Also on Monday, Cummins Inc. Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger was among nine Indiana company leaders who sent a letter to Gov. Mike Pence and leaders of the Indiana Senate and House seeking changes to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
The letter, dated Monday, asked Pence to immediately enact new legislation that makes it clear that neither the act nor any other Indiana law can be used to justify discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity. Copies went to Senate President David Long and Speaker of the House Brian Bosma.
“All of our companies seek to promote fair, diverse and inclusive workplaces,” the letter stated. “Our employees must not feel unwelcome in the place where they work and live.”
The letter also was signed by William S. Oesterle, CEO of Angie’s List; Joseph R. Swedish, president and CEO of Anthem; Tim Hassinger, president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences; John C. Lechleiter, chairman, president and CEO of Eli Lilly and Co.; Jeffrey H. Smulyan, chairman, president and CEO of Emmis Communications; Daniel F. Evans, president and CEO of Indiana University Health; Jack Phillips, president and CEO of Roche Diagnostics; and Scott McCorkle, CEO of Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
COMPLETE LETTER
March 30, 2015
Honorable Mike Pence
Governor of Indiana
Statehouse 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
