens', Asian, African-American & LGBT outreach/'professional groups' for folks to discuss issues and help make the entire company better.
If this law stands, employees are going to look twice at 'what does your company stand for' before they apply or accept a job offer.
Liberalagogo
(1,770 posts)No less than FULL repeal. If this is allowed to stand in ANY form it will be a disaster. Just look to DADT and DOM for examples.
Avalux
(35,015 posts)Unless Pence can show tangible evidence as to why the law is needed (and he can't), REPEAL.
That jackass said it "mirrors" federal law (it doesn't). If it did, what is the need for a redundant law then? What a useless lying sociopath.
Avalux
(35,015 posts)He loses the argument either way....his law doesn't mirror federal law, and there's no discriminatory federal law that needs correcting with his law.
nichomachus
(12,754 posts)Is that the next time the Christian wackos/Teabaggers come to Pence with some cockamamie "law" like this, he will probably throw them down the stairs -- if not out the window.
salin
(48,955 posts)that his presidential ambitions just withered up like a charred piece of paper - and are now blowing in the wind.
Teapartiers thinks he's a wimp (should have just stood up for the discrimination - Yes. It. Lets. Christians. Discriminate.)
Business leaders think he's wreckless and clueless (and doesn't understand PR)
And voters across the state and nation think he is a disingenuous crank.