Business execs, health care groups, religious leaders petition lawmakers on abortion legislation

As Indiana lawmakers prepare to convene next week for a special session to consider legislation expected to severely restrict access to abortions, they’re receiving petitions from state business leaders, health care organizations and even religious organizations warning them of the potential consequences.

The petitions typically warn of the harm that more restrictive abortion laws could do to the state’s business climate, obstetric patients or religious freedoms.

Republican leaders in the Indiana Senate on Wednesday proposed legislation that would ban abortions from conception except in cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother, ending weeks of speculation on how restrictive their proposal would be after the U.S. Supreme Court turned such decisions over to the states. Currently, abortion in Indiana is banned after 22 weeks of pregnancy, with some provisions for medical emergencies.

A letter signed by 80 Indiana business executives was delivered Friday to Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Republican leaders of both legislative chambers warning lawmakers of the business repercussions of restricting access to abortions.

Signatories include Emarsys CEO Joanna Millikin, Formstack CEO Chris Byers, High Alpha Partner Eric Tobias and entrepreneur Scott Jones.

“Actions to further restrict the reproductive rights of Hoosier women would create inequity in their access to healthcare, position Indiana as an unwelcome place to live and work, and make it harder for us to compete for talent already in short supply,” the letter reads. “As representatives of some of the most impactful companies currently operating in Indiana, we fuel the state’s economy. We strongly urge you to consider all that is at stake should you take this action.”