Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee Hears Testimony On Measure To Constitutionally Ban Same Sex Marriage; State’s Largest Employers Testify Against Amendment Arguing It Will Make Attracting The Best Workers Impossible And Cause “Irreparable Harm”

The Fort Wayne, Indiana Journal Gazette reports that the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony Wednesday to move forward a measure that would ban same sex marriage in the Indiana Constitution but decided to hold off a vote until next week. Indiana state law already limits marriage to between one man and one woman but supporters want the language added into the Constitution so that judges cannot overturn the law in the future. Glenn Tebbe, speaking on behalf of the Indiana Catholic Conference, said “We support efforts to defend and strengthen the definition of marriage in Indiana.” However, several of the state’s largest employers testified against the constitutional amendment, arguing it will be harder to attract quality employees from younger generations to the state. “We urge you to vote no because it discriminates against our colleagues, our families, our friends, our neighbours,” said Jill Cook, director of human resources for Cummins Inc. “It will cause irreparable harm to the business climate.” A committee vote will come next week, and then the full Senate would vote. A similar measure has previously passed that chamber several times. If it were to pass again, no other action is necessary this session because it already passed the House. However, the legislature must approve the measure again in 2013 or 2014 before reaching the ballot for state residents to make the final decision in 2014.