Indiana’s special legislative session cost $240K

Indiana taxpayers were being out close to a quarter-million pounds for a unique legislative session that observed the passage of a in the vicinity of-whole ban all abortions in the state, as effectively as a offer providing wraparound social solutions and inflation aid.

Residence and Senate officers provided the Indiana Cash Chronicle with info on the price of a particular session, which mostly involves a per diem for legislators, as effectively as vacation charges.

For the two-7 days session that lasted from July 25 to Aug. 5, for each diem prices arrived to $208,858, additionally a further $31,293 to compensate lawmakers for travel to and from the Statehouse. That introduced the whole value of the exclusive session to $240,151.

Specific session charge breakdown

Legislative staff previously expected the particular session to price about $280,000, which accounted for an estimated $246,000 in per diem fees, plus two months of vacation at about $35,000.

A specific session charges taxpayers $17,640 each individual working day in for every diem expenses, together with weekends, for the 150 legislators, moreover $17,821 for every week in vacation bills.

Lawmakers obtain about $183 in for every diem expenditures for every single working day the legislature is in session to protect meals and lodging, despite the fact that they are not expected to use the cash for those functions. Legislators also obtain 57 cents for every single mile pushed, in line with the federal price for mileage reimbursement.

Senate Spokeswoman Molly Fishell pointed out the common session ended 5 times early in March — preserving Hoosier taxpayers income. She declined to remark even more on the specific session costs.

A spokesperson for the Household also did not reply to a ask for for remark.

Holcomb initially called for legislators to convene for a special session to consider a taxpayer refund on July 6. Republican leaders delayed get the job done till July 25, having said that, making it possible for the GOP-dominated Legislature time to craft abortion-limiting legislation pursuing the U.S. Supreme Court conclusion in June to overturn Roe v Wade.

The special legislative session prompted long days and heated discussion in both equally chambers of the Normal Assembly.

One bill adopted by lawmakers outlaws all abortions besides in the situation of a fatal fetal anomaly and situations of critical overall health possibility to the mom — up to 20 months publish-fertilization. Rape survivors can get an abortion up to 10 weeks submit-fertilization.

Indiana is the to start with point out in the country to approve such laws considering that the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in late June. The ban takes outcome on Sept. 15.

A second authorized measure uses above $1 billion in reserve accounts to send $200 checks to thousands and thousands of eligible Hoosiers. It also repeals the diaper tax, improves the adoption tax credit history and allocates about $74 million in supports needed owing to an expected abortion ban.

GOP defends conclusion to convene

Critics argued the extended specific session was unwanted, indicating that alterations to Indiana’s abortion legislation could hold out right up until the Typical Assembly convenes once more up coming calendar year.

“We really do not have to expend taxpayer dollars to appear right here and talk about abortion,” Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor stated in July. “We have a legislative session coming up in January, and we can just take care of it then.”

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray and other customers of the Republican caucus maintained that the costs passed through the distinctive session have been “representative” of what a bulk of Hoosiers want submit-Roe.

Which is inspite of a highly-guarded poll conducted by the Residence and Senate GOP marketing campaign committees that suggests Hoosiers do not want a close to-digital ban on abortion.

“I could not be far more enthusiastic about what we’ve been able to do for females and small children right here,” Bray mentioned adhering to the summary of the specific session. “We’re protecting everyday living. This is extremely essential.”

The Common Assembly final convened in a one particular-day exclusive session in May 2018. That was after a chaotic complete to the 2018 legislative session left many of the governor’s precedence problems without the need of votes ahead of the clock ran out on the frequent session.

The a single-working day unique session—which lasted only a several hours–cost taxpayers more than $30,000.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an impartial, not-for-financial gain information organization that addresses state government, policy and elections.