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Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Ind. Law - Dems' threat of boycott, legislation deadline loom

"Dems' threat of boycott, legislation deadline loom: Key state bills could die without a vote by today." That is the headline to this story today in the Indianapolis Star , reported by Michele McNeil. Yesterday was the last day for a bill to pass second reading in its own House. So any bill that has not passed second reading is now dead for the session, presumably.

Today is the last day for a bill to pass third reading in its own house. Many bills remain on third reading. Later today you can view the House and Senate calanders for March 1. Currently they have not yet been updated from last evening.

The Star reports:

Today's agenda includes bills important to Democrats -- particularly measures championed by Mayor Bart Peterson. That includes a plan to merge parts of Indianapolis city and Marion County governments, and the one to help build the new stadium.

There are more bills Democrats don't like. Some they deem as anti-labor. One creates the post of inspector general, a position that reports to the governor and has prosecutor's powers; another would require voters to show a photo ID at the polls. * * *

Today is the deadline for the House and Senate to approve bills before they switch chambers. Bills that fail to pass can be resurrected in the final days of the legislative session, but it becomes more difficult. * * *

[Among the Senate bills up for vote is] Senate Bill 620, which stems from the ongoing problem of aging combined sewer systems. In heavy rains, such systems can allow untreated sewage to flow directly into rivers and streams. This bill would let communities meet lower water-quality standards during such storms.
* * *

One of the most politically difficult votes will likely be on a measure in the House to put Indiana on daylight saving time.

House Bill 1034 is sponsored by Rep. Gerry Torr, R-Carmel, who said he hopes he's got enough votes to pass it.

A sidebar to the Star story lists some other bills eligible for final passage today, including:
• Inspector general: House Bill 1002, sponsored by House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, would toughen criminal penalties for public corruption and create an inspector general who could conduct criminal investigations into state matters.
• Judicial pay raise: House Bill 1777, sponsored by Rep. Ralph Foley, R-Martinsville, would raise court fees to give judges their first pay raises since 1997. Base pay for Supreme Court justices would increase from $115,000 to $143,195; for Court of Appeals judges from $110,000 to $139,951; and for trial court judges from $90,000 to $121,122.
• Jury duty: House Bill 1174, sponsored by Rep. Carolene Mays, D-Indianapolis, would eliminate automatic exemptions for seniors, veterinarians, Indianapolis Public Schools board members and licensed dentists, while keeping the exemption for state legislators.
• Methamphetamine: House Bill 1223, sponsored by Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, would classify meth precursors ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as controlled substances.
• Phone company regulation: House Bill 1518, sponsored by Rep. Michael Murphy, R-Indianapolis, would prohibit the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission from regulating basic local phone service after June 30, 2010.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 1, 2005 07:53 AM
Posted to Indiana Law