The Inside Scoop from the Senate Democrats
On Thursday, a Statehouse celebration was held to honor the memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The 22nd Annual King Holiday Celebration was sponsored by the Indiana Civil Rights Commission and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Commission. In attendance were African American and civil rights leaders from across Indiana.
A message from Senator Jean Breaux on the legacy of Dr. King:
Continue reading ‘King Jr.’s legacy of service remembered at the Statehouse’
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.
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>>
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.
On Monday the Indiana State Senate recognized 11 interns for their outstanding efforts as Senate Democrat Interns during the 2011 session of the 117th Indiana General Assembly. The resolution was authored by members of the Senate Democratic Caucus and was passed unanimously by the Senate.
Senator Arnold honoring the 2011 Senate Democrat Interns.
Intern Andrew Dezelan of Greenfield was awarded with a $3,000 scholarship from Verizon Communications for being the most outstanding intern in the Senate Democratic caucus this session. Dezelan is a recent graduate of Indiana University where he studied political science.
Andrew Dezelan with Senator Vi Simpson.
Additionally, intern Jerry Parkinson was honored with the $1,000 Rick Gudal Memorial Scholarship. Parkinson is a senior at Indiana University majoring in political science and minoring in history. The Rick Gudal Public Service Scholarship Fund awards an intern from both senate caucuses each year who best exemplifies the public service legacy and love of education of former Senate Democratic staffer Rick Gudal.
Intern Jerry Parkinson with Senator Vi Simpson.
For more information on the Senate Democratic Internship Program visit www.SenateDemocrats.IN.gov or visit the program’s Facebook page.
Legislative business resumed in the House of Representatives this week upon the return of House Democrats ending a five week dispute over a legislative agenda they considered harmful to Indiana workers and public schools. As a result of the walkout however, House leaders reached a bi-partisan compromise with concessions made by both sides. A few of the provisions of the compromise included removing from consideration legislation that would have placed unnecessary restrictions on workers’ rights to unionize as well as legislation that would have placed a permanent ban on public employee bargaining agreements. Regarding education proposals, the compromise included tabling legislation that would have allowed for private takeover of public schools, and placing limits on private school vouchers.
Facing a session deadline of April 29, lawmakers are now moving forward on key issues including a new two-year state budget and a redistricting plan of the state’s legislative and congressional boundaries. There is a lot of optimism that session will conclude on time. The following brief summary highlights recent Senate and House action and other Statehouse activities.
The House had over 300 amendments introduced for consideration to the state budget proposal, House Bill (HB) 1001. House Democrats offered most of the proposals, some of which called for additional spending for health care and mass transit. Most of the amendments were defeated. Democrats also attempted to protect funding for public schools, many of which will see more than five percent cuts under the plan, largely in urban and rural districts. On Wednesday evening, the House approved the Republican budget plan on a party-line vote of 60-37.
State Senate committees will begin an unusual schedule of bill hearings on Wednesday. Senate Democrat Leader Vi Simpson (Ellettsville) says she is concerned schedule changes made by Senate Republicans will create a more complicated, even chaotic system that could limit the public’s access to follow or advocate on measures before the General Assembly.
Under the changes for Senate committees, announced last week by Senate Republicans, legislators expect to see multiple measures pushed into one bill during committee hearings. Also, House Republicans are invited to attend and participate in Senate committee hearings with the opportunity to express their thoughts and opinions along with the Senate committee members.
“I hope that decorum will be maintained in the Senate committees, and that a circus-like environment in those deliberations does not detract from the public’s ability to hear and be heard,” Sen. Simpson said. “The Senate should not create more confusion and chaos in this process or make it more burdensome for constituents to stay engaged on important matters that affect them.”
In a letter to the Senate President Pro Tem delivered Monday, Sen. Simpson asked that the bills to be offered as amendments be included in committee public postings, a courtesy that would provide 48 hours notice to the public and to other legislators. Procedural rules in the State Senate do not require any prior posting or notice of amendments offered in committee, a process that Sen. Simpson believes will put the public at a distinct disadvantage during these unusual proceedings.
Senate Republicans declined that request on Tuesday, noting that it will be up to committee chairs to decide whether any notice of the bills to be considered as amendments will be posted publicly before each hearing.
On Wednesday morning, the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee will consider combining ten different bills into a single bill. House Bill 1017, which now contains a plan allowing medication unused by incarcerated offenders to be returned to the pharmacy, could become the vehicle for nine other substantial measures on issues ranging from an increased co-pay for families in the First Steps Program for developmentally disabled children to changes in the Healthy Indiana Plan for adult low-cost health care insurance.
Sen. Simpson pointed out that in the case of the health committee, while the extensive amendments would complicate the process, at least the public had some notice of the measures that were going to be considered. Whether such prior notice will be available in other committees is unlikely.
For more information on Sen. Simpson, her legislative agenda or other State Senate business call 1-800-382-9467 or visit www.SenateDemocrats.IN.gov.
Letter to the Editor/ Opinion-Editorial
By Indiana State Senator Jean D. Breaux (D-Indianapolis), State Senator Lonnie M. Randolph (D-East Chicago), and State Senator Karen Tallian (D-Portage)
Word Count: 390
A few of our Republican colleagues in the Indiana State Senate recently described an energy bill now before the General Assembly as a “balance among competing interests.” The truth is that the bill garnered near universal opposition from stakeholder groups who testified in the Senate Committee on Utilities and Technology– industrial energy users who collectively employ tens of thousands of Hoosiers, an array of clean energy entrepreneurs, and the AARP, to name a few.
Senate Bill 251 does not represent a balanced approach nor does it serve the interests of Hoosier consumers, and that’s why we are opposed to the bill in its current form. The bill places no ceiling on consumer electricity rate increases to pay for the construction of new, multi-billion dollar power plants. Instead, it puts consumers on the hook for more risky power plant investments, like Duke Energy’s controversial new plant in Southwest Indiana, with too little oversight by state regulators. Construction costs for that plant have ballooned from initial estimates of $1.3 billion to $2.88 billion.
In the backdrop of the Duke Energy Edwardsport scandal, this bill also astonishingly reduces oversight of investor-owned electrical utilities by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. This change nearly mutes the commission in their designated role as overseers of utility rates in the state and aggravates concerns about the lack of public transparency in utility dealings and rate increases.
Further, this bill creates an unwelcoming investment climate for clean energy entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs have testified about the need for a “Renewable Electricity Standard,” which would create market certainty for renewable energy technologies like wind power. Indiana is one of only 14 states without such a standard. Entrepreneurs have testified that, without this standard, they’ll stop investing in the state – and stop creating needed jobs. In the last four years, wind companies alone invested $2.5 billion in rural Indiana.
Senate Bill 251 is not a consensus bill. Constructive solutions are being offered that we hope will gain support in the weeks ahead. However, we believe that the most responsible action is for the Indiana legislature to hit the reset button on this far-reaching measure and develop an energy bill that genuinely takes into account the interests of Hoosier families and businesses, fosters entrepreneurship and job growth in renewable energy industries and moves Indiana’s energy independence forward with more renewable energy production.
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State Senator Jean Breaux, Indianapolis, is a member of the Senate Utility and Technology Committee and Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee. State Senator Lonnie Randolph, East Chicago, is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Utility and Technology Committee and is a member of the Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee. State Senator Karen Tallian, Portage, is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee. For more information on these state legislators or other State Senate business visit www.SenateDemocrats.IN.gov.
Over 4,000 union members gathered to rally for workers' rights at the Statehouse on Tuesday.
Sen. Simpson speaking at the rally
Sen. Lanane speaking at the rally
Union members respond to Sen. Lanane's remarks
Sen. John Broden greeting union members
Sen. Skinner meeting with union members
After the rally, union members marched throughout the Statehouse chanting, "Save the middle class!".
