Posted on 03/30/2015 8:26:07 PM PDT by Steelfish
Mar 30, 2015 Nine CEOs Call on Gov. Pence to Revise Indiana Law
Corporations are ratcheting up pressure on Indiana over its religious-objections law. Nine chief executives wrote a letter to Republican Gov. Mike Pence calling on the him to revise the law. The full text of the letter, which was written by CEOs from Angie’s List Inc., Anthem Inc., Cummins Inc., Dow AgroSciences, Eli Lilly & Co., Emmis Communications Corp., Indiana University Health, Roche Diagnostics Corp. and Salesforce Marketing Cloud, is below. Read more on the law here and an opinion piece by Mr. Pence.
March 30, 2015
Honorable Mike Pence
Governor of Indiana State House Room 206 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2797
Dear Governor Pence: 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. All of our companies seek to promote fair, diverse and inclusive workplaces. Our employees must not feel unwelcome in the place where they work and live.
As we seek to attract and retain great talent from Indiana and around the world, it is critical that we make it clear that Indiana is the welcoming state we all believe it to be. As leaders in the Indiana business community, we call on you to take immediate action to ensure that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act will not sanction or encourage discrimination against any residents or visitors to our state by anyone.
By immediately enacting new legislation that makes it clear that neither the Religious Freedom Restoration Act nor any other Indiana law can be used to justify discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity, our state’s elected leaders can provide the reassurance to the people of our state, our nation and the world that is needed at this critical moment.
Sincerely,
William S. Oesterle Chief Executive Officer Angie’s List, Inc.
Joseph R. Swedish President and CEO Anthem , Inc.
Tom Linebarger Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Cummins Inc.
Tim Hassinger President and CEO Dow AgroSciences
John C. Lechleiter Chairman, President, and CEO Eli Lilly and Company
Jeffrey H. Smulyan Chairman, President and CEO Emmis Communications Corporation
Daniel F. Evans President and Chief Executive Officer Indiana University Health
Jack Phillips President and CEO Roche Diagnostics Corporation
Scott McCorkle CEO Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Some lesbians are like that too.
Since they only could get 9 SUCKERS to sign (including the Angie’s List guy who’s seeing his business collapse right in front of him), I’d consider it an abject failure.
The NFL put the country through enough with Michael Sam...I doubt they’re interested in more attempts at social engineering...but you never know.
“Joseph R. Swedish President and CEO Anthem , Inc.”
The same Anthem that goes around releasing the PRIVATE INFORMATION, including Social Security Numbers, of their customers?
That might want to invest a few pennies in their own systems before telling others how to operate.
“it would be nice if 900 CEOs called on pence to NOT revise it”
It would be nice if ONE CEO called on pence to NOT revise it. Might even be GOOD FOR BUSINESS, heaven forbid.
“Any morality a bureaucracy possesses is derived from the moral values of its leadership.”
That entire post was spot on.
Your line about morality that I pasted above. I think to a degree business mirrors whatever public mores are at the time.
As is often stated here at FR, homosexuals make up a very small percentage of the population.
But a much larger percentage of the population supports gay rights and equate them to the civil rights.
20 years ago no CEOs would be taking a public stand like this because the blowback would be bad for business.
In 2015 it’s not as bad for business as seeming to not care about civil rights.
Nine companies to short stock in.
I wonder how many of these CEOs ard also members of NAMBLA
There is a way to revise the law so that everyone is happy: change it to apply only outside city limits. Republicans live outside cities, Democrats live inside them. Political conflict arises when city slickers try to impose their lifestyle on country folk and vice versa. Why are we always making one side upset or the other? Let everyone have what they want, and hold them to be responsible for the results.
This is why everyone is closely monitoring what the NFL will say over this controversy. If the league offices announces they will move the NFL Combine to another state and will no longer accept bids for playing the Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium, you will see this law rescinded or amended in literally a blink of an eye.
I too am employed by one of these companies and can’t say anything.
“Joseph R. Swedish President and CEO Anthem , Inc.”
Maybe they should worry more about the huge security breach they just had.
Wonder how many have government contracts? The ones that do have probably heard from the White Hut.
The Indiana law doesn’t go far enough IMHO. It protects those of established religions, but does not restore freedom of association or non-associstion to the rest of us. I understand how the concept of public accommodation was used to desegregate buses, rest rooms, and restaurants, but it shouldn’t be extended to individual personal services, like wedding cake bakers or photographers.
What ever happened to “We reserve the right to refuse service?”
What’s next? Will massage therapists have to take gay clients for fear of lawsuit or loss of license?
So the Indiana Gov. has the power to write and or amend laws too?
Amazing how they forget the governor is a representative of THE PEOPLE ...he is doing what the people want. Don’t yell at the gov, yell at the voters...most of whom are CUSTOMERS! Cowards.
Fair point...but if Pence is running for prez (can’t remember either way), backing off like this is a death knell.
Not sure where else to post this . . .
I just cancelled my Angie’s List membership—by email and by phone. I waited for a response for six minutes after telling the operator I was calling about membership cancellation, a good sign. After I gave the reason for my cancellation, “Heather” told me that Angie’s List had not cancelled its upcoming event in Indiana. I told her that when I’d verified that I’d reconsider.
Anyone know whether or not Angie’s List actually DID cancel, actually DID reschedule in Indiana?
Thanks.
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