INDIANAPOLIS – It’s not easy to admit, but Indiana is failing working women and families. Indiana’s gender pay gap actually grew in 2016, one of just a handful of states to gain the inglorious distinction. The gender pay gap costs women $12,700 annually, or the equivalent of a brand-new Chevy Spark every year. This is an economic issue.

But it’s something Indiana Republicans have largely looked the other way on. Bills to address equal pay and other economic issues like child care and paid leave have gone unheard in the Legislature.

Simply pointing this discrepancy out has been criticized by GOP leaders as not “fair”.

But the facts are the facts and Hoosiers are taking notice.

A snapshot of negative equal pay and women’s economic issues headlines

WSBT 22 Study: Indiana ranks last when it comes to balancing work and family

Fox 59 Indiana women won’t see equal pay until 2082, study says

Eagle 99.3 Report: Indiana Earns A “D” For Economic Status Of Women

Bloomington Herald Times Report: Indiana ranks low for economic status of women

Indiana Public Media Indiana Receives ‘D’ Grade For Economic Status Of Women

Indianapolis Star Equal Pay Day: Indiana’s gender wage gap got worse while the U.S. improved, study says

WFHB Indiana Among Worst States for Women’s Economic Equality

Times of Northwest Indiana Indiana women may not see equal pay until 2082, according to study

Kokomo Tribune Jeer: ‘D’ in economic status of women

WTVW Unhappy Hour raises wage gap awareness

44 News Unhappy Hour Raises Wage Gap Awareness

The News Sun Indiana ranks near bottom for women’s pay gap

Anderson Herald Bulletin Group says gender pay gap widens in Indiana

WANE Indiana receives poor report card for status of women

From The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette State ranks low in women’s status

“A news release from the Indiana institute said a number of bills were offered this year that might have improved women’s economic outcomes. These included improvements to Indiana’s equal pay law, workplace accommodations for pregnant women, increases to the minimum wage, and a paid family leave program. None received hearings in the Republican-led legislature.”

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INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Republicans’ ineptitude will cost Hoosier taxpayers $30,000/day to finish a job they bungled in the first place. While some are downplaying the expense to taxpayers, it’s worth comparing the perceived cost to more tangible expenditures. The expense of just two days of special session is more than the median Hoosier household earns in a year. For what taxpayers would spend to cover two days of special session: 8: The number of children who could attend preschool for a year. 1: The number of family case managers the Department of Child Services could hire and pay salary and benefits. 6: The number of families who could send their kid to child care for a year. 545: The number of students who could receive their K-12 textbooks at no cost. Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody questioned the claim that $30,000/day wasn’t all that much money. “I think the choice of paying lawmakers’ per diems or putting eight children through preschool for a year is pretty clear for working Hoosiers,” said Zody. “To say $30,000/day isn’t much is a tough sell to families when just two days of special session is more than the median household makes in a year. Hoosiers expect their leaders to get the job done on time and on budget. That Republicans are dipping into the taxpayers’ pockets to cover the cost of fixing their failures and claiming it’s a small price to pay is alarmingly out of touch. ###

 

Key rules to consider ahead of May Special Session 

INDIANAPOLIS – The Dalai Lama once advised to know the rules well enough to break them effectively. Heading into a rare special session, the 1975 Schoolhouse Rock tune, “I’m Just a Bill” – with a few tasteful updates – can shed some light on a handful of rules Statehouse Republicans will likely circumvent. The legislative process is designed to encourage deliberation and allow input from the public. Accelerating that process limits debate and public input. To that end, Republicans will likely vote to suspend a rule laid out in the Indiana Constitution mandating a bill be read over three days (Article 4, Section 18).

“I’m Just a Bill”: Special Session edition

Boy: Woof! You sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Indianapolis. But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is?

I’m just a bill.
Yes, I’m only a bill.
And I’m sitting here on Capitol Avenue.
Well, it’s a long, long journey
To the capital city.
It’s a long, long wait

Indiana Senate rule 56 (a)

56. (a) No standing committee or subcommittee, except the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure and the Committee on Ethics, shall meet, hear evidence, or take a vote on a bill or resolution assigned to the committee or subcommittee without at least forty-eight (48) hours notice to the public. The notice shall include the following: (1) Committee or subcommittee name. (2) Chairperson. (3) Time, day, date and place of meeting. (4) Number and subject matter of all bills and resolutions to be considered.

While I’m sitting in committee,

Indiana Senate Rule 72 (b)

(b) No bill shall be read a second time until one (1) calendar day after the distribution date printed on the bill.

But I know I’ll be a law someday
At least I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Boy: Gee, Bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage.

Bill: Well I got this far. When I started, I wasn’t even a bill, I was just an idea. Some folks back home decided they wanted a law passed, so they called their local legislator and he said, “You’re right, there oughta be a law.” Then he sat down and wrote me out and introduced me to the General Assembly. And I became a bill, and I’ll remain a bill until they decide to make me a law.

I’m just a bill
Yes I’m only a bill,
And I got as far as Capitol Avenue.
Well, now I’m stuck in committee

Indiana Senate Rule 78

78. Unless the constitutional rule be suspended, no bill shall be called for third reading on the same day it shall have passed to engrossment.

And I’ll sit here and wait

Indiana House Rule 83

83. Suspend Rule Requiring Reading on Three Separate Meeting Days. A motion to suspend the constitutional rule requiring a bill to be read on three separate meeting days must be carried by two-thirds vote of the members of the House. (Constitution, Article 4, Section 18.)

While a few key lawmakers discuss and debate

Whether they should let me be a law.
How I hope and pray that they will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Boy: Listen to those legislators arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you?

Bill: Yeah, I’m one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they decide to report on me favorably, otherwise I may die.

Boy: Die?

Bill: Yeah, die in committee. Oooh, but it looks like I’m gonna live! Now I go to the House of Representatives, and they vote on me.

Indiana House Rule 142

142. Eligibility. A bill is eligible for its second reading on the second calendar day following distribution to the members.

Boy: If they vote yes, what happens?

Indiana House Rule 146.1

146.1 No bill shall be considered on third reading on the same meeting day that it passed to engrossment except on motion adopted pursuant to Rule 83.

Bill: Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again.

Boy: Oh no!

Bill: Oh yes!

Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody lamented the fact that a special session – and the rule-bending – wouldn’t be necessary had the Statehouse GOP done their job right in the first place.

“There are no good options and no ways to correct the PR tailspin Statehouse Republicans inflicted on themselves by forcing a $30,000/day special session,” said Zody. “If the issues are important enough to call a special session, Hoosiers would rightly assume they are important enough to debate transparently and within the rules. To hold a special session in just a few hours is watering down the legislative process. It’s a lose-lose.”

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INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody called on House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President David Long to donate any pay generated during the upcoming special session. Zody believes Republican Statehouse leaders should acknowledge their inability to manage the clock is costing Hoosier taxpayers.

“Republicans are the home team, away team and the referees,” said Zody. “And they still found a way to lose. Their incompetence will cost taxpayers $30,000/day. Republican leaders relinquishing their pay is a small but critical acknowledgment that they won’t personally benefit from their own ineffectiveness. Hardworking taxpayers deserve that much.”

Governor Holcomb announced the special session after Republican infighting, name-calling and ineptitude sank the 2018 session. Shortly thereafter, House and Senate Democratic Leaders Terry Goodin and Tim Lanane announced they would donate their pay. After nearly a decade in complete control and criticized for entering the 2018 legislative session with no long-term vision or plan, Zody can understand why taxpayers are skeptical of Republicans’ intentions.

“Republican leaders had more than two months to get the job done, and still couldn’t get their homework in on time,” said Zody. “Now they’re asking taxpayers to trust them to finish up in three days? I don’t blame Hoosier taxpayers for not trusting Indiana Republicans to do what they say.”

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INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody issued the following statement after Governor Eric Holcomb declared his intention to call a special session.

“Governor Eric Holcomb’s special session is the $30,000/day cherry on top of Republicans’ ineptly-managed, visionless legislative session. Republican leadership incompetently steered session into a wall on the last lap. Now they’re asking taxpayers to foot the bill for another shot at passing their do-nothing agenda.

“Republicans couldn’t see fit to competently manage a process that would have increased school safety, while at the same time telling Hoosier children in the DCS system that they weren’t a high enough priority to warrant legislative action during session. It looks out-of-touch and like Republicans are trying to have it both ways. One thing is certain, lawmakers shouldn’t make vacation plans in June. If Holcomb wants to avoid being tagged a hypocrite, he’ll be calling lawmakers back to address the crisis at the Department of Child Services.”

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