As I have repeatedly pointed out, Indiana has nothing remotely approaching home rule. Our legislative overlords consider themselves to be arbiters of both state and local decisions, entitling them to impose their personal prejudices and “unique” viewpoints on municipal governments.
The fact that local legislators–chosen by the residents of those municipalities–may have different priorities is irrelevant. (Remember when Bloomington wanted to forbid the use of plastic grocery bags? The legislature said no can do.)
It was bad enough when Indianapolis had to go to the Statehouse for three sessions to get permission to hold a referendum to determine whether we could tax ourselves for mass transit. And even then, the legislative pooh-bas took light rail off the table–no, we couldn’t ask Indianapolis citizens if they wanted that particular method of transit. And ever since the city voted–overwhelmingly–for the transit we were allowed to consider, Aaron Freeman, a member of the legislature (not the City County Council) has been trying to stop construction.
Because his lordship disagrees with the results of the democratic process. Other members of Indiana’s legislative self-appointed aristocracy want to reverse the City’s decision to limit right turns on red. It evidently hasn’t occurred to these autocrats that if Indianapolis citizens disagree with these decisions, we can vote for different municipal legislators. We have the veto; the legislature does not. At least, it should not.
As aggravating as these examples are, however, they don’t hold a candle to what was reported yesterday.
Indianapolis residents would lose access to free bus rides on Election Day under new legislation filed by a state senator from southern Indiana.
IndyGo buses were free to ride during the 2022 and 2023 general elections because of a sponsorship from AARP Indiana, a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of older residents.
The AARP sponsored similar efforts in Fort Wayne, Gary and Evansville, and is currently considering another sponsorship in Indianapolis for the 2024 general election — which will contain the high-profile elections of attorney general, governor, U.S. senator and president.
But those rides would be stopped under Senate Bill 187, which contains a single sentence: “A public transportation agency shall not implement free or reduced fares on a general, primary or municipal election day.”
Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Georgetown, said his legislation is about ensuring all voters have the same access to the polls.
“It’s a fairness thing for me on voting,” Byrne told Mirror Indy on Thursday. “The area that I live in, there’s no public transportation, and to say one part of the state gets a free ride to go vote sort of discriminates against other people in the state who don’t have that opportunity.”
Fairness my patootie! The real motive here is suppression of the urban vote. Byrne is Republican. In Indiana–and elsewhere–Republicans depend upon the votes of rural White folks to retain office. Anything that facilitates turnout in urban parts of the state–especially turnout by “those people”–minority citizens and poor folks–must be stopped. Why…it’s “woke.”
The transparency of motive, however, is beside the point. The point is, this none of the legislature’s business. Tax dollars are not being spent. Government bodies are not the sponsors. A private non-profit organization is sponsoring this effort to ameliorate some of the burdens experienced by municipal citizens.
The next time you hear a Republican talk about “freedom” or “keeping government from interfering with private business decisions” you should understand that what the members of that cult really mean is: “we are only in favor of interfering with decisions that we disagree with, or decisions that might make it more difficult for us to win elections. So long as you use your uterus and your nonprofit dollars in ways we approve, we won’t interfere.”
If Byrne really cared about “fairness,” he”d sponsor a bill to help his poorer rural constituents get to the polls–he wouldn’t be trying to suppress the votes of people who live in the urban areas of the state.
This vile “Fairness” they speak so highly of has more to do with the preferred color of the skin of those deemed Lord Protectors. They are very fond of doublespeak. The constant deliberate sabotage practiced by rural legislators of urban progress in the name of fiscal conservatism is widely encouraged and shared by suburban Metro areas throughout Indiana and their largely white constituents and neighbors.
Heck if your Racist credentials are strong enough Donald Trump may even Give you a shout out or even a photo op at the next – White Expo Knife and Gun Show — FRIDAY — BE THERE!!!
First they came for the transgendered and and because I was not transgendered, I did not object. I know that isn’t a direct quote, but you get the point. Reverend Niemöller should be quoted every day. His short sermon is more relevant today than ever.
Please mentally delete the second “and”!
Gary Byrne said “ “The area that I live in, there’s no public transportation…”. fact, in Gary Byrne’s district there are two sources of public transportation (according to Mirrorindy), one of which provided free rides on Election Day. Which means the either he does not know very much about his area, or he knows and is lying.
Why do Republicans make it hard for people to vote? In the words of the odious Lindsay Graham, “if we let everyone vote we’ll never win another election.”
It would be helpful to know when this piece of proposed legislation will go before the committee and be open to public comment. In the meantime, I suggest that people call, email, and visit in person with their respective senator to express their opposition to this, and to support the AARP’s efforts to help people get to the ballot box.
Well then, if free rides aren’t to be allowed on election days, how about free rides to the polls on certain early voting days?
There are trees out there providing oxygen for these wastes of space called “legislators”; they should apologize to those trees.
Brava, if that is the correct gender form. These days one must be aware of the sensibilities attached to language. An excellent article on one of our many despicable legislators should not be tarnished by an inappropriate single word of praise.
Nothing boils my blood more than attempts by the trash of rural Indiana using the legislature to inflict their racism on the big cities. And racism this is!
Theresa. I’m pretty sure you are not saying that everyone who lives in rural Indiana is trash, but it kind of comes across that way.
Of course not everyone who lives in rural Indiana is trash. Just the ones who continually vote for the likes of Byrne. And they are the majority.
The Repugs are schoolyard bullies and if lying and bullying doesn’t work they will whine like spoiled brats.
I am going to review Sen Byrne’s legislature page and then call his staff with complaints. I’ve come to realize we Dems mist fight them in every way possible because as long as they don’t hear from us personally they have come to believe they can get away with anything they want to.
By the way, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that ALEC created his Bill and has found someone in every state to ‘author’ it.
Home Rule? Whut’s thet? The supermajority in the legislature defines “home” broadly, i.e., “We represent the people who elected us and those who did not,” which carries racist overtones since minorities tend to live in urban conclaves but are represented by right wing anti-wokers from East Podunk. Unfortunately, municipalities are regarded as extensions of the state and thus subordinate to the state in legislative matters, backed up by case law.
So, with the deck stacked, what to do? Spend our organizational resources heavily (as Obama did) on getting out the vote in rural areas, thus perhaps destroying Republican control of “home” definition while introducing democracy to those of us who do not live or vote in the hinterland, failing which and as a last resort, perhaps we could pull a Texas Abbott and Florida De Fascist scheme and send busloads of minorities to the rural areas of Indiana, register them to vote and drive them to the polls and, inter alia, settle the issue of free public transportation on Election Day and other issues subject to the new definition of “Home Rule” by a Democratic legislature.
Impossible? Over-ambitious? That’s what “they” said about Obama, a black man, who carried Indiana.
Some problems have always existed within the concept of governance. To make rules for everyone, it’s necessary to share everyone’s experiences, which nobody can do.
Another is that nobody likes to lose their job through decisions by someone else.
Unfortunately, Republicans have found that the most despicable, depraved, and immoral can sell themselves well to voters by pretending to be other than they are. Once in, they want to stay in, so they tell enough voters what they want to hear, and they also pass laws that make the votes by those who don’t want to hear that not count very much.
Our founders knew all of this and wrote our Constitution such that the natural rights of the “common man” were put out of the reach of government; who governs was made temporary; and the turnover was managed by those “common men.” (needless to say, the term “common men” was replaced by everyone under the government by giving everyone equal voting rights.) (Unfortunately, those brilliant founders also had to accommodate slavery to have a viable union, so they immediately had to compromise their high principles.)
That’s the story so far. Many of us have been put back into the situation that inspired the founders to, well, found.
Apparently, we are not as smart and courageous as they were so far.
Just “Wow”
In light of the above, not least Shiela’s remarkably tempered assessment given the provocation, I am reminded, by the Times” David French, of the relevance of John Adams‘s 1798 letter to the Massachusetts Militia. In it Adams argues that our Republic needs a virtuous citizenry to survive. “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People; It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” When a state legislature intrudes upon the free exercise of choice by voters in municipalities, as we see in Indiana, it’s clear virtuous citizens have their work cut out for them. Judging by the comments, you have a strong start right here.
Although the legislator mentioned the lack of transit in his area, I bet they still have school buses. They could use them on election days, probably just by running their normal routes, to ferry people to the polls. Here in Canada, elementary schools are generally used as voting locations, so if this was the same there, it would just be so easy to do.
Here is the “short sermon” that Peggy refers to at the top of the thread of comments, and of course, she is correct that we should mentally insert any category that is being systematically (whether obvious or not) in the “blanks”.
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Rural vote here in NoDak, same day registration,and vote. just bring your lic,or trash bill.but theres a new wave of outsiders coming here,as the locals say, (dont fear a little diversity bud) im sure changes will be made in voting to appeas the whites only class here. Burgum the gov, is a billionaire doing his part…please keep Indianas legislative pests behind your wall please.we have enough here behind our walls…
I am sure he would also be opposed to the GOP volunteers who make sure that residents of suburban and rural nursing homes fill out absentee ballots. Or that someone does for them, anyway.
There seems to be nothing that Republicans do that does not benefit ONLY their agenda, which is about ONLY them!
Here is the email I just sent to my state senator:
“IndyGo buses were free to ride during the 2022 and 2023 general elections because of a sponsorship from AARP Indiana, a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of older residents.
The AARP sponsored similar efforts in Fort Wayne, Gary and Evansville, and is currently considering another sponsorship in Indianapolis for the 2024 general election.
Those rides would be stopped under Senate Bill 187, which contains a single sentence: “A public transportation agency shall not implement free or reduced fares on a general, primary or municipal election day.”
Sen. Gary Byrne said his legislation is about ensuring all voters have the same access to the polls.
Tax dollars are not being spent on these programs. Government bodies are not the sponsors. A private non-profit organization is sponsoring this effort to ameliorate some of the burdens experienced by municipal citizens.
The way to address any inequity is to arrange for similar services in rural areas not served by public transportation, not depriving municipal citizens of these services. ”
The email address to use for Senator Mike Young is: ‘Hector.Ayala@iga.in.gov’
I encourage others to contact their state senator.
Remember the adage – “The government that is closest to the people governs best — unless we Republicans disagree.”
State legislatures across the country have been doing this for as long as I have been alive and probably longer. I do remember as Detroit lost population (4th the day I was born – 27th today), the Republican legislature had to rewrite laws that were limited to cities with over a million residents. They couldn’t let Detroit off of the hook.
Indianapolis may be the seat of the state government, but the Republican legislature still wants to stick it to the residents — especially if they may help elect a Democratic Governor or Senator (dare I hope Attorney General?).
The “fairness” argument frequently reminds me of the Anatole France observation that “the law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.”
Ugh. Same in Wisconsin. Our gerrymandered election maps have resulted in a near-permanent republican hold on the state legislature and many of these… I guess they count as elected officials have made it their mission to remove all local control from the villages, towns, cities and counties. Which is weird, coming from the party that’s supposed to be all about local control.