Senate Republicans Tuesday rejected a slew of amendments to the state budget offered by Democrats. That includes one aimed at continuing a recent discussion over the civil rights of gays and lesbians.
While passing the religious freedom clarification bill, Republican legislative leaders said this session wasn’t enough time to debate inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity into the state’s civil rights statute.
Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, says creating a study committee is the customary next step.
“The time has come for us to carefully examine exactly what are the policies of our state in this regard,” Lanane says. “What’s been the history? What is the need going forward?”
Senate budget author Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, says while he agrees that the issue is an important one for the state to debate, Lanane’s proposal isn’t quite right.
“I do think that this issue is going to come about with the proper management and control and statement of what the questions are that need to be considered,” Kenley says.
Republicans also rejected more than a dozen other Democratic amendments, including proposals to alter education funding and increase money for public mass transit.