Eric Holcomb Must Condemn House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 114, INGOP for Discrediting COVID-19 Vaccine in State Address

The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today called on Governor Eric Holcomb to condemn the Indiana Republican Party’s effort to discredit the COVID-19 vaccine during his first (public) pandemic address in more than 274 days. The INGOP’s partisan effort includes House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 114, proposed legislation which would further taint the life-saving vaccine, force businesses to pay for critical COVID testing, and add to Indiana being ranked as the most dangerous state to live during the pandemic. Holcomb must publicly oppose this partisan and dangerous legislation as Indiana hits the worst surge of the entire pandemic.

“Indiana Democrats pleaded with Republicans for months to implement an aggressive vaccine campaign this summer and fall – to no avail. Democrats called on Eric Holcomb to keep Hoosiers updated about the pandemic this summer – to no avail. Now, Indiana tragically finds itself amidst a surge that will kill hundreds of Hoosiers who chose to believe in the Republicans’ culture wars over the truth: the vaccine will save your life and is the only way out of COVID-19,” said Lauren Ganapini, executive director of the Indiana Democratic Party. 

House Speaker Todd Huston views anti-vaccine House Bill 1001 as a “top priority” for the 2022 legislative session, and Indiana Republicans are ready to ignore opposition by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce to get it signed into law. This – along with Republicans’ criticism of testing and vaccine requirements (despite supporting mandates in 2017) – continues the INGOP’s year-long attack on the vaccine which has led to abysmal state vaccination rates and more empty chairs at dinner tables across the Hoosier State. 

Ganapini added, “Republicans made our state the most dangerous place to live during the pandemic, and they now plan to make Indiana the Wild West should they force House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 114 through the statehouse this session. Only Eric Holcomb can put a stop to the GOP’s irrational behavior, but it’ll take a willingness to publicly buck his party and put his political future at risk to get it done. Leadership requires some tough calls, and it’s time for the Governor to do just that: be a leader. It’s time to put Hoosier lives and the truth ahead of partisanship.”

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 and all 92 counties have received critical relief to make up for lost revenues. Democrats delivered and created this brighter future for families, but unfortunately, the Indiana Republican Party’s extreme partisanship is rooting against these once-in-a-generation investments and the opportunity for Hoosiers to move on from the pandemic.