The Brown County Voter

February 2023

The League of Women Voters of Brown County is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government.

The League works to increase understanding of major public policy issues through education and advocacy.

Membership is open to all regardless of gender.

We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.

Educate • Advocate • Empower • Reform

Image credit: LWVUS

Just a Note

By Guest Writer Laurie Teal, LWVBC Treasurer

Legislative Updates Planned During General Assembly

Please join us for two more 2023 nonpartisan legislative updates, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters Brown County, League of Women Voters Bloomington-Monroe County, Brown County Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. 

At the updates, state legislators are asked to provide introductory remarks on their priorities for the current session of the Indiana General Assembly.  Each legislator is given 10 minutes for these opening statements. Then audience questions are posed, rotating the order of legislator responses. These updates are intended to be informative, not debates.

LWVBC Board Activity

Notes from the February 13 LWVBC meeting:

The League of Women Voters and Healthcare Advocacy

Source: Cathy Rountree and Pam Raider, LWVBC Healthcare Committee

IGA Session Overview 

Source: https://dailyjournal.net/2023/01/27/league-of-women-voters-understanding-2023-legislation/

As suggested by LWVBC Friend Ivan Lancaster

Thanks to the League of Women Voters of Johnson County for providing a very good overview of the 2023 Indiana legislative session. The Brown County League of Women Voters offers this overview to our local friends who may find the information helpful.

“Following legislation is an exciting journey that you can share with friends and reliable organizations. It’s important to look at the benefits and drawbacks of each bill. Listen to knowledgeable people who support or oppose the bill. Getting multiple perspectives helps us make informed decisions.

“It’s fun, frustrating and empowering to be a partner in democracy. Please inform your legislators about your support or opposition to pending legislation. Remember that your legislator has a moral and legal obligation to work for the common good of all Indiana residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

“Why should we care?!Our legislators create laws about issues that affect our lives – education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, how much we are taxed, how our tax money is spent. Effective bills are generally apolitical when both parties work for the common good of Indiana residents. We can make a difference by being an informed, active participant with others in the policymaking process.

“What is the IGA?Indiana government is divided into three branches – Legislative, Executive and Judicial. The Indiana General Assembly, or IGA, is the Legislative branch of government. The IGA is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate: – 100 State Representatives and 50 State Senators.

“What do Legislators do?Our legislators are meeting from January 3rd to April 30th. Representatives and Senators write bills, consider, amend, and vote for or against the bills. The General Assembly’s website to view the bills ishttps://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/.

“What steps does a bill go through to become a law?A bill can go through many steps before it becomes a law. Anyone can present their legislator with an idea for a bill. Legislators work with legal staff to write the bill. The bill gets a number and is assigned to a standing committee.

“The committee holds hearings and decides to approve, amend or reject the bill. This is the most effective time to voice your opinion. If the committee approves the bill, it goes to the originating chamber – House or Senate – for consideration. It is read, debated, and can be amended. The House and the Senate must pass the bill before it goes to the Governor to veto or sign into law.

“What can Indiana residents do about a bill before it becomes law?As citizens, we have the right and obligation to tell our legislators what bills they should support or oppose before they become laws.

“How do I find information about important bills?First, decide what issues are important to you. Are you concerned about healthcare, housing, environmental matters, or education? Here’s an example about finding information.

“A member web searched ‘Does IGA 2023 have any childcare tax credit bills?’ That request led to Senate Bill 255 – Child and dependent care tax credit – IGA 2023 and a link to the IGA website and SB 255. A click on Bill Actions shows that SB 255 is in the Tax and Fiscal Policy committee. A click on Members shows who’s on the committee. Because of previous research, we know that a tax credit is better than a deduction because taxes are reduced dollar for dollar. The  action plan might be to call the Committee Chair, Senator Holdman and the Ranking Member, Senator Baldwin. If time allows, one might call the other committee members to support SB 255 and pass it from committee to the Senate for further consideration.

“When searching for information on a specific bill, be sure to type the bill’s name and number and Indiana 2023. For example: SB 255 Indiana 2023. Some proposed legislation may be more controversial than SB 255. For example, House Bill 1036 – School board elections require candidates for school board offices to be nominated in the same manner as candidates for all other elected offices.

“Many organizations and publications share information about pending legislation. Reliable sites include IGA-2023 Session (https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/),Ballotpedia (https://ballotpedia.org/Indiana), LegiScan Indiana Legislature 2023 (https://legiscan.com/IN), Hoosier Environmental Council(https://www.hecweb.org/bill-watch-2023/) and Chalkbeat Indiana (https://in.chalkbeat.org).

“What role does the LWV have?The League of Women Voters’ mission is to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy. We educate ourselves and our community and we advocate for good government on all levels. All League-sponsored work is strictly nonpartisan. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all League activities. We provide facts and encourage people to be informed and actively participate in all levels of government.”

LWVBC Hosting Member Open House March 11

February 2023 Diversity Calendar

Source: https://www.diversityresources.com/february-diversity-calendar-2023/

February 11: Tammy Baldwin’s Birthday. Happy Birthday, Tammy Baldwin! She’s a living example of why representation is important as the first openly LGBT woman elected to both houses of Congress. The United States is made up of people of various ethnicities, races, sexualities, backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, beliefs, etc. and our representatives should reflect that. 

February 14: Frederick Douglass’ Birthday. Happy Birthday, Frederick Douglass! Douglass is a big name in abolition history. After escaping slavery himself, Douglass committed himself to pursuing freedom for everyone. You can learn more about his journey by reading his most famous autobiography calledNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.

February 15: Nirvana Day. Nirvana Day is the annual multicultural festival that commemorates the death of the Buddha once he reached Nirvana. You may also hear this festival called Parinirvana. Buddhists will celebrate Nirvana Day by visiting temples or monasteries and meditating. 

February 15: Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday. Susan B. Anthony is one of the most famous women involved in the suffrage movement. She was also an advocate for temperance, labor rights, equal pay for equal work, and abolition. 

February 22: Ash Wednesday.  Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and prayer that kicks off the season of Lent in Christianity. Catholics celebrate Ash Wednesday by heading to mass and having ashes drawn in the shape of a cross upon their forehead. However, not all denominations practice this day the same way. Others may just have a day of reflection or fasting.

Updates from LWVIN

Source: LWVIN 2/16/2023 Newsletter; www.lwvin.org

 ANNUAL LEAGUE DAY AT THE STATEHOUSE

NEW DATE: Wednesday, March 22, 9:30am - 3pm ET

All previous reservations will remain valid; there is no need to re-register although new reservations are welcome. Click HERE to make a new reservation. Or to transfer your reservation to another person: email treasurer@lwvin.org with the subject Substitution for League Day.

Schedule meetings with your legislators. State board members will be in the Library and at the State House all day. Join us for a lunch gathering in the State Library at 11:30 am ET. Issue advocates from partner organizations will be available at topic lunch tables.

TALK TABLE TOPICS AND EXPERTS

·      Natural Resources (Indra Frank from Hoosier Environmental Council)
·      Education (Joel Hand, Indiana Coalition for Public Education)
·      Voting Rights (Julia Vaughn, Common Cause Indiana)
·      Women's Health & Reproductive Rights (LaKimba DeSadier of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates)
·      Human services/housing (Andrew Bradley, Prosperity Indiana and Indiana Coalition for Human Services).  

Registration is $20 and includes a box lunch from IndyFresh. We have 65 reservations!  Keep them coming!

We will also be celebrating the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment on March 22, 1972!

Updates from LWVUS

Source: www.lwv.org

 From LWVUS President Dr. Deborah Turner: “This past Tuesday, President Biden addressed Congress in his third State of the Union address. As the president of an organization that believes in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy, I was pleased to hear the President address two issues critical to the work Leagues are doing right now: voting rights and protecting reproductive health care for all. We call on our legislatures to defend reproductive justice and echo President Biden’s message on voting rights:‘We must protect the right to vote, not suppress that fundamental right. Democracy must not be a partisan issue, it’s an American issue.’Read my statement on www.lwv.org. 

Also from Dr. Turner:

“Additionally, February is Black History Month! Throughout the month, we will be honoring the Black activists who paved the way for progress and who continue to power our democracy. We encourage you to also seek ways to acknowledge the Black members of your communities who work every day to build and support our nation, even in the face of discrimination. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating this month!”

Here’s How to Contact Your State and Federal Legislators 

State Senator Eric Koch 

Website: https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/koch

Email: Senator.Koch@iga.in.gov

Legislative Assistant: Alexa Walden Alexa.Walden@iga.in.gov or 317-234-9425

Phone: 800-382-9467 or 317-232-9400
Address: Indiana State Senate, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis IN 46204 

State Representative District 62 Dave Hall

Website: https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/members/general/dave-hall/

Email: wade.coggeshall@iga.in.gov  (press liaison)
Legislative Assistant: Drew Sellers 317-232-9863
Address: Indiana House of Representatives, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis IN 46204 

9th Congressional District U.S. Representative Erin Houchin 

Website: https://www.houchin.house.gov 
Phone: 202-225-5315
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepHouchin 
Address: 1632 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20515 

U.S. Senator Mike Braun 

Website: https://www.braun.senate.gov
Phone: 202-224-4814
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikebraunforindiana

Address: 374 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510 

U.S. Senator Todd Young 

Website: www.young.senate.gov
Phone: 202-224-5623
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorToddYoung

Address: 185 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510 

Governor Eric Holcomb 

Website: https://www.in.gov/gov/

Phone: 317-232-4567
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GovHolcomb/
Address: Office of the Governor, Statehouse, Indianapolis IN 46204-2797 

Making Democracy Work

Grassroots Leadership since 1920

Educate • Advocate • Empower • Reform

We cordially invite you to join us.

We encourage you to learn more about the League by attending our meetings and other events, including legislator forums and Meet the Candidates. 

Membership is not required to attend these meetings and events.

Annual Membership Dues*:

$50/Individual         $85/Couple              $20/Friend of the League (non-voting)

Your dues include membership in the national, state, and local leagues.

*Membership Scholarships available. Email us for more information: browncountylwv@gmail.com

To join or to send a donation, mail your check payable to LWVBC, PO Box 74, Nashville IN 47448

Please include your name, address, phone, and email

Visit our website: www.lwvbrowncounty.org

Government Meetings

PLEASE NOTE:Meetings may be in person and/or virtual.

See links below to check days/times.

LWVBC Meetings

LWVBC meetings are held the second Monday of each month.

March 13, 7:00 pm (via Zoom)

April 10, 7:00 pm (via Zoom)

May 8, 7:00 pm (via Zoom)

League Members, Friends, and the public are welcome

To participate in the meeting, contact League President Shari Frank at browncountylwv@gmail.com to receive the zoom link.

The deadline for submission of articles for the March newsletter is 5:00 pm Friday, March 17.

THE VOTER is published monthly. The editor is Laurie Teal. Please send your articles and/or suggestions to LWVBC at browncountylwv@gmail.com.