United Methodist supported legislation proved successful in 2005 session of Indiana General Assembly

By Daniel R. Gangler

INDIANAPOLIS - Hoosier United Methodists worked with other churches and groups in supporting three primary issues during the most recent session of the Indiana General Assembly.

Those issues included support for "Putting Children First" legislation, support of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation agency in curbing smoking and support in preventing the expansion of legalized gambling in Indiana.

Putting Children First

The Rev. Darren Cushman Wood, senior pastor of Speedway UMC, worked with the South Indiana Conference Bishop's Initiative for Children and Poverty, chaired by the Rev. Gwen Roberts of Faith UMC, in supporting "Putting Children First" legislation. Cushman Wood told Together he was pleased that the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Bill 529, which will establish reforms in the child welfare system, and that the state budget provides increased funding for hiring additional caseworkers. The new law:

Establishes the new Department of Child Services (removing these duties from Family and Social Services) and renames the Division of Family and Children to the Division of Family Resources,
Establishes the Child Support Bureau with the duty ensuring the collection of child support arrearages,
Provides a review process if a county does not levy the amount necessary for children's psychiatric residential treatment services, and
Establishes maximum caseload ratios for child protection caseworkers (initial assessments - 12 active cases per month; ongoing cases - 17 active per caseworker. This last provision will require that 880 new caseworkers be hired by the summer of 2008.

No smoking

In the church's support for the prevention of smoking in Indiana, more than 70 United Methodist congregations joined with 324 other faith groups and health organizations across the state supported the Hoosier Faith and Health Coalition Resolution asking the General Assembly to maintain the original funding of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation agency at $32 million dollars. Last year ITPC was cut by two-thirds funding to $10.8 million. The funds are provided the state through the Tobacco Settlement which gives each state more than $125 million each year part of which is expected to go for the prevention and cessation of smoking.

United Methodists Hester Schultz of Meridian St. UMC in Indianapolis, Paul Messplay of Lawrence UMC and Dan Evans, president and CEO of United Methodist-related Clarian Health Partners played key roles in the drive to support ITPC. Parish Nurse Patricia Thorlton of Greenwood UMC and program coordinator for parish nursing and health ministries at Clarian, coordinated the Hoosier Faith and Health Coalition. She led the Valentine's Day luncheon which drew more than 140 interfaith religion leaders to the Statehouse. There leaders personally asked Indiana Senators and Representatives and Governor Daniels to maintain ITPC funding. The legislature approved to maintain the current funding for ITPC at $10.8 million.

No expansion of gambling

One of the biggest surprises for United Methodists was that both houses of the legislature refused any expansion of legalized gambling. That pleased the Indiana Coalition Against Legalized Gambling coordinator the Rev. John Wolf, a retired minister of Valparaiso. Early on the House of Representatives voted down HB1569 by a 7-4 margin. This bill would have allowed Indiana's two horse racing tracks to install up to 2,500 slot machines each. As it came to committee, this bill also would have permitted a casino in Downtown Indianapolis to fund a new football stadium where the Indianapolis Colts would play. Later in the legislative session, Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Garton, a member of First UMC in Columbus, prevented gambling legislation from coming to the floor of the Senate.

The session ended with no provisions for the expansion of legalized gambling in Indiana.

During the legislative session, Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner wrote to and visited with Indiana's incoming Governor Mitch Daniels and United Methodist legislators. During those visits, he again raised these three issues and asked the governor and legislators for their support. Coyner also hosted a legislative luncheon on March 23 with the assistance of Senator Patricia Miller, a member of Old Bethel UMC in Indianapolis. Ten of the 27 legislators, who are United Methodists, attended the noontime event.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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