A region state senator says now that President Barack Obama's long-form birth certificate is public, there's no need for the Legislature to consider requiring presidential candidates produce their birth certificates to qualify for the ballot.More important things to study? Such as the legalization of marijuana, a proposal the Senate voted earlier this year to study this summer?
"Since that birth certificate has been released, it really is a moot point," said state Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake. "I think we have more important things to spend our time on."
I spoke to Sen. Landske about the issue at the hearing on her resolution and came away with the belief she was offering the resolution because she sincerely thought it only made sense to require candidates to produce some proof they were constitutionally eligible. Her explanation yesterday leaves one to conclude she only wanted to pressure Obama to release the long-form birth certificate and isn't concerned about avoiding the same problem in the future with presidential candidates.
Sen. Mike Delph has maintained all along that he believes the legislation is needed to avoid future controversies such as occurred in 2008 with Obama's and McCain's eligibility, and to ensure the constitutional eligibility requirements are being enforced. "It seems to me that we ought to be requiring a certified copy of the birth certificate for those who seek to be commander-in-chief," Delph said. "Especially when you consider we require such for everybody that gets a driver's license in the state of Indiana." Delph plans to deliver a letter signed by 24 senators by tomorrow to Senate President Pro Tem David Long calling for a summer study committee on the issue.
