This story was originally published on Fox 59 News.
By RUSS McQUAID
(WXIN/WTTV) — Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced his office will review all state government contracts to determine if private businesses practice DEI requirements with their employees.
“No one gets a free pass for unlawful discrimination just because they claim to have good intentions,” said Rokita, indicating he was “working to eliminate this terrible Diversity, Equity and Inclusion known as DEI nonsense.”
State Senator Greg Taylor, a Democrat from Indianapolis, disagreed.
”It’s never been nonsense,” he said. “It’s been very beneficial to the state of Indiana for the last 20 years.”
Rokita said he was targeting DEI practices, “that treat people differently on the basis of race and sex when recruiting, hiring, promoting and conducting other employment activities.”
The AG said any companies whose internal policies reflect adherence to DEI would be banned from state contracts.
State Representative Robin Shackleford, a Democrat from Indianapolis’ eastside, said Rokita’s directive would set back business in Indiana.
“It’s about dismantling programs that open doors for people who have historically been left out of opportunities,” she said, adding that the ban “will hurt our state’s ability to recruit top talent, partner with innovative companies and compete in a modern economy that values inclusion.”
Taylor said he fears the Rokita mandate will interfere with small businesses and preclude large national corporations from bidding on state contracts.
”This is getting into the actual day-to-day operations of small businesses in the state of Indiana that want to include parts of their staff that the state doesn’t see as so important. That should be a private business decision,” he said. ”We’ve got national businesses that want to do business here in the state of Indiana, and if they decide that they don’t want to do business here in the state of Indiana, it could have a chilling effect on our people and the amount of bids we receive.”
Since Governor Mike Braun’s arrival at the Statehouse in January, firms have quietly removed DEI references from their websites in order not to draw the ire of the new administration.
“Replacing divisive diversity, equity and inclusion policies with those that reward merit, excellence and innovation is foundational to our success and honors my commitment to a level playing field for all,” said the governor.
Rokita’s announcement did not clarify if internal private company policies regarding the hiring, promotion and training of military veterans and the disabled would also be a basis for contract disqualification.
