Jan 19, 2025
IN THE WHITE HOUSE:
We have the ERA now?
President Joe Biden announced last week that he considers the Equal Rights Amendment “the law of the land.” However, legal experts say Biden’s statement is mostly symbolic and that can’t just declare that the ERA is the 28th Amendment. As NPR points out, it’s the responsibility of the national archivist, Colleen Shogan, to certify the amendment.
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has lobbied Biden to direct the archivist to certify the ERA, but Biden has so far stopped short of doing that. The President’s senior administration officials say Biden is simply sharing what he believes, telling CNN: “He is using his power of the presidency to make it clear that he believes—and he agrees with leading constitutional scholars and the American Bar Association—not that it should be, but it is the 28th Amendment of the Constitution.”
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Essentially, that means it’s up to the courts now. Sen. Gillibrand is urging women living in anti-abortion states like Indiana to take action: “Now, women living in states with restrictions on their reproductive freedoms can – and should—file suits to overturn these unconstitutional laws that discriminate on the basis of sex. I know they will have ample support as they seek justice, and I promise to stand by their side in this fight.”
So it seems the hope is that women will file ERA-based suits, leaving the question of validity up to the courts, and Democrats will have an opportunity to put Republicans on the spot, forcing them to admit they don’t want to give women constitutional equality. At this point, considering everything else, it’s fair to be cautiously optimistic!
Jack Smith’s final report released
After some shenanigans from Judge Cannon in Florida (cannon-igans?), Jack Smith’s report on January 6th was released. You can read the text here on MSN, or listen to it here (3 parts) on the Jack podcast
ICE raids rumored in Chicago next week
Sources began reporting ICE raids in Chicago next week, but those plans are now in flux. This just means the new administration isn’t wasting any time with their deportation plans. I found this thread from Matt Cameron on Bluesky, an immigration lawyer from the Opening Arguments podcast, clarifying some of the realities of their plans. Some highlights:
Keeping up with the trash in DC.
It’s hard to keep up with the hot mess that is the upcoming administration, but one of my favorite resources is the DC Download, a newsletter from the Progressive Action Caucus Fund. Unfortunately, it comes out on Mondays, so I can’t include their info in this newsletter, but I encourage interested parties to subscribe. Congress in in recess next week, so they won’t be voting.
THIS WEEK AT THE STATEHOUSE:
Braun’s Executive Orders
Governor Mike Braun signed 9 Executive Orders last week, including some winners that remove education requirements for state employees and professional licensure, remove work-from-home options, direct state agencies to delete at least 25% of their existing administrative rules as a way to reduce” regulatory burdens on businesses and citizens,” and replace DEI initiatives throughout government policies and programming with “merit, excellence and innovation” (MEI). Statehouse Democrats called this plan specifically a “regressive action, with Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis adding “[t]his decision is not just a step backward; it’s a direct attack on the values of equity and inclusion that should define us as a state…Inclusion isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a necessity for Indiana to thrive in the modern era. Stripping DEI efforts is a disservice to every Hoosier who believes in fairness and opportunity.”
BILLWATCH 2025:
Focus bills for next week:
HB 1002 is a gross 130+ page bill aimed to further deregulate the education system. This bill would eliminate the requirement that the Superintendent of Education have any educational experience, a bachelor’s degree, or live in Indiana, as well as the requirement that school districts provide transportation for students. Currently scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on Wednesday at 8:30 am. Read more at wfyi_indy
SB143 , the ‘parental rights’ bill, is moving forward to the full Senate. This Alliance Defending Freedom-written bill gives parents legal recourse when they feel their rights have been violated by government entities — including schools and the Department of Child Services Read more at wfyi_indy
from MADVoters Indiana Facebook page re: why oppose this bill: “SB 143 is an inflammatory bill built on culture issues, and could really endanger vulnerable youth in unsafe homes. For example, last year the legislature pushed through a new law to mandate schools inform parents if their child requested a new name or pronoun at school. This is a sensitive and complex topic, and if a student feels their parents aren't a safe person to tell, it's a pretty clear indicator that the student may not be living in a safe and supportive household. Youth have a right to safety, and while we as parents and caregivers nurture and guide them, they are their own people, and not for us to domineer, control, and force into unsafe situations.”
HB 1008 is a silly fantasy about Illinois counties seceding and merging with Indiana. It’s been referred to the House Government & Regulatory Reform committee, but it’s not on the schedule yet.
The MADVoters tracker for next week is below. In addition to HB 1002 and SB 143 above, bills to watch closely are SB 235 (limits on DEI), HB 1413 (reducing rape kit backlog) and HB 1102 (attack on church-state boundary through religiously-affiliated pre-schools). Visit MADVoters Bill Tracker for more Calls to Action, with bill summaries, contact information and scripts.
On the Radar:
HB 1334 - would change the definition of human being to include ‘unborn children’. under this bill, abortion would be considered murder.
SB 241 - expands the AG’s authority over abortion cases and criminalizes abortion drug trafficking as a felony
HB 1173 - prohibits universities from awarding race-based scholarships
SB 284 & SB 201 - voting rights bills to decrease access to early voting from 30 days to 7 days and institute closed primaries, respectively. Both are opposed by LWVIndiana and both are assigned to the Elections committee.
SB 2 - Medicaid matters. Overhaul to the HIP program, including capping it at 10,000 participants and a lifetime 36-month limit on participation, both arbitrary numbers unrelated to the need for these services. Hoosier Action and the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, along with other non-profits, voiced their strong opposition to the bill but the Indiana Hospital Association took a neutral stance while urging significant amendments to improve the bill's impact. Referred to Appropriations committee. Read more at Indiana Public Media
LOCAL FOCUS:
Alan Morisson, former District 42 representative, wants to deregulate the DNR. Read more at wfyi_indy. He was replaced as state rep by Tim Yocum.
Former State Senator for Terre Haute, Jon Ford, has been tapped to lead the Indiana Office of Energy Development. He resigned from his seat in 2023 to become president of Reliable Energy Inc. — a trade association that promotes coal, natural gas, and nuclear.
Mayor Sakbun was interviewed by Indiana Public Media and discussed priorities for Terre Haute for 2025.
RESOURCES:
I learn a lot from podcasts and I listen to them about 8 hours a day while I work. Here are three Indiana-focused podcasts I’ve recently started listening to. These are their Youtube links, but any pod player should have the audio versions.
END ON A HIGH NOTE!
Not everything is terrible! There are some good bills making their way through this session, so I wanted to take time to celebrate them!
SB 111 - guarantees insurance coverage for people who donate organs: passed out of committee!
SB 176 - creates a pathway for HS students to graduate as an LPN
HB 1167 - legalizes fentanyl test strips: passed out of committee!
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