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Democrats and Republicans at odds during the Indiana General Assembly

FILE - In this June 12, 2014, file photo, Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore David Long welcomes delegates meeting to set up the framework for states to amend the U.S. Constitution, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. The 2016 November election put Republicans in full control of a record number of state legislatures around the country, a level of power that gives the party an unprecedented opportunity: change the U.S. Constitution. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

The first half of this year’s legislative session by the Indiana General Assembly could be described as a “culture war”, said Democratic Senator Greg Taylor of Indianapolis.

Monday is the beginning of the second half of the session, with Taylor’s bill to decriminalize the possession of two ounces of marijuana by people over 21, being voted down.

But, Taylor’s beef is largely with how the Republican supermajority is treating teachers and poor people.

“We’ve got a $5 billion surplus and we’re over here fighting about what teachers can teach in the classroom instead of talking about how we take some of that money and increase the salaries of those teachers,” he said.

Teachers salaries were increased last year with money from the state budget. Taylor called it a minimum increase, saying before that, teachers had not had a bump in six years.

“And we’re talking about what they’re teaching and putting more responsibility on them and we’re sitting on a $5 billion surplus because we want to keep a AAA (credit) rating. By the way, 13 other states have a AAA rating. We’re not unique.”

Taylor said he believes the Senate would approach the House’s legislation designed to keep Critical Race Theory out of the classroom differently. The Senate already abandoned its own CRT bill.

“We’re gonna have to take some really responsible approaches to this legislation as it comes over from the House,” he said.

Taylor criticized Republicans, saying they should be doing more to help Hoosiers.

“We just passed legislation today that’s gonna eliminate increased SNAP benefits for poor people because, as one of my colleagues told me, they want people to go back to work,” said Taylor.

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3 comments

Charles U Farley February 1, 2022 at 1:58 pm

“Taylor criticized Republicans, saying they should be doing more to help Hoosiers.”

And yet Taylor has no problem socking it to working Hoosiers who actually pay all the taxes, and wants to give that “extra” money to teachers and weffies. Screw you working man, Democrats have votes to buy!

Greg Taylor is part of the problem. His party is the rest of it.

Reply
Thor February 1, 2022 at 10:53 pm

The party of Death and Taxes…kill the babies and take all your money; it’s all they are.

Vote for Democrats, vote to have nothing left that they can’t give to someone else for a vote. Vote for them until your vote will not mean a thing.

Reply
Carman Greenlee February 2, 2022 at 10:40 am

we can’t allow the demoncrats to turn our state blue with all their BS. You guys are sooooooo right!

Reply

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