As backlash against Indiana's license-to-discriminate law grows, damage control is failing

Indiana legislators are scrambling to do damage control on the state's new license-to-discriminate law, but that damage control definitely won't extend to repealing the law. In fact, mostly what they're doing is continuing to make discredited claims about the law being similar to existing religious freedom laws in other states and at the federal level. With Gov. Mike Pence repeatedly refusing to say that the law won't mean discrimination, the economic consequences have really piled up for the state.

Companies including Angie's List and Salesforce responded quickly, with Angie's List changing its plans for a major Indiana expansion and Salesforce cancelling a conference in the state. The outcry against the Indiana law is having a ripple effect in other states, as well. A Montana bill similar to the Indiana one failed to pass the state House, while in Georgia, a state House Judiciary Committee meeting on such a bill was cancelled. Since there are just days left before the Georgia legislature's 2015 session ends, it's not clear the bill will advance.

Connecticut, meanwhile, is joining the companies pulling business out of Indiana. Gov. Dan Malloy is signing an executive order banning state-funded travel to Indiana, because:

When new laws turn back the clock on progress, we can’t sit idly by. We are sending a message that discrimination won’t be tolerated. -DM
— @GovMalloyOffice

But let's not just focus on the opponents of discrimination. Surely the Indiana business community is loudly cheering its newfound license to discriminate, right?
Our @MThompsonCNBC is looking for Indiana co's actively supporting #indianabill. None have spoken up -- yet. @CNBC
— @carlquintanilla 

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