Moments from start of 2019 Indiana legislature
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – As lawmakers convened for the start of the 2019 state legislature, more than 200 bills were up for consideration to become laws.
This year, the session will run into April. It’s a budget session, which means everyone wants a piece of the multimillion-dollar pie.
“We’ve got to remember that pie is only so big,” state Sen. Jim Tomes, a Republican from Wadesville, said Thursday. “We want to make sure we’re fair with how we distribute it.”
Here are other moments from the start.
‘A bipartisan manner’
House Speaker Brian Bosma insisted many bills that make it through the chamber will be bipartisan.
“There will be a handful, maybe two handfuls of bills, tops, that will receive a majority vote only,” Bosma said. “But, the vast majority of legislation will proceed in a bipartisan manner.”
Prayer interrupted
A couple of awkward moments arose when a group of anti-abortion protesters tried to interrupt the Public Servants’ Prayer event. Public Servants’ Prayer supports leaders through prayer and pastoral care, according to its website.
“Heavenly father, give us strength and wisdom as we work together to serve this state we all love so much,” Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said in his prayer.
Welcome back, Rep. Brown
A heartwarming, memorable moment came when state Rep. Tim Brown, a Crawfordsville Republican, was recognized at the Public Servants’ Prayer event. His cane in hand, he stood up to a standing ovation and made his way to the stage.
Brown was back at the Statehouse after he being badly hurt the morning of Sept. 12 in a motorcycle crash near Mackinac Island, Michigan.
“I pray for the emergency personnel.” Brown said in prayer. “Thank God for what they did for me and thank for for transporting me to a place where I could get the care I needed.”
The Republican governor described Brown as “a walking miracle.”