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| Hoosier United Methodist News |
June 2001 |
Comment from the Indiana Statehouse:
Legislature wrap-up nets key 'wins' relating to social issues
By Jane Fribley
Contrary to all predictions, the Indiana General Assembly in a seldom held Sunday Session agreed on the budget and passed many other bills before adjourning a few minutes before midnight on April 29th.
There was much left undone, some better so, but also much was accomplished. Be sure to thank your representative and senator and the leadership for their hard work and then suggest what you would like to have happen next year.
June 12 is the date the lawmakers have set if they return for "technical corrections" to bills. At this time a simple majority could override the Governor's vetoes. However, few feel that the leadership will call the lawmakers back.
Issues related to the Church's Social Principles:
WINS:
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Legal limit for blood alcohol content when driving reduced from .10 to .08 in compliance with national standards.
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Dockside gambling and other forms of gambling expansion were all defeated.
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Voting reform bills: Bans punch card voting by 2004 and includes in the budget funds to help counties upgrade voting systems to be uniform throughout the state; Eliminates duplicate registrations from voter lists by creating a computerized state wide voter registration file.
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Education bills: funds for public schools increased by 3.5 percent and for state universities by 3.2 percent a year.
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Extends kindergarten cut off date from June 1 to July 1 -- still among the earliest in the country.
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Authorized Charter Schools as a form of education innovation in public schools. Emphasis can be specialized to meet the needs or interests of children often left behind or not challenged by the traditional systems.
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Authorized non-licensed college graduates to teach after taking condensed training in education. This will better enable persons to change careers, help fill the need for teachers and bring to the classroom people with experience in many fields.
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Passed several health care bills that improve services for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill and will reduce the waiting lists. Among them: expansion of the state's system of community care for people with autism, Medicaid coverage to some workers with disabilities and for mental health drugs.
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Increased funding for Choice -- home care alternative to nursing home care. Allows free access to health care providers disciplinary records over the Internet.
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Defeated a bill that would have added a $5 per day tax per nursing home bed to the bills of paying customers who are already paying extra to cover costs of those on public assistance.
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The public right to know was protected when Gov. O'Bannon vetoed a bill passed by a large majority in both houses that would exempt the legislature from Indiana's public record law. More time is needed to prepare a bill that balances the rights of public access and privacy. Allows the General Assembly to contract out Internet coverage of their actions.
LOSSES:
Vetoed by Gov. O'Bannon, probably as a token effort to balance the budget, although these programs would save money in the long run:
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Bill to create an ombudsman for the Dept. of Correction to investigate inmate complaints.
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Bill requiring all prison inmates be tested for the AIDS virus and hepatitis C.