Being Frank about politics -- the art of politics is not always pretty

I'm sure everyone who follows politics is aware of "Christmas Tree Bills."

I first heard the term at a meeting sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce many years ago. Elected officials reported to those in attendance what was happening in Indianapolis that year. 

One state senator talked about Christmas tree bills and the term captured my imagination. 

A Christmas tree, of course, starts out as a single tree and then is "decorated" with lots of baubles and lights to make it prettier. 

Likewise a Christmas tree bill starts out as a single entity, for one purpose, a purpose someone believes is very noble, a much needed piece of legislation. 

Then, other politicians see the popularity of the bill as a means to sneak some of their pet projects through the General Assembly and on to the governor's desk. 

It seems to me the recent religious freedom act in Indiana is a classic example of the subterfuge politicians use. While not a Christmas tree bill, and while the intent was very good, a bill is a legal document and the wording is crucial. 

I covered a Republican Club meeting a few months ago. The main speaker was promoting the bill that became the religious freedom act. 

His presentation made sense in my humble opinion. 

Hobby Lobby and other companies should not have to pay for insurance that provides birth control when the company owners don't believe in birth control. Yet, Obamacare was requiring business owners to violate their religious beliefs in just such a way. 

The bill was to protect business owners from expensive court battles to defend their personal beliefs. 

The speaker at that meeting acknowledged there was some unfounded concern that gays could be denied service if the bill passed.

One state representative in attendance said he had not read the bill in question but supported the principle stated by the speaker. 

I wrote the report on the meeting. I was the only reporter at that meeting. No one said anything about it. The story was published.

Then, - wham! - the whole world exploded when the bill was signed into law. At least, that's the way it seemed. 

I have to believe that the simple idea of protecting business owners in a bill was the opportunity some politicians saw to advance their own agendas. 

Because Hobby Lobby got involved because of what the owners saw as a violation of their religious faith, I have to believe the Indiana bill  as it was passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor was indeed a threat to minorities and the opportunity for bigotry to raise its ugly head. 

If so, Indiana has been rightly called out by people in other states and the law needed to be fixed at the least or repealed. 

Was it a necessary law? 

No. 

I'm sorry if big companies have to spend money collected from their customers -- us --to defend their religious liberty in a court of law but sometimes our religious commitments cost us. 

Our recent holiday demonstrates what it cost one Man and He said His followers should follow his example. 

Frank Phillips is a reporter for The Brazil Times. 

Being Frank about Indiana's Hobby Lobby bill

When is my business any of your business?

That question could be partially settled by legislation before the Indiana General Assembly.
Nineteen states have passed legislation that will potentially protect business owners from interference by government. Ryan McCann of Indiana Family Institute hopes to make Indiana Number 20.
I heard him speak recently about the so-called Hobby Lobby bill now before the Indiana Senate and expected to be introduced in the Indiana House in March.
The bill was prompted by the Hobby Lobby store chain's lawsuit that went to the U.S.Supreme Court. The company's owners won but they shouldn't have had to go to that trouble and legal expense. The bill would increase the burden placed on government to prove the court should force a business owner to to take action that violates his beliefs. It would potentially give business owners more religious liberty than they now enjoy in Indiana.
The issue was Obama care. Hobby Lobby is owned by a family of Christians. They didn't like the idea of being forced by the government to pay for employees' health insurance that contained provisions for abortion.
Hobby Lobby won in the U.S. Supreme Court but at tremendous expense for the legal fight.
When is my business your business?
That is the real struggle and it affects so many things in our country from who a businessman has to serve at his restaurant to wheelchair ramps on church buildings to your responsibility for my safety if I get injured while visiting your home.
It's easy to say, "Everyone should be responsible for themselves and if you don't like what your employer does, get another job."

Certainly Hobby Lobby was right to say they want nothing to do with your choice to have sex and then seek an abortion. People have freedom to worship but that doesn't mean your church should be forced to install a wheelchair ramp or make rest rooms handicapped accessible. I know church members who have discussed those issues. And if you get hurt while visiting me, maybe you shouldn't have come over in the first place.
The real question seems to be, what constitutes a public place and what is private?
Just because my business is open to the public should not mean I have the same responsibility as the government for a courthouse or a city hall or a public school.
If you don't like the way I run my business, you are free to shop elsewhere. But I have rights too.
I hope Indiana does pass a bill to protect the rights of business owners.

Frank Phillips is a reporter for The Brazil Times. 

General Assembly marked by cooperation, so far, legislators say

By FRANK PHILLIPS
frankphi@hotmail.com
There seems to be healthy air of cooperation and fraternity among the legislators in Indiana's General Assembly, according to remarks made by four of the five legislators representing Clay County.
Sen. Richard Bray (R-Martinsville), and State Representatives Clyde Kersey (D-Terre Haute), Vern Tincher (D-Riley) and Amos Thomas (R-Brazil) spoke to about 50 constituents at the Cory Firehouse Saturday morning during the first of three scheduled Crackerbarrel meetings.
Sen. John Waterman (R-Shelburn) did not attend.
Here are the highlights of the legislators' opening remarks before taking questions:
* Kersey -- "There is one thing we must do this session and that is to pass a budget."
He opposes taking money from local school districts to fund all-day kindergarten.
He likes the idea free textbooks, but doesn't think there is a enough money to fund all-day kindergarten and free textbooks. Indiana is only one of 10 states that require parents to pay textbook fees.
On privatization of the state lottery -- he wants to study the issue.
He liked what he heard in much of Gov. Mitch Daniels' State of the State address including: cooperation on the state budget is needed and Democrats and Republicans need to investigate privatization.
He called the 2 percent circuit breaker legislation, to limit tax increases, "good for property owners but bad for local governments."
* Tincher -- Welcomed the governor's call for cooperation. He believes the first two years of the governor's administration showed a district lack of cooperation -- "It was his way or no way," Tincher said.
Privatization of the Hoosier Lottery is a bad idea.
Tincher has concerns about the proposed local option sales tax. He said that because so many Clay County people shot in Terre Haute, the local option tax would benefit Vigo County, but take money out of Clay County.
He would rather see the state sales tax increased by 1 percent.
Tincher wants to see legislation passed that would plug gaps in the Open Door Law. He cited the decision to fire Bob Knight by Indiana University, saying the school's president met with the university board in small groups to prohibit public involvement in the decision.
Tincher favors a bill that would allow teenage boys to register for selective service at license branches. Sixteen-year-olds would fill out the paperwork and it would be filed when they turned 18.
Tincher would like to see the state crack down on illegal immigrants by holding their employers responsible. He sees the problem a state problem because the federal government has been indecisive about the problem.
* Bray --
He believes all-day kidnergarten has merit (see accompanying story).
Bray does not favor free textbooks because a survey of his constiutents indicate parents don't mind paying for their children's textbook rental.
He said Gov. Daniels is "very bright" and has more initiatives than any governor in Bray's lifetime. But some of his ideas are good and some are bad.
"He doesn't always do a good job selling his ideas," Bray said.
The division in Indianapolis is not just Republicans and Democrats but it is also rural versus urban. He would like to see the fuel tax formula changed to include pick-up trucks and SUVs when gas tax money is returned to counties.
* Thomas --
He believes being a freshman representative gives him an advantage because he doesn't know all the details about debates on the issues.
He also thinks his maturity and experience gives him an advantage over his younger freshmen legislators.
"It's harder to fool me," he said.
He has taken up the mantle of the fuel tax formula.
He has introduced a bill that would force all state agencies to examine their energy use.
A bill he co-authored with State Rep. Dale Grubb (D-Covington) has passed the House. It will provide some money to help maintain covered bridges in Indiana. It has yet to go to the State Senate.