Push for hate crimes law fails again in Indiana Legislature

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A push for Indiana to adopt a law targeting hate crimes has failed again in the state Legislature.

The bill was set for consideration Tuesday morning in a state Senate committee, but the chairman says he decided to not take a vote because a consensus couldn't be reached over its wording.

Bills targeting hate crimes have failed in recent years and Indiana is one of just five states without laws against crimes motivated by factors such as race, gender, religion and sexual orientation.

Republican legislative leaders had voiced support for the measure, but social conservatives against it argued hate crime laws create special protected classes that treat victims of similar crimes differently. Supporters maintained the lack of such a law makes Indiana look backward.