INDIANAPOLIS —The state Senate voted Monday to make sure Republicans keep the Indiana secretary of state's office no matter what happens to current officeholder Charlie White.
The Indiana Democratic Party is arguing he wasn't eligible to be on the ballot in the first place, and under current law, if they prevail, the candidate who receives the second-most votes, Democrat Vop Osili, would take the office.
White was indicted by a Hamilton County grand jury on seven felony counts, including voter fraud. The charges stem from accusations he registered to vote at an address where he did not live.
If White is convicted of a felony, he would have to vacate the office and the governor would appoint his replacement. But if the Indiana Recount Commission rules he wasn't qualified to take office in the first place, the No. 2 vote-getter would be his replacement.
An amendment to House Bill 1242, offered by Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, and adopted along party lines Monday, would instead hand that power, too, over to the governor — Republican Mitch Daniels.
Young said the amendment makes sense because "the loser shouldn't win."
Dan Parker, the chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, lambasted the move.
"This is an unconscionable GOP power grab to undo misdeeds Charlie White committed when he was a candidate, misdeeds that should have prevented his certification as an elected official," he said.
"What's the point of having a process for this kind of situation if Republicans are just going to change the rules when their people get caught?"
Gun bill advances
Hoosiers could take guns to public buildings, libraries and parks under a measure that cleared the Indiana House of Representatives on Monday.
On a 77-21 vote, the House approved Senate Bill 292, which would prevent cities and counties from enacting ordinances that ban guns anywhere but schools, hospitals and buildings that contain courtrooms or have metal detectors at the door.
"The basic idea is that the right to protect ourselves is something we carry with us anywhere in the state," said the measure's sponsor, Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis.
Democrats who represent urban districts were the chief opponents. Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, called the bill an effort to appease the National Rifle Association.
"No one from Gary has asked for us to be included in this process," he said. "We've got to be at least reasonable about gun legislation — at least reasonable."
Meanwhile, Daniels has signed into law another pro-gun bill that would bar employers from asking their workers whether they have guns in their vehicles.
Planned Parenthood
An effort to block Planned Parenthood from receiving $3 million in state funds was revived Monday in the Senate.
Legislation that sought to defund that organization and others that provide abortions died earlier this year as a result of the five-week House Democratic boycott. But the Senate amended that legislation into House Bill 1210.
The Senate voted 36-13 to add that language to a bill that would reduce from 24 weeks to 20 weeks the time period in which a pregnancy can be terminated. That would give Indiana one of the nation's most strict abortion laws.