Senate, House Leaders Tee-Up Top Issues
(Image Courtesy: State of Indiana)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowLeaders on both sides of the aisle at the Indiana Statehouse have announced additional details of signature pieces of legislation that will shape debate in the 2016 General Assembly. Key bills that will be brought to the table when the House and Senate reconvene January 5 concern transportation, education and civil rights. House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-88) opened Tuesday’s Organization Day by saying the state is in an "extraordinary" financial and economic position, and says roads and bridges will be the top priority in the session.
Bosma said "nothing is off the table" when it comes to potential infrastructure solutions. He says House Bill 1001 will be a bipartisan-sponsored measure that will seek to create long-term mechanisms to pay for road repairs. Bosma also used the time to express his concern for an "in the classroom" teacher shortage and announced HB 1002, which is designed to create a scholarship program to attract and retain young teachers by covering education costs for educators who stay for five years at an Indiana school.
Bosma also addressed the need for "a civil conversation" on balancing religious freedom and potentially addressing additional protections for gender identity and sexual preference. He says the decisions made in the chamber need to be driven by the "interest of Hoosiers first" and not the interest of out-of-state groups or by being "bullied" into taking a position.
Senate President Pro Tempore David Long (R-16) said the collective Senate will be "rolling up its sleeves" to open the civil rights discussion. Senator Travis Holdman (R-19) will put forth SB 100, which includes protections for citizens based on gender identity and sexual preference, but offers exemptions to certain businesses, organizations and entities that may have religious objections. You can connect to a version of the bill Holdman will file by clicking here.
Long discussed other matters that will come up including the A-F grading scale for Indiana schools and teachers, an expected dip in ISTEP scores because of changes to the exams, determining long-term solutions for road and bridge repairs at both state and local levels and continuing to deal with the skills gap that exists between education and the work force.
Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane (D-25) spent most of his time detailing his caucus’s stance on potential expansion of civil rights protections by seizing "an opportunity to make history." He said legislators need to work swiftly to craft legislation that will show the world "discrimination as a matter of policy is not allowed in the state of Indiana." He is calling for "across the board protection and no license to discriminate" and says Democrats have filed a bill to amend the state’s civil rights act. Lanane also discussed issues of education and infrastructure, but he also brought up concepts of raising the minimum wage, equal pay, increasing voter participation through "common sense reforms," family leave, child care assistance, additional regulation on ingredients for producing methamphetamine and crafting statewide hate crime legislation.
The session will reconvene January 5 and is tabbed a "short session," as it must adjourn no later than March 14. Informal meetings among members of both the House and Senate will continue while legislators are on recess.
Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane (D-25) took to the podium to address what will be a Senate-originated bill concerning protections for sexual orientation and gender identity under the state’s civil rights laws.
Senate President Pro Tempore David Long says addressing gaps between education and needs in the work force will be discussed.
House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-88) says long-term solutions for aging infrastructure throughout the state must be data-driven.
