Angie’s List Latest Company Threatening To Boycott Indiana
Angie’s List has joined a growing list of companies that is looking to avoid Indiana, following the state’s passage of a bill that is seen as anti-gay. When the state first passed the law, there were a number of luminaries and businesses who were saying they would boycott Indiana. Angie’s List is now apparently one of those firms that is doing more than voicing their concern.
Angie’s List had planned to expand it’s Indianapolis headquarters until the new law was passed. Now, according to Bloomberg, the company has backed off its plans. Angie’s List has made it no secret that the reason it has decided to scuttle expansion plans is because if feels Indiana’s move isn’t friendly to the business climate. Angie’s List has officially pulled its proposal for expansion from the Indianapolis city council. That withdrawal means the city will lose out on at least $40 million in the investment.
“Angie’s List is open to all and discriminates against none and we are hugely disappointed in what this bill represents,” Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle said in a statement. The company said it would begin reviewing alternatives for its headquarters expansion. There isn’t any explanation as to what the company might do now that it isn’t growing its Indiana headquarters. The firm might look to expand another smaller location, or open a new branch altogether.
What is clear is the company joins other high-profile firms like Apple and SalesForce in a show of solidarity with the Boycott Indiana movement. Since governor Mike Pence signed the anti-gay legislation into law last Thursday, there have been a number of people trying to illustrate just how bad the law is. It should be pointed out that Arizona was contemplating a similar bill in 2014, but the business community was able to convince Governor Jan Brewer that her signature would mean trouble.
In that case, even the NFL was talking about taking it’s Super Bowl business elsewhere should Brewer sign Arizona’s anti-gay legislation. The stalwart Republican decided in that case the risk wasn’t worth the political reward. On the other hand, just a day after Pence signed Indiana’s legislation, Arkansas’ state legislature passed a similar bill. That bill is now awaiting the signature of that state’s governor. So far, the biggest voice criticizing Arkansas is Wal-Mart, one of the largest employers in the world. Whether or not companies like Angie’s List coming forward against these measures will eventually kill them is still anyone’s guess.
