Indiana Catholic Conference Prepares For State Legislative Session

Editor’s note – This is the first in a series of weekly reports on the Indiana Legislature that will appear in The Message through the conclusion of the 2017 legislative session.

    INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Catholic Conference is gearing up for state legislative action as 150 lawmakers returned to the Statehouse in Indianapolis on Jan. 3 to craft a biennial budget by the April 29  adjournment deadline.

    The ICC, which is celebrating the 50-year anniversary of its founding in 2016-17, represents the Catholic Church in Indiana on national and state matters of public policy.

    “The ICC communicates the value and dignity of the human person created in the image and likeness of God to state legislators and public policy makers,” said ICC Executive Director Glenn Tebbe, who serves as the public-policyspokesperson for the bishops in Indiana.  

    “It is my job and the job of the Church through the ICC to share our theological perspective and practical experience with state public servants to assist them in making sound public policy to benefit the common good,” said Tebbe. “Our work and policy statements reflect an application of the consistent life ethic as it relates to proposed legislation, current and future public policies. We shed light on the value and dignity of the human person from conception until natural death.”

    The ICC classifies issues into a few broad umbrella categories including: life, education, families and children, and the common good. Tebbe identifies several priority issues upon which he will take action or keep a watchful eye this year.

    Among the life category, Tebbe anticipates legislation to be introduced banning the death penalty for those with serious mental illnesses. “The Catholic Church’s efforts to abolish the death penalty are long-standing,” said Tebbe. “The ICC will support legislation to ban the death penalty for those suffering from serious mental illness if the bill gets a hearing.”

    Other states have enacted statutes legalizing physician-assisted suicide. Hoosier lawmakers’ interest in taking on the end-of-life issue has not materialized, said Tebbe. The Catholic Church opposes assisted suicide in all its forms; and Tebbe said if a bill to legalize it surfaces this year, the Church will oppose it. But at this point, Tebbe said he is unaware of any bill being introduced in Indiana on the topic this year.

    In the area of education, school-choice legislation emerges every year. Tebbe expects state lawmakers to move on expanding state-funded preschool. “As the preschool expansion takes place, I will be advocating that religiously-affiliated schools can participate and not be left out of the equation to improve opportunities for Hoosier children,” said Tebbe. The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program continually undergoes “scrutiny” and Tebbe says the issue often spawns a “point of contention” during legislative deliberation. During the session, Tebbe said he remains abreast and actively involved in discussions on possible tweaks to the plan, and offers suggestions and resources to improve access, and delivery of the scholarship program as a whole.

    Creating a new biennial budget lends itself to potential opportunities to promote the common good. Tebbe said he will work with others to ensure that programs to benefit the most vulnerable in society, including lower income families and children, or the elderly are protected or enhanced. One such issue coming down the pike that Tebbe said he’ll be working on includes help for those with opioid drug problems and receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits--commonly known as food stamps. Current Indiana law prohibits any person with a drug felony to be banned permanently from receiving food assistance through the SNAP program, even if they qualify based on income. Tebbe said evidence-based research supports that individuals who receive adequate access to good nutrition have improved odds of reforming their lives and it reduces recidivism. Tebbe said he will also support adequate funding to alleviate the needs of families and children including funding for education, both public and nonpublic.

    Tebbe says he believes the coming session will be productive in advocating for the Church’s interests and furthering the common good. Throughout the session, Tebbe monitors or takes action on roughly 100 bills.

    The Indiana General Assembly consists of 150 legislators—100 representatives and 50 senators.  After the 2016 election, Republicans maintained a super majority in both the House and Senate, with 70 Republicans and 30 Democrats in the House, and 41 Republicans and nine Democrats serving in the Senate.

    The ICC offers several resources on its Webpage for interested parties. Stay up to date with legislative action reports, review position papers or join the Indiana Catholic Action Network (I-CAN). Also as a part of its 50th anniversary, the ICC produced videos to explain the role and importance of its involvement in public policy making. These videos and other resources are available at the ICC Webpage at www.indianacc.org .