Elected officials at the Statehouse have badly damaged our state over the last week. It's unlikely that chatter about that will subside any time soon, unless Gov. Mike Pence and the others who have caused the damage begin to understand what they've done, why it's created such animosity toward our state and that the best and fairest way out is make sexual orientation and gender identity protected classes in the state's anti-discrimination law.
This editorial is only partially about that. It's also about how the governor and the legislators got their jobs. The voters hired them, and that's something to remember as the next voting opportunity approaches, albeit in a municipal election.
The severity of the mess the people we've elected has caused was recognized clearly by the five living mayors of Indianapolis — Richard Lugar, William Hudnut III, Stephen Goldsmith, Bart Peterson and Greg Ballard, four Republicans and a Democrat — who said in a letter to the Indianapolis Star they are concerned the fallout from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act "threatens to undo many of the efforts we have made, going back to 1967, to build an inclusive, caring and hospitable city." The entire state faces that threat, though Bloomington is insulated from it somewhat because of this city's fierce defense of inclusion and equality.
Bloomington has been blessed with many governmental actions that celebrate differences and recognize the rights of all people. It's highly unlikely anyone has agreed with every action made by Bloomington elected officials over the years — we certainly haven't — but city government's interest in and record on human rights puts to shame the decisions and talk coming out of the Statehouse.
With voter registration for the May primary ending Monday, and early voting starting Tuesday, it's important for voters to consider carefully the choices they have in picking nominees for November's general election. The thoughtfulness, openness and attitudes of the people who will make decisions on behalf of Bloomington residents should make a difference, as they should in upcoming state elections.
We're not making endorsements in the primary and likely won't in the general election. But the events in state government certainly should point out the potential problems caused by one-party dominance, which can marginalize the loyal opposition. While we can be proud and even smug our city has been on the right side of equality issues, we also should acknowledge that problems can arise when people only hear those with whom they agree. Remember the recent rural zoning debacle?
News accounts coming out of the Statehouse Wednesday noted the governor was talking to Republican legislative leadership about how to fix the troublesome RFRA legislation. If leading Democrats weren't in that room, the governor made another mistake and again underestimated the depth of this issue. One side can't force a "fix."
Voters, use your power. This year and next.
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