By GREGG MONTGOMERY
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Statehouse Republicans said Wednesday they will push the Legislature’s special session to July 25 and convene for multiple weeks.
The lawmakers plan to address the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, which eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion.
Lawmakers also will address the state’s budget surplus to determine if the billions in cash can be used to provided financial relief as inflation hits Hoosiers hard.
A news release from the Republicans says the Legislature’s special session will still begin July 6, as previously announced. But, the release also says, House Speaker Todd Huston, a Republican from Fishers, and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, a Republican from Martinsville, worked with GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb to push back the special session’s start date to July 25.
The release specifically says, “Bray and Huston also expect to address the state’s budget surplus and provide financial relief for Hoosiers during the special session. Bray and Huston also expect state legislators to take action to further protect life, and support new and expectant mothers.”
The Republican leaders said the Legislature “will vet bills through the full legislative process, including committee hearings and public testimony,” and updates will be posted on the state’s website.
State law, the Republicans say, allow a special session to last up to 40 calendar days.
The 2022 special session would be the 12th in Indiana since the Legislature first began meeting yearly in 1970. The most recent special session was in 2018.
“The Indiana GOP are scared because they’ve seen the protests and have heard from Hoosier women. They are waiting for the dust to settle before they push their extreme agenda that includes a total ban on abortions – even in cases of rape and incest. Only 17 percent of Hoosiers support this extreme policy, and Democrats are ready to hold them accountable for trying to throw Indiana back to the 1950’s.”
– Lauren Ganapini, executive director of the Indiana Democratic Party
“If Republicans are determined to eliminate women’s right to privacy and force them to give birth against their will, then we must have a detailed analysis. People are shocked to learn that they’re losing 50 years of constitutional protection. I issue this call to Republican leadership: Let’s use the entire time allotted to us to study your proposed legislation as to abortion. Let’s give the public ample time and notice to come and make their thoughts on this known. Let’s have sufficient hearings to cover all aspects of this issue, ranging from who will pay, to the impact on our colleges, our insurers and victims of domestic violence. I want the legislature to be crystal-clear on the impact this law will have.”
– State Rep. Ed DeLaney, a Democrat from Indianapolis