BY: LESLIE BONILLA MUÑIZ AND NIKI KELLY 

Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who is is six months into a convention-arranged political marriage with Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, is complying with certain executive orders because he wants to — not because he has to.

The interpretation comes after Beckwith’s Statehouse executive office has been repeatedly closed to the public during business hours in recent weeks, even though Braun directed state agencies to return full-time employees to in-person work by July 1.

Both offices agree that agencies Beckwith oversees — the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Office of Community and Rural Affairs — are bound by the order.

But the lieutenant governor himself is among just six separately selected statewide officeholders detailed in Indiana’s constitution. Beckwith is the second in command in the executive branch but also presides over the Indiana Senate.

This means that some employees under the lieutenant governor’s authority could have to follow executive orders while others wouldn’t.

Beckwith Spokesman James Kehoe maintains that Beckwith’s office has chosen to follow the in-office order, including his executive and business teams.

Beckwith “believes in the spirit” of the order, so the office is “voluntarily complying,” Kehoe wrote. He cited two Statehouse attorneys who “both gave us the legal opinion” that the office “isn’t bound by” the directive.

Braun’s office indicated separately elected and nominated officials can opt into certain executive orders.

“We are setting a policy and we are leading,” Braun’s General Counsel Patrick Price said. “And you know, if other state elected officials want to follow the governor’s lead, we … welcome them to do that.”

The running mates began their new roles in January. Their partnership has included disagreements over policy and public remarks.

Republican delegates narrowly selected Beckwith as the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor in a surprising vote at a party convention last June, rebuffing Braun’s handpicked choice for the role.

‘Potential’ for split goes back decades

Representatives for the two leaders had slightly differing explanations for whether executive orders do or don’t apply.

Braun’s office pointed to a chapter of Indiana Code about the state’s civil service system, which specifically exempts the governor, lieutenant governor and four other statewide elected officials from such personnel requirements.

“If you’re separately elected or separately nominated, your accountability is to the voters, not the governor,” Price said.

Budget-related orders would still apply to everyone, however.

Beckwith’s office indicated it uses a case-by-case approach.

“Since all Executive Orders are different, you’d need to ask about each specifically for me to address this,” Kehoe said.

He confirmed the office has sought an opinion — essentially, legal advice — from the Office of Attorney General, “but we have not heard back.”

Indiana’s governor and lieutenant governor have run on the same ticket since the 1976 elections, when a constitutional amendment went into effect.

Until then, the two were separately elected. Voters approved the change in a 56%-44% referendum two years prior.

Proponents argued the amendment would boost cooperation between the state’s two top officeholders because they’d at least belong to the same party, according to a 1974 edition of the Nappanee Advance-News.

Opponents held that the dual ticket would limit voter options and reduce the lieutenant governor to a “rubber stamp” of the governor’s perspective.

Paul Helmke, a professor at Indiana University Bloomington’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, said it’s likely the first time “we’ve had that kind of conflict” since the amendment took effect.

Helmke served three terms as the Republican mayor of Fort Wayne, leaving office in 2000. He led the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence for five years and joined IU’s faculty in 2013.

“They’ve always been a team,” he said of the two roles. “But this one, I mean, we knew was going to be different, just going back to the convention.”

Party insiders pick the lieutenant governor nominee in at springtime conventions. They typically — but don’t always — fall in line with the preference of the gubernatorial nominee, who is chosen by primary election voters.

That difference in selection mechanisms is why “there’s always been a potential for a split between the two,” Helmke said.

Attorney General Todd Rokita issues red-hot warning on July recalls 

Attorney General Todd Rokita is sounding the alarm for Hoosiers to stay safe this summer by checking the latest July product recalls. From faulty appliances to hazardous toys, our office is committed to keeping you and your family out of harm’s way. Don’t let a defective product turn your summer fun into a safety flop – act now to protect what matters most!

“Hoosiers deserve to enjoy their summer without worrying about having dangerous products in their homes or near their family,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Our office is here to shine a spotlight on July’s recalls, so you can steer clear of hazards and stay safe.”

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following consumer products were recalled in July:

• Leatherman Recalls Charge Plus Multi-Tools Due to Laceration Hazard

• Tegu Recalls Magnetic Floating Stackers Toys Due to Magnet Ingestion Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death; Violates Mandatory Standard for Toy Magnets

• Dorel Home Furnishings Recalls Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Steppers Due to Fall and Injury Hazards

• IKEA Recalls Garlic Presses Due to Laceration and Ingestion Hazards

• Baby Loren Recalls Morning Children’s Loungewear Due to Serious Risk of Injury or Death from Burns; Violation of Federal Flammability Standards for Children’s Sleepwear

• Amazon Recalls Amazon Basics Premium Foam Eurotop Mattresses Due to Fire Hazard; Violates Federal Standard for Mattress Flammability; Sold on Amazon

• TTI Consumer Power Tools Recalls RIDGID Framing Nailers Due to Laceration Hazard

• Backyard Kids Recalls KidKraft Farm to Table Play Kitchens Due to Strangulation Hazard; One Death Reported

• LIVACTI Retractable Safety Gates Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Entrapment; Violates Mandatory Standard for Gates and Enclosures; Sold on Amazon by Qeyan and Yanyanny

• Apollo Recalls Electric Scooters Due to Fall and Injury Hazards

• FENGQS Electric Bikes Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Risk of Serious Injury or Death; Sold on Amazon

• Aiho Dressers Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Tip-Over and Entrapment; Violates Mandatory Standard; Sold on Walmart.com by Aiho

• Innovative Designs Recalls Minecraft Light-Up Slap Ruler Bracelets Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Button Cell Battery Ingestion Hazard; Violates Mandatory Standard for Toys

• Creekwood Naturals Recalls 100% Natural Pure Gum Spirits of Turpentine Bottles Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Child Poisoning; Violates Mandatory Standard for Child Resistant Packaging

• LED Gloves Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Battery Ingestion; Violates the Mandatory Toy Standard and Child Resistant Coin Battery Packaging Standard; Sold on Amazon by Minongad

• Diamond G Forest Products Recalls Turpentine Bottles Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Child Poisoning; Violates Mandatory Standard for Child Resistant Packaging

• Transpro US Recalls Electric Scooters with Unauthorized Lithium-Ion Battery UL Certification Labels Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Risk of Serious Injury and Death; $200,000 in Property Damage Reported

• iMirror Inc. Recalls Electric Bug Zapper Racket, Fly Swatter, and Mosquito Swatter Due to Shock Hazard

• Pura Scents Recalls Detachable Covers of Smart Home Fragrance Diffusers Due to Magnet Ingestion Hazard

• Curtis International Recalls Frigidaire-brand Minifridges Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; More Than $700,000 Reported in Property Damage

• Winston Products Recalls 5/8-Inch HydroTech Expandable Burst-Proof Hoses Due to Risk of Impact Hazard and Temporarily Impaired Hearing

• Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup Recall Certain Above-Ground Pools 48-Inches and Taller Due to Drowning Hazard; Nine Deaths Reported; Five Million Pools Sold Since 2002

• VIVI E-Bikes Lithium-ion Batteries Sold with VIVI E-Bikes Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Risk of Serious Injury or Death; Sold by VIVI

• Bexco Enterprises Recalls Kiwi Electronic Recliner and Swivel Gliders with USB Port Due to Overheating Hazard

• iStore Magnetic Wireless Power Banks Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Imported by Tomauri

• Deale International Recalls CasaClean Handheld Steamers Due to Risk of Serious Burn Injury; Sold on HSN

• Primark Recalls DTR Stitch 4-pack Scented Highlighters Due to Risk of Phthalate Exposure; Violates Federal Phthalates Ban; Sold by Primark

• Tractor Supply Recalls Traveller Aluminum Loading Ramps Due to Fall Hazard

• Dearlomum Retractable Safety Gates Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death to Children from Entrapment Hazard; Violates Federal Standard for Gates and Enclosures; Sold on Amazon by Signbaby

• AUGNORYE Padded Crib Bumpers Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Suffocation; Violates Federal Crib Bumper Ban; Sold on Amazon by YIXIA

• Braided Crib Bumpers Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Suffocation; Violates Federal Crib Bumper Ban; Sold on Amazon by Haoyunm

• SPPTTY Kids Bicycles Recalled Due to Risk of Death or Injury from Lead Poisoning; Violates Federal Lead Content Ban; Sold at Walmart by Shenzhen Yihuachuang Technology

• Giant Bicycle Recalls Momentum Vida E+ E-Bikes Due to Crash Hazard

• WLIVE Fabric Dressers Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Tip-Over and Entrapment Hazards; Violations of Federal Standard for Clothing Storage Units; Sold on Amazon by WLIVE

• Creekliybear Play Yard Mattresses Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Entrapment Hazard; Violates Mandatory Standard for Crib Mattresses; Sold on Amazon by Kbabyea

• Walmart Recalls Ozark Trail 64 oz Water Bottles Due to Serious Impact and Laceration Hazards

• Trane Recalls Gas/Electric Packaged Units Due to Risk of Gas Leak, Fire Hazard

• Jeriflyer Pool Drain Covers Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Entrapment Hazard; Violation of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act; Sold on Amazon by Junjuanshop

• DEWALT Recalls Grinder Flap Discs Due to Laceration and Injury Hazards

• Harbor Freight Tools Recalls Predator 2000-Watt Power Stations Due to Shock Hazard

• SNLN Party Supply Toys Recalled Due to Ingestion Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death; Federal Toy Standard Violation; Sold Exclusively on Amazon by Yiwu Dixikeji Douxiangongsi

• Positec Recalls Electric Corded Chainsaws and Pole Saws Due to Laceration Hazard

• 509 Recalls Helmets Due to Risk of Head Injury

If you believe you recently purchased a recalled product, stop using it, and check its recall notice (linked above for all products). Then follow the notice’s instructions, including where to return the product, how to get the product fixed, how to dispose of the product, how to receive a refund for the product, or what steps must be taken to receive a replacement product.