Pence, Bosma & Long Hoodwink the People of Indiana

First they pass a Religious Freedom Bill, which allows business to discriminate and not to provide services to people etc. The law allows businesses to use it as a defense “regardless of whether the state or any other governmental entity is a party to the proceeding.”  This is the difference of Indiana Law over the Federal Law and those passed by other states. The Hose Democrats had offered an amendment clarifying that the religious freedom statute would prohibit discrimination by businesses. The Indiana Legislature as a whole rejected it.

Indiana does not have a law barring discrimination against the LGBT community, the same way against other classes of citizens such as racial minorities or the disabled. So a business could not serve anyone in that class. This Bill was a direct retribution by the state’s Republicans against the courts ruling of same sex marriage.

The revised legislation prohibits providers from using the law as a legal defense for refusing to provide services, goods, facilities or accommodations. It also bars discrimination based on factors that include race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or United States military service.

So now the State’s magic three pass a fix to the law but the fix is only in effect in communities that have anti-discrimination laws on the books concerning sexual orientation. So within Indiana that applies to Indy and 11 more areas.

So Memories Pizza in Walkerton, IN can still refuse to serve certain customer if the place ever re-opens. They just can’t use the law as a legal defense.

It is tine for Indiana to stop this nonsense and enact a real Freedom Bill, removing discrimination from all people no matter what.

Indiana's 50% fix to Religious Freedom Bill

"Republicans had removed the Democrat committee members, so they could move the bill without Democrat support to the full House and Senate for a final vote today."

"Democrats said the changes didn't go far enough. They wanted a repeal of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or full civil rights protections for gays and lesbians."

Indy Star 4/2/2015

The Republican went halfway to fix the mess they created. But what is very funny is how they did it. The Republicans discriminated against Democrats, so now as Speaker Bosma said Hoosiers don’t’ discriminated against anyone he left out that he does against Democrats.  What’s next a bill outlawing Democrats in the State of Indiana? Maybe after this mess they may not want to move forward on that one.

Speaking of a mess the Republicans may still want to approve a law to cancel the common wage bill. You see this would only have an impact on construction workers in a reduction in their wages and a positive impact on large construction companies. But what they don’t care about are 1000 of small business and retail business that will be impacted by the loss of wages of these fine folks. But who cares they don’t donate money to the party. The big companies do. Who cares about workers lets only care about the 1%ERS.

Now lets turn to the talking head our Governor. I am certain Mr. Pence will sign the new bill but mutter four letter words quietly. He proved he is incapable of leadership and dashed his ridicules belief he could run for President or Vice President.  Thank goodness. Now we the people of Indiana need to make sure we remove his man form office in the next election. Too bad we don’t have a recall law. He has clearly shown he is not a leader from trying to subvert the elected Superintendant of Education to this bill and other actions that benefit a few and the people of this state. In the last election he told people he had a roadmap for Indiana well so far all he has done is erect orange barrels with no work at all.

Everyone remember the damage he has done to this state in the next election and instead of voting party lines vote for the person.

Pence said what in 2000? Yes he did.

“Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexual's (sic) as a "discreet and insular minority" entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.

Congress should ... ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.”

Mike Pence 2000 Campaign Website.

Does anyone think he has changed his mind or his heart? It is time for everyone in the State of Indiana to make a pledge not to vote for him in the next election no matter what party you belong too. It is time to throw out of office all of the members of the house who voted for this bill. You know where they are – about 150 years ago at least in their thinking. It is time to start a boycott of businesses that are owned by these representatives or law firms, since many are lawyers. If you own a business you will be hurt by the millions leaving this state due to their actions, if you work for a living you will be hurt as the business you work for starts losing sales.

So now they are going to “clarify” what the indent of the bill was. Rather doubtful that they will tell the real reasons on why this discrimination law was passed. Of course none of us understand what this is all about, according to Mr. Pence none of us understand and the liberal press has blown this out of proportion. After all it is just like the one signed by President Clinton 20 years ago.  Funny a Republican saying a Democratic President did something right. Well it is not the same, in fact it is not the same as passed by many other states.  Most of the other states if not all have protections for all citizens and these laws are to limit what the government can do to its citizens. Not Indiana. This law is a direct assault against one class of people because they won a court case against the state the right to marry who they are in love with.

Governor Pence the only way out of this mess is to repeal this law. Admit you were wrong and move on. Or stand your ground and watch the ranks of those against you grow and grow and next election will be your last. 

Oh and by the way we need to thank Mr. Pence for letting the health department set up needle exchanges to stop an HIV epidemic.  Even if it was against his 2000 statement.

Can you sell to someone who is Greek?

I run a small Internet business with customers all over the world and the USA. Well last night John who lives in California called and started out with “What is going on in Indiana?” “You state is asleep all the time and we never hear anything about it except basketball and football.” “Well John I know you are Greek and as a small business in Indiana with strong religious views about Greeks I can’t sell to you anymore.” At which point John roared with laughter, and said, “I now understand what the law is all about, you must be kidding they actually passed something like this?” Yes John they did. Now John is flying to Indy to buy a very large quantity in June and wanted to know if he could still come. Of course John my business is open to anyone with real money. I was joking about you being Greek but I am not certain about your friend Ed after all he is Polish. 

Have you seen the new Indians road sign?

How do you "clarify" discrimination? Ask Gov. Pence.

Salesforce

Angie’s List

Disciples of Christ

NCAA

NBA

GenCon

Eli Lilly and Co

Cummins

City of San Francisco

City of Seattle

Yelp

Alcoa

Apple

Kiwanis International

What do all of the above have in common? Concerns that the use of “religious freedom” to enact a law to allow discrimination. Our taking head Governor has said he will work to “clarify” but made it clear he is not going to alter or weaken the new law. If you are not going to alter a law how can you “clarify” it, you can’t. He also was very clear he would not enact laws to ban discrimination relative to sexual orientation.

Pence said, "I stand by this law." He also said “we're not going to change this law."

Here is the real problem about 1/3 of Indiana voters are ultra religious tea party people who think this is the 11^th commandment. The other part of this they come out and vote, pardon the pun, religiously.  While Democrats and Moderate Republicans only show up every four years at Presidential elections not when the Governor is elected.

The primary difference between Indiana's law and the 17 others and Federal is that the language specifically differentiates businesses from people. Most states passed these kinds of laws to protect individuals and were limited to government action. Indiana now protects businesses from legal retaliation for discrimination. Another factor is many of the states have laws to prevent discrimination relative to sexual orientation. But not Indiana, so a business can discriminate against someone based on religious belief.

Two men walk into a jewelry store and start looking at wedding bands. The store owner assumes one is getting married and the other is a friend helping out in the selection, they pick a band and then both ask to be sized for the same design. The owner then asks the two men to leave.

Two Japanese women come to Indiana for a visit and go to a restaurant, walking in holding hands. While waiting to be seated they are asked to leave. But wait in Japan it is very common for friends to hold hands. They return to their hotel and tell their business executive husbands what just happened.  Well I guess Indiana will not be getting that new car factory.

Of course much of this can be summed up in a new broadcast from Saturday Night Live - http://www.wthr.com/story/28641232/watch-snl-takes-a-shot-at-indianas-rfra

And don’t forget Indiana's new state slogan: "Just living up to our Ku Klux Klan heritage!"

The Church of Happening Now

The Church of Happening Now

Thank goodness The State of Indiana has passed the Religious Freedom Bill. I have formed a new church – the Church of Happening Now, Indiana branch. Many of you may have heard of the New York Branch that was formed by the Reverend Leroy in the early 1970’s.

We in the Indiana Branch hope to build on what the New Yorkers have done with our new church. The state now has protections in place for us so we can move forward. While we are not sure what we are going to do yet.  Our two themes are "What you see is what you get", and "The devil made me do it!"

We feel that our themes are very reflective of the State look anyone who can pass laws such as this one has to be within these themes. What else could drive them to pass laws allowing a church to do almost anything?

The church elders are currently working on a new set of Ten Commandments and a Newer than Old Testament.  The Commandments Committee has informed me they think they can whittle down the number form 10 to 5.  The Bible Committee believes they can get the Newer than Old Testament down to 52 paragraphs so the congregation can just read one paragraph at services each week. This is to reduce the time needed for religious services. In fact we will be able to just e-mail the paragraph to all every Friday. BYW- Friday will be the new holy day of the week, so anyone who has a job requiring them to go to work on Friday will have the day off as no work is allowed on our holy day. The State of Indiana will have to protect our members against any employer who demands of fires anyone for taking Friday off.

If you need more information or want to join our church please e-mail us at: youmustbekidding@happingnow.org you can even send a donation to us to help get off the ground at our PayPal account: youmustbekidding@happingnow.org.

We want to close with a prayer of thanks to Governor Mike Pence with making this possible.

Indiana Religious Freedom Bill- welcome to dumb and dumber

In 1935 Nazi Germany passed the Nuremberg Laws which was the start of laws against the Jews, the first two laws had names that appeared to be innocuous “Protection of German Blood and German Honour” and “Reich Citizenship Law” then over the coming years, an additional 13 supplementary laws were promulgated that progressively marginalised the Jewish community in Germany and led to the Final Solution with the killing of over 6 million people because of their religion.

The Religious Freedom Bill is just another form of hate, bigotry and discrimination under a name that sounds to be good. We in the United States have a real Religious Freedom law and it was passed on December 15, 1791. We don’t need a bill under the guise of freedom that makes hatred legal.

Now lets get down to this actual Bill. It all started over a cake and a baker who refused to bake a cake for a gay couple. This dumb new law will have no bearing on the baker. The law does not apply in this civil case. The baker can claim he does not believe in gay couples and even his religious belief is against it. But it is not what matters, he is not providing a service and the gay couple can sue him. This is where it gets interesting a man who has a religious belief that he can have more than one wife shows up at the county clerk and wants second or third marriage license. This new law in essence says the state has to issue the license. Or the state has to show why it shouldn’t what reason, how can the state violate his religious belief. Interesting court battle to come.   How will the state react when someone demands he be treated according to Sharia Law as it is his religious belief that Sharia law is the only law between him and God.  He demands his wife be flogged one-hundred times for having sex outside of their marriage.  I can’t wait to see this in the Indiana Courts. The list can go on and on.