Holcomb defends abortion ban signing, rebuffs expertise attraction fears
Gov. Eric Holcomb has defended his signing of a near-total abortion ban this month and dismissed fears of enterprise and expertise attraction penalties within the wake of ominous statements from main homegrown employers.
“I’ve but to listen to — and perhaps we by no means will — some (firms) may simply fly over the state of Indiana due to this subject (of abortion),” Holcomb instructed reporters after a luncheon Wednesday. “I don’t imply to behave prefer it’ll by no means occur — it’d. However so are plenty of different points that issue into the place somebody invests.”
Holcomb spoke after a Q&A session hosted by OneZone Chamber of Commerce, which serves Carmel and Fishers.
Requested if he believed Senate Enrolled Act 1 matched up with what the vast majority of Hoosiers need, Holcomb acknowledged deep divisions throughout the state.
“I imagine it was progress. Some individuals imagine it was the alternative of progress. Some individuals imagine that it was not sufficient progress,” he stated. “And I respect that actually. However I’d simply encourage of us to be very respectful.”
Progress towards what? Holcomb stated that “progress” didn’t imply he’d needed to ditch the ban’s slim exceptions for rape and incest, like some fellow Republicans.
“No, it signifies that we made progress. And it met my threshold of progress,” he stated. “We’ll take the following hypothetical within the months and years forward … It will far outlive my tenure.”
Holcomb was optimistic concerning the state’s competitiveness, regardless of warnings from pharmaceutical large Eli Lilly and Co. and engine producer Cummins Inc. launched after the invoice’s passage into regulation.
In a press release Aug. 6, Lilly indicated the ban would have an effect on its talent-seeking and -keeping efforts, including, “Given this new regulation, we shall be pressured to plan for extra employment progress outdoors our residence state.”
The corporate has stated it is going to honor its $2.1 billion Boone County dedication. CEO Dave Ricks made waves in April when he instructed a lunch crowd on the Indiana Conference Middle that Indiana’s low taxes and regulatory burden aren’t sufficient to be aggressive.
Cummins had related reservations.
“We’re deeply involved about how this regulation impacts our individuals and impedes our means to draw and retain a various workforce in Indiana,” stated Cummins spokesman Jon Mills in an Aug. 6 assertion bluntly opposing the ban.
