An amendment to address Indiana’s high infant mortality rate has died at the Statehouse.
Evansville Democrat Gail Riecken says she’s “very disappointed” that Republicans removed her amendment from the final version of a Senate bill that passed and is headed to Governor Pence. Riecken wonders about the state’s priorities, as lawmakers approved tax cuts for businesses and corporations, but wouldn't provide money to save babies' lives.
Riecken’s amendment would have created a grant-fund to work on reducing infant mortality. She says Indiana ranks 5th or 6th in the nation for baby deaths. Riecken says of the nearly 300 infants who died in the state in 2011, substance abuse was a factor in 43-percent of them.