Deanna Martin, writing for the associated press, has an article on how the Indiana Senate has been dodging public hearings on controversial provisions they’re jamming in bills at the last minute.
If the legislation is such a good idea, critics ask, why not go through the typical public hearing process?
“There are a lot of highly politicized issues that are getting crammed down the public’s throat,” said Julia Vaughn, with the government watchdog group Common Cause Indiana. “It seems like every hot-button issue that a conservative special interest group holds dear is being raised in the final days.”
. . .
The Senate put a measure to cut funding for Planned Parenthood into a bill tightening abortion restrictions. It inserted into an elections bill a provision to allow GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels to appoint a new secretary of state if Republican Charlie White, who faces charges of voter fraud, is found to have been ineligible — a move Democrats branded a power grab. And it changed the budget to provide a way to fine boycotting lawmakers, a direct response to the House Democrats’ walkout.
. . .
Simpson chalks up the Senate’s recent actions to new, more conservative members who she said may not understand the Senate’s history and tradition of civility.
Bob Garton likely would not have permitted this kind of thing when he controlled the Senate. The Charlie White issue, in particular, looks like something Sen. Garton absolutely would have blocked; given that it’s a clear attempt to affect the outcome of current litigation.
Sen. Long probably would like to follow in the tradition of his predecessor, but he doesn’t have nearly the level of control that Garton — with the support of Morris Mills, Larry Borst, and Joe Harrison — had over the years. Long has to deal with a more ideological contingent that isn’t as concerned about the niceties of the legislative process.
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