Indiana taxpayers will be on the hook for millions of dollars the state will spend on a huge PR firm hired to fix the Hoosier brand.
The State of Indiana’s economic development and tourism offices have contracted to spend at least $2 million, plus all advertising costs, after Governor Mike Pence‘s disastrous decision to sign a so-called “religious freedom” law, and then to defend it publicly in a career-crushing Sunday morning news show interview.Â
Polling showed the people of Indiana are strongly opposed to measures that discriminate against any group, and as a result, the Republican Governor’s approval rating has taken a double-digit nosedive.Â
LOOK:Â Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s Approval Ratings Crash, Burn After ‘Religious Freedom’ Law Firestorm
“Clearly the last two weeks have beat up and tarnished the state’s reputation as a welcoming place,” Chris Gahl, vice president of marketing for Visit Indy, Indianapolis’ tourism office told the Indy Star.
International public relations firm Porter Novelli, which has 100 offices in 60 countries around the world and represents top brands like McDonald’s, UPS, and Gillette, says it is about “influence.”
“We motivate people to change deeply ingrained behaviors rooted in cultural and social norms,” its website reads. “Our results are greater than influencing people. We make them believe.”
Meanwhile, Indy Star opinion writer Matthew Tully this morning scoffed at the plan.
“A $2 million problem? You must be joking. You’d be joking if you argued that Indiana could reclaim everything it has lost with 10 times that. Or 20 times,” he writes. “An image makeover is not going to be enough. We need action, not just ads.”
Tully is calling for Indiana “to pass a statewide anti-discrimination law that includes protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Plenty of other states have these laws, and if Indiana had one it wouldn’t have been bloodied during the RFRA debate over the past month.”
“Pass a state law that ensures gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are covered by civil rights protections. It’s that simple. It’s that easy,” he says. “There. I’ve just saved the state $2 million.”
Â
Related:
Sorry, GOP: Most Americans Support Gay People Over Businesses That Use Religion To Discriminate
Corp. That Advocated Against Indiana ‘Religious Freedom’ Law Posts Beautiful Thank You Video
SNL: Michael Keaton Leads Spoof CNN Reenactment Of Indiana ‘Religious Freedom’ Law In Action
Watch: Indiana ‘Religious Freedom’ Lobbyist Says ‘I Have Gay And Lesbian Friends’
Exposed: Mike Pence’s 2000 Congressional Campaign Site Was A War On LGBT People And Women
Â
Image: Religious freedom bill protest rally, March 28. Photo by Felipe N. Martinez via Twitter