Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowEditor’s note: This story has been updated.
Legislative Democrats want Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb to bring the General Assembly back in a special session as concerns over racial injustice and rising coronavirus cases have created what they say is an immediate need for legislators to reconvene.
The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and the Indiana House Democratic Caucus are requesting a special session in August to consider police reform measures, allow for unrestricted absentee voting and to implement legislative oversight in the distribution of federal COVID-19 relief funds received by Indiana.
There’s been too little transparency and action taken on these issues so far, Democrats said, and a special session would allow new legislation to take effect before the General Election and before federal relief funds expire at the end of the year.
“We feel our state is facing unprecedented events that require immediate attention,” Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane of Anderson said at a news conference Tuesday morning. “It’s time for the people’s elected representatives and senators in the Legislature to step forward to provide the answers and actions they’re looking for.”
Following the killing of George Floyd, the Black Legislative Caucus released a list of “immediate action items” for the governor and local government leaders to immediately reform the criminal justice system, including putting bans on chokeholds, racial profiling and no-knock warrants. But Democrats said “silence” from the governor on those recommendations, as well as the high-profile alleged assault on a southern Indiana Black man over the July Fourth weekend, has precipitated their push for new legislation.
With coronavirus cases continuing to increase, Lanane said the special session would provide an opportunity for responsive legislation to take effect before a projected worsening of the pandemic this fall.
Lanane and other legislative leaders criticized the governor, Secretary of State and the Indiana Election Commission for not extending no-excuse absentee voting as an option for the November election. The lawmakers said one of their paramount measures would allow all Hoosiers to vote by absentee ballot during all elections. The deadline for absentee ballots would also be moved back to 6 p.m. on Election Day.
Additionally, House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta said the lack of legislative involvement surrounding the state’s $2 billion in unspent federal assistance funds — meant to help Hoosiers affected by the pandemic-induced economic downturn — is “simply irresponsible.”
A special session, GiaQuinta continued, would allow legislators to put funds toward state contact tracing and testing programs, housing assistance, small businesses and assistance for those who have lost employment as a result of the pandemic. The funds, still untouched by the governor, must be returned to the federal government if not used by the end of the year.
“If the governor believes that Black lives matter in Indiana, then he must call this special session,” Lanane said. “If the governor believes Hoosiers should be able to exercise their right to vote safely during a global health crisis, then he must call this special session.”
The governor’s office and Republican House and Senate leaders did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the call for a special legislative session.
The Legislature adjourned its regular session on March 11 and is currently not scheduled to consider new measures again until January 2021.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.