INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – An Indiana House committee has backed changing state law so that the elected state schools superintendent would no longer automatically chair the State Board of Education.

The House Education Committee's 8-3 party line vote on the Republican-backed proposal came after Democratic schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz denounced it as an unnecessary “political power move.''

The bill would allow Republican Gov. Mike Pence's 10 appointees to the 11-member board to elect their own chair.

Ritz supporters say that action and another bill shifting authority over several education policy areas away from her Department of Education go against the will of the voters who elected her to office.

Republicans say the changes are needed because of ongoing disputes between the board and Ritz.

Those bills now go to the full House for consideration.