State Rep. Ed DeLaney argues that the public deserved a greater role in the special session process

You probably saw the news that the governor ordered the Indiana General Assembly into a one-day special session to address five bills considered “urgent” for our state. You might wonder how we accomplished in one day what would normally take weeks in a legislative setting.

The answer is easy – the majority party suspended the rules. The committee process – the cornerstone of our democracy where any member of the public is allowed to offer opinions, suggestions and comments on a bill – was completely scuttled.

In my opinion, it was a real disappointment for those who want to have a voice in their government.

So, what was accomplished? Well, we passed an initiative that provides $5 million for safety improvements in Hoosier schools. It sounds like a big number until you calculate that it would provide only about $7,300 for each school corporation in the state, a modest amount given the issue and the nearly $2 billion in our state reserves. Then, the legislature gave more than $180 million in tax breaks to large corporations by deviating from federal tax changes. Entrepreneurs were taxed an additional $48 million. Think about that – whom are we encouraging to do what

Perhaps most disturbing is what we didn’t discuss. We didn’t discuss ways to reform the troubled Department of Child Services, raise teacher pay, or deal with the worsening opioid crisis.

Rest assured that I won’t give up on the real issues. I will continue to fight for what I believe is best for our state.