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Central Committee:
   Wayne Parke, Chairman
   Mary Jo Kaiser, Political Director
   Dottie Thomas, Vice Chairman
   Lon Walters, Secretary
   Farley Smith, Treasurer
   Kevin Harrison, Editor Â
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News and Upcoming Events for April 28, 2020
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Get the Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) information at:
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 Governor Holcomb Issues additional COVID-19 Executive Orders
 Last Friday, April 24, 2020, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb issued two new Executive Orders dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 effort.
Executive Order 20-23:Â ADDITIONAL RELIEF FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ADDITIONAL HEALTH DIRECTIVES IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID~19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
This executive order allows the Department of Workforce Development to hire additional staff to review appeals,  waives paperwork requirements to help businesses apply for federal assistance under programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and temporarily waives requirements for documents connected to certain alcohol permits. Additionally, business personal property tax deadlines were extended to June 15, 2020.
Executive Order 20-24:Â RESUMPTION OF ELECTIVE AND NON-URGENT MEDICAL PROCEDURES
EO 20-24 allows health care providers and facilities to resume elective medical procedures provided they have sufficient quantities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and consult the best practices and recommendations developed by their medical associations or industries. Providers include hospital, veterinarians, dentists and others listed in Executive Order 20-22.
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 2020 Primary Election Calendar Updates:Â
 On 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.
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 Voter Registration for the 2020 Primary ends NEXT 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.
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Early Voting:Â The first day that a voter may vote an absentee in-person ballot for the 2020 Primary Election is Tuesday May 26, 2020.
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ALL REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA MAY CAST AN ABSENTEE MAIL-IN BALLOT FOR THE 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION. Refer to in.gov Absentee Voting webpage for more information.
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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.  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
Early Voting (Absentee In-Person) :
Early Voting for the 2020 Primary will be held for one week, beginning Tuesday May 26, 2020Â and ending at Noon on Monday June 1, 2020.
 Early Voting Dates and Locations are:
* At the Election Office :
 Weekdays –
. Tuesday May 26, 2020 – Friday May 29, 2020 -> Daily 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
. Monday June 1, 2020 – > 8:00 am to NOON
 Saturday -  May 30, 2020 -> 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
* Early Voting at Satellite locations :
 Weekdays at Central, McCollough, Northpark, Oaklyn, and Red Bank Libraries:
. Tuesday May 26, 2020 – Friday May 29, 2020
. Hours are Tuesday- Thursday noon to 6:00 pm , Friday noon-5:00 pm
 Saturday Voting at Northeast Park Baptist & Cedar Hall School:
. May 30, 2020Â -> 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
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2020 Republican Primary Candidates
FEDERAL
President of the United States   Donald J. Trump (incumbent)
 William Weld
U S Representative District 8    Larry Bucshon (incumbent)
STATE
Governor            Eric Holcomb (incumbent)
 Lt. Governor            Suzanne Crouch (incumbent)
(selected at GOP State Convention)
 Attorney General         Nate Harter
(selected at GOP State Convention)Â Â Â Â Â Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (incumbent)
(Vote for 1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Westercamp
 State Senate District 50        Vaneta Becker (incumbent)
State Representative Dist. 64    Matt Hostettler (incumbent)
State Representative Dist. 76    Wendy McNamara (incumbent)
State Representative Dist. 77       OPEN
State Representative Dist. 78    Holli Sullivan (incumbent)
Clerk of the Circuit Court       Carla Hayden (incumbent)
County Recorder              Debbie Stucki (incumbent)
County Treasurer             Dottie Thomas
County Coroner                  OPEN
County Surveyor             Linda Freeman
County Commissioner Dist. 1Â Â Â Zachary Rascher
County Commissioner Dist. 3Â Â Â Â Randall Chapman
(Vote for 1)              Cheryl Musgrave (incumbent)
County Council At-Large      Billy D. Garrett
(Vote for not more than 3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jill Anne Hahn
  Joe Kiefer (incumbent)
  Angela Koehler Lindsey (incumbent)
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The VCRP is in need of poll workers for the June 2, 2020 Primary Election. Â
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.  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.
Vote Center Poll Worker compensation is $275 for Inspectors, $195 for Republican Judges and $195 for Republican Clerks. Training is a requirement.Â
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
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Slade Print is offering #INthistogether t-shirts with net proceeds going directly to the Covid-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region. Learn more.
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 VCRP Central Committee Meeting – CANCELLED
Contact Mary Jo Kaiser at 812-425-8207Â if you have any questions.
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EVSC Board of School Trustees Meeting-
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 The Evansville Civic Center is CLOSED to the public until further notice.
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 County Council Meeting-
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 County Commission Meeting-
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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.
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 New Map To Help Find Food Assistance Â
A new online tool is now available to help Hoosiers feed their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Indiana’s Food Assistance Availability Map provides locations of local pantries, community kitchens and other food resources.
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Vanderburgh County lawmakers announce local recipients of $7,500 teaching scholarship:
Several area students pursuing a career in education recently received the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, according to local legislators.The statewide program awards scholarships to top-performing students who commit to teaching in Indiana for at least five years. Recipients receive $7,500 per year for up to four years of college to obtain a teaching license. The program began in 2017 thanks to legislation State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) supported.
“Teachers see children at their best and worst, and have to adapt to each of their unique needs,” McNamara said. “It’s a profession that’s not always easy, but can be incredibly rewarding. These students are pursuing a noble career that is challenging and fulfilling.”
According to State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Fort Branch), the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship is available to 200 high-achieving high school and college students each year who either graduate in the top 20% of their high school class or earn a score in the top-20th percentile on the SAT or ACT. “Indiana has top-performing students who will be giving back to our communities and teaching in our schools,” Hostettler said. “When the best and brightest lead the classroom, they can have a significant impact on helping younger generations succeed.”
More than 350 students applied, with several scholarships recently awarded to students in Vanderburgh County:
- Kiernan Bittner, Gibson Southern High School, University of Southern Indiana;
- Alyssa Hooten, Central High School, Indiana State University;
- Kira Johnson, Evansville Christian School Newburgh, University of Evansville;
- Katelyn Skinner, North High School, University of Indianapolis; and
- Evan Smith, North High School, Ball State University.
State Rep. Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) said recipients must earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA and complete at least 30 credit hours per year in order to continue receiving the four-year renewable scholarship totaling $30,000. “Teachers are vital to the success of our community and state,” Sullivan said. “These scholarship recipients are hardworking and talented, and we will benefit from having them in Hoosier classrooms, passing on their passion for knowledge.”
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 Get the latest COVID-19 news and guidance HERE.
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Stay in touch with GOP state legislators representing our area (click links below):
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 Dr. Bucshon Supports Additional Funding for the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Providers  (from 4/23/30 Press Release)
Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement in support the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act that provides nearly $500 billion for small businesses, healthcare providers, and expanded testing:
 “The Paycheck Protection Program has been successful in helping Main Street businesses across the nation from shutting their doors forever. Across Indiana, more than 35,000 Hoosier businesses received nearly $7.5 million in relief funding to pay their employees and keep their businesses open during this health care crisis. Unfortunately, one week ago, funding ran out due to the popularity and success of the program. Instead of quickly passing additional funding for this program providing a lifeline to Main Street, Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer decided to play politics and held this much needed funding hostage to further their own political agenda. This was a disgraceful decision in the face of a world pandemic and a health care and economic crisis that is endangering the American way of life. While this additional funding will provide a lifeline and save businesses and jobs across the country, there are too many businesses that have permanently closed their doors and too many hard-working Americans that have lost their job and are now wondering how they will provide for their families as a result of the unnecessary political gamesmanship of Washington Democrats.”
Highlights-
- $310 billion for the Small Business Administration’s successful Paycheck Protection Program, which will allow the Trump Administration to continue providing forgivable loans to cover the cost of payroll and operating expenses for small businesses.
- $60 billion for the Small Business Administration’s economic injury disaster loans and grants including:
- $50 billion for economic injury disaster loans – each loan can be up to $2 million with interest rates not to exceed 4% and long-term repayment periods of up to 30 years; and
- $10 billion for grants of up to $10,000 that do not have to be repaid. Additional funds are provided for the Small Business Administration to administer these programs.
- $75 billion to support the heroes on the front lines of this crisis and our healthcare system, including additional funding to reimburse hospitals and healthcare providers for lost revenues and expenses related to the outbreak.
- $25 billion to expand testing, which will provide information on where cases are occurring, and support continued efforts to reopen communities and reignite our record-breaking economy.
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President Trump is suspending new immigrant visas to put American communities and workers first as we move toward safely reopening the economy. This is a 60 day temporary pause demanded by the crisis we are facing as a Nation.
Learn more HERE
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CRITERIA
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PHASE 1
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PHASE 2
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PHASE 3
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Stay in touch with GOP members of Congress representing our area (click links below):
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Visit the Vanderburgh GOPÂ
page for daily updates.
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 Mark Your calendar        CLICK on event for more information
May 4
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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 |
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 Make sure you add vandygop@gmail.com to your address book so we’ll be sure to land in your inbox!
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If you have any questions, contact Mary Jo Kaiser, VCRP Political Director, at
for more info. Thank you.
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