Tagged: Indiana General Assembly

The Indiana Senate has passed a bill that would place tougher requirements on clinics that provide only abortion-inducing drugs.    It would also require women who seek them to undergo an ultrasound exam.

The Republican-controlled chamber voted 33-16 for the measure, sponsored by Sen. Travis Holdman

"I am not active in a right-to-life organization.  Introduced this bill because (of) my own religious conviction and my respect for life and the health of women," Holdman said in a floor speech. 

The Indiana Senate has dropped a proposed requirement that doctors must try to perform two ultrasound exams on women who receive drugs to induce abortions.

In a unanimous voice vote Monday, senators changed a bill on abortion pill regulations. It now requires a doctor to conduct appropriate testing during a follow-up appointment about two weeks after prescribing the drugs. The bill still requires doctors to perform an ultrasound exam on the woman before providing the drugs.

A bill that would require drug testing for some welfare recipients has been approved by the Indiana House of Representatives.

Under the measure, people who sign up for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program would have to complete a written test to screen for drug abuse.   Those suspected of having a problem would be drug tested and if they fail, would have to seek treatment to continue getting benefits.

The bill passed the Republican-controlled chamber today,  78-17.   Democrat Charlie Brown voted no, calling the legislation “elitist.”

A state budget and measures affecting schools and the gaming industry are on the long list of proposals still to be considered by the Indiana General Assembly.

The budget being crafted by GOP lawmakers who control the House does not include an income tax cut pushed by fellow Republican Gov. Mike Pence, but they say they’ll revisit Pence’s proposal after getting an updated economic forecast in April.

The plan would instead use the tax cut money to boost spending on education and transportation.

Indiana House Republicans are blocking a vote on Gov. Mike Pence's tax cut with a promise to take up the issue in April.

Republicans voted along party lines to keep House Democrats from forcing a vote on the tax cut Thursday. The effort came as lawmakers advanced a $30 billion biennial budget that swaps the cut for more spending on schools and roads.

Indiana House Republicans are advancing a $30 billion budget that trades Gov. Mike Pence's priority tax cut for more spending on roads and schools.

The House Ways and Means Committee voted 16-7 today  along party lines to advance the budget.

The Republican governor has dug in on his proposal to cut the state's personal income tax and continues to say this week that he is "disappointed" in the House GOP changes.

The proposal now moves to the full House, where Democrats hope to force a vote on Pence's tax cut.