Exodus Refugee Immigration v. Pence
I know there have been lots of posts and news articles about Exodus Refugee’s victory in court the other day, but I just wanted to make sure I noted the decision, and placed it into context. On November 16, 2015,…
Judge rules Indiana’s marriage discrimination law violates Constitutional rights
These couples, when gender and sexual orientation are taken away, are in all respects like the family down the street. The Constitution demands that we treat them as such. With that clear statement, US District Court judge Richard Young struck…
Indiana Senate declines to re-insert second sentence in HJR-3
Earlier today, reporters noted that Senator Mike Delph (R-Carmel) and Senator Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn) planned to introduce amendments to Indiana’s marriage discrimination amendment, HJR-3. They planned to re-insert the controversial second sentence, which read: A legal status identical or substantially…
Senate Committee Hears Marriage Discrimination Amendment
On Monday afternoon, the Indiana Senate’s Rules and Legislative Procedures committee held a hearing for HJR-3. Senator Kruse presented the amendment as passed by the House. By my count, 19 people testified in favor of HJR-3, while 18 testified against…
Hermeneutics & HJR-3
I’m working on a post to recap what was said during yesterday’s Senate Rules Committee hearing on HJR-3, which would enshrine discrimination against LGBT Hoosiers in our state’s constitution. But I wanted to comment on a specific religious idea that…
The marginally-less-discriminatory amendment
Last night, the Indiana House voted 52-43 to amend HJR 3, the proposed anti-LGBT constitutional amendment. That vote strips the second sentence from the amendment, which read: A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried…
Moving forward on Indiana’s constitutional amendment
Last night, the Elections and Apportionment Committee voted to approve HJR 3, the anti-LGBT constitutional amendment, along with its companion “explainer” bill. All 9 Republicans on the committee voted in favor of the bills, and asked few — if any…
Accidental shootings mark “Gun Appreciation Day”
I’m not a part of the gun tribe – I just didn’t grow up in that culture. No one in my family hunts, so I didn’t fire a real gun until I was probably 11 or 12 years old and…
Indiana wants to strip (some) students of right to vote
Indiana State Representatives Peggy Mayfield (R-Martinsville) and Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) have introduced a bill to revamp parts of Indiana’s election code. One part of that bill would block some college students from being able to register to vote. As introduced,…
“Sheriffs First” anti-gun-control bill in Indiana legislature
Last night, Josh Marshall noted the case of an Oregon sheriff who claims he will refuse to enforce any federal gun control laws. Marshall seemed surprised by this, writing: However that may be, random Sheriffs can’t judge and nullify federal…
