Pelath on 2016 session: roads a plus, civil rights a minus
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath from Michigan City today issued the following statement at the close of the 2016 session of the Indiana General Assembly:
“Now that we are done for 2016, I am pleased with one accomplishment. We took a steady first step toward fixing our decaying roads and bridges.
“Rather than submitting to a fever of tax increases and expensive bonding, the Republican supermajorities finally embraced what House Democrats proposed. More of the sales tax on gasoline will be dedicated exclusively for state highways and local streets. We employ some of the reserve tax money the state already took from the people. And there are no new tolls, and no new taxes.
“Granted, the final bill did not go as far as we would have liked, but this is a common-sense start in the direction of a long-term solution. We demanded tangible action without raiding the wallets of working Hoosiers.
“It was a measurable success, and I applaud it.
“It was a far better outcome than what transpired on the issue of civil rights. The Indiana Senate supermajority punted on one potential solution, and the Indiana House supermajority routinely voted down efforts to bring basic human protections to the LGBT community.
“As a result, Indiana still has the reputation of intolerance and rejection. Indiana’s economic future cannot endure this out-of-touch and old-fashioned thinking.
“What makes it even more disconcerting is that while our leaders declined to act on this issue, they had no qualms about imposing over-the-top legislation to deny women their reproductive rights amid grief and tragedy.
“Were there other dilemmas? Once again, the Republican supermajority cannot help itself when tinkering with the lives of schoolchildren. Despite their claims of newfound respect for our teachers, many of their moves this session suggest otherwise. Unfettered classroom experiments will continue.
“I also must lament the last-minute decision to get rid of language that would have sent a clear message to companies like Carrier that they cannot continually ask for help from taxpayers and continue to receive that help when they unpatriotically leave our state for another country. This was a clear message of succumbing to the wants of the powerful, and rejecting the concerns of our workers and starving middle class.
“While I will not hesitate to highlight some worthwhile achievements, differences regarding the future of Indiana remain clear. We are far from reaching our potential heights of prosperity. The good news is that in this bicentennial year, the people of Indiana will have an opportunity to choose a new path ahead.