INDIANAPOLIS —An Indiana House of Representatives' Transportation Committee amended a bill Thursday to prohibit the state 's governor from structuring public-private partnerships that would place tolls on existing roadways.
The measure is intended to open new doors for public-private infrastructure projects by removing a concern of some legislators.
House Transportation Committee Chairman Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, said the amendment is intended to address worries that existing roadways could be leased to private companies, therefore limiting Hoosiers' access.
Senate Bill 473 would still let the governor sign public-private partnerships to build new roads, with tolls, without the General Assembly's approval. It would also allow for potentially tolled truck lanes to be added to existing highways.
The bill now awaits a vote in the full House.
Immigration bill
Indiana's proposed immigration bill no longer includes an Arizona-style provision that would have allowed police to ask people for proof of immigration status if they suspected they were in the country illegally.
The House Public Policy Committee on Thursday removed several sections of the bill proposed by Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel. The committee plans to take a vote today on the bill, which would still revoke certain tax credits for businesses that hire illegal immigrants, check the immigration status of criminal offenders, require Indiana to seek reimbursement from Congress for the costs of illegal immigration and implement other changes.
"There are a lot of good things remaining in the bill," Delph said.
Redistricting hearing
An Indiana House redistricting hearing got testy Thursday as Republicans and Democrats demanded of each other information that neither side was willing to provide themselves.
Julia Vaughn, the policy director for Common Cause Indiana, chastised lawmakers for failing to provide the data necessary to examine the political makeup of the districts they've proposed.
"Right now we're just looking at pictures, and that doesn't tell the whole story," she said. "You're operating information-blind right now, and we would prefer to be able to judge these things with a complete set of information."
Republicans proposed their Indiana House, Senate and congressional maps on Monday. Though they're likely to be ignored by the majority, Democrats have proposed maps of their own.
There isn't much time left. This year's session ends April 29, and votes on the new maps are expected to come sooner than that.
"I feel a little bit like Alice in Wonderland, and I have tumbled down the rabbit hole," Vaughn said. "You're just not giving us enough information."
The message was heard. By Thursday afternoon, House Republicans had posted online a list of precincts in each of their proposed districts.
Donnelly for Senate
National Democrats plan to target Indiana's 2012 Senate race, and the chairwoman of the Senate Democrats' campaign arm says Rep. Joe Donnelly would be an excellent candidate.
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state told reporters Thursday that she believes Democrats can pick off the seat currently held by Republican Sen. Richard Lugar.
The six-term incumbent faces what could be a tough primary challenge from Republican State Treasurer Richard Mourdock amid criticism from conservatives and tea party activists who think his voting record is too moderate.
Murray says she has talked with Donnelly about entering the race. Donnelly has said he'll consider a Senate run but has made no decision.
New congressional maps proposed by Republican state lawmakers would make Donnelly's northern Indiana district more Republican.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.