Emanuel Trying To Raid Indiana Firms Over Religious Freedom Law

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) is looking to capitalize on the outrage over Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) signing a controversial religious freedom law and raid some jobs for his city and state.

Emanuel sent letters to a dozen Indiana based companies criticizing the law and urging them to move their headquarters to Illinois and Chicago in particular, according to Crain's Chicago Business.

In the letter Emanuel writes that Pence's move is "wrong for the people of Indiana, wrong for the individuals who face new discrimination, and wrong for a state seeking to grow its economy."

"I am writing to urge you to consider Chicago as a place to move and grow your business," Emanuel continued. "Our great city's work force, infrastructure and customer base are unparalleled, which is why the Chicago region is home to more than 30 Fortune 500 companies and the city has been ranked the number one city for corporate relocations for two years running."

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rahm-emanuel-mike-pence-religious-freedom

[Chipper Chat]

1. He may be dirty and ruthless but he's smart.

The northern Indiana counties bordering Lake Michigan and Chicago are blue. They were the reason Obama won Indiana in 2008.

[mopinko]

6. its the chicago way.

which is why he is gonna win.

[RKP5637]

2. Smart move, I hope some of them take up the offer! n/t

[Buzz Clik]

3. This is a logical consequence of the Indiana law. Ask Univ of Wisconsin...

... as their faculty are being stolen by universities across the country as a consequence of the toxic work environment created by Governor Scott Walker.

[murielm99]

4. Yes. I remember it.

My daughter left Madison and went to Vermont. Her roommate went to another state after she finished her PhD. They both liked Wisconsin, too, before Walker.

[valerief]

5. That's what every big city mayor should be doing. nt

[christx30]

7. Come to Austin, business owners.

We are the Anti-Indiana.

http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2014/09/26/austin-city-council-approves-rainbow-crosswalks/16287483/

[herding cats]

8. Texas wantas to legalize discrimination against LGBT people too.

Among those emboldened conservatives are Texas lawmakers looking strengthen the law. They want to make sure business owners can be absolutely assured they can discriminate against gays and lesbians without penalty. State Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) — who some have described as "psychotic" and "bat-shit insane," but we won't because we're polite — filed SJR 10, which proposes a religious freedom amendment to the Texas Constitution. State Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) filed,HJR 55, a nearly identical amendment proposal in the lower chamber. Business leader opposition led Villalba pull the resolution, but the proposal was refiled by State Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth).

...........

Both versions making they way around the State Capitol strengthen Texas' current "religious freedom" law by striking "substantially" from "substantially burdened." By removing one word, the could-be amendment pretty much eliminates any onus on the business owner to prove that their discrimination against LGBTs was motived by religious belief, practically giving them free reign to cry "Jesus" to justify acts of intolerance.

But just in case any ambiguity existed in Texas' current "religious freedom" law or the proposed constitutional amendment, State Rep. Molly White (remember her?) wants to make it absolutely clear businesses can discriminate against gays and lesbians in the name of religion. White's HB2555 plainly states businesses may refuse service to customers because of "sincerely held religious belief or on conscientious grounds." Standards for "sincerely held" or "conscientious grounds" are not defined.

If any of these measures pass or are ratified into the Texas Constitution, they would override San Antonio's LGBT discrimination protections and similar ordinances across the state

http://www.sacurrent.com/Blogs/archives/2015/03/30/texas-if-you-thought-indianas-religious-freedom-law-was-bad-just-wait

Not exactly a bastion of tolerance there. Even if the cities are mostly sane, the state legislature has more than its fair share of batshit crazy religious fundamentalists.