 |
Central Committee:
   Wayne Parke, Chairman
   Mary Jo Kaiser, Political Director
   Dottie Thomas, Vice Chairman
   Lon Walters, Secretary
   Farley Smith, Treasurer
   Kevin Harrison, Editor Â
|
|
News and Upcoming Events for April 21, 2020
|
|
|
Get the Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) information at:
|
|
 Governor Holcomb Extends Stay At Home Order to May 1, 2020
|
Last week Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that he was planning to extend the Hunker Down Hoosiers executive order through May 1. He also announced that he is working with surrounding states and looking to re-open the state’s economy in May. He is joining with governors from Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Kentucky in the effort.
Read Executive Order 20-22 HERE.
Governor Holcomb indicated that going forward the number of Coronavirus deaths and cases will drive his decisions to change existing directives. Monitor COVID-19 statics for the state using the Indiana COVID-19 Data Report found at www.coronavirus.in.gov .
|
|
 2020 Primary Election Updates:  Abbreviated Early Voting In-Person Period
 Last Friday (April 17, 2020) the Indiana Election Commission made additional changes to the June 2 Primary. Of note is an abbreviated period for Early Voting In-Person, which will run from May 26 through June 1, 2020. Important Election Calendar dates reflecting IEC Order 2020-40 are:
- Monday, May 4: Voter Registration Deadline
- Friday, May 8: End of Pre-Primary Election Campaign Finance Reporting Period
- Thursday, May 14: Traveling Boards Begin
- Thursday, May 21: Deadline for a Request for an Absentee By-Mail Ballot to Be Received by the Clerk or Board of Elections and Registration
- Tuesday, May 26: Early Voting Begins In-Person
- Sunday, May 31: End of Pre-Primary Supplemental Campaign Finance Large Contribution Reporting Period
- Monday, June 1: Deadline for Traveling Boards & Noon Deadline for Early Voting
- Tuesday, June 2: Primary Day (noon is the deadline to return absentee ballots)
Read the EIC Order 2020-40 HERE. Read the IEC initial emergency provisions for the 2020 Primary (Order 2020-37) HERE.
|
|
 Â 2020 Primary Election Update:
Voter Registration for the 2020 Primary ends Monday, May 4, 2020.
Register to vote online or update an existing voter registration record by visiting the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.in.gov. For information on how to register to vote by mail or in person visit the Vanderburgh County Voters Registration webpage, or contact the Vanderburgh County Voter Registration office at 812-435-5222.
|
|
2020 Primary Election Update:
Absentee Voting IN-Person begins Tuesday, May 26, 2020
|
The first day that a voter may vote an absentee in-person ballot for the 2020 Primary Election has been changed to Tuesday May 26, 2020. Early voting at the Election Office will be 8:00 am – 4:00 pm weekdays starting Tuesday May 26, 2020 and conclude at Noon on Monday June 1, 2020. Early Voting at Satellite locations will begin Tuesday May 26, 2020 and end Saturday May 30, 2020. Refer to the Vanderburgh County Election Office’s Early Voting In Person webpage for specific times and locations.
To vote absentee by mail:
Mail the completed  APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT to:
Vanderburgh County Election
P.O. Box 3343
Evansville, IN 47732-3343
 The revised deadline for absentee-by-mail applications to be received by the Election Office for the 2020 Primary Election is 11:59 p.m., Thursday May 21, 2020.Â
 If you have any questions, please call the Election Office at 812-435-5122.
 The Vanderburgh County Election Office is located at : Civic Center Complex, Room 216
1 NW ML King Jr. BLVD ,Evansville, IN
|
Editor’s Note:
The Coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented event that has affected virtually every aspect of American life, including how we are conducting the upcoming Primary Election. While safeguarding against this pandemic, we must also guard against taking measures that do more harm than good. Which brings me to the mail-in vote.
As you are aware, the ability to vote by mail has been expanded to all Hoosier voters for the 2020 Primary. It should also end with this Primary. Mail-in elections promote fraud and raise security issues.
Voting in-person is performed under the supervision of election officials. Your ballot is secret, and you cannot be intimidated or coerced to vote a certain way. Your employer, your union, a political party, not even your spouse is allowed to unduly influence your vote in the voting booth. The same cannot be guaranteed when voting by mail, since it is being performed outside the scrutiny election officials. What is to keep political operatives from harvesting votes and dumping bundle after bundle of fraudulent ballots? What is to keep political operatives from targeting voters, intimidating voters, collecting ballots , completing the ballots and casting the ballots? It may only take a small number of fraudulent votes to steal an election.
The use of the mail-in ballot should be reserved for absentee voting of individuals unable to physically cast an in-person ballot as currently defined in Indiana Election Code. In-person voting coupled with voter identification is the way to prevent voter fraud and to assure the integrity of our elections. To do anything less is to dilute the promise of “One person, one vote”.
 – Kevin Harrison, VCRP Information Coordinator
|
|
 
The VCRP is in need of poll workers for the June 2, 2020 Primary Election.Â
Â
For the 2020 Primary, poll workers you must be a registered voter residing in the state of Indiana. Poll workers cannot be a close relative to a candidate whose name appears on the ballot, and cannot be the chairman or treasurer of the committee of the candidate whose name appears on the ballot.
Vote Center Poll Worker compensation is $275 for Inspectors, $195 for Republican Judges and $195 for Republican Clerks. Training is a requirement.Â
To assure that the primary election will occur in a safe manner, Secretary of State Lawson will procure PPEs for poll workers, and the state of  Indiana has requested $7.9 million from the federal election COVID-19 fund to be used for PPE and cleaning supplies.
For more information or to volunteer to be a Republican poll worker contact the Vanderburgh County GOP at 812-425-8207 or Email VCRP Political Director Mary Jo Kaiser at beamerjo59@gmail.com
|
 VCRP Central Committee Meeting – CANCELLED
Contact Mary Jo Kaiser at 812-425-8207Â if you have any questions.
|
EVSC Board of School Trustees Meeting-
|
 The Evansville Civic Center is CLOSED to the public until further notice.
|
 County Council Meeting-
|
 County Commission Meeting-
|
Â
  |
|
|
2020 Indiana Republican State Convention:Â Fair & SafeÂ
(from the Party Line 04/17/20 Newsletter)
The Indiana Republican State Committee Rules Committee made a unanimous recommendation regarding the upcoming 2020 Indiana Republican State Convention in June. This recommendation is for the full committee to pass temporary rules to ensure the party can appropriately carry out a convention in away that is fair and safe for all.
Throughout every conversation, the goals have been:
- If at all possible, given the facts on the ground, the Indiana Republican Party’s first goal is to host an in-person state convention as planned on June 20th.
- If the situation on the ground does not allow for some form of in-person voting on June 20th, the Indiana Republican Party is committed to offering a voting option to ensure our state convention delegates are given the best opportunity possible to select our party’s nominees for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
Read the entire letter from the Rules Committee on their recommendation here. |
|
Qualifying and applying for unemployment
(from 4/17/20 post)
Many businesses across the country are struggling and have been forced to lay off employees, cut hours or reduce pay because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to an unprecedented increase in applications for unemployment benefits, and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is currently working hard to help all Hoosiers through this process.
- During the current COVID-19 pandemic, you should be eligible for unemployment benefits if you are unable to work because you have been ordered quarantined by a doctor, because you need to care for your children while their school or daycare is closed, or because your employer has shut down or laid you off.
- If you choose to stay home and not work during the pandemic, even though your employer is still operating, and you have not been told to stay home by a doctor, you will likely not be eligible for unemployment benefits.
- If your hours have been reduced due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for benefits, but any benefits you receive will be reduced to reflect that you have earned partial income from your employer
The DWD is reminding Hoosiers that applications for unemployment insurance benefits must be completed electronically at Unemployment.IN.gov. In addition, the CARES Act, which was recently passed by Congress, allows unemployment claimants to get an extra $600 per week in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The DWD expects this extra money to start appearing in Hoosier benefit payments around April 20, and they will receive the extra pay retroactive to March 29. The  CARES Act also makes self-employed individuals and gig workers temporarily eligible for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, states across the country have to change their application and approval processes to recognize these individuals in the unemployment insurance system. DWD has not yet officially determined when they will be able to start approving unemployment benefits for these individuals. |
Parents, here’s some extra help (from 04/17/20 HouseRepublican Update)
With school buildings closed for the rest of the school year and students learning remotely due to the public health emergency, parents may need additional resources to keep their children engaged and on track. Here are some of the resources our state offers:
E-LEARNING HELP :The Indiana Department of Education offers a trove of information and resources on its website to help children continue their education at home. Lessons are available in all core subjects and tailored toward different age groups. There are also guides for how to talk with kids about COVID-19 to help ease their concerns.
INTERNET ACCESS:Â Households in need of low-cost internet service can also find links to providers from around the state and guidelines for getting broadband service at reduced rates on the IDOE website.
FREE CONTENT:Â WNIN, the local Indiana Public Broadcasting Station affiliate, is partnering with Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. to provide customized content during e-learning days in 30 minute segments for K-8 students. Parents can find their local TV program schedule through the DOE’s COVID-19 website or by visiting wnin.org. Students and parents can also visit PBSLearningMedia.org to find grab-and-go activities, lesson plans, interactive lessons and other materials.
TUTORING:Â Students needing help with math and science homework can visit askrose.org or call 877-ASK-ROSE (275-7673) for free tutoring. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology provides the service to all students in grades 4-12. Help is available every day of the week by calling, emailing or chatting online with trained tutors who guide students through solving problems.
CHILD CARE:Â Some parents may be in need of child care, and can reach out to childcarefinder.in.gov or call 800-299-1627 to search for licensed and regulated day cares near home or work. Children displaying any signs of sickness should remain home until they are better.
For a list of resources and the latest information on what Indiana is doing to address the coronavirus, visit IN.gov/Coronavirus.
|
 Please consult this page for updated news and guidance on the COVID-19 outbreak. |
- Indiana State Department of Health – The Indiana State Department of Health is posting important information, and frequent updates to their website.
- Indiana Coronavirus Hotline -Â Call 877-826-0011
- FAQ’s on Indiana’s Stay-at-Home Order –Â Click HERE
- File for Unemployment – Many Hoosiers are temporarily unemployed due to COVID-19. Click HERE for information and to file for unemployment.
|
|
State, federal tax filing deadlines extended for Hoosiers
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Hoosiers will have an additional three months to file their state and federal taxes. Originally set for April 15, the deadline to file has been extended to July 15. This extension applies to both individuals and corporations, and Indiana’s Department of Revenue offers income tax forms for individuals and businesses with the updated corresponding submission date.
|
|
Stay in touch with GOP state legislators representing our area (click links below):
|
President Trump: Guidelines for Opening Up America Again  (from 04/16/20 Post) BEGINNING THE NEXT PHASE IN THE FIGHT: President Donald J. Trump is continuing the fight against the coronavirus by beginning to reopen the country in a smart and safe way.
The Trump Administration is issuing new guidelines to enable individual States to reopen in phases using a deliberate, data-driven approach. Under these guidelines, States will reopen one step at a time, rather than all at once. Learn more HERE and by clicking on the areas of interest below.
|
CRITERIA
|
PHASE 1
|
PHASE 2
|
PHASE 3
|
|
Democrats obstruct small business relief effort:
The success of the $350 billion Small Business Relief Fund resulted in the fund’s depletion in a short period of time. While Republicans push to get an additional $250 billion in funding for this program to assist the hundreds of thousands of small business owners in desperate need of help, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer continue to play politics and hold small businesses hostage. Negotiations are underway, and hopefully the political gamesmanship will end this week.
Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement condemning actions of Democrats to obstruct further funding of the Paycheck Protection Program intended to help American on Main Street:
“When faced with the opportunity to provide additional funding before the well ran dry, Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer stood in the way of a clean bill to add additional funding, opting to push their own political agenda instead of helping Main Street businesses. I am appalled at any politician who is using this crisis to further their own agenda over the wellbeing of the American people. It is time for the Democrats to stop their shameful obstruction so Congress can provide further funding to this vital program.”
|
“The Paycheck Protection Program has helped tens of thousands of Hoosier businesses make it through this challenging time and keep their employees on payroll, but there are countless more still in need of assistance. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s refusal to provide additional funding for this bipartisan program is indefensible. I will continue fighting on behalf of Indiana to ensure this program has the funding it needs to protect Hoosier paychecks.
|
|
|
Stay in touch with GOP members of Congress representing our area (click links below):
|
Visit the Vanderburgh GOPÂ
page for daily updates.
|
|
 Mark Your calendar        CLICK on event for more information
|
May 4
|
Voter Registration Ends |
| May 21 |
Deadline to Request Absentee-by-Mail Ballot |
| May 26 |
Early Voting In-Person Begins |
| May 30 |
Saturday Early Voting In-Person |
| June 1 (Noon) |
Early Voting In-Person Ends |
| June 2 |
Primary Election Day |
|
 Make sure you add vandygop@gmail.com to your address book so we’ll be sure to land in your inbox! |
If you have any questions, contact Mary Jo Kaiser, VCRP Political Director, at
for more info. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
