The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) today (5/10/2021) issued the following statement in response to the General Assembly's override of Governor Holcomb's veto of Senate Enrolled Act 5, which undermines the authority of local health departments by allowing businesses to appeal local health orders:
“The IBLC remains disheartened by the supermajority's continued attack on local authority and expertise.
“Local health departments are able to understand and pinpoint the needs of their communities in a way that the state simply cannot. We look back on the racial disparities that emerged in Indiana's COVID-19 cases and deaths, disparities that the state was unable to address as quickly as local departments. The targeted response from local health departments saved and continues to save countless Hoosier lives.
“The General Assembly needs to trust that its local health departments are doing what is right and necessary for their constituents. A government cannot function effectively if it wastes its time doubting every decision made by its partners.
“The IBLC stands by Indiana's local health departments and will continue to support local control as our state recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Governor's veto was overridden with a vote of 59-30. The law is now in effect.