Buy Indianapolis or Indiana or American, Which Comes First
City-County Council Democrats are introducing an ordinance Monday night that would limit where and how the city of Indianapolis could spend its federal stimulus dollars.
Proposal 87 would require the city to “spend economic recovery funds on goods and services that retain and create local jobs to help keep residents employed” and ensure the purchase of “local products and services.”
My question is “how do you define local?”
Is it strictly Indianapolis, the surrounding counties, or the entire state? What if it’s a company that has operations in Indianapolis, but is based out of another part of the state or the nation? Would that meet the definition of local? The entire region is so interconnected that dollars spent in one place tend to circulate throughout the local economy.
It’s no big secret that I’m always hesitant when it comes to concepts like “Buy American.” I think the first duty of government is to spend taxpayer dollars wisely and prudently and if the company just happens to be American or local and it meets the definition, that works just fine.
However, I prefer people “Buy Like an American” rather than “Buy American” and get the biggest bang for the buck.
