New Indiana House Panel Chair Mum On Amendment

Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma has named a member of his Republican caucus leadership team to run a powerful committee that may shape the fate of a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Bosma named Rep. Tom Dermody of LaPorte to chair the House Public Policy Committee. Dermody, the Republican assistant House floor leader, replaces Rep. Bill Davis of Portland, who resigned his seat last month.

The same-sex marriage constitutional amendment went through the House Judiciary Committee in 2011, but in other years has gone to the Public Policy Committee. Dermody voted for the amendment in 2011 but isn't saying how he'll vote during the upcoming session or how he'll handle the amendment if it lands in his committee.

If the Legislature approves the amendment, it then goes before voters.