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One can track the decline of democratic processes in the Indiana House of Representatives by analyzing the references to our neighbor Illinois. When you hear that state criticized on the House floor during the reign of the GOP supermajority, you know something bad is about to happen.
The latest example came during the debate on mid-cycle redistricting. The chair of the Elections Committee used the existence of a squiggly drawn congressional district map in Illinois to justify blowing up the rectangle-shaped 7th District in Indianapolis into four districts.
Two of these meander from the north side of Indianapolis down to the Ohio River. One proposed district (the new 7th) would leap from near the governor’s residence on Meridian Street to go north and east toward Muncie and then east to reach the Ohio state line. It then heads south to the edge of Cincinnati before tracking the Ohio River west to Jeffersonville.
Not to be outdone, the new 9th District would start a few blocks below the same governor’s residence. This district would start out narrow then fatten as it headed through Brown County and wander south to reach the Ohio once again. It then turns east to join its new neighbor, the 7th District, around Louisville.
To do the Republican math, one might conclude that two Hoosier meanders are now justified by one Illinois squiggle. How low we have sunk. At least the governor’s driver can turn left or right as he leaves the driveway and reach Louisville either way just by following the district lines.
How did we reach the point where the Indiana House debates whether one political party, and its voters, “deserve” a chance to hold even a single seat in Congress? There are two causes: political greed, which is a moral failing of House members, and gerrymandering. The decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to ignore gerrymandering has allowed Hoosier Republicans to make a power grab. They are succumbing to the temptation.
What values have been lost? The first is the belief in robust debate. On the House floor, only one Republican has spoken in favor of the proposed maps. His argument admitted to a raw grasp for power. In his view, the concepts of fairness and respect for minorities, be they political or ethnic minorities, have no place in our Legislature or our debates.
The Republicans used to argue from principles and participate in debate. I fondly recall butting heads with Jud McMillin, then a young lawyer from Brookville. We both knew he was going to win because he had the votes. But we enjoyed explaining the legislation under discussion. We felt that might help both our fellow legislators and the public to understand. Such a decent and simplistic idea no longer holds sway in the Indiana House. Neither the minority representatives nor the voters they represent deserve an honest discussion in the view of those who control the House.
If we need a second example of how things were, we might look to what might be called courtesy among members. I think of my good friend Matt Pierce, Democrat from Bloomington. Pierce was given a full role in revising our Criminal Code along with Rep. Greg Steuerwald, the Republican leader on the issue. That was because Matt’s knowledge was respected and was known to be useful to the public. Such recognition is no longer accorded. Sic transit Gloria Mundi. To paraphrase, thus goes the pride in our Legislature.•
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DeLaney, an Indianapolis attorney, is a Democrat representing the 86th District in the Indiana House of Representatives. Send comments to [email protected].
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