Tagged: Indiana

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana is one of eight Democrats being encouraged to support gay marriage in a petition being touted by MoveOn.org.

The activist group points out the "last eight" have yet to come out in support the marriage equality for all couples.

Earlier this week, Democratic Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania announced his support for gay marriage "after much deliberation."

MoveOn is circulating a number of petitions targeting Democratic senators from Arkansas, Florida, West Virginia, South Dakota, North Dakota, Louisiana and Delaware over the issue.

"Fifty-four percent of Hoosiers oppose a ban on gay marriage," says Indiana MoveOn member Edward Cherlin, who started the Donnelly petition. "We need you to stand up publicly to the bullies and bigots along with the majority of Hoosiers in support of our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and families."

An environmental group in Indiana is concerned about pending legislation and executive orders it says could reduce the state’s ability to protect the environment and public health.

Jesse Kharbanda is the executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council.

Calling for lawmakers to rise above partisan politics, U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., announced Thursday he has been selected to serve on a number of key Senate committees in the 113th Congress.

Now the Hoosier state's senior senator, Coats will serve on the Appropriations, Select Intelligence, Commerce, Science, and Transportation panels, as well as the Joint Economic Committee.

"These important committee assignments will allow me the opportunity to continue the fight to rein in out-of-control government spending and strengthen our economic and national security," Coats said in a news release. "At a time when the greatest challenge facing our nation is excessive spending, I look forward to working on efforts to restore our fiscal health through my new role as the ranking Republican member of the Joint Economic Committee."

Incoming U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-In., is hoping to launch a new coalition of moderate lawmakers in the 113th Congress.

Donnelly is among a number of new senators sworn-in Thursday, and he steps into the seat previously held by longtime Sen. Dick Lugar.

During the 2012 campaign, the former congressman ran as a centrist and on bringing "Hoosier common sense" to an unpopular Congress.

Donnelly says he wants to work with lawmakers from both parties to find solutions because of Indiana's history of bipartisan cooperation.