INDGOP Ignores Indiana Chamber’s “Strong Opposition” to HB1001

The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today criticized the Indiana Republican Party for pressing on with their partisan goal of passing HB 1001, which would force businesses to pay for testing and create unsafe environments for workers. What’s worse: the proposed legislation came as COVID-19 cases have reached levels not seen since last winter – an era described as Indiana being “on fire” with COVID-19. The Indiana Republicans’ decision to ignore Indiana’s business community and shove through their partisan agenda is bad for business and bad for Hoosier workers. 

“Indiana Republicans embarrassed themselves last month when they tried to cancel out the necessary tools needed for businesses and Hoosiers to fight COVID-19. Republicans are quickly proving they are the party that’s bad for business and bad for workers, and it’s because they would rather put their extreme partisanship ahead of creating a better future for Hoosiers,” said Lauren Ganapini, executive director for the Indiana Democratic Party. “Indiana Democrats continue to ask Hoosiers to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Science, medicine, and Indiana’s health care professionals are equipped to fight the pandemic, and we ask all Hoosiers to do their patriotic and civic duty to help put this pandemic behind us by getting vaccinated.” 

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce announced “strong opposition” last month to the Indiana Republican Party’s partisan crusade against the COVID-19 vaccine and the state government’s attempts to get more Hoosiers vaccinated. Specifically, the Republicans’ extreme partisanship against President Joe Biden’s pandemic guidelines is now jeopardizing Indiana’s business community by a proposal to have companies foot the bill for COVID-19 testing. Indiana Republicans’ neverending movement against vaccines not only harms the state’s economic recovery but once again puts lives at risk. And, it’s all to fulfill a form of partisanship that’s become too extreme for the Hoosier State. 

Indiana Democrats have done everything possible to help Hoosier families put COVID-19 in the rearview mirror. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, Hoosiers have every opportunity to get a vaccine, all 92 counties have received critical relief to make up for lost revenues, and Hoosier families received critical relief checks through the Child Tax Credit. Democrats delivered and created this brighter future for families, but unfortunately, the Indiana Republican Party’s extreme partisanship is betting against this once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Hoosier State.