SB74, DELAYED NOT DEAD

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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.

THIS BILL DESERVES A VOTE!

"It's the right thing to do." -Senate Leader Rodric Bray

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: 

"No law shall, in any case whatever, control the free exercise and enjoyment of religious opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience."

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?

So where do we go from here?

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

What do you say?

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.

Statehouse Event on Wednesday February 3rd

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.

General Religious Exemption Form
File Size:	201 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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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!