Feb 16, 2025
NATIONAL NUTCASERY
confirmations continue
and continue to be gross. Last week, RFK Jr was confirmed along mostly party lines, with polio survivor Mitch McConnell joining all Democrats in opposition.
This week, Linda McMahon is on deck to head the Education Department, at least until it is dismantled by the Trump administration. Use the script below to contact Sens Young & Banks, and follow @mrs.frazzled for more education content
injustice at NY main justice
The first act of a drama that has shaken the Department of Justice ended Friday when a top official, Emil Bove, acting US deputy Attorney General, signed a formal request to drop corruption charges against New York’s mayor after Manhattan’s acting U.S. attorney, Danielle R. Sassoon, resigned rather than obey, and she was followed out the door by at least six other prosecutors in New York and Washington. Read more at the NYTimes
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EOs impact Vigo
An executive order from President Trump seeking to halt all federal grants and loans is slowing the ENTEK plant project in Vigo County as the company works through questions about funding. ENTEK says it has been in contact with the new Department of Energy team and is in line to have its loan reviewed. There is not a timeline yet on how long the process might take.
The plant will manufacture lithium-ion battery separators to be used primarily in electric vehicles (EVs) and the project was expected to create 763 construction jobs and 635 operational jobs.
STATEWIDE SHENANIGANS
AG agony
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has signed on to a federal lawsuit challenging Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act as unconstitutional. Section 504 protects disabled people from discrimination and provides that individuals with disabilities should not be excluded any program or activity that receives federal funds, including health care, public transportation and public education. Rokita and the other Attorney Generals who have signed on - in total representing 17 states - allege that a 2024 federal ruling that included gender dysphoria as a qualifying disability should be overturned. Once the case (Texas v. Becerra) heads to the court later this month, the ruling will follow. Contact the AG's office at (317) 232-6201 and tell him to drop the case, and leave 504 alone.
not sure what this al all about? Here’s a great explainer of the 504 program and the lawsuit from the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
don’t come for Dolly
Governor Mike Braun’s “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal is throwing the future of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library around the state into flux.
Under the previous budget, the state matched donations from local partners making the program budget 50% donations and 50% funds from the state. The proposed budget removes that funding altogether, which could completely halt the program in Indiana. The Imagination Library has sent over 200 million free, age-appropriate books to children since in began in 1995. The program was expanded to all Hoosier children under 5 in 2023 under Gov. Holcomb.
Here is Gov. Braun’s contact page. Pour yourself a cup of ambition and let him know your thoughts.
BILLWATCH 2025
Nearly all committees have adjourned in anticipation of Monday's committee hearing deadline. After Monday, any bill that has not been heard in committee is considered "dead" - ineligible to move forward in the legislative process. On Thursday 2/20, the House and Senate will adjourn for a week. When the legislature reconvenes on Monday, March 3, it will be the second half of the legislative session, when House bills are sent to the Senate, and Senate bills are sent to the House.
Here are some bills that moved last week:
A Senate committee removed a lifetime eligibility limit from a Medicaid reform bill, SB 2. It still makes major changes to the Healthy Indiana Plan, or HIP — the state’s Medicaid expansion program — including reintroducing previously halted work requirements and an enrollment cap.
This bill is scheduled for its second Senate Reading at 1:30. Tell your state senator to vote No to SB 2.
The original language of HB 1169 aimed at expanding birth control access required local health departments to provide access to condoms, long-acting reversible contraceptives and over-the-counter birth control. The revised bill excludes condoms and long-acting reversible contraceptives. Doctors say that goes against all medical information and guidelines.
House Bill 1041, which would ban transgender women from women's collegiate sports, passed out of committee. The NCAA already bans trans women from sports and no transgender women currently play in college sports in Indiana. Three out of the four Deomcrats on the committee voted in fovr of the ban, including Terre Haute rep Tonya Pfaff. A spokesperson for her office said she was unavailable when IndyStar asked for comment . Constituents can contact her office at 800-382-9842
Senate Bill 518, which would require traditional public-school districts to share property tax revenue with charter schools (potentially resulting in school closures and transportation cuts), also passed out of committee.
This bill is scheduled for its second Senate Reading at Monday 1:30. Tell your state senator to vote No to SB 518.
Senate Bill 442, which requires school boards to approve and post online their curriculum materials on "human sexuality," passed the Senate by a 39-9 vote.
House Bill 1662, which would ban street camping or sleeping on state or local property, received an initial committee hearing this week, but no vote was taken. IndyStar has an article with more information
This bill is scheduled for a committee vote Monday at 10:30. Tell committee chairman Rep. Miller to stop 1662.
You can also act now by emailing your legislators using this tool developed by Prosperity Indiana.
Senate Bill 287, which would make school boards races partisan, passed a Senate committee this week despite opposition expressed by school officials. IndyStar also delved into this issue.
This week is anticipated to be a busy week of last minute bills being pushed through.
from the League of Women Voters Indiana:
from Indiana Latino Democratic Caucus:
House Bill 1531 is a sweeping anti-immigrant bill that merges language from multiple harmful bills. Hearing Scheduled: Monday, February 17, 2025, at 9:30 AM
If Passed, This Bill Would:
Mandate ICE enforcement by forcing local governments to comply with detainer requests or face legal action;
Remove existing methods of accountability, by providing immunity to governmental entities engaging in immigration enforcement;
Punish employers through strict work verification requirements and severe penalties.
Target parole sponsors with new reporting mandates and legal consequences;
Require schools to report students who are “unlawfully present,” “non-English dominant,” or non-U.S. citizens; and
Force schools to report bilingual educators to the state.
from Women4Change Indiana:
We need to contact members of the Health and Providers Services Committee to request a hearing for SB 521 and SB 522. The LAST day for a bill to receive a committee hearing is February 17th, so these emails are more important now than ever before. Both of these proposed bills will positively impact Hoosier women and families. In a time when reproductive health is constantly under threat, we need to make as many positive advancements as possible.
Additionally, we have four House bills that need hearings. From advocating for trauma-informed care to requesting funds for lactation rooms in public buildings, these issues directly impact Hoosier women, children, and families.
LOCAL FOCUS
will this be any goode though?
Terre Haute State Senator Greg Goode has filed SB 382, which would create a local oversight board and facilitate potential use of county funds for facility improvements within the Vigo County School Corporation. On Tuesday, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 49-0, with one excused. SB382 will now advance to the House of Representatives. Learn more about SB382 here.
doubling down on community corrections
Officials are now in the planning phase for expanding the Community Corrections program. The county is in the process of purchasing twenty acres next to the Vigo County jail. This new site will double the bed space in the Community Corrections program. The expansion should cut down on the jail crowding problem that is currently facing the Vigo County court system. Officials hope to break ground in late 2025. Read more here.
fun to play at the YMCA
The Wabash Valley Community Foundation has received a $6.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. toward an $11.3 million renovation of the YMCA in Terre Haute. This funding will support Phase 1 of the YMCA Riverfront Transformation project, enabling critical renovations and facility expansions. These improvements will allow the YMCA to better meet the community's needs by increasing access to affordable childcare, wellness programs and essential services, while also creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Read more here.
LGBTQ but not at ISU
The ACLU is suing ISU over the location of Pride Fest 2025. Read the press release here.
GOOD TROUBLE
Tell Trump and Congress that families need a tax cut for child care:
During his campaign, Trump promised to support moms and families. Instead, House Republicans are openly considering gutting that financial support in upcoming budget talks over Trump’s tax policy. The only tax credit that helps with child care is at risk
RESOURCE CENTER
The NAACP has released a list of companies who have not rolled back their DEI initiatives. The official line is this is not a boycott, but a ‘buy-in’ of companies who are backing their values. find the Black Consumer Advisory here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday 2/17: 50501 protest at the Indianapolis Statehouse at noon. More info at the 50501 website, their Bluesky account, and their subreddit community.
register here for the Indy 50501 Day of Protest
Tuesday, 2/18: Nasty Women meeting 5-7pm at VCPL main branch, meeting room D. We will be discussing the INDEMs’ 2025 IDP Reorganization Guide and 2025 IDP Reorganization Procedures
Thursday 2/20: Reproductive Health day at the Indiana Statehouse. Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, ACLU of Indiana, All Options, Good Trouble Coalition, Hoosier Jews for Choice, Indiana TaskFORCE, ACOG, Our Choice Coalition, and Women4Change are partnering together to urge legislators in passing bills aimed at bettering the status of reproductive health in Indiana. Register here.
Friday, 2/21: Vigo Dems meeting 1111 Veterans Square 5:30 pm Facebook Event link
Join the ISTA Day of Action: March 4 | Register
END ON A HIGH NOTE
On Monday morning, Chief Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island issued an order admonishing the administration for failing to comply with his previous order, temporarily ending the administration’s freeze on federal spending.
Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston and U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante in New Hampshire became the third and fourth federal judges to block the executive order against birthright citizenship.
In Baltimore, Judge Brendan Hurson blocked an executive order that had shut down access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender people under the age of nineteen.
In Washington, D.C., Judge John Bates ordered the CDC, HHS, and FDA to restore pages they had removed from their websites to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order on “gender ideology and extremism.” Judges are standing for the rule of law and against overreach by the executive branch.
Following attacks on the judiciary by Vance, Musk, and other Senators, a few Republican Senators decided that attacking judicial review was a bridge too far. They spoke up to say something that would have been unremarkable in any other area—that parties (including the government) who disagree with a judge’s decision can appeal it, but they must obey the orders of the courts:
Senator Josh Hawley told Business Insider, “‘Oh, we’re just going to completely ignore the decision?’ That, I think you can’t do.”
Senator Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley stated, “We’ve got a system of checks and balances, and that’s what I see working…I learned in eighth grade civics about checks and balances, and I just expect the process to work its way out.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged to CNN that the judiciary serves to resolve differences between executive and legislative branches, and that he expects federal courts to play “the important role of ensuring that the laws in the country are followed.”
Trump's time in the White House runs out in:
