College Democrats decry HJR 3

A handful of students piled pins on a bright blue tablecloth in Ballantine 228 Tuesday night.
As more students trickled in, the noise level rose with talk of classes, pizza and House Joint
Resolution 3.
IU College Democrats Vice President Connor Shaw took the room and began the group’s spring callout meeting.
An estimated 40 students showed up to hear talks from congressional candidate Bill Bailey, State Democratic Party Chair John Zody and 20-year-old congressional candidate Pat Lockhart.
Zody is chair of the Indiana Democratic Party and former Great Lakes & Mid-Atlantic political director of Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.
The topic of the day was HJR 3, the controversial bill seeking to amend the Indiana constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages.
HJR 3 passed through the Indiana House of Representatives Tuesday.
Zody cited Republican control of the statehouse and the governor’s seat as major blocks to Democratic advancement, but emphasized the role of Bloomington’s youth to mobilize blue power in a historically red state.
Zody called the Republican push for HJR 3 a diversion from more important issues like unemployment, sexual assaults across the state and the 350,000 Hoosiers without health care.
“It’s a divisive social issue that doesn’t really speak to the future at all,” Zody said. “It’s a tough road, but pull together and we can get this done.”
Bailey, former mayor of Seymour, Ind., and state representative from 1990 to 2000, is running to unseat Rep. Todd Young, R-9th District.
Bailey said he canceled his retirement plans to reverse Young’s endorsements of legislation that curtailed food stamps and raised interest rates on Stafford loans.
Like Zody and Lockhart before him, Bailey said he needs this generation’s help.
“My parents got to elect John Fitzgerald Kennedy,” Bailey said. “My generation protested Vietnam and Watergate. My daughter’s generation got Barack Obama elected. What is in front of your generation? HJR 3.”
IU College Democrats President Melissa Calero said in the midst of national changes, the group seeks to continue on-campus programs like their debate with College Republicans, organization fundraisers and bringing speakers to IU.
“We’re at an important time in Indiana politics,” Zody said.

Follow reporter Steven Johnson on Twitter @stetyjohn.