The group presented its priorities to the group and offered a question and answer session with a panel of legislators.

The Chamber Opposes The Vaccine Mandate 

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce opposes government mandates preventing businesses from making their own decisions about vaccination requirements for employees. It believes that employers are qualified to make their own decisions for their workplaces—whether that be mandating or not mandating the vaccine.

Todd Huston, speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, agrees that businesses should be able to make decisions regarding vaccine mandates yet cautioned business leaders Monday.

“I think employers need to be cautious in how they honor religious exemptions, medical exemptions and such,” he said. “We’re going to continue to look at that language to make sure that all things are considered.”

Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, said he will not support any efforts to stop the federal government’s efforts with the vaccine mandate.

“Employers have a responsibility not just to their employees but to the entire community in my mind,” he said. “There’s an objective outlook from this. We have to get into controlling this pandemic that we’re going through.”

The Chamber Supports Incentives For Attracting Workers 

The Chamber of Commerce wants to increase incentives for attracting workers to Indiana, especially those who work remotely.

Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, believes that time and money spent on tourism would be better used on young people in Indiana who are debating on whether or not to stay. She said that research should be done to find out what young Hoosiers want out of Indiana.

“If you’re already here, it might be a lot easier to figure out how we’re going to keep you here,” she said.

Houston feels that Indiana businesses should be doing more to attract young people to the state.

“As an old man talking to my kids,  I understand the advantages of what you can see in those types of places (other states). I think our companies in Indiana with large footprints have got to engage better,” he said.

The Chamber Supports Early Child Care Access And Quality 

The Chamber believes that the lack of affordable, high-quality child care across Indiana is negatively impacting efforts to attract and retain workers.

Austin said she believes that the expense and lack of access to child care is a major contributor to the worker shortage, especially with women.

“It actually is more expensive to care for an infant than it is for a year of tuition at a four-year public institution,” she said. “We’ve got to help get women back into the workforce. They have dropped out because of the child care shortage.”

Houston acknowledges that this is a complicated issue.

“That’s been a huge challenge, and it’s had an impact on people getting back to work,” he said.

Here Are Some Other Issues The Chamber Addressed As Its Priorities For This Session: 

• Support measures to promote entrepreneurship in Indiana

• Support strengthening college and career readiness for Indiana students

• Support a statewide standard that would remove certain citing barriers for renewable energy sources

• Oppose any substantial change to the structure of the Indiana Tax Court as an independently operating judicial court of special jurisdiction

• Support maintaining and enhancing an attractive tax climate

• Support expansion of research and development, manufacturing, testing and deployment of electric vehicles

• Support a cap on reimbursement for ambulatory surgical centers