Indiana Politics & News
Indiana news from The Daily Signal, tracking state legislation, economic development, conservative leadership, and the Hoosier State’s role in Midwest political and policy debates.
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Indiana School Board, Superintendent Refuse to Explain Secret Transgender Policy to Parents
The school board and superintendent of an Indiana school district refused to comment Monday on a recently uncovered transgender policy for students that keeps parents in the dark, nearly two weeks after a public meeting at which parents demanded that officials explain why they're hiding information. Concerned parents in Pendleton, Indiana, flocked to the Dec….Tony Kinnett -
‘What Else Are They Willing to Lie About?’: Indiana School Compels Staff to Hide ‘Gender Support Plans’ From Parents
An email unearthed by parents at an Indiana high school has revealed a districtwide support plan for students undergoing gender transition and a policy to withhold and hide information from students’ parents. An Aug. 16 email sent by a counselor at Pendleton Heights High School in Pendleton, Indiana, informed teachers that a student had changed…Tony Kinnett -
As Indiana’s Abortion Ban Takes Effect, Court Battle for Life Underway in Ohio
Hours after legislation went into effect in Indiana protecting nearly all unborn babies, a county judge temporarily blocked a heartbeat law in neighboring Ohio. On Thursday, Indiana’s abortion ban went into effect, prohibiting abortion except in cases of rape or incest, or to save the life or health of the mother. The Indiana General Assembly passed the…Virginia Allen -
Indiana Lawmakers Override Governor’s Veto of Ban on Biological Males in Girls Sports
Indiana on Tuesday became the 17th state to bar transgender females—biological males—from competing in girls K-12 sports when the Legislature overrode Gov. Eric Holcomb’s veto of the ban. Lawmakers in the Indiana General Assembly needed only simple majorities to override Holcomb’s March 21 veto, but the House voted to override it 67-28, and the state Senate did likewise 32-15. The…Bernadette Hassan -
Indiana Parents’ Rights Over Their Child’s Education Are Threatened. Here’s What Parents Around the Country Need to Know.
Parents and voters are taking every opportunity to reject racially biased teaching and sexually explicit classroom material. Through whistleblower activity and using their right to speak at school board meetings, families are advocating for their students’ interests, and state lawmakers should take notice. Currently, a high-profile legislative proposal in Indiana is going in the wrong…Jonathan Butcher -
Indiana Court Delivers Religious Freedom Victory to Catholic School
An Indiana court delivered a religious freedom victory Friday to a school in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, confirming the school’s right to ensure that staff promote an authentic Catholic education. A former Catholic high school teacher, Joshua Payne-Elliott, sued the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in July 2019 in the case Payne-Elliot v. Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Payne-Elliot was…Mary Margaret Olohan -
Americans, and Congress, Are Ready to Get Back to Work, Indiana Lawmaker Says
American workers are more than ready to get back to work, according to Rep. Trey Hollingsworth. The Indiana Republican joins The Daily Signal Podcast to talk about how his state is handling the impact of the coronavirus, state bailouts, sheltering in place, what the economic effects of the coronavirus shutdown will be, and much more….Rachel del Guidice -
Bizarre Court Ruling Halts Indiana’s Efforts to Clean Up Voter Rolls
With the 2020 presidential election less than a year away, America’s voter registration rolls are woefully out of shape. Yet well-funded liberal organizations are working to stop states from cleaning up their rolls. Their latest victim is Indiana. A federal district court has temporarily halted the state’s effort to compare its voter rolls with those of…Hans von Spakovsky -
The Supreme Court Delivered a Mixed Verdict on 2 Indiana Abortion Laws. Here’s What That Means.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a provision of Indiana law that requires abortion providers to bury or cremate fetal remains, while declining to review a portion of Indiana’s law—struck down by a lower court—that banned abortions on the basis of sex, race, and disability. Although the Supreme Court’s opinion in Box v. Planned Parenthood…Melanie Israel -
Mike Pence’s Brother Wins House Seat From Indiana the Vice President Once Held
The Pence family will soon have a second member serving in elective office in Washington. Greg Pence, the older brother of Vice President Mike Pence, on Tuesday won the House seat his brother first captured 18 years ago and held for six terms. With 80 percent of precincts reporting, Greg Pence, a Republican, was declared…Troy Worden -
Indiana Teacher Forced to Resign After Refusing to Kowtow to Transgender Policies
An Indiana high school teacher alleges that he was forced to resign because he wouldn’t ascribe to the school’s policy of calling transgender students by their chosen names and pronouns. “I’m being compelled to encourage students in what I believe is something that’s a dangerous lifestyle,” former Brownsburg High School orchestra teacher John Kluge told NBC…Grace Carr -
Indiana Lawmakers Reject Obama’s Stimulus Success Story
When President Barack Obama first visited Elkhart, Indiana, in March 2009, the county’s unemployment rate had just spiked to 18.9 percent—the highest in the country. Pointing to those numbers at the time, Obama urged Congress to pass an $800 billion economic stimulus package to keep the nation from slipping further into a recession “we may be…Philip Wegmann -
Indiana Governor Signs Bill Banning Abortions of Down Syndrome Babies
“Every life has value. Every life is a gift.” Carissa Carroll, a mother of a toddler with Down syndrome, told The Daily Signal she supports legislation in Indiana, signed Thursday by Republican Gov. Mike Pence, that put a statewide ban on aborting babies due to genetic causes like Down syndrome. “Our son has changed our…Leah Jessen -
Mike Pence Promises to Protect Religious Freedom in Indiana
Last March, Indiana became a hot zone in the culture wars when big business and the cultural left teamed up to water down Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). They alleged that RFRAs lead to rampant discrimination against gays and lesbians and, in a striking example of cultural cronyism, bullied the Indiana legislature into rolling…Roger Severino -
Indiana Ponders Revoking Business Licenses From Employers Who Hire Illegal Immigrants
Indiana may crack down soon on employers who hire illegal immigrants, under a new bill that would prohibit those convicted of doing so from practicing business in the state. The legislation, announced in the Indiana General Assembly last week, would enable judges to revoke business licenses from employers who repeatedly and “knowingly” hire illegal immigrants. State Sen. Mike Delph,…Natalie Johnson -
Indiana Man Says IRS Fined Him $2,344 for Violating Obamacare’s Individual Mandate
An Indiana man’s IRS bill went viral after he posted a photograph to his Facebook page of a $2,344 fine he claimed was from the federal government for not purchasing health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Benjamin Miller said his insurance skyrocketed after President Barack Obama’s health care law took effect so he decided…Natalie Johnson -
How the Indiana Pizza Shop Responded After Being Tricked Into ‘Catering’ a Gay Wedding
Much of the media today roundly disparage any business-person who even voices his or her religious beliefs regarding same-sex marriage. This is the consistent narrative by which many presumptuously judge small business owners’ (often wedding vendors) motives in affirming their religious convictions as animating their business lives. Critics reject out of hand their claims that they…Travis Weber -
Angie’s List CEO Resigns After Stirring Controversy Over Indiana’s Religious Freedom Law
Bill Oesterle, co-founder and chief executive of Angie’s List, announced he is stepping down from his position just weeks after the company took an outspoken stance against Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Oesterle’s announcement comes after Angie’s List decided to withdraw a proposal before the Indianapolis City Council to expand its headquarters. Angie’s List provides…Kate Scanlon -
Why Do We Need Louisiana’s Marriage and Conscience Act? Ask Indiana Pizza Owners.
Recent nationwide polling shows that 81 percent of Americans agree that the government should leave people free to live and work in accordance with their belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. Nevertheless, such people are increasingly being ostracized, fired and facing death threats simply because of such beliefs. All of this…Travis Weber -
What Would the Founders Think About Religious Liberty and Indiana?
As the loud opposition to Indiana’s religious freedom law subsides, plenty of confusion needs to be cleared up. We need to explain to our friends what religious liberty is, why it matters, and what the consequences are of undermining it or, as is the case with the “fix” enacted in Indiana, restricting its protections. Now is…Ryan T. Anderson