Anthony Pugliese, Senior Vice President, Finance, Membership & Operations, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), who moved his company's Global Headquarters from NYC to Durham in 2006, joined former Speaker of the NC House Joe Hackney this morning in condemning the Republican proposal. Pugliese, also the former Chair of the Greater Chamber of Commerce and a current member of the Bd. of the NC Chamber, made this statement:
"The proposed amendment is bad for business. It interferes with our ability to recruit talent and our right to provide competitive benefits to our employees. It also signals to major employers like ours that our state is not welcoming to the diverse, creative workforce that we need to compete in the global economy. It’s also bad for future business development in the state as we seek to grow our tax base. It is very unlikely we would have ever relocated our global headquarters to the Triangle and hired 450 local employees in 2006 if this amendment had been the law."
Even though I am in disagreement with the proposed constitutional amendment, Mr Puglies is full of crap when he says:
"It is very unlikely we would have ever relocated our global headquarters to the Triangle and hired 450 local employees in 2006 if this amendment had been the law."
The law in North Carolina is that marriage is between a man and a woman. And, it was the same law that was there in 2006 when Mr. Pugliese moved with his company to the Triangle.
I agree with his sentiments. But, he doesn't do his case any good when he adds the hyperbole! His statement that
If you're looking for a welcoming and diverse climate in which to operate your business, Mr. Pugliese is spot on. Of course state law defines marriage as between one man and one woman, but the state Constitution at this time is not being used to openly discriminate against one group of citizens. The Legislature is proposing to add open discrimination to the Constitution.....it makes no sense!
Opinionated....Are you saying that it doesn't make sense to discriminate by including it in the constitution, but it somehow does make sense to have a law prohibiting the same thing?
What's different about this new amendment, and the reason that business owners are upset, is that it's phrased in such a way that it prohibits recognition of any partnership other than heterosexual marriage. That could make it impossible for private businesses to offer benefits to domestic partners, which in turn, as Pugliese says "interferes with our ability to recruit talent and our right to provide competitive benefits to our employees". His statement makes perfect sense.
I thought I'd posted something to this effect earlier but maybe I forget to click "publish" - anyway, forgive me if this appears twice.
There are lots of things that are against the law that aren't part of the state constitution. For instance, it's against the law to drive over the speed limit, but we aren't pushing to amend the constitution over that! Constitutions are for explaining the organization of government and for enumerating rights. Laws should be made (or repealed) by the legislature.
Yet Another Anonymous decided to "explain" what I said so it would be ridiculous.....
So let me here apologize for ever having any opinions, and for EVER expressing them at the end of a long day when I'm tired. I understand that some of my Conservative Brethren like splitting hairs and dealing only in semantics....but the rest of you knew what I meant.
Anthony Pugliese, Senior Vice President, Finance, Membership & Operations, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), who moved his company's Global Headquarters from NYC to Durham in 2006, joined former Speaker of the NC House Joe Hackney this morning in condemning the Republican proposal. Pugliese, also the former Chair of the Greater Chamber of Commerce and a current member of the Bd. of the NC Chamber, made this statement:
ReplyDelete"The proposed amendment is bad for business. It interferes with our ability to recruit talent and our right to provide competitive benefits to our employees. It also signals to major employers like ours that our state is not welcoming to the diverse, creative workforce that we need to compete in the global economy. It’s also bad for future business development in the state as we seek to grow our tax base. It is very unlikely we would have ever relocated our global headquarters to the Triangle and hired 450 local employees in 2006 if this amendment had been the law."
Even though I am in disagreement with the proposed constitutional amendment, Mr Puglies is full of crap when he says:
ReplyDelete"It is very unlikely we would have ever relocated our global headquarters to the Triangle and hired 450 local employees in 2006 if this amendment had been the law."
The law in North Carolina is that marriage is between a man and a woman. And, it was the same law that was there in 2006 when Mr. Pugliese moved with his company to the Triangle.
I agree with his sentiments. But, he doesn't do his case any good when he adds the hyperbole!
His statement that
If you're looking for a welcoming and diverse climate in which to operate your business, Mr. Pugliese is spot on. Of course state law defines marriage as between one man and one woman, but the state Constitution at this time is not being used to openly discriminate against one group of citizens. The Legislature is proposing to add open discrimination to the Constitution.....it makes no sense!
ReplyDeleteOpinionated....Are you saying that it doesn't make sense to discriminate by including it in the constitution, but it somehow does make sense to have a law prohibiting the same thing?
ReplyDeleteWow...that's some logic there!
What's different about this new amendment, and the reason that business owners are upset, is that it's phrased in such a way that it prohibits recognition of any partnership other than heterosexual marriage. That could make it impossible for private businesses to offer benefits to domestic partners, which in turn, as Pugliese says "interferes with our ability to recruit talent and our right to provide competitive benefits to our employees". His statement makes perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd posted something to this effect earlier but maybe I forget to click "publish" - anyway, forgive me if this appears twice.
There are lots of things that are against the law that aren't part of the state constitution. For instance, it's against the law to drive over the speed limit, but we aren't pushing to amend the constitution over that! Constitutions are for explaining the organization of government and for enumerating rights. Laws should be made (or repealed) by the legislature.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Betty. Precisely.
ReplyDeleteYet Another Anonymous decided to "explain" what I said so it would be ridiculous.....
So let me here apologize for ever having any opinions, and for EVER expressing them at the end of a long day when I'm tired. I understand that some of my Conservative Brethren like splitting hairs and dealing only in semantics....but the rest of you knew what I meant.
No we don't. What did you mean? You made no sense. The other Anonymous showed you why.
ReplyDelete