House committee approves amended abortion ban
An Indiana House committee approved the Senate-passed abortion ban Tuesday, sending it to the House floor with amendments including an exception to protect the health of the mother. In a 8-5 vote – along party lines except for Republican Cindy Ziemke of Oldenburg joining Democrats in opposition – the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee approved Senate Bill 1 after hearing over nine hours of public testimony. Over 100 people testified. The amendment, introduced by committee chair Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, broadens the exception of saving the “life of the mother” by adding the exception for the health of the mother. …
John Krull commentary: The Supreme Court launched a demolition derby — and in Indiana, it’s only beginning
If the conservative members of the U.S. Supreme Court intended to smash America into fragments by overturning Roe vs. Wade, their plan is working splendidly. The just-completed demolition derby in the Indiana Senate demonstrates that. During a special session Hoosier legislators rushed into because, well, they can’t see or think beyond the ends of their eyebrows, our lawmakers debated restrictions on abortion that ranged from mean to savage. As they did so, protestors hounded them with cacophonous demonstrations of opposition. Doctors and other healthcare professionals told the legislators they were making a big mistake. So did many business and community…
House committee to hear testimony on abortion bill Tuesday morning
Public testimony on Senate Bill 1, which provides for a ban on abortion with exceptions only for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother, will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday before the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. The Indiana House of Representatives held a brief session Monday afternoon to assign the bill to the committee, which will hear public testimony in the House Chamber. Also during Monday’s session, Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, tried to pass a motion to reject the bill upon its arrival from the Senate, which narrowly passed the bill Saturday afternoon. Pierce’s motion…
In epic Senate abortion bill debate, rape/incest exception proves a lightning rod
“Let me tell you, this is the great debate. People will remember what we did.” That’s what Sen. Michael Young (above), R-Indianapolis, said while giving closing remarks Thursday night for his Amendment 58, which would get rid of the rape and incest exceptions included in Senate Bill 1. The amendment -- finally voted down, 18-28 -- sparked a polarizing two-hour debate that dominated Thursday’s Senate session, which continued past midnight. The Senate was originally scheduled to convene at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. After six delays, the session finally started at 5 p.m. The Republicans delayed the meeting so they could debate…
Indiana Senate passes abortion ban by a 1-vote margin
Senate Bill 1, a ban on abortion with exceptions only for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother, was passed by the Indiana Senate Saturday by the narrowest margin possible – one vote. The bill, passed 26-20 and with 10 of the Senate's Republicans supermajority voting against it, would provide one of the nation’s strongest bans on abortion. The unusual Saturday session drew hundreds of protesters just outside the Senate chamber. “This is where we are in Indiana today,” said Sen. Sue Glick R-LaGrange. “We can hear many from the hallway who disagree, but also many who…
‘You care about power’: Democrats decry abortion bill now headed for Senate debate
After its passage in committee Tuesday, the Indiana Senate on Wednesday officially adopted the committee report on the controversial bill to restrict abortion, setting the stage for floor debate to begin Thursday. The motion to accept the report prevailed in a 35-9 vote along party lines, with six senators not voting. Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor (above, left), D-Indianapolis, tried unsuccessfully to get the Senate to adopt a minority report. The minority report included amendments offered by the Democrats that were ignored by Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, yesterday.. Taylor then explained his vote, saying that the committee…