IBLC outlines next step in determining economic fallout from Braun’s ending of M/WBE program

During a press conference today, Aug. 17, members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) were joined by several business owners and community leaders to discuss the impact of Gov. Mike Braun's executive order last month ending the Minority and Women's Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program. Created by the legislature in the 1980's, the program worked to ensure state contracts were equitably distributed among women and minority-owned businesses. Braun's executive order followed Attorney General Todd Rokita's legal opinion that the program violated the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. This opinion was unprompted by any legal challenge to the M/WBE program.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the IBLC, issued the following statement:

"This executive order, which we believe to be overreach from the governor, has the potential to not just devastate minority and women-owned businesses, but Indiana's competitive economy as a whole. The more qualified businesses you have competing for the same contract tends to get better pricing for the state. When you take away the outreach and participation pieces that keep that pool diverse, that pool will inevitably shrink.

"Beyond the financial impact, there are possible legal ramifications for ending this program through an executive order."

Sen. Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis), shared his legal concerns about last month's executive order during the press conference:

"There are legal ramifications if someone who owns a small business wants to pursue this matter. We need someone and some businesses to come forward. Have no doubt that what has happened to small businesses needs to be addressed. We need people coming forward to talk to their legislators. If you were under contract with the state and that contract deleted its participation goal, please contact our office."

During the press conference, the IBLC called on Gov. Braun to continue the state's disparity study, which has not yet been conducted under his administration.

"This tells us everything we need to know," Harris said. "This move wasn't about economic fairness, it was about appeasing the fringes of his party's base by stoking the flames of a culture war because [Braun] knows he's failing to deliver a stronger economy and improved quality of life for Hoosiers."