Rep. Cherrish Pryor
Rep. Vanessa Summers
There’s still a bunch of major issues that could impact Indianapolis’ African-American community brewing in the final weeks of the Indiana Legislature’s session. On Afternoons with Amos weekly update from Black legislators, State Representatives Cherrish Pryor and Vanessa Summers updated the community on several key issues. One critical issue, the location of small Small Claims Courts in Marion County seems to have been resolved. Several weeks ago, a bill in the Legislature would have forced all county residents with Small Claims debt collection actions to have to go to the Decatur Township Small Claims Court on the county’s far westside. That would been a hardship since that township has no IndyGo public transportation routes. But both parties have reached a compromise that will allow the township’s small claims courts to operate and that will provide adequate funding for the county’s two smallest small claims courts in Decatur and Franklin Townships. During the weekly update from Indiana’s Black Legislative Caucus, the lawmakers warned the community that straight ticket voting would be ending with this November’s election. The Republican supermajority eliminated the practice. That, said Rep. Summers, will require more voter education in our community later this year. Public school funding remains a major issue with the State Senate recommending slightly more funding more most Marion County school districts than the House budget version. The Senate version would only reduce funding for IPS by $10 million, where the House version would cut funding by $14 million. Reps. Summers and Pryor also heard concerns from listeners on a number of other state government related issues. And updated listeners on other legislative battles. Hear the Afternoons with Amos Legislative and Issue Update From State Reps. Cherrish Pryor and Vanessa Summers. Runs 47 Minutes ©2015 WTLC/Radio One. Audio begins After Brief Video Ad.
