Indiana Catholic Conference

While some hoped the short session could end early, it lasted just about as long as it could; its end, “sine die”, came on Saturday morning, March 13^th. From the perspective of the ICC, the end came earlier in the week when the only matter that was holding up final passage of the few remaining bills was the unemployment tax issue and jobs stimulus issue. The remaining bills, which included the education funding bill, HB 1367, (with the language regarding the Scholarship Tax Credit removed), had been negotiated.

The session will be noted for the legislator/lobbyist ethics law and for passing the property tax cap constitutional amendment. The property tax amendment will be on the ballot this fall and will have significant impact on the local units of government and all tax payers. This amendment to allow for different property tax rates for different categories of taxpayers and its outcome in the election may be the most significant issue of the session.

While the Conference cannot point to a bill or law enacted to which we can attribute success, the session ended successfully from our perspective. Defense was the primary objective; sometimes protecting laws and programs is as important as creating new ones. Two important areas were protected. The Scholarship Tax Credit is intact and continues without harmful changes. Secondly, immigration remains a Federal issue without state interference.

There were disappointments during the session as well, however. The first is that the Definition of Marriage Amendment only passed the Senate and did not get a hearing in the House. It has failed to move in the House for several years running. Also township government reform was among the casualties of the session. The wide discrepancy in services and inconsistency of services even within the same township causes concern for many in Catholic social services. We expect this issue, along with the marriage issue, to return next session.

Interested legislators and other supporters believed there was little hope or time for pro-life issues this session. Yet one bill did pass that clearly had pro-life implications passed unanimously in both houses. SB 71 recognizes the life of the fetus, should the fetus die in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.

Because of declining state revenue, bills with fiscal impact died upon introduction. In the end little was done except for the delay in the increase of the unemployment insurance tax and the approval of a additional uses for the capital projects fund to help offset the cut in state funds. It took the last day and final hours to settle these items.

Since the General Assembly will not be in session, this will be the last regular I-CAN Update. In the meantime, there will be notices when alerts or action on the Federal level are needed.

Indiana Catholic Conference is very appreciative of the involvement and support of the I-CAN network. While ICC is a voice and provides the eyes during the session, it is the voices and involvement of the individuals in the network that makes the difference. Thank you.

Please continue to check back on our website, www.indianacc.org , for current events.