Government

Local reps support limiting Holcomb’s emergency powers

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A bill that would limit Gov. Eric Holcomb’s emergency powers had support from Montgomery County’s delegation in the state legislature.

And following Holcomb’s veto of the measure, a showdown is looming between the governor and the General Assembly.

House Bill 1123 would allow lawmakers to call themselves into a special session during an emergency, which Holcomb and some legal experts say would be unconstitutional.

Legislative leaders said they intend to override the veto, potentially setting up a legal clash between the legislative and executive branches. Unlike Congress and most states, Indiana lawmakers can override a veto with a simple majority of both houses.

Sen. Phil Boots (R-Crawfordsville) said Saturday nothing in the state’s constitution prevents lawmakers from calling themselves back into session. The constitution only allows the governor to call a special session.

Speaking during a virtual roundtable sponsored by the Crawfordsville/Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Boots said the Republican governor has abused his authority by renewing pandemic-related executive orders without legislative action.

“I mean, 30-day executive orders for the past year — that’s not what we had intended when those … regulations were passed several years ago,” Boots said.

Holcomb has issued more than 60 executive orders during the pandemic.

Rep. Tim Brown (R-Crawfordsville) framed the debate over Holcomb’s emergency powers as part of the urban-versus-rural approach to pandemic response.

“Our governor doing an executive order for ... over a year to look at our behavior — that just hasn’t sat well with the rural part of our state,” Brown said.

In the roundtable, Brown and Boots also updated Chamber members on the budget process, small business grants and efforts to expand rural broadband. Rep. Sharon Negele (R-Attica) was invited but could not attend the event.

The Senate version of the budget removes the 50-½ cent cigarette tax proposed by the House. It also increases funding for mental health services and K-12 education.

The Senate proposal also includes education scholarship accounts that critics say would divert money from public schools, while limiting eligibility to only special education students.

Indiana has added $60 million to the Small Business Restart Grant program, which aims to speed up recovery from the pandemic. Businesses can receive up to $10,000 per month to reimburse rent, utility and insurance costs and other eligible expenses.

On broadband, both the House and Senate budgets have increased funding to $250 million. Holcomb originally proposed $100 million to expand high-speed internet access.

The final version of the budget will be passed before the legislature adjourns later this month.


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