Lots of Changeover with Retirements in Indiana Statehouse

More than a dozen veteran Indiana legislators are entering the final days of their Statehouse careers, and their departures will cost the Indiana House hundreds of years of experience.

Those retiring include 40-year members Republican Jeff Espich and Democrat William Crawford, who've traded chairmanship of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee over the past decade.

Those retirements mean more than three dozen of the 100 House members who return next year will be in their first or second terms.

Julia Vaughn of government watchdog group Common Cause Indiana worries the departures will mean more influence for paid lobbyists at the Statehouse.

Freshman Republican Rebecca Kubacki of Syracuse says the House has a diverse group of newcomers who won't be unduly influenced by lobbyists.