Candidate debates have been announced in 7th Congressional District, co-sponsored by the Indiana Catholic Action Network. Read More...

The session ended in the same manner as the entire session could be characterized - agreement regarding property tax and much disagreement regarding the immigration issue. Property tax reform was the central issue for everyone and immigration, while important to some was not an area on which consensus could be reached. For ICC these issues ended as we desired. Property tax reform included consideration of the effects on low income families and the poor; immigration law is the responsibility of the Federal government.

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Background: Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC) has introduced the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act. The legislation (H.R. 4088) has 112 cosponsors, approximately half Democrat and half Republican. In the Senate, Senator Mark Pryor (R-AR) and Senator Mary Landrieu introduced identical legislation prior to the Thanksgiving recess (S. 2368) To date, there are no cosponsors.

The SAVE Act is an enforcement-only bill that would expand the Basic Pilot program for employers to verify the status of their immigrant workers and increase resources for both border and interior enforcement, including an expansion of detention space. The legislation would also authorize funds to train state and local authorities to enforce immigration law. It does not include a legalization program, a worker program, or reforms to family immigration. Read More...

The U.S. Senate will again consider S. 1348 beginning Tuesday, June 5th.  Several amendments will be offered to the legislation during the week. Read More...

As you may know, a major federal program funding abstinence education for teenagers will expire at the end of June unless Congress acts to extend it.  Leading congressional Democrats say they intend to let the program lapse.  This program, created by the federal welfare reform legislation of 1996, provides $50 million of the approximately $170 million that the federal government spends annually on programs to educate young people in abstaining from sexual activity before marriage. Read More...

The State of Indiana can help end the genocide in Darfur by divesting from companies supporting the Sudanese Government! Read More...

The legislative session is nearing the first major benchmark – bills clearing the first house. All bills must pass their “house of origin” by a specific date or the bill dies for this session. Third (3rd) reading deadline in the House is Monday, Feb 26. The Senate’s date is Wednesday, Feb 28. To meet this deadline, bills had to clear committees this week. The House deadline for second reading, where amendments can be offered is this week also.
 
Bills trying to stay alive are the following; House 2nd reading deadline is Thursday, February 22 and no action as of publishing the Update. Read More...