Gun Bills Advance in Senate
An Indiana Senate committee has removed several hurdles from a package of gun bills making their way through the legislature. With changes approved today, the legislation now appears on the fast track to becoming law. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.
A Look at the First Half of Session ‘10
The Indiana General Assembly has reached the halfway point of the 2010 legislative session. As Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports, while some initiaves sailed through the process, gaining approval quickly, the fate of other proposals is dismal at best.
State Revenues Continue Falling Short
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels says January collections show the state’s revenue continues to fall short of projections. Numbers released today reveal state tax dollars were nearly seventy five million dollars below what was forecasted in December. Governor Daniels says continued declines in state revenue means constantly reassessing state spending and cuts.
“We’re just going to have to keep taking this month by month and we can’t say for certain that the revenue will begin to match the forecast.”
Daniels has implemented a variety of cuts, including hiring and pay freezes and public and higher education cuts. Total revenue for the fiscal year is seven percent below the previous year.
-Marianne Holland
Texting and Driving Ban Approved by House
Tuesday the Indiana House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban texting for Indiana drivers. The bill, authored by Representative Joe Pearson of Hartford City, aims to expand on the current ban that only applies to drivers under the age of eighteen. Those who questioned the legislation, like Representative David Wolkins of Winona Lake, said they see no reason for the bill.
“Last Friday a new industry study was found that state laws banning the use of handheld devices to make calls and text messages while driving has not resulted in fewer vehicle crashes.”
Representative Vanessa Summers of Indianapolis voiced the opinion of many supporters of the bill by saying the bill will cause drivers to think before using their mobile device while driving. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia already have ban texting while driving.
-Brian Flood
Watered Down Smoking Ban Approved by House
Smoking was the subject of legislation Tuesday as the Indiana House approved a bill aimed at putting an end to smoking in public places. Representative Charlie Brown of Gary, author of the bill, had hoped to institute a comprehensive smoking ban. But after several amendments added exemptions, including one that would exempt bars and taverns, the bill didn’t go as far as to end smoking in public places as Brown would have liked.
“Although over three fourths of white collar workers are covered by smoke free places, only forty three percent of the countries six point six million food preparation and service occupation workers benefit from no smoking.”
Opponents to the bill, like Representative Matt Bell of Avilla, said despite the exemptions, the bill was not right for Indiana. Bell believes that Hoosier businesses should be allowed to decide for themselves whether it is in their best interest to go smoke free, trusting that those businesses will have the best wishes of their employees and patrons in mind. The bill now moves to the Senate.
-Brian Flood
House and Senate Pass Net Metering Bills
Hoosiers homeowners may have more chances to lower the amount of money they spend on electricity if a bill working its way through the legislature continues to receive broad support. But as Scott Leadingham reports, everyone in Indiana, including businesses and government, could benefit.
Senate Approves Local Government Reforms
A bill allowing several changes to local government operations is now headed to the Indiana House after approval today from the state Senate. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.
Senate Approves Ethics Reform
The Indiana Senate has unanimously approved a bill aimed at ethics reform in the legislature. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.
House Debates Funding for Virtual Charters, Private Schools
Charter schools became a heated topic of discussion Monday in the Indiana House of Representatives, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle debated changes to a proposed education funding bill. Authored by Representative Gregory Porter of Indianapolis, the bill aims to reform how charter schools are operated and trim spending from the state education budget. Lawmakers attempted some compromise, removing most of the restraints on new charter schools. But opponents of the bill don’t think that the compromise went far enough. They want scholarship funding for low income families to sent their children to private and virtual schools. Some, like Representative Wes Culver of Goshen see that as a way to save money.
“The way of the future is for us to cut costs in our public schools, and we can do this virtually. We can have recorded classes. We can have some of the classes done at home so we don’t have to keep putting our money into bricks and morter.”
Those in favor of the delay, like Representative Vernon Smith of Gary, believe current cuts in education funding, combined with new spending on programs like virtual charters and private school scholarships, will further strain current funding for Hoosier public schools. The House is expected to take a final vote on the bill today or tomorrow. If it’s approved, the bill would move to the Senate.
-Brian Flood
Senate passes resolution to ban gay marriage
An attempt to ban gay marriage in Indiana’s constitution took another step forward Thursday after the Senate voted thru a resolution that aims to do just that.
This resolution, like those proposed in two thousand and eight and two thousand and nine, will define marriage as a union of a man and a woman. But unlike previous legislation, the amendment proposed by Senator Carlin Yoder of Goshen, will go one step further to also ban civil unions.
Several Indiana companies have come out against the resolution saying the amendment sends a message of intolerance and will hurt their chances to hire top employees.
Opponents of the bill, like Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson of Ellettsville, also attacked Yoder’s claim that this bill is necessary to protect the institution of marriage.
“Senator Yoder said marriage needs to be protected, but I don’t feel threatened by other people loving each other. And I don’t feel threatened by other people marrying or living together and taking care of each other and protecting the rights of that relationship. What happens in someone else’s home; what happens in someone else’s doctor’s office; what happens in someone else’s life, has little to do with mine.”
Passing easily in the senate, the resolution now moves to the House. Where many see the legislation having little chance of passing.
-Brian Caoimhghin Flood
