Week in Photos: April 22-26

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VIDEO: Mrvan initiative guards against child abuse

The governor recently signed State Senator Frank Mrvan’s bill to extend the statute of limitations in cases of child sex abuse. The proposal, Senate Bill (SB) 142, increases the legal time frame during which a victim of child sex abuse may bring charges against the offender. Currently, an individual who files a civil suit for child sex abuse is subject to the same time constraints as someone filing for other damages, such as an auto accident. SB 142 would extend this time frame to either seven years after the offense or four years after the victim leaves the care of the alleged offender. Many children do not report cases of abuse, and as many as 90 percent of offenses are committed by someone the child knows. SB 142 seeks to give victims adequate time to come forward and serve justice to abusers.

Senate panel debates health care coverage expansion

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services met to examine the state’s implementation of elements of the federal Affordable Care Act.  The committee’s discussion centered on how the state could expand health care coverage to low-wage earning Hoosier families and ultimately voted 7-4 to petition the federal government for block grant funding.

A look at the benefits of expanding health care coverage to low-wage earning Hoosiers.

The committee took up Senate Bill 551, legislation drafted to clarify and provide requirements for Indiana’s participation in a health care exchange. An amendment proposed by Senator Jean D. Breaux aimed to maximize the economic benefit of the federal health care law by expanding Medicaid coverage to Hoosiers families of four making up to $33,000. Currently, Medicaid covers families of four with an income of up to $4,100. Breaux along with Senators Mark Stoops Frank Mrvan and Greg Taylor argued that the economic benefits to local communities outweighed the cost and any delay to the implementation could cost Hoosiers jobs.

INFOGRAPHIC: The Benefits of expanding health care coverage for Hoosiers>>

Senate Democrats pointed to a recent report released by the Indiana Hospital Association that quantified the impact of a full expansion of healthcare coverage. The report noted the potential creation of 30,000 new jobs to meet the demand created by expanded health care coverage. Local communities could see as much as $3.4 billion in federal funding as a result of full expansion.  The federal law covers in full the cost of covering an additional 400,000 Hoosiers through 2016 and the non-partisan Indiana Legislative Services Agency estimates the expansion to be cost neutral to the state through 2019. Breaux’s amendment was defeated along party lines, 8-4.

Senate Democrats host Latino community leaders

Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus  held an inaugural roundtable discussion with Hispanic community leaders today. Organized by Senator Tim Lanane, the meeting reached out to the growing Latino population for input on issues impacting the community and state. Senators Breaux, Mrvan, Tallian, Rogers, Arnold, Young and Stoops as well as legislators from the Indiana House were in attendance and discussed upcoming legislation and its effect on the Latino community in Indiana.

The forum consisted of community leaders with backgrounds ranging from education to healthcare and law representing cities from across the state. Though the floor was open for discussion on any topic, the conversation primiarly focused on education issues that affect the Latino community. Attendees also discussed graduation rates, bilingualism and poverty as areas of concern for Latinos. Future round table topics will include healthcare, the criminal justice system, community sensitivity, obesity and more.

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PHOTOS: Lawmakers meet for start of the 2013 legislative session

On Tuesday, lawmakers met for Organization Day, the first official day of the 118th General Assembly. Largely a procedural meeting,  new and reelected members were sworn in and other technical matters were addressed. Lawmakers will reconvene on January 7 for the start of the legislative session.

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Honoring those who serve

As the nation takes time this Veterans Day to honor the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces, the Indiana Senate Democrats would like to send a special Thank You to our Hoosier veterans and their families. Their sacrifice and service to our country deserves our gratitude each and every day.

For generations, Hoosiers have taken up the call to defend our nation. Earlier this fall, a number of those servicemen and women and their families reached out and provided the Indiana Senate Democrats with photos of themselves and their loved ones serving this country. Below, find those images of the Indiana men and women who bravely served in our nation’s armed services.

Early Voting in Lake County

Early voting in Lake County began on Oct. 9th and closes on Nov. 5 at noon. Registered voters can cast ballots in person during this time at the Lake County Election Board Office in Crown Point or at five satellite locations in the county. Special weekend voting times are available on Saturday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 3.

Crown Point 
Lake County Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office
2293 North Main Street
Weekday voting 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

East Chicago 
County Clerk’s Office
3711 Main Street
Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gary 
County Clerk’s Office
15 West 4th Avenue
Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hammond 
County Clerk’s Office
232 Russell Street
Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

St. John 
St. John Township Assessor’s Office
9155 Wicker Avenue (U.S. 41)
Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Winfield 
Winfield Township Trustee’s Office
10645 Randolph Street
Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, contact the Lake County Board of Elections and Voter Registration.

Week in Photos: February 20 – 24

Week in Photos: February 20 – 24

Sen. Mrvan with his pages.

Sen. Tallian.

Sen. Simpson and her pages.

Sen. Randolph and Annie Burns Hicks.

Sen. Randolph honoring Annie Burns Hicks, the first African American to teach in Hammond, Indiana.

Sen. Rogers speaking on the resolution to honor Annie Burns Hicks.

Sen. Hume and Sen. Rogers.

Sen. Skinner speaking to a group from Ivy Tech.

Sen. Hume honoring the owners of Schnitzelbank, who won the Super Bowl Sandwich competition.

Sen. Rogers speaking on the memorial resolution for Rep. Katie Hall.

Week in Photos: January 30th – February 3rd

The Week in Photos: January 30th – February 3rd

Sen. Arnold speaking to the media about why he and other Democrats were protesting the committee hearing on Monday

Senator Karen Tallian (D-Portage) (left), Senator Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) (right) and Senator Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute) (not pictured) protested the “Right to Work” committee hearing on Monday due to the breaking of Senate tradition.

Protestors outside the Senate chamber on Tuesday

Senator Tim Lanane (D-Anderson), on Tuesday, speaking on his bill to improve safety regulations of outdoor stage equipment.

Sen. Randolph

Sen. Simpson (left) and Sen. Tallian (right)

Sen. Simpson

Sen. Simpson speaking before the final vote on “Right to Work”

Sen. Randolph (right), Sen. Mrvan (middle) and Sen. Breaux (left).

Sen. Randolph, Sen. Skinner and Sen. Young await the final vote on “Right to Work”.

“Right to Work” protestors watch the debate before the final vote on Wednesday.

Protestors outside the Senate chamber on Wednesday before the final vote on “Right to WorK”

Sen. Mrvan (foreground) and Sen. Breaux (background)

Sen. Tallian

The protest following the passage of “Right to Work”

Protestors gathered on the steps of the Statehouse Wednesday, following the passage of “Right to Work”

Sen. Simpson (middle) Senator Earline Rogers (D-Gary) (left)

Senator Vi Simpson (D-Ellettsville) speaks before the crowd of protestors following the passage of “Right to Work”

Sen. Broden (left) and Sen. Simpson (right)

Sen. Arnold and Sen. Broden at the “Right to Work” protest

“Right to Work” passes Senate 28 – 22, Democrats vote “No”

House Bill 1001, the so-called “Right to Work” bill, passed the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 28 -22. Governor Mitch Daniels promptly signed the bill into law. Senate Democrats, opposing “Right to Work” from it’s start, unanimously voted “No” on the bill.

Listen to audio from Feb. 1, 2012, debate presented by the Senate Democrat members on the floor in opposition to “RTW”>>

Thousands of protesters were at the Statehouse to watch the final vote, then flowed out of the building to march downtown to the Super Bowl Village.

Watch a video of Sen. Simpson addressing “RTW” protesters on the Statehouse lawn>>

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The RTW bill has been one of the most divisive issues recently brought before the General Assembly. First discussed during the 2011 legislative session, the bill prompted House Democrats to walk out and drew thousands of protesters to the Statehouse daily. In November 2011, Republican leaders in the Senate and House announced the bill was their top priority for 2012, and the lengths they went in order to get the bill passed made that intention evident.

Despite concerns over how the proposal would depress average wages in the state by $1,500 per person per year, lower the wages being spent in local economies, and interfere with the freedom to make agreements between employers and employees, the bill was rushed for passage before the Super Bowl.

Senate Democratic Leader Vi Simpson posed this question to the full Senate: “Was this worth it?”

In the Senate, an unorthodox schedule was employed to get the House bill through the Senate by Wednesday. Senate Democrats decried not only the substance and impact of the bill but the shortcuts and limited debate by which the legislation was moved through the process. Read more about Democrat concerns over the process>>

Although one of the primary assertions by Right to Work supporters was an employee’s right to not join a union, federal labor laws are already clear on this issue.

Despite the rush to sign the bill into law before the Super Bowl, protesters are expected to make their concerns known throughout the weekend. Democrats have continually said the law will be an embarrassment for the state while it is under international spotlight for the event. The NFL Players Association issued a statement against Right to Work in January.