RFRA controversy complicates tech recruiting efforts
Tech leaders say the religious freedom law has been a burdensome headwind over the past week, making job discussions longer than necessary and injecting unease in the minds of some candidates.
Tech leaders say the religious freedom law has been a burdensome headwind over the past week, making job discussions longer than necessary and injecting unease in the minds of some candidates.
While many hailed the revisions to the state’s new “religious freedom” law as a salve for the wounds suffered by the state after its passage, neither religious conservatives nor gay rights activists are satisfied.
Arkansas and Indiana leaders have agreed to modify new state laws that were billed as protecting religious freedom but drew criticism from across the country as opening the door to anti-gay discrimination.
The NCAA president, who famously ended his debacle of a Final Four news conference two years ago with, "I'm still standing. I know you're disappointed," has been striking a much different tone this year.
The revised legislation prohibits providers from using the law as a legal defense for refusing to provide services, goods, facilities or accommodations. Legislators hammered out the change after critics claimed the “religious freedom” law could be used to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Bill Oesterle wasn’t the first business leader to denounce the measure, which sparked a national firestorm and was widely seen as anti-gay. But he was among the first Indiana Republicans to vocally support gay rights.
The number of health care providers contracted with the Medicaid managed care plans and Healthy Indiana Patients surged 17 percent in just seven weeks after the federal government approved Gov. Mike Pence’s expansion of the Healthy Indiana Plan on Jan. 27.
Indiana lawmakers have approved changes to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to address charges that it could allow discrimination against lesbians and gays. Gov. Mike Pence has not indicated whether he’ll sign it.
The Republican for months has expressed skepticism with a proposed state-level Religious Freedom Restoration Act if there is no accompanying measure with gay protections.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said Thursday the association spoke with lawmakers and the governor of Indiana about how best to revise the state’s new religious objections law.
Eli Lilly, Cummins, Anthem, Indiana University Health, Dow Agro, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Indianapolis Rainbow Chamber of Commerce said they were encouraged by the new legislation. Angie’s List, however, said it wasn’t enough.
In an interview with IBJ, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said he was bullish on Indiana until the religious freedom law passed, and he’s encouraged by proposed changes being made at the Statehouse.
Most Americans support allowing businesses to refuse wedding-related services to same-sex couples on religious grounds, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll conducted earlier this year.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) announced Wednesday that it would seek a new venue for its 2017 General Assembly.
Indiana Republican legislative leaders huddled behind closed doors for several hours with Gov. Mike Pence, fellow Republican lawmakers and business executives as they worked on language they hope to have ready for possible votes Thursday.
Moderate Republicans and his last Democratic challenger are eyeing Scott Schneider’s seat, which he hung onto in 2012 with less than 50 percent of the vote.
Purdue University President Mitch Daniels, who called for a truce on social issues while Indiana's governor, said people are "heartsick" over the controversy that has erupted over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Officials for the Indy-based, international service group are lowering attendance projections from 10,000 to 7,000, as registrations lag and members criticize the religious freedom law. Some are calling for the group to move its headquarters.
As the backlash intensifies over the religious freedom law in Indiana, the GOP’s leading White House contenders have been drawn into a messy clash that highlights the party’s strong opposition to same-sex marriage and threatens to inject social issues into the 2016 presidential primary season.
Indiana lawmakers proposed changes Tuesday to a GOP-backed bill that would repeal the law that sets wages for public construction projects.