Fox 28: South Bend, Elkhart IN News, Weather, SportsGovernor Daniels vetoes bills to expand vote centers, increase energy-efficiency

Governor Daniels vetoes bills to expand vote centers, increase energy-efficiency

Governor vetoes bill to expand Ind. vote centers

INDIANAPOLIS - Gov. Mitch Daniels has vetoed a bill that would expand the use of Indiana's centralized voting centers.

Daniels says the bill contained provisions that would make voting more convenient, but that it didn't contain enough safeguards against fraud.

He didn't specify which parts of the legislation he disliked.

Also today, the governor signed a bill that will allow people with valid driver's licenses or state identification cards to register to vote online. Currently, citizens can download registration applications online, but they must print and mail the forms.

Daniels also approved a bill today that will require schools to teach students in grades 6 through 12 about personal financial responsibility.

Governor vetoes bill intended to make buildings more energy-efficient

Gov. Mitch Daniels has vetoed a bill aimed at cutting power usage by making Indiana's new commercial buildings more energy-efficient.

The bill would have required the state's fire prevention and building safety commission to adopt one of two energy conservation codes for new commercial buildings by July 2010.

Daniels says he vetoed the bill because the commission is already working to update the code.

But the leader of Indiana's largest environmental group says the law would have led to energy-efficient building codes being adopted faster than leaving the issue to the traditional rule-making process.

Hoosier Environmental Council executive director Jesse Kharbanda says Indiana is moving at a "glacial pace" to adopt a new building code to encourage businesses to install energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, windows and other systems.

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