Is Daniels Backing Down on Social Issues?
The Indy Channel reports:
INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mitch Daniels has backed down on his request for a moratorium on social issues in the upcoming legislative session.
He told 6News' Norman Cox on Thursday that social conservatives in the Legislature can go ahead with bills important to them, as long as they don't sidetrack important measures like the budget and reforming schools and local government.
The governor angered many social conservatives earlier this year when he said those issues, including abortion and same-sex marriage, need to take a back seat to more pressing issues affecting taxes and the economy.
The change of heart followed the distribution of a letter to Republican legislators from Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, and Rep. Wes Culver, R-Goshen, who are pushing a package of five pro-life bills, including one to ban all abortions after 20 weeks.
Without naming Daniels specifically, Walker and Culver criticized his argument that lawmakers should only focus on economic issues.
"We believe that with 150 legislators, we can give adequate attention to the many important issues our constituents feel are important," the letter read.
Opponents of same-sex marriage are also expected to mount a new effort to ban it through constitutional amendment.
