Arnold discusses the end of 2012 legislative session

State Senator Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) discusses the end of the 2012 legislative session and the passage of Indiana’s first statewide smoking ban.

Arnold expects more changes to smoking ban bill

State Senator Jim Arnold notes the addition of more than a dozen amendments to the statewide smoking ban bill, effectively weakening the legislation.

Arnold outlines what’s next for smoking ban bill

State Senator Jim Arnold discusses House Bill 1149, the statewide smoking ban bill. He predicts the bill to move quickly through the Senate before session concludes. The bill is eligible for second reading next week and can be amended by any member of the Senate at that time.

Sen. Arnold’s animal fighting bill approved by Senate committee

The Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters voted to approve a bill today that would raise the penalty for attending an animal fighting contest from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony. State Senator Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) authored SB 11, which aims to curtail animal fighting contests by imposing greater penalties on spectators.

“This is a most heinous and barbaric activity,” said Sen. Arnold. “If we want to stop it, we must penalize both the sponsorship and the spectatorship.”

Indiana currently has the 32^nd strictest dog fighting laws, ranked below neighboring states Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan, Sen. Arnold noted in committee.  Under current state law, spectatorship is a criminal charge cited as cruelty to an animal. SB 11 would repeal this law and warrant the same punishment for spectators that currently exists for promoters and sponsors.

As a Class D felony, those who attend an animal fighting contest would be subject to a fine up to $10,000, or imprisonment for six months to three years.

The bill was approved by the committee by a 5-4 vote with no amendments. It will now go to the full Senate for further consideration.

You can watch Sen. Arnold discuss this and other bills he has proposed in the video below:

Video: Sen. Arnold reacts to Gov. Daniels’ final State of the State address

Senator Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) reacts to Gov. Daniels’ eighth and final State of the State address on Tuesday night.

Senate Democrats Respond to State of the State 2012

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels delivered his eighth and final State of the State address Tuesday evening to a partially empty chamber in a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly. While a significant portion of the address reflected on a the governor’s accomplishments, he also used the event to push for the contentious so called “Right to Work” bill’s passage. During his address, protesters outside could be heard both inside the Statehouse and on TV. Following the address, protestors held a rally outside of Governor Daniels’ office.

Several Indiana Senate Democrats have released the following statements in response to Governor Daniels’ State of the State address.

Sen. Simpson: “I had hoped for a stronger message of leadership from the governor in this difficult time for our state. Indiana deserves state leaders who work together to take on the tough issues, protect those in need, and improve the lives of Hoosiers. That’s not the agenda the governor laid out tonight.”

Download: Simpson.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Lanane: “I have to say I was very disappointed that the governor spoke about this ‘hallmark’ legislation that he is pushing…”

Download: Lanane.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Arnold: “I keep hearing about the positives that Indiana is. We’re a destination site…”

Download: Arnold.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Breaux, “Yet another year where I wonder what state the governor is living in…”

Download: Breaux.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Broden: “I was very disappointed in the governor’s speech this evening. I did not hear a concrete plan to improve Indiana’s economy…”

Download: Broden.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Mrvan: “We have bragging rights about the state being the greatest state to do business in… “

Download: Mrvan.SOSResp.11012.MP3

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Video: Sen. Arnold discusses Statehouse access, “Right to Work” on opening day of 2012 legislative session

Senator Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) discusses opening day of the 2012 legislative session and touches on the controversial “Right to Work” bills now under consideration by the Indiana General Assembly.

Video: Sen. Arnold outlines 2012 legislative priorities on Organization Day

Senator Jim Arnold (D-Michigan City) speaks on addressing job creation as the most pressing issue facing Hoosiers in 2012.

Senate Democrats protest attack on worker rights

Today Senators Jim Arnold, Karen Tallian and Tim Skinner walked out of the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee when they were asked to vote on an amendment on SB 524 that they had not been given an opportunity to read. The Democrats said they felt the action by Republicans in the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee usurped the legislative process and was symbolic of a greater effort to dismantle the rights of Hoosier workers.

The controversy erupted over a substantial amendment to Senate Bill 524, a bill that would direct a study on whether to convert state employees’ and teachers’ retirement funds into defined contribution plans. The amendment would do away with the study entirely and immediately move forward with the changes to the pension plans.

The Democrats said they were not provided an opportunity to read the amendment before they were asked to vote on it, and they believe the process denies public employees an opportunity to weigh in on the change.

WATCH: Senators Jim Arnold, Karen Tallian and Tim Skinner discuss today’s events and how they play a role in the larger issue of protecting workers’ rights and the livelihoods of working families.

LISTEN:

SEN. TALLIAN: “We didn’t know what had happened…”

Download: Tallian.SB524Response.21611.MP3

SEN. SKINNER: “I think that now this is probably the worst case scenario…”

Download: Skinner.LaborResponse.21611.MP3

SEN. ARNOLD: “To me this almost seems like a calculated…”

Download: Arnold.LaborResponse.21611.MP3

SEN. TALLIAN: “We spend one hundred fifty years in this country…”

Download: Tallian.LaborResponse.21611.MP3

Sen. Arnold on ed proposals: School start date, teachers’ collective bargaining