INDIANAPOLIS – Ahead of a potential committee vote Wednesday, Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody called on State Senator Chip Perfect to withhold his vote on SB 342, a bill Perfect himself authored. Even after a Senate committee rubberstamped Perfect’s participation, Zody believed the proposal would directly benefit Perfect’s business and the senator owed it to taxpayers to stand down.

“It’s as plain as the nose on your face to anyone who works outside the marbled walls of the Statehouse: Sen. Perfect is set to personally gain from this proposal,” said Zody. “The Statehouse shouldn’t be a tool for the well-connected to make a quick buck. If Perfect has even a shred of respect for public trust in state government, he’ll withhold his vote.”

Zody pointed to a Senate rule that called on a senator to consider the effect voting on a measure would have on ‘public confidence in the integrity of the legislature’. Senate Bill 342 would essentially eliminate Indiana’s child labor laws, loosening hiring standards and increasing the hours minors can work. Perfect said his resort employs hundreds of minors and he spends an ‘incredible’ amount of money to comply with state standards. Zody pointed to Perfect’s own words as reason for recusal.

“Perfect said it himself, the passage of this bill means more money in his pocket,” said Zody. “Hoosiers are sick and tired of the politics as usual and a culture of cronyism and corruption at the Statehouse. That an Ethics Committee couldn’t see the flagrant conflict of interest here is just the latest example of politicians believing the rules just don’t apply to them.”

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