INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -
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 House and Senate Democratic leaders 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 of the Republican-dominated Legislature 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,” said
Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane 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.”
Holcomb, a Republican, said
Tuesday that a special session wasn’t “on my agenda right now.”
“I’ll absolutely
look at everything that they’re recommending,” Holcomb said.
Following the killing of
George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, 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 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 said, 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 money, 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.”
Republican House Speaker
Todd Huston said in a statement that he was in regular contact with the
governor’s office and believed Holcomb was working responsibly to use the
federal coronavirus relief money.
“While
I don’t believe a special session is necessary at this time, important and
productive conversations on these topics are ongoing,” Huston said. “I’ve
met with leaders from the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and pledged that
our team will continue working with them to improve our criminal justice
system and policing.”
The Legislature adjourned
its regular session on March 11 and is currently not scheduled to consider
new measures again until January 2021.
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Posted 7/22/2020
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