Here are two memos that provide an overview of the major education reform related bills passed in this session of the General Assembly. The first memo (SB 1 Teacher Effectiveness) is an over of SB 1 dealing with teacher evaluations and merit pay. The second memo( Education Reform Overview) includes an overview of several pieces of legislation including SB 575, SB 1, HB 1002 and HB 1003.
State Senate votes to strip public funding of Indiana’s largest abortion provider
Banks_HB1210_AbortionMatters <– click to play audio
STATEHOUSE (April 18, 2011) – State Sen. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) today joined fellow lawmakers in supporting an amendment to a key anti-abortion bill that would strip public funding of Planned Parenthood – the state’s largest abortion provider.
Members voted 36-13 in favor of the amendment – prohibiting any state contracts or grants with Planned Parenthood or other organizations that provide abortions – sending House Bill 1210 to its third and final reading in the Senate. Banks credited State Sen. Scott Schneider (R-Indianapolis) for crafting the amendment.
“I wholeheartedly believe that Hoosiers’ hard-earned tax dollars should not be used to support abortion providers,” said Banks, sponsor of the legislation. “I am encouraged by this amendment as it marks a positive step toward our goal of reducing the number of innocent lives taken each year through abortions.” Continue reading