INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence vetoed two bills Friday – legislation that would have allowed state and local governments to charge Hoosiers for public records searches and authorized Internet gambling on horse races.
But he allowed four other bills to become law without his signature, including one that authorizes riverboat casinos to move onto land and another that bars most new nursing home construction.
“The cost of public records should never be a barrier to the public’s right to know,” Pence said about vetoing Senate Enrolled Act 369.
That bill authorized charging a limited fee for public records searches in excess of two hours. It also would have prohibited a public agency from charging a fee to transmit a public record by electronic mail and required local governments and school corporations to provide information for posting on the Indiana transparency Internet website.
Lawmakers can override a veto with a simple majority – the same amount needed to pass the bill in the first place. But some legislators prefer not to overrule their governor.
Pence has now acted on all bills from the 2015 session.
His second veto came on House Enrolled Act 1270, which allows advance deposit wagering. Under the bill, Hoosiers could bet on their favorite horses from phones, computer or other electronic devices. It existed nearly a decade ago, but lawmakers eliminated it in 2005.
“This legislation is contrary to my longtime position against online gaming,” Pence said. “Advance Deposit Wagering, not currently permitted in Indiana, would also violate my position on expanding gaming here in Indiana.”
He also allowed four bills to become law without his signature.
“Most Hoosiers know that I oppose an expansion of gaming in Indiana, but I recognize that gaming has become an important part of the economy of many communities in our state and is an important part of our state budget,” Pence said.
“From early in the legislative process, I made it clear that I would not stand in the way of reforms that would allow these businesses to remain competitive with surrounding states so long as it did not constitute an expansion of gaming in Indiana.
“HEA 1540 and SEA 252 meet this standard and, as such, I will permit them to become law without signature.”