The hashtag #BoycottIndiana is now trending on Twitter due to Governor Pence's signing of a "religious freedom" law okaying discrimination in the state. In addition to helping spread the message there is another way to get people's attention: buy withholding your cash. Do you ever go the mall? Chances are it's owned by Simon Property Group which is headquartered in, you guessed it, Indiana. Do you ever eat at Steak 'n Shake? Also based in Indiana. And guess what? These outfits tend to give money to Republican candidates.
More below.
Here's a list of Indiana-based businesses you may be familiar with:
Accuride
Agency for Instructional Technology
Allison Transmission
AM General
Applied Instruments
Arni's Restaurant
Atlas Van Lines
Batesville Casket Company
Berry Plastics
Better World Books
Biomet
BrightPoint
Calumet Lubricants
Century Pharmaceuticals
Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad
Conseco
Copient Technologies
Cummins
Delta Faucet Company
DePuy
Do It Best
Dog n Suds
Eli Lilly and Company
Emmis Communications
Finish Line, Inc.
First Internet Bank of Indiana
First Merchants Corporation
Global Aero Logistics
Global Van Lines
Golden Rule Insurance Company
Great Escape Theatres
Guidant
Herff Jones
Hill-Rom
Hitachi Cable Indiana Inc.
Hulman & Company
Indianapolis Power & Light
Insley Manufacturing Co.
ITT Technical Institute
JayC Food Stores
Kimball International
Klipsch Audio Technologies
Marsh Supermarkets
MCL Cafeterias
NiSource
North American Van Lines
Old National Bank
Owen's Market
Pay Less Food Markets
Que Publishing
Red Ball Corporation
Republic Airways Holdings
Schurz Communications
Scott's Food & Pharmacy
Shoe Carnival
Simon Properties
Simon Property Group
Steak 'n Shake
Steel Dynamics
Three Floyds Brewing
Upland Brewing Company
Vectren
Wabash National
WellPoint
Zimmer Holdings
Many of the companies I've heard of and many I have not. It's probably worth taking a look and finding out how socially responsible they are.
Simon Property group owns major malls in most of the 50 U.S. states and also many internationally. CEO David Simon gives money to mostly Republican politicians and groups with some "hedging your bets" money for conservative or powerful Democrats. Prior to President Obama's election the corporation itself gave more money to Democrats (conservative or powerful or both) than Republicans but for the last 5 years they have skewed heavily Republican.
Steak 'n Shake is headquartered in Indiana and owned by Biglari Holdings. That outfit has not made a lot of campaign contributions but when they do it's to Republicans. They have over 500 locations throughout the U.S. with a heavy concentration east of the Mississippi.
Take a look at the list and consider voting with your wallet. If you know anything about these companies please leave a comment.