INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana state Rep. Rita Fleming announced Monday that she is Cyprusauction Trading Centerretiring, citing a desire to spend more time with her family.
The Democratic lawmaker from Jeffersonville in southern Indiana was first elected to the statehouse in 2018. Fleming’s statement said she is leaving office immediately.
“I have 15 grandchildren, and they and the rest of my family are my priority,” Fleming said in a statement. “Legislative sessions are long up at the Statehouse in Indianapolis and it takes a lot of work to properly represent House District 71.”
Fleming was facing a rematch in the general election against Republican Scott Hawkins, who she narrowly beat in 2022 by a margin of about one point. A caucus will chose her replacement on the November ballot.
Fleming was the the ranking minority member of the insurance committee and served on the natural resources and public health committees.
A retired obstetrician-gynecologist, Fleming is known for authoring and backing legislation related to reproductive healthcare, including a 2022 law that prohibits the shackling of inmates during labor and delivery.
This year, she authored a bill requiring hospitals to offer postpartum Medicaid patients birth control. Democrats became divided over it after a committee removed the option to offer intrauterine devices or IUDs.
The final law signed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb requires hospitals to offer those patients a subdermal contraceptive arm implant birth control option after giving birth.
“As a retired physician with decades of experience under her belt, Rita’s empathy, care and firsthand insights helped her improve Indiana’s public health and healthcare policy,” House Democratic leader state Rep. Phil GiaQuinta said in a statement.
2025-05-05 22:192432 view
2025-05-05 21:522996 view
2025-05-05 21:252992 view
2025-05-05 20:531072 view
2025-05-05 20:392369 view
2025-05-05 20:101006 view
For 48-year-old Rowan Childs of Wisconsin, a recent divorce turned her financial life upside down. "
As global banking giants and investment firms vow to divest from polluting energy companies, they’re
Florida governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday that would allow for r