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Clarifying Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act

Monday, April 13th, 2015
I appreciate the feedback I have received from many of you regarding Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). As I am sure you are aware, this legislation has been vigorously and emotionally discussed, with much information being circulated from both sides of the issue. I want to take this opportunity to provide an explanation of what the law does and does not do.
RFRA protects the rights of all Hoosiers against government overreach and can only be used as a defense against government action. To address the misperceptions that came forward after the bill became law, we passed Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 50, which clarifies RFRA’s intent and application. The protections in RFRA and our  State Constitution  remain intact. SEA 50 simply removes any notion that RFRA can be used for discrimination. RFRA protects the rights of everyone, regardless of their religious affiliation or lack thereof. It is imperative that Hoosiers are able to enjoy this freedom without government interference.
It is my duty as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives to uphold the Constitution of the State of Indiana. This is a task I do not take lightly, and I promise that I will never support legislation that would diminish or limit any Hoosier’s constitutional liberties.
For additional resources about Indiana’s RFRA, please click here.
Sincerely,
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Posted in email update | 188 Responses »

Religious Freedom and Restoration Act

Monday, March 30th, 2015

There has been a tremendous amount of misinformation by both the opponents and proponents surrounding the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (RFRA).

Hopefully the information below will work to dispel the myths surrounding this piece of legislation. In addition, please visit our resource page  for more information.

Why Indiana Needs Religious Freedom Legislation

The Indy Star recently published a piece that focuses on what the bill actually does. It was written by a Constitutional Law professor at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Daniel Conkle. Professor Conkle states that:

The bill would establish a general legal standard, the “compelling interest” test, for evaluating laws and governmental practices that impose substantial burdens on the exercise of religion. This same test already governs federal law under the federal RFRA, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. And some 30 states have adopted the same standard, either under state-law RFRAs or as a matter of state constitutional law.

To read the entire article entitled, Law professor: why Indiana needs religious freedom, click here.

16 Law Professors Urge Indiana Legislature to Pass RFRA
Read a letter  written by 16 distinguished law professors from across the country about the need and legality of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In the letter, the professors explain their support for the legislation and address some of the objections opponents have made.
More questions regarding RFRA?

In order to help sort through the misinformation, we developed a list of frequently asked questions on this topic. Please click here  to view this short FAQ.

Posted in E Newsletter, email update | 1 Response »

Focusing on education

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

At a recent town hall meeting that I held with Johnson County educators, there was much discussion about teacher evaluations, specifically in regards to House Bill (HB) 1639. I appreciated the opinions these education leaders shared with me, and I am pleased to let you know that the bill was amended in the Education Committee. We removed the language allowing parent and student evaluations of teachers to be included in a teacher’s performance assessment. A summer study committee will consider this issue further. The bill passed out of the House and will now go to the Senate for further consideration.

HB 1194 is another bill concerning education, which also recently passed the House. This bill, which I coauthored, seeks to address the issue of high school diplomas for special education students. Too often special education students are advised to obtain a certificate of completion, when they could receive a general education diploma. Many of these students have very useful skills that translate to the workforce, but are not considered for employment, because they do not have a high school diploma. This legislation ensures that all types of available diplomas are discussed with the student and his or her parent. In addition, the bill calls for a review of alternative course requirements for earning a general diploma.

I remain committed to supporting high-quality education for all Hoosier students. I appreciate your feedback on these and other issues, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

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Posted in email update | 3 Responses »

Working together for Hoosier students

Thursday, February 19th, 2015
I recently had the opportunity to host a town hall meeting with educators from the school districts of Greenwood, Whiteland and the surrounding area. This was a chance for local teachers and administrators to discuss important education policy issues in an open forum. We had a spirited discussion on a wide range of issues, and I was pleased with the productivity of the conversation.
Among the topics we covered was the ISTEP+ test. Everyone is concerned about the length of the test and the effect that will have on Hoosier children. The General Assembly is sensitive to these concerns, and we have taken steps in conjunction with the Department of Education to shorten the test. As it stands now, the State Board of Education has shortened the test by approximately three hours, which is a start, but more still needs to be done moving forward.
The educators were quite vocal about the role of the superintendent of public instruction, and I appreciate their concerns. We also discussed teacher evaluations. They were not opposed to them, but feel they are over the top.

I appreciate the input of teachers on all of these issues, as it gives me ideas to take back to the General Assembly. Our goal is to provide young Hoosiers with the best education possible and to do that we all must continue to work together on these and other issues.

 

Sincerely,
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Posted in email update | 1 Response »

Town Hall Meetings Next Week

Monday, January 19th, 2015
I will be hosting two town hall meetings in Johnson County.
 
When: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 6-7:30 p.m. 
Where: New Whiteland Town Hall, 401 Mooreland Drive in New Whiteland
 
When: Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Greenwood City Center, 300 South Madison Avenue in Greenwood

I will be available to listen to constituents, discuss concerns and provide further information on the legislative session. I encourage all members of the community to come out and participate in the discussion.

For more information, please click here.

Sincerely
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Posted in email update | 4 Responses »

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