“Indiana already has one national black eye in the aftermath of the RFRA debacle. It doesn’t need another because some legislators insist on letting it remain one of the few states without a meaningful hate crime law.”

–Greg Weaver, former government and politics editor at The Indianapolis Star.

Indiana is at an important crossroads.  If our lawmakers at the Statehouse make the wrong decision, the entire state will pay a dear price.  It is all about a hate crimes law (also known as a bias crimes law) and Indiana is on a list that is not a good one.

The Hoosier state is one of 5 states without a hate crimes law.  The Indiana Senate passed a strong piece of legislation out of committee early in the session, then the bill was amended on the Senate floor in a way that cut the guts out of the proposal.

The bill is now in the hands of the Indiana House of Representatives.  What happens next will have major economic ramifications for us all.

The Senate cut-out the list of groups covered by the bias crimes law, including race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.  Without that list as part of the law, Indiana will remain on the list of 5 states without a hate crimes law.

Two men attended a news conference at the Statehouse a few days ago, put on by the Indiana Technology & Innovation Association.  One was John McDonald.  He is the CEO of Clear Object, one of the fastest growing tech companies in the state, headquartered in downtown Fishers. The other was John Wechsler, founder of Launch Fishers and the Indiana Internet of Things Lab located in Fishers.

Both men understand what is at stake here.  If our state legislators do not enact a meaningful bias crimes law, tech companies cannot survive here.

Check out what McDonald said about the importance of including a specific list of the groups covered in this law.

“Technology is Indiana’s fastest growing sector, but we’re in a death match for talent. There aren’t enough skilled workers to fill the jobs we’re creating,” said McDonald. “Having Indiana on the list of 5 states without a bias crimes law is a barrier to attracting skilled talent to our state. We can’t get off this unflattering ‘list of 5,’ without a list.”

Firms such as Eli Lilly and Cummins Engine have told lawmakers much the same thing….without a meaningful hates crimes law, young talent will not locate here.  Our reputation will be that of an intolerant state.

Anyone living in Indiana, and I’ve lived here all my life, is aware we are, by and large, a welcoming place.  Like any other state, we have our small segments of people with other ideas, but we are a largely welcoming place.  If our laws do not reflect that, our reputation elsewhere will not reflect that.

Greg Weaver was an editor of politics and government at the Indianapolis Star.  I have never met Mr. Weaver, but based on comments I have seen and heard, the reporters working under him all thought the world of him.  Sadly, he left journalism by taking an early retirement incentive from the Star’s owner, Gannett.

If you want a view on the importance of Indiana’s reputation, read the piece he recently wrote, published in the Terre Haute Tribune Star, at this link.  He says it much better than I ever could.

A letter to the editor was published in the Indianapolis Business Journal’s March 8th edition, signed by Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, several other area mayors and a number of business leaders.  They all urge Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma to restore “the list” to the hate crimes bill (SB12).

Governor Eric Holcomb is solidly behind a meaningful hate crimes law.  Some people are worried the governor has not been aggressive enough in using his bully pulpit to make the case.  It should be noted that Indiana’s governor is institutionally weak in dealing with laws.  The governor can veto legislation, but a simple majority in the Senate and House can override a governor’s veto.

The issue before our lawmakers is clear.  If a meaningful hate crimes bill is not enacted, high-tech firms will not grow, and maybe need to leave the state of Indiana because employees will refuse to live here.  Large companies founded in Indiana, such as Lilly and Cummins,  will not be able to grow their work force and, over time, could be forced to move their headquarters elsewhere because employees will not come to live and work in a state they do not view as welcoming.

So, here we are, at a crossroads.  Our state faces the real possibility of becoming an economic backwater.  What will our lawmakers do?

I know one thing, after getting to know many legislators over the years.  They read their mail.  They pay attention to comments made in phone calls and e-mails.  They all pay attention to what their constituents are saying.

If you have strong feelings about the bias crimes law, now is the time to let your member of the House and Senate in the Indiana Legislature know what you think.

Supporting a meaningful hate crimes bill, with a list, is not just critical to the economic future of Indiana…..it’s the right thing to do.