House Speaker Todd Huston: “Republicans will vote to override this veto”
By GARRETT BERGQUIST
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
In his second and final veto of the legislative session, Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday nixed a proposal to ban transgender girls from competing on girls’ K-12 sports teams.
House Bill 1040 drew hours of testimony and some of the most impassioned debate of the session. It came amid a nationwide push by Republican-controlled state legislatures to crack down on the participation of transgender girls and women in school athletics. The bill’s sponsors said they wanted to protect the integrity of girls’ sports and the ability of girls to compete for scholarships on a level playing field.
The argument didn’t convince the governor. In a veto message sent to House Speaker Todd Huston’s office, Holcomb said the bill presumed a problem already existed that required the state to intervene and it implied the goals of consistency and fairness in girls’ sports were not being met.
Holcomb
“After thorough review, I find no evidence to support either claim even if I support the overall goal,” Holcomb wrote.
Holcomb further noted courts so far have blocked similar laws passed in other states. The ACLU of Indiana had threatened to sue if the bill became law.
The bill’s author, Rep. Michelle Davis (R-Whiteland) said in a January statement, “This legislation is the result of listening to the concerns of female student athletes and parents in my district and across the state. The purpose of this bill is to protect fair competition in girls’ sports.”
Lawmakers will return to the Statehouse on May 24 for a veto session. A simple majority in both chambers would be enough to override the governor’s veto.
Huston
Speaker Huston (R-Fishers) released a statement Tuesday saying House Republicans plan to vote to override the veto.
“The fundamental goal of this legislation is to protect competition in girls’ sports, and House Republicans will vote to override this veto when lawmakers meet again on May 24,” Huston said. “This issue continues to be in the national spotlight and for good reason as women have worked hard for equal opportunities on the playing field – and that’s exactly what they deserve.”
Two local lawmakers sound off on Governor’s veto
Editor’s note: The following statements were sent to The Reporter by each lawmaker’s press office.
Ford
State Senator J.D. Ford
I want to thank Governor Holcomb for his veto of HB 1041.
We agree on many of the reasons why this legislation is unnecessary. The Governor rightly points out that, “It implies that the goals of consistency and fairness in competitive female sports are not currently being met. I find no evidence to support either claim.”
We know from testimony that there has only been one relevant case in Indiana, and that was handled by the IHSAA. Governor Holcomb also rightfully notes that, “Nowhere in the testimony on this legislation was a critique leveled against their (IHSAA) model on how to govern this.”
We have a system in place to deal with any concerns of unfairness as or if they arise. In the meantime, let’s let kids play sports with their friends.
Jeter
State Rep. Chris Jeter
I’m extremely disappointed in the governor’s decision to veto House Enrolled Act 1041, which aims to protect girls’ sports in Indiana.
So many Hoosier girls work hard to be an elite athlete, whether at the high school, collegiate or professional level. Now their opportunities are at risk, despite their skills. We must use commonsense to protect fairness in women’s sports and ensure biological females have a place to compete on a level playing field with other biological females.
They deserve better, and I look forward to supporting a veto override when we return to the Statehouse in May.