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Welcome! We have loved seeing the growth in membership we have experienced over the last couple weeks. Let’s get a quick review! SB74 is a bill authored by Senator Dennis Kruse to prohibit employers from taking negative action on employees or prospective employees who decline a required vaccine. Indiana for Medical Freedom, Indiana Health Choice Coalition, and Hoosiers for Medical Liberty brought the legislation to Senator Kruse in October after watching unprecedented mandates in Indiana.

Scott’s Miracle-Grow, Indiana University, and Purdue University had made the flu vaccine mandatory for its employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Logic would dictate that once a COVID vaccine became available, it would be mandated by many more employers. The medical freedom groups in Indiana felt it was a priority to protect Hoosier employment this legislative season.

SB74 was assigned to the Pensions and Labor Committee and its first reading was Wednesday January 13th, when over 60 people showed up to support SB74. We are so proud of the medical freedom community for the way they have continued to let their voices be heard! The following week, the State house was closed the due to concerns over potential protests after the Presidential inauguration. Senator Boots set the schedule as the chair of pensions and labor committee and chose to hear SB361, regarding eyelash extensions instead of SB74. Does he feel eyelash extensions are more important than Hoosier rights? SB74 will impact the workforce and economy far more significantly than eyelash extension specialists. Yesterday Senator Boots informed us that he has unilaterally decided that SB74 is not worth taking a vote on. SB74 is worth it! He along with 3 other members of the committee have signed on as Authors/Co-authors of the bill.  SB74 has a total of 9 senators on the bill and bipartisan support.

Senator Rodric Bray has been quoted stating that SB74 is the right thing to do and yet somehow Senator Boots doesn’t feel that there is enough support for SB74, or is it that he just doesn’t want to have to go on record?

SB74 is important for many reasons. First and foremost, the Indiana State Legislator’s role is to protect the citizens. They have the duty to uphold the Indiana State Constitution, Text of Section 3:Freedom of Religious Opinions which states: 

This bill does NOT prohibit an employer from making the mandate, it simply protects the employee from discrimination if they exercise their right to religion, conscious and bodily autonomy. Bodily autonomy, or the right to decide what happens to one’s own body, is a foundational concept in medicine and human rights.

Medical coercion does not fall in line with Indiana's moral or ethical standards of Indiana as evidence by 2020’s HB1143 which prohibited employers from requiring their employees to receive microchips. Microchips can be removed, have no “solicited adverse reactions,” and do not have much potential to have long term health effects. On the other hand, vaccines cannot be removed and according to Congress are “unaviodably unsafe." Vaccines are known to have several adverse effects and long-term consequences. In 2019, a total of $225,457,657.94 was paid out by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Is there such a program for microchips?

SB74 will also provide protections for an employee whose employer ignores the law and fires them anyway.  Some might try to argue that Indiana is an “at will” state and therefor restrictions on the employer should be limited. We learned about the microchip bill above and Indiana also has the “Right to Work” bill that passed without any upheaval from the Chamber of Commerce in Indiana. The Right to Work bill prohibited employers from making union membership a condition of employment.  The Right to Work bill has not resulted in increased risks of litigation for employers and neither will SB74. Statistically speaking, most businesses will follow the law. It is only if a business breaks the law by discriminating against an employee that they would have an increased risk for civil recourse. Anyone else seeing a double standard here? Are Indiana legislators unwilling to protect the bodily autonomy and sovereignty of their constituents?

Senator Boots has stated that “Some believe that federal regulations already provide protections for employees and employers.” Unfortunately the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has made numerous statements to the contrary when it comes to protecting employees. We have also seen that employers defy current Indiana Code which provides very limited exemptions for specific employees, even within the same employer. Some may “allow” religious exemptions but ask for unconstitutional proof via religious tests or letters from clergy. Victims of discrimination who have been denied or lost employment have trouble finding attorneys who will take their case. If a case is accepted, it is either a class action suit or the individual is expected to pay amounts in the ballpark of $10,000 upfront. Federal protections do not seem to hold much water.

Finally, and potentially most important for the preservation of “rights of conscience” in SB74, are minority groups who have historically been targeted for medical experimentation like seen in Tuskegee. Do these vulnerable populations not deserve the right to simply decline as a result of these atrocious acts performed right here on US soil?

We keep going! Our Medical Liberty community has done such an amazing job and we are NOT done yet. We even heard that Senator Boots has never felt more special, reporting that he was receiving calls EVERY MINUTE! We need to continue to send Senator Boots the message that Hoosiers will not be ignored!

What is the plan?

Keep calling! We will persist.  We have our play book and are working hard behind the scenes, but we need your help. Here is how:

1. Call Senator Bray 317-232-9416
   
2. Call Senator Boots 317-234-9054
   
3. Call YOUR senator and schedule a meeting.  You can find their info at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/ It will be the first person that results “State Senator”
   
4. If you feel so inclined, you may continue to call the senators on Pensions & Labor committee. If you do this please thank Senator Kruse for authoring this bill and standing strong.
5. If you would like the phone numbers of Senators Boots, Bray and others from the Pensions and Labor on a clickable list please text 260-286-0988 the word: pass

Let them all know you expect SB74 to be heard by the full senate! You might go so far as to say you expect its passage through the Senate.
These might be a few talking points.

1. When was the last time 60+ people showed up to the Statehouse to SUPPORT a bill?  
   

                       Answer: Jan 13th, Pensions and Labor Committee for SB74

1. Why won’t Senator Boots let the vote happen?
   
2. Will they support Sb74 "AS IS?"
   

                     IF YES: Ask them to follow up with Senator Kruse, Boots and Bray.

We expect to start at 10am. All in attendance are to act with kindness. More information to come!
 
While we wait on protections of conscience from SB74 we wanted to make sure you have the tools you need. We have recently seen an uptick in the number of requests for exemption forms.  We have one attached here. Please feel free to share it and this blog with friends, family, and co-workers.

As always, we appreciate your hard work and dedication in sharing information about our bill, petition, and membership. If you have not taken the opportunity to become a member yet you can do so here. We worked to make it affordable to all at $10 per year. There are also options for larger increments as well as monthly donations for those who feel called to do so.

Thank you again!

I will be updating this further after our meeting. Please download and print the worksheet to be used!

Thank you to those of you who were able to make the meeting. This was such an important meeting we felt it was important to share it with you all!  You can review the recording here!

We are working closely with Indiana for Medical Freedom and Indiana Health Choice Coalition to make this bill successful! We are so blessed to have this excellent collaborative team.

Here is a great write up by Indiana for Medical Freedom did as a follow up to our joint meeting:

If you have not seen the bill yet, the full version can be found here, or read the synopsis: 
Workplace immunization prohibition.

Prohibits an employer from requiring, as a condition of employment, an employee or prospective employee to receive any immunization if the immunization is medically contraindicated for the employee or receiving the immunization is against the employee’s religious beliefs or conscience. Allows for a civil action against an employer for a violation.

One of the most intimidating things about testifying is getting to the right place at the right time.  The meeting has a good review of where to go and the “lay of the land.” Below you can also see a map of the area around the Indiana State House. The red line indicates the public entrance off Capitol Ave. There is metered parking on the streets around the State House. The closest parking garage is marked with a blue dot and is across the street from the public entrance.

To enter the building, there will be a security check that involves putting your belongings in the xray machine, like at the airport, and walking through a metal detector.

Where do you go once inside the statehouse?

There is an information desk and the security staff can point you in the right direction to find it. The hearing starts at 9:30. The public will be testifying in Room 404, and the room will open no sooner than 30 minutes before the meeting. Plan to leave enough time that you will be outside Room 404 at 9:00 a.m. That may mean you arrive in the downtown area by 8:30 or sooner to find parking, go through security, and find Room 404.

Here is a link to find to the safety protocol at the State House for Covid guidelines.

You can fill out an appearance to testify form online starting at 7:00 a.m. on the day of the hearing. Follow this link to click the blue box that says Appearance Form.

Paper appearance forms will also be available for completion outside of Room 404 thirty minutes before the hearing starts.

What do you say during testimony?

Several people have asked this question. First of all, testimony is timed and usually no more than 3 minutes. If a large number of people show up, it may be shorter than 3 minutes. After you complete the appearance form, you will wait until your name is called to go speak at the podium. The usual order of testimony is for Supporters of the bill to speak first and Opposition to speak after, but this is not always the case.

1. Share your personal story and why you are compelled to support this bill. 1-3 minutes is a short amount of time, so be direct about how this will impact your life if your job fires you for declining an employer mandated vaccine. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, YOUR STORY!
2. This bill does NOT take away an employers ability to mandate a vaccine. Employers can require vaccines, but they must allow for exemptions. This bill ensures that workers have rights to bodily autonomy. Current Indiana codes already ensure exemptions for a variety of groups including health facility workers. This will solidify those protections for the rest of Indiana workers. We need recourse for civil action in the law, because some health facilities have not been following the current Code to allow for employee exemptions.
3. There is no current evidence that the new Covid-19 vaccines prevent transmission. They appear to lessen the symptoms but not stop spreading the virus to others. Dr. Fauci has stated that people who have been vaccinated for Covid-19 will need to continue with the same restrictions of social distancing and wearing masks.

These are a few of the main points, but there are numerous reasons that SB 74 is necessary. Having the basic human right to bodily autonomy without being discriminated against by being unemployable is a big one. Vaccines are liability free, and anyone who takes them is responsible for injury that may occur.

Most of all speak from the heart. Speak with strength. Speak with truth. and Speak up for your rights, even if your voice shakes.

Your shaking voice is a signal, it shows that you feel this issue is so important you are facing your fears and CONQUERING THEM.

If you have concerns about writing your testimony, download, and use this worksheet. Then bring it with you on Wednesday.

For those who simply cannot make it to the State House to testify (and even those who can), here is the contact information for the Legislators on the Pensions and Labor Committee. The Committee members will be the ones that take a vote on the bill. Once it passes in Committee, it gets moved to the full 50 members of the Senate. Please remember that a phone call is much more impactful than an email! Phone calls take time. Phone calls tie up Legislative assistants. Phone calls are personal. These calls can make or break this bill. If you feel so inclined you can call daily to make sure the message is heard LOUD AND CLEAR! You can also leave a voicemail if it is after hours. These are still effective! If an assistant comes in for the day and has to spend 20 minutes listening to voicemails we have done our job well!!

If you are unable to make calls emails are great, too. In fact, there is no reason you cannot do both. ;) A great and easy way is to utilize the tool that Stand for Health Freedom has provided for our use. Using this link you can effectively send out emails to the entire Labor and Pensions committee as well as a few of your own legislators!

Senator John Crane:
Legislative Assistant: Morgan Torres
Phone: 317-232-9984
Email: s24@iga.in.gov

Senator Phil Boots:
Email: Senator.Boots@iga.in.gov
Legislative Assistant: Sarah Potter
Phone: 317-234-9054
Email: Sarah.Potter@iga.in.gov

Senator Linda Rogers
Email: Senator.Rogers@iga.in.gov
Legislative aide: Cassie Anderson
Phone: 317-234-9443
Email: Cassie.Anderson@iga.in.gov
 
Senator Greg Walker
Phone: 317-232-9984
Email Senator.Greg.Walker@iga.in.gov
Legislative Assistant: Morgan Torres Email:
Morgan.Torres@iga.in.gov
 
Senator Chip Perfect
Legislative Assistant: Michael Conway
Phone: 317-232-9489
Email: Michael.Conway@iga.in.gov

Senator Blake Doriot
Email: Senator.Doriot@iga.in.gov
Legislative Assistant: Ryan Ritchie
Phone: 317-232-9808
Email: Ryan.Ritchie@iga.in.gov

Senator Karen Tallian
Legislative Assistant: Tyler Hempfling
Phone: 317-232-9404 | 800-382-9467
Email: s4@iga.in.gov
 
Senator Fady Qaddoura
Legislative Assistant: Tyler Hempfling
Phone: 317-232-9404 | 800-382-9467
Email: s30@iga.in.gov
 
Senator David Niezgodski
Legislative Assistant: Shaneé Francher-Donald
Phone: 317-232-9491 | 800-382-9467
Email: s10@iga.in.gov

As always, thank you for your support and dedication. This bill could not have come this far without all of you working along side us. It is because of you that we are growing in numbers.  Please continue to share the petition, tell people how inexpensive and easy membership is. I have truly gargantuan goals for this organization they will require more Hoosiers. Together we are more powerful than imaginable. Keep up the good work and send the following message to 3 friends NOW!

💪💪💪

Hi! Did you see Senate Bill 74 protecting workers rights? Hoosiers for Medical Liberty has been working for months to preserve your right to decline a mandated vaccine. Support them by signing the petition at hoosiersformedicalliberty.com/workerprotectionact after signing it will take you straight to the membership page, please become a member and help solidify Medical Liberty here in Indiana.

💪💪💪

Thank you again,

Hoosiers for Medical Liberty
Indiana for Medical Freedom
Indiana Health Choice Coalition

We are so excited to announce that all the work we have been doing has started to pay off! Our bill has officially been filed and is set to be heard this session. Indiana Health Choice Coalition, Indiana For Medical Freedom and Hoosiers for Medical Liberty thank you all for your support.

I have seen a few questions pop up and so I think it is important to go over the basics.

Indiana has it’s own Senate and House of Representatives where bills are heard and passed into Indiana state law once the Governor signs them. This is separate from the House and Senate in D.C. the bills that are heard there, become federal laws once signed by the President.

How a bill becomes a law… If you would rather listen to School house rock "I'm just a bill." it might be more entertaining. The same principles apply except it is on a state level.

1. Constituents bring an issue to a legislator.
2. Legislator drafts and authors the bill. (If you are lucky)
3. Bill is filed and assigned to a committee at the start of session. The chamber the author belongs to determines where it starts. If your author is in the Senate, it starts there. If your author is in the House, it starts there. Committee placement is determined by the leader of the chamber dependent on language.
4. The bill sits in committee and will either be heard or die. IF the bill gets a hearing, the committee will meet to discuss before a vote. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY! WE WILL BE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP!!
5. IF the bill passes through committee, it goes to the full chamber. THIS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT TIME! TESTIMONIES WILL BE KEY! If the bill dies it can be sent to the other side but unlikely to pass.
6. Once the bill passes the first chamber it will then flip to the other and the process starts over again. A sponsor will be decided by the author and the bill will again be assigned to a committee by the leader of the chamber. The bill will either get a hearing or die. If bill passes committee then it goes to full chamber.
7. Once passed in both Senate and House the bill goes to the Governor to be signed and then you have a LAW!!!

Everyone needs to understand that there will be multiple times where we will be asking for your help. This is very intentional and VERY IMPORTANT! As step 6 says, we repeat the same process, it might feel like we are being redundant, but we aren't I promise! There will be a whole new group of people that need to be encouraged to vote yes.

If we don't do the second part we risk FAILURE. We will be successful. We are armed with knowledge and some of the most passionate activists! We WILL be successful but we cannot do this without you.

The opportunities to testify might have short notice so early notification is important. This year that is even more of a concern than in previous years due to the speed at which they are moving through meetings as a result of C-19 restrictions. The best way to get notifications is to become a member of Hoosiers for Medical Liberty. As a member you can agree to text messages so we can send you direct and timely messages. 

**Learn more about testifying at our meeting Jan 7th!

Even if you do not think you can make it for testimony, timely alerts are important. We still need you to call your legislators. It does not matter if you talk to a live person, leave a message! If you work strange hours call when you can, voicemail is there for a reason. YOUR VOICE MAKES A DIFFERENCE! If the legislative assistant has to listen to 50 voicemails by 8:00 am the day of hearing, we have done our jobs well!
(hint hint, that is an expectation!)

We will be counting on you to CALL encouraging a YES vote. The legislative assistants tally the calls and report to the legislators especially when a bill is getting a lot of calls. Strong supportive attention can push a legislator to vote “YES.”

We are currently in step number 4 above. Our bill originated in the Senate and will be heard in committee. You are not guaranteed a hearing. As part of our preliminary footwork we have laid the groundwork to secure a hearing.  SB74 could be heard in committee as early as next week.

After it is heard and passed in committee it will go to the next full senate session. It could be the next day! After It passes in the senate it will move over to the House, be assigned a committee, and we start the process over again.

Calls do not have to be lengthy, something simple will be just as effective as a lengthy message. “Hello (Assistant’s name) Would you please tell Senator ________ that I expect his/her support of SB 74. It is imperative to the financial and emotional well being of our family. Thank you!”

Feel free to add more info if you would like. If you want to hit a home run, then schedule a meeting with your Senator. It can be a zoom call or a telephone conference of 15 minutes. Say your pleasantries, discuss SB 74 and what it means to your family, how you have seen this as a threat to employment, and any discrimination or harassment you have received regarding the vaccine. Just remember, these are real people, with families and “day jobs” too, be kind yet firm on your stance.  **They also might have concerns that their government employer might mandate the vaccine.**

Send your friend a text. “Hey Lisa! Have you seen the info for SB 74, it protects employees from mandated COVID vaccine.” When they reply you send them another text with our website- hoosiersformedicalliberty.com where they can sign the petition. When they confirm tell them about this blog post, how important, and EASY it is to call your senator. Encourage them to pick up the phone today.

Congrats!  You just completed a crash course in activism during legislative season!  How does it feel?

If you are still feeling uneasy or just want to make sure you have all the details be sure to register for our meeting Thursday Jan 7th. Add contact@hoosiersformedicalliberty.com to your email contacts because that is where the invite will come from. Sometimes our emails end up in promotions or spam.  Keep us out of there please!!
 
Thank you again!