The candidates for Indiana Senate District 41, incumbent Republican Greg Walker and challenger Democrat Ross Thomas, differ on whether Indiana should enact a hate crimes law and whether the state’s cigarette tax should be increased.
The question of hate-crime legislation in Indiana has been ongoing over the past four years, stymied this past legislative session when Republicans dropped Senate Bill 418, which would have allowed judges to give tougher sentences for offenses based on race, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.
Since then, Gov. Eric Holcomb has called for legislators to pass hate-crime legislation, saying this past summer that Indiana should not be one of only five states that have not enacted hate-crime laws. Holcomb announced his stance after anti-Semitic graffiti was found at a Carmel synagogue in July.
Walker, who has represented District 41 — which includes Bartholomew and Johnson counties — since 2006, has said the state should hold people criminally accountable for their actions rather than their attitudes.
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Indiana courts today use mitigators and aggravators to “swiftly, rightfully punish criminal acts suspected of prejudicial bias,” Walker said.
Bias statutes are not prosecuted because of trial standard “beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said.
“Bias as a crime (Blacks law dictionary) must prove predisposition,” Walker said.
During a Third House legislative session in Columbus in February, Walker was questioned about the 2018 hate crime legislation considered by lawmakers as constituents tried to understand who the bill would protect and how it would affect punishments for crimes.
Walker said during the session he had considered legislation that created additional protections at funerals of veterans when protesters were interrupting the gravity of people burying their dead. But he also said that the legislature has already given judges discretion to consider aggravating circumstances in sentencing individuals for hate crimes.
Thomas, a political newcomer, said he supports enacting a hate crime law in Indiana.
“While such laws aren’t a ‘magic bullet’ for addressing bias crimes, they send an important message that we recognize the destructiveness of intolerance in our communities,” Thomas said. “A hate-crimes law is essential to attract new businesses and skilled workers to our state.”
The two candidates differ slightly on whether Indiana should raise its tax on cigarettes to encourage people to quit their habit.
The Alliance for Healthier Indiana is lobbying to increase the statewide tax on cigarettes, currently at 99.5 cents a pack set in 2007 — by $1.50 per pack in hopes of reducing Indiana’s smoking rate and trimming long-term healthcare costs.
Walker pointed to surrounding states of Michigan and Ohio that have $1.60 and $2 per pack state taxes, respectively, taxes that he said were pushed into law to cover major budget deficits in those states.
“Indiana works to maintain budget surpluses,” Walker said. “Tobacco consumption does not vary significantly based on tax rate.”
Thomas said he while he supports the cigarette tax at its current level, he would be open to an increase in the tax if “additional funds raised went to defray healthcare costs of smoking, and not as a source of general revenue.”
The candidates shared their views on several other topics:
What motivated you to run for this office?
Walker: “My election set the course for new Senate leadership. In 2019, I will work again with the new Senate Pro-Tem to enhance policies investing in an educated workforce and protecting our pro-growth tax and fiscal stability (best in nation, U.S. News and World Report), while increasing the quality of life for all citizens.”
Thomas: “I am not satisfied with the current priorities at the Statehouse or the overall direction of our state. As an attorney, small business owner and father, I think I have the experience to help change that direction — to better meet the needs of working people and improve our quality of life.”
Identify three priorities for the next legislative session and why you have chosen them:
Walker: “Job growth through student retention, skills enhancement and education grant dollars targeting adult learners, rather than lavish business incentive packages. Use state pensions as job-retention tools that don’t break the budget. Protect Indiana’s top 10 business tax climate ranking (September 2018 Tax Foundation) and still find resources to protect vulnerable families.”
Thomas: “Public education, infrastructure and lobbying reform. Our schools need more resources and local control with less emphasis on standardized testing. We must fix our crumbling infrastructure to help our economy grow. We must break the grip of big money on state politics by limiting campaign contributions and gifts from lobbyists.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Greg Walker” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 54
Current office held: Senator for Indiana District 41, currently serves as ranking member on the Family and Children Services and the Insurance and Financial Institutions committees, and on committees for Ethics, Pensions and Labor and Tax and Fiscal Policy
Previous offices held: Senate District 41 seat since 2006
Occupation: Senior consultant, Proffer Brainchild Analytics Innovation
Education: Bachelor of arts in business finance from Indiana University-Bloomington and master’s in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University
Community organizations: Christian Communicators of America board, Church of Christ in Columbus elder, member, deacon and treasurer
Family: Spouse Allison and four children
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Age: 49
Current office held: None
Previous offices held: None
Education: Bachelor of arts in political economy from Tulane University, New Orleans, and law degree from Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis
Community: President of Columbus Babe Ruth Baseball board of directors
Family: Spouse Amy and three children
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Meet the candidates for Indiana House District 59: Republican Ryan Lauer, Democrat Dale Nowlin and Libertarian Clyde Myers.
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