Session lacks hot topic

Over the last decade, some big-name issues have dominated Indiana’s legislative sessions.

Right to work.

School funding

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

LGBT civil rights.

Road funding.

Local legislators don’t expect that to be the case in 2018.

Both Rep. Greg Beumer (R-Modoc) and Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) said there is just not a hot-button topic that they expect to be the driving force during this year’s short session that begins Wednesday afternoon in Indianapolis.

“I don’t anticipate any big issue this year,” said Holdman. “It’s not like road funding, common wage or Right to Work or anything we did with the gas tax … last year. Sen. (David) Long says there’s no shiny object out there we’re all working for.”

“There’s no single issue that stands out,” agreed Beumer, “but there are several key issues that I think we’ll be dealing with.”

One that has gotten significant attention heading into this year’s session is that of Sunday alcohol sales.

Neither local legislator has expressed strong feelings on the topic — Holdman said he generally votes against alcohol-related bills while Beumer has paid close attention to the results of his legislative survey — but both expect a legislative change this year. Indiana is the only state that does not allow beer, wine and liquor sales on Sundays.

“I think it’s just gotten to a point where something’s going to have to be done,” said Holdman, adding that he expects a bill to allow Sunday sales of alcohol within limited hours.

Beumer plans to continue working to legalize the sale and use of cannabidiol oil, a substance derived from marijuana that can be used to treat conditions such as epilepsy. He was one of a long list of co-authors of a Rep. Bill Friend (R-Macy) bill that addressed the issue during the 2017 session. But confusion followed about whether the substance was legal to sell, and Attorney General Curtis Hill in November issued his opinion that all cannabidiol products remain illegal in Indiana.

In supporting the legislation last year, Beumer noted a constituent whose occurrence of seizures can be greatly reduced by using cannabidiol oil.

“We all have constituents who are impacted in a positive way if they basically break the law and acquire this product for their children,” he said.

Both Holdman and Beumer said they expect the issue of medical marijuana to come before the legislature this year, but that they don’t believe it has enough support to move forward.

They also addressed the statewide opioid epidemic, which led to a spike in overdoses and drug-related deaths in Jay County in 2017.

Holdman noted the extensive reach of problems caused by drug addiction, including a limited workforce, a spike in Children in Need of Services (CHINS) cases, Medicaid costs and broken families.

“It’s staggering when you think about all the tentacles of addiction,” he said.

Both local legislators spoke in support of continuing efforts, such as supporting successful treatment programs, but lamented the lack of a clear solution.

“The problem with that is, I’m not sure anyone has the magic bullet,” said Beumer. “We certainly will keep trying to fund what appear to be those creative solutions that can be replicated across the state, but at this point I don’t know that anyone has found the solution yet. And if they do, they’re probably going to be known across the country because we’re not alone in this battle.”

In terms of their own legislation, Holdman, who will take over as chair of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee following the recent resignation of Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Buck Creek), noted an effort to encourage the use of “baby boxes” at all fire stations that are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. His Senate Bill 123 would not require departments to offer the boxes, but would provide civil immunity to those that choose to do so. He pointed out that several groups, including the Knights of Columbus, have expressed a willingness to help purchase the devices for interested departments.

Beumer, who last month announced that he would not be seeking re-election, is hoping to get a conversation started about legalizing progressive gambling games such as one held recently at the Whistle Stop in Ansonia, Ohio. The game, intended initially to draw customers to the business, resulted in a top prize of $580,000, generated tens of thousands of dollars for local projects and charities, and drew an estimated 25,000 visitors to the town about 15 miles south-southeast of Fort Recovery on the night the jackpot was awarded.

“Rural areas need the opportunity to be able to generate the kind of money locally that you can generate through some of these community events that involve people simply stopping in, taking their chance, buying a ticket, eating a meal and enjoying a community that maybe they don’t visit any other way,” Beumer said. “I’m not a strong proponent of river boats or casinos, but I am a strong proponent of rural areas having their opportunity, or the same kinds of opportunities. …

“You can bet we had a lot of people from Jay and Randolph counties going into Ohio to put their money down and spend their money over there.”