The Indiana Chamber of Commerce recently made known that it had considered, and may reconsider, weighing in on the same-sex marriage debate in the Indiana General Assembly. Eli Lilly and Cummins Engine have lobbied the Chamber to oppose allowing Hoosiers to vote on the issue even as 31 states have moved to protect their statutory definition of a man and a woman with a marriage-protection amendment.
You may wonder why the Chamber would want to see marriage destabilized. Strong marriages, after all, are such a key part of adult health, stable employment, successful schools, lower crime and other benefits to society. That, however, is not how some inside the Chamber see it; they overlook centuries of wisdom, decades of social research and the devastating impact of marital devaluation in segments of our society.
The hip way to look at this is based upon junk economics, or “economic snake oil” as the Wall Street Journal called Richard Florida’s Creative Class Theory. Mr. Florida contends that social liberalism, particularly being pro-gay, creates an environment that attracts businesses and employees. Going from odd to offensive, his followers claim that cities and states must have pro-gay policies to “attract and retain the best and the brightest of employees.” It is as if to say that married men and women with traditional values cannot be the “best and the brightest.”
The Indiana Chamber need not look far to see through this; the data are easily accessible:
The U.S. Chamber’s survey, “Enterprising States,” includes a ranking of middle-class job growth, presumably those jobs fostered by Mr. Florida’s “creative class.” Four out of the top five growth states from 2002-2009 have passed marriage-protection amendments. None have same-sex marriage or civil unions.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis has looked at states’ growth in per-capita personal income from 1999-2009. Eight of the top 10 states have passed marriage-protection amendments. None have same-sex marriage.
CEO Magazine conducted a survey of 543 chief executive officers in 2009 asking them to rank the best and worst states for business and job growth. Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee were ranked as the best for business. All five have passed marriage-protection amendments. At the bottom, with the worst business environment, were California, New York, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Four of these are arguably the most socially liberal, pro-homosexual states in the nation.
Kiplinger Financial Magazine recently named its top 10 states for predicted job growth in 2012. The top five have marriage-protection amendments and seven of the top 10 states have amendments. Two others (Minnesota and Indiana) are in the process of letting voters decide if they want to give the next generation the best shot at having both a mom and a dad in the home.
A study from CNBC called “America’s Top States for Doing Business” uses data from the National Association of Manufacturers and the Council on Competitiveness. It finds that nine of the top 10 business-friendly states have marriage-protection amendments; none have same-sex marriage or civil unions.
Forbes Magazine in May released its list of top job-growth rates in large American cities. The top five “best large cities for jobs,” and nine of the top 10, were in states where voters had approved marriage amendments.
All of that said, if the Indiana Chamber were to side against proven jobs data, not to mention the traditional values of most Hoosiers, it would be both divisive and unfounded. Members may want to ask their leadership to stay out of the issue this next legislative session and let Hoosier voters have their say in 2014.
Micah Clark is the executive director of the American Family Association of Indiana. This essay was distributed by the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, a conservative think tank headquartered in Fort Wayne.
Flashpoint
FLASHPOINT: Will junk economics drive the Indiana Chamber?
- Flashpoint
-
-
FLASHPOINT: Legislative session reflected Hoosier priorities
The 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly came to an end just a few weeks ago with the final passage of our state’s next two-year budget.
-
FLASHPOINT: A legislative session of missed opportunities
Given the nature of politicians, grand claims of accomplishments and overblown rhetoric about “historic” efforts are to be expected at the close of any legislative session.
-
FLASHPOINT: Again in 2013 General Assembly, middle class generally ignored
Last year, the people of Indiana entrusted the Republican Party with some of their most precious possessions.
-
FLASHPOINT: Indiana lawmakers reinforced school safety mechanisms
Nothing is more important to me than the safety of my children. Every parent has felt that instant, apprehensive rush when their child plays too close to the street or falls down while playing soccer and it is our responsibility as parents to implement every safety mechanism we can muster to protect our kids.
-
FLASHPOINT: Lessons from the legacy media — get it right, first
Enough mistakes and maybe we’ll learn: When in doubt, leave it out.
-
FLASHPOINT: Hoosiers got steady hand in recent session
As the General Assembly began its work last November, as Speaker of the House, I pledged a renewed spirit of bipartisanship with legislators working together to solve our state’s most pressing challenges. As this year’s legislative session concludes, representatives from throughout the state — Republican and Democrat — have joined together to address those issues at the forefront of Hoosier minds: maintaining our state’s fiscal integrity, spurring job creation and expanding education opportunities for every Hoosier family.
-
FLASHPOINT: Time has arrived for overhaul of TV news
Former FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes gave an address in 1992 in which he claimed television news was too superficial and too focused on visuals.
-
FLASHPOINT: Fiscal cliff, Obamacare have already raised taxes enough
Our history is rich with stories of people who have immigrated to the United States for a chance at the American Dream. The American Dream, in its truest form, is the opportunity to achieve success by working hard and playing by the rules; to make it on your own and to say, “I earned this.”
-
FLASHPOINT: Expanding Medicaid coverage makes sense for Indiana
Since last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act effectively gave states the option to expand Medicaid, policymakers across the country have debated if and how to extend health programs to millions of uninsured Americans.
-
FLASHPOINT: Improve public education, stop experimenting with it
In January, the four of us who serve as the Democrats on the House Education Committee outlined our hopes for the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly, particularly in joining with Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz to offer common sense solutions to improve the quality of education for our children. With the halfway point of this session past us, we remain optimistic that positive steps can be taken … but that optimism is tempered by the reality that education policies are being directed by a legislative majority that has a radically different agenda.
-
Healthcare law anniversary no reason for celebration
March 23 marked three years since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law, yet this is not an anniversary that deserves celebration.
-
FLASHPOINT: Defending state’s authority is attorney general’s obligation
The law of the land recognizes the authority of states to license marriage.
-
FLASHPOINT: Stability key for state’s future
Hoosiers have the unique luxury of being the fiscal envy of the nation due to the sound fiscal policies of the last eight years.
-
FLASHPOINT: House budget offers Medicaid solution for Indiana
This week, my U.S. House Budget Committee colleagues and I introduced a federal budget resolution for fiscal year 2014. Our budget is a responsible plan that stops spending money and balances in 10 years — largely through making key reforms to drivers of our debt like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
-
FLASHPOINT: Problem gambling in Indiana: A new understanding of community concern
The week of March 3 was designated as National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.
-
FLASHPOINT: Eastern time in Indiana defies common sense
Nobody complains more than Hoosiers about changing their clocks. And there’s a valid reason — daylight-savings time in Indiana’s Eastern Time Zone is painful.
-
Praying for civil resolution to debate over gun control
Guns are lively ammunition for passionate debate these days.
-
FLASHPOINT: It’s not too late to expand health services
This week, state leaders euthanized the biggest, boldest Hoosier jobs proposal of the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
-
FLASHPOINT: You can’t go back again — and that’s OK
Our progressive colleagues have been telling us for years that the 1950s were a horrid time.
-
FLASHPOINT: The fierce urgency of now — nation needs to protect youth
The alcohol-fueled alleged serial rape of a 16-year-old Ohio girl by two of her similarly impaired classmates — not to mention the drunken videotaped commentary of others — points yet again to the imperative that adult America renews its commitment to address as a true national community those issues that most threaten the health, safety and forward development of youth.
-
FLASHPOINT: A pastor speaks out against Sullivan’s ‘traditional prom’
I am a pastor in Sullivan, Ind., and I am outraged.
Recently, two young students applied to walk the Grand March together in the school prom in Sullivan. -
FLASHPOINT: 0wning firearms is a First Amendment exercise, too
Following the hysteria generated by gun prohibitionists in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, a nationwide rush on gun stores began as citizens bought semiautomatic modern sporting rifles, handguns and ammunition, in effect “making a political statement” about proposals to ban such firearms.
-
FLASHPOINT: Maintaining the priority
Recently a newspaper article has been written about a change in the by-laws of the Indiana High School Athletic Association which speaks directly to attempted undue influence exerted upon students below the level of grade nine and their parents.
-
FLASHPOINT: The fairness of marriage
What is the current Indiana law concerning marriage? Our state defines marriage in a singular way — between a man and a woman.
-
FLASHPOINT: We ask state legislators to abide by their oath of office
All of us relish giving unsolicited advice to our elected representatives.
-
FLASHPOINT: Mentoring is having major impact on public education
While managing local utility services, Mike Martin found a new way to energize his community, and students are starting to benefit.
-
FLASHPOINT: Common Core standards should be common sense
Years ago, when state officials and education experts came together to create new model standards for schools, they probably never expected it to be controversial.
-
FLASHPOINT: Milestone year for Rose-Hulman
The Rose-Hulman campus traditionally quiets down this time of year, yet for me I sense a renewed energy from the phenomenal year just closing.
-
FLASHPOINT: ISU’s reasoning flawed in flight school planning
ISU and the taxpayers of Indiana and Vigo County are being led down a path of deception once again.
-
FLASHPOINT: Incessant attacks on Christianity by the ACLU
It is obviously apparent that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is continuing its onslaught against religious freedom in the United States.
- More Flashpoint Headlines
-
FLASHPOINT: Legislative session reflected Hoosier priorities




