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Your 2012 Legislative Return on Investment
Learn what the Indiana Chamber's lobbying efforts at the Statehouse mean to your wallet. In 2012, the Chamber aggressively advocated for and succeeded with public policies that will have a lasting positive impact on the state's economy and Hoosiers' quality of life. Chief among them: making Indiana the 23rd right-to-work state, opening up the doors to countless more economic development opportunities and jobs; implementing a statewide smoking ban; and ultimately phasing out the state's inheritance tax, while also significantly increasing the amount excluded from the tax in the interim.Â
In total, the Chamber’s work yielded savings of $865 million for Hoosier businesses OR $355 per employee. Specific savings are listed below by bill and issue area, in total and per employee.
| Business Savings | |
| $865 million or $355 per employee | |
| Civil Justice | |
| Defeated - Limiting consideration of collateral payments (SB 87) | $20 million; $8.21/employee |
| Defeated - Expanding casualty coverage for some intentional acts (SB 239) | $15 million; $6.16/employee |
| Defeated - Encouraging lawsuits over insurance claims (SB 245)Â | $10 million; $4.10/employee |
| Defeated - Furthering third party funding of lawsuits (SB 5)Â Â | $10 million; $4.10/employee |
| Employment and Labor | |
| Making Indiana a right-to-work state (HEA 1001)Â Â Â Â Â Â | $400 million; $164.14/employee |
| Energy and Environment | |
| Protection of underground water rights and long-term water plan (SEA 132)Â Â |
$65 million; $26.67/employee |
| Promotion of greater environmental certainty for business operations (various bills)Â | $40 million; $16.41/employee |
| Defeated - Additional fees, utility costs and unnecessary compliance requirements (various bills) | $30 million; $12.31/employee |
| Health Care and Insurance | |
| Implementing a statewide smoking ban (HEA 1149)Â Â Â Â Â | $120 million; $49.24/employee |
| Defeated - Undermining cost savings associated with PPOs (SB 303)Â Â Â | $35 million; $14.36/employee |
| Defeated - Dictating treatment and prescriptions (SB 335) | $5 million; $2.05/employee |
| Tax and Public Finance | |
| Phasing out the state's inheritance tax (SEA 293)Â Â Â Â Â Â | $70 million; $28.73/employee |
| Moving to cyclical property reassessment (SEA 19)    | $20 million; $8.21/employee |
| Adjustments to public works project bidding (HEA 1154)Â Â Â Â Â | $15 million; $6.16/employee |
| Personal property exemption for high tech data centers (SEA 302)Â Â Â Â | $15 million; $6.16/employee |
Total Savings for Indiana Business:Â $865 Million
Total Savings Per Employee:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $355
Your Return on Investment
10 employees = savings of $3,550
25 employees = savings of $8,875
50 employees = savings of $17,750
100 employees = savings of $35,500
200 employees = savings of $71,000
500 employees = savings of $177,500
Plus the Value of Local Government Reforms:
The Indiana Chamber has remained steadfast in pursuing the recommended local government reforms outlined in the 2007 Kernan-Shepard report, and our efforts continue to pay off in gradual increments. This year we saw improvements -- albeit unquantifiable -- in accountability through new laws addressing conflicts of interest and nepotism.
IMPORTANT NOTES: Business impact calculations are based on fiscal impact estimates of the Legislative Services Agency, independent studies, other available data and research materials, and
Indiana Chamber analysis. Business impact per employee is calculated by using the estimated number of employed workers statewide in February 2012 (2,436,900).
