Pence leaves issue in limbo

Editor’s note: This is the third and final in a series of commentaries regarding Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s State of the State Address.
As he neared the end of his State of the State address last week. Gov. Mike Pence finally addressed the question his state, his party, and leaders of the Indiana General Assembly had been most anxious to see resolved.
•“The question before you as the elected representatives of the people of Indiana is whether it is necessary or even possible to reconcile these two values in the law without compromising the freedoms we hold dear.”
But that provided no resolution. Instead, it’s not an idea so much as a lack thereof.
Knowing that legislation regarding the civil liberties of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual Hoosiers is one of the key topics facing the Indiana General Assembly this year, Pence could have used his speech to give some direction. He could have made clear to legislators what might need to be included in any bill regarding LGBT rights and concerns about religious freedom.
Instead, he punted.
Given his words, we are left to wonder what, if any, bill granting the LGBT community protected-class status Pence would be willing to sign. That’s disturbing.
Why? Because if the legislature is able to get 51 votes on a bill that satisfies both sides of the divide and the governor is not willing to add his signature, the state could be in for a media and business backlash that will make the spring of 2015 seem tame in comparison.
Our legislators could have been greatly helped by getting some answers from the governor. Instead, on the LGBT issue, he only added to the questions. — R.C.