How Indiana government will fund local schools, higher education and other state services and projects is again under the microscope at the Legislature. An attempt to restructure property taxes suffered a setback last week, though a plan for Interstate 69 funding advanced.
Here are some of the highlights of the sixth week of the Indiana General Assembly's 2007 session:
- Opponents of SJR 7, a proposal to ban same-sex marriage in the state constitution, are scheduled to hold a rally today at the Statehouse. Their keynote speaker is activist Candace Gingrich, sister of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Last week, SJR 7, the proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between a man and a woman, was passed out of the Senate and awaits action in the House.
- The Senate on Monday approved Senate Bill 1, the plan to fund Interstate 69 construction through Southwestern Indiana, using the proceeds from building two privatized toll roads in northwestern and central Indiana. The vote was 36-13. The bill now moves to the House.
- The Senate Health and Provider Services Committee heard a bill Wednesday that would require doctors to tell women seeking an abortion that human life begins at conception. The proposal was criticized by witnesses. No vote on Senate Bill 135 has been taken yet.
- The House Democrats' property-tax restructuring plan suffered a setback Tuesday on a vote of 49-48. Two Democrats joined House Republicans in voting no, meaning House Bill 1007 did not get the 51 votes necessary to pass. Democrats could bring the bill back, however. The plan would have allowed counties to impose a new local income tax on corporations, an idea many Republicans opposed.
- A bill inspired by the deadly Evansville tornado of Nov. 6, 2005, was passed by a House committee. House Bill 1033, also known as "C.J.'s Law," would require mobile-home installers to affix weather-alert radios inside new or relocated mobile homes. Authored by state Rep. Phil Hoy, D-Evansville, the bill is named for C.J. Martin, a 2-year-old boy who died when the tornado roared through the Eastbrook Mobile Home Park.
- House Democrats formally presented their budget bill Friday. Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels praised the education and kindergarten portions of the plan, but said it was not an honestly balanced budget.
- A House Democrat announced a bill that would ban smoking in cars in which children are riding. House Bill 1237, introduced by state Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, would impose a $25 fine on drivers caught smoking in a vehicle with children.
Looking ahead to the coming week:
- Republican senators recently announced their version of Gov. Mitch Daniels' plan to privatize the Hoosier Lottery and use the proceeds to fund college scholarships and life-sciences research. The proposal to lease the lottery for 30 years would raise a $1 billion up-front payment that could be used for two or three initiatives. Beyond scholarships and research, the Senate plan also would help cities and towns pay police and fire pensions. The bill is scheduled for a hearing this week in the Senate Tax Committee.
- The American Bar Association plans an event at the Statehouse on Tuesday, calling for a temporary halt to executions in Indiana.
- A bill that concerns Evansville native Richard Mourdock could come before the Senate soon. Mourdock was elected state treasurer Nov. 7, but his term didn't officially start until last week. The three-month transition period created a problem because the previous state treasurer, Tim Berry, left office Jan. 1 to become state auditor.