As proposal to license journalists receives cold reception, Indiana lawmaker doubles down

An Indiana lawmaker's proposal to license journalists is getting a cold reception from members of his own party. 

But that is not deterring state Rep. Jim Lucas, the man behind the proposal.

Instead, he is doubling down with another, broader proposal to license several other constitutional rights, including religious expression, speech and the right to vote.

The Seymour Republican had the measures drafted to prove a point about an Indiana law that requires a license to carry a handgun, a law he has worked to repeal for years. 

If it's OK to license the right to bear arms, he argues, why not other rights?

His fellow Republicans, however, are not embracing his approach.

► Previously:As Trump slams media, an Indiana lawmaker has drafted a bill to license journalists

► Gun debate:After Vegas shooting, Indiana delays discussion on removing carry permit requirement

A spokeswoman for Gov. Eric Holcomb said the proposal to license journalists is "clearly" not part of his legislative agenda, and House Speaker Brian Bosma said he does not support the idea. 

“While no bill has been filed and I have not spoken to Rep. Lucas, it’s obvious this is an effort to grab a headline and make a point,” Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said. “However, most of us believe a free press is a vital part of our democracy, and I don’t believe Hoosiers support threatened regulation. I know I don’t.”

The proposal drew national attention after an IndyStar story about it last week. It comes as President Donald Trump continues a feud with national news outlets such as CNN and NBC.

Free press advocates have slammed Lucas' proposal as unconstitutional and criticized him for using state resources to draft legislation to make a political argument. 

"As a citizen of Indiana, I am disturbed that a member of the General Assembly would use taxpayers' dollars to have the Legislative Services Agency draft this bill for political rhetorical purposes," said Jane Henegar, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana.

"If, on the other hand, Rep. Lucas intends to file the bill in hopes of getting it passed into law, as an American citizen, I am disturbed that an elected official who has sworn to uphold the Constitution would treat the First Amendment so cavalierly," she said.

Those who oppose journalism licensing say restrictions on press freedoms already exist in the form of libel and copyright laws.

Despite such criticism, Lucas has relished the attention, boasting about interviews with national media outlets on his Facebook page.

"Bringing national attention to the danger and absurdity of licensing and infringing a Constitutionally protected right!" he wrote Friday.

Details about his latest proposal to license additional constitutional rights were limited. Like the journalism licensing proposal, it has not been formally filed. But Lucas sent the digest of a preliminary draft to IndyStar on Saturday with the subject line, "The Whopper."

The measure would regulate and license the constitutional rights to free religious expression, free speech, assembly in a peaceable manner and vote. The licensing requirements would be similar to those now required to carry a handgun in Indiana, according to the digest. 

In that sense, it is similar to the journalism licensing proposal, which would require professional journalists to be fingerprinted and pay a $75 fee to get a lifetime permit from Indiana State Police. Police would be required to "verify the applicant's character and reputation," according to a preliminary draft Lucas provided.

Lucas defended his use of the taxpayer-funded Legislative Services Agency to draft the measures. 

"We have the nation talking about constitutional rights right now, and all it took was some cut and paste time," he said Monday.

Although he acknowledges that he is trying to make a point with the legislation, he has been coy about whether he actually plans to file the bills.

"I used the exact same wording to license 1st Amendment rights that are used to license 2nd Amendment rights, yet the media is reporting that the 'experts' are saying licensing the 1st would be unconstitutional," he said Sunday in a Facebook post. "Given that, why wouldn't I push this, just to see who is right?"

Call IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.