After social conservatives rallied to Pat Robertson in Iowa in 1988, and soon took over the formal structure of the Republican Party in many states, it rapidly became difficult to win a GOP nomination for anything higher than dog catcher without aFrom a rocky start, the Indiana General Assembly has settled into a more contemplative, polite and even productive mode in the second half of its session.
With just four weeks left before scheduled adjournment, both the House and Senate are steadily working through bills that passed their original chambers – improving some in the process while condemning others to a well-deserved death.
The angry tone of the session’s first days, roiled by Republicans’ urgency in passing a right to work bill and Democrats’ stubborn stand against it, threatened to leave lawmakers with little to show for their efforts.
But civility returned after the Super Bowl break. While there still are worthy bills languishing in committees and others that should be killed still moving forward, lawmakers have done the right thing on several fronts.
For three recent examples of solid work by the General Assembly, see Thursday's editorial page in print editions of The Journal Gazette, or visit www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Thursday.
