Indiana Senate Bill 202, which critics say would impact academic freedom and university tenure processes, and Wabash Valley Resources' carbon sequestration project were discussed at a legislative cracker held at the Vigo County Public Library on Saturday. It was the topic of most interest to residents in Burrell.
Local legislators who participated included state Sen. Greg Good (R-Terre Haute); State Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute). State Rep. Bruce Borders, R-Jasonville. and state Rep. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute).
Congress is halfway through its session, with the House and Senate passing a number of bills today (Monday, February 12) that will be transferred to other chambers. Both Pfaff and Borders said there are a number of bills floating around that they hope won't survive the session.
Pfaff noted that of the 112 bills passed by the House, only five were sponsored by Democrats. “There's a little bit of a lack of conversation on our side,” she said. Indiana Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers.
Good, who only joined the Senate in January to replace John Ford, said his goal is to “balance my beliefs with finding common ground.”
The oft-debated Senate Bill 202 would ban a professor's tenure even if the professor is determined to be denying students free academic expression or there is a perceived “possibility” of such conduct. It suggests that you may be denied tenure.
The potential for legislative overreach in this bill is of concern to many people, especially educators. The Committee was asked how punitive measures could be justified against “possibilities”.
Good acknowledged that although he felt there were problems with the bill, he voted for it. He added proposed amendments to the bill that he believes will strengthen freedom of speech. Universities receiving state funding would be required to have at least one board member who lives in the county where the school is located. Indiana State University is one such institution of higher learning whose trustees do not reside in Vigo County.
Pfaff said he agreed with Goode's amendment but was adamantly opposed to the bill.
He said SB 202 “creates an unfriendly situation for professors,” and that “legislatures should not decide when tenure ends.”
At a number of recent meetings open to the public, there was intense discussion about Wabash Valley Resources' (WVR) approval to construct two deep underground injection wells for carbon dioxide in western Terre Haute and Vermilion counties. It is being done. Saturday's Cracker Barrel was no exception.
House Bill 1209, which allows carbon sequestration at these locations, was passed in April 2023, and the public has endured much consternation and anxiety since then.
One attendee asked whether the bill would violate the civil rights of people living near the proposed wells. Another accused WVR of inflating the campaign funds of lawmakers who voted for it. Some wondered if there was some way the bill could be repealed.
“I don't know if we can reverse that,” Heaton said. “I don't know how to stop it.”
Borders said he would take up the issue at his caucus this week.
“We need to significantly improve our local operations,” Good told WVR.
Another controversial topic came up when an attendee asked politicians for their opinion on Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's decision to deploy the Indiana National Guard to help defend the southern border.
Heaton and Borders said they supported the decision. Pfaff supports Gov. Holcomb, but said there are many issues closer to home that need to be addressed. “You have to help your fellow Hoosiers, too,” she said.
Good said he supports the decision but remains mindful of how immigrants have greatly benefited this country.
League of Women Voters co-president Carly Schmidt asked how misinformation about election integrity can be stopped.
Good believes the 2020 election was not stolen, Russia was not successful in influencing the outcome of the 2016 election, and the federal government has no involvement in how each state conducts its elections. He said it shouldn't be done.
“We should leave it to the states to strengthen the institutions of our great republic,” Goode said.
Pfaff noted that Indiana's voter turnout is by no means higher than other states, and simply encouraged people to register to vote and exercise their right.
Heaton responded that he supported the Electoral College. Borders said he has seen examples of voter fraud.
Another question was about elderly people being harassed by phone calls from all over the landline.
Good points out some of the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI), saying that “common treatments for the world's diseases could be solved by AI,” but that artificial intelligence “could be used for nefarious plans.” ” could also be used. He said he plans to join the AI Task Force to “go after the bad guys.”
WHI-TV host Londrell Moore received applause when someone in the audience congratulated him on his recent engagement.
