WEINZAPFEL OUTLINES PLANS TO HELP HOOSIERS RECOVER FROM COVID-19

WEINZAPFEL OUTLINES PLANS TO HELP HOOSIERS RECOVER FROM COVID-19

Will use Attorney General’s Office to improve the lives of all Hoosiers

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Calling it an all-hands-on-deck moment, today Jonathan Weinzapfel outlined his plan to use the Indiana Attorney General’s Office to help Hoosiers recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A former Mayor of Evansville and Chancellor at Ivy Tech, Weinzapfel has extensive experience in leading in times of crisis. As mayor he confronted devastating flooding, tornadoes and rebuilt the city during the 2008 recession.

“As Indiana’s next Attorney General, I want to solve problems and help our citizens, businesses and state get back on track after this unprecedented pandemic,” said Weinzapfel. “That means thinking creatively, listening to people and working with Republicans, Democrats and Independents to get things done. We can’t go back to business as usual. We must come together to reimagine Indiana and plot a brighter future for all Hoosiers.”

“I’ve done that throughout my entire career, and it’s what I will do as Indiana’s next Attorney General.”

Specifically, Weinzapfel is pledging to do the following as Indiana Attorney General:

• Preserve Health Care for Hoosiers. As Attorney General, Weinzapfel will immediately withdraw Indiana from Curtis Hill’s lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act. The lawsuit would strip away health care from Hoosiers, gut protections for those with pre-existing conditions and destroy the Healthy Indiana plan which covers low-income workers and families.

• Increase Funding and PPE for Law Enforcement. As Attorney General, Weinzapfel will fight to secure additional funding from state and federal authorities to protect state and local law enforcement officers and first responders. By advocating for updated personal protective equipment as well as for training in dealing with future public health crises, these front-line workers will be better positioned to do their essential jobs more safely and successfully.

• Beef up Consumer Protection. Hoosiers continue to be targets of scams and frauds, especially related to COVID-19. As Attorney General, Weinzapfel will realign the office to place a greater focus on shutting down bad actors to protect Hoosier consumers and seniors from these predators.

• Improve Oversight of Indiana Nursing Homes. As Attorney General, Weinzapfel will push state and nursing home operators to provide more transparency and timely public health information. He will also investigate operators to ensure they are spending public funds appropriately. Not only will these steps improve care, but they will also reduce fraud and corruption and lead to better outcomes for all seniors.

• Safeguard Indiana’s Education Dollars. With more and more families turning to virtual learning, Weinzapfel will use the office to ensure Indiana’s previous education dollars are being spent as intended and that educational organizations that misrepresent their services or misuse taxpayer dollars are investigated and prosecuted.

• Protect Indiana Workers. As Hoosier workers continue to face unprecedented risks as a result of COVID-19, Weinzapfel will use the office to hold organizations that put employees in danger accountable. By filing civil lawsuits, offering advisory opinions to aid local prosecutors, and releasing reports on workplace safety violations, Weinzapfel will hold violators publicly accountable.

• Fight for No Excuse Absentee Voting. One thing Hoosiers have learned with this pandemic in an election year is that all Hoosiers deserve the right to vote by mail. As Attorney General, Weinzapfel will push for Indiana to join 34 other states that allow their citizens access to no-excuse absentee voting. Every voter in Indiana who wants to should be able to cast their ballot by mail. Allowing more Hoosiers more convenient and safe opportunities to cast their ballots should be something we can all agree on.

“Unlike my opponent, who is campaigning on tired and divisive old Washington DC talking points without any new ideas, I’m not sitting on the sidelines and playing politics as usual,” said Weinzapfel. “I’ve got ideas to move the ball forward and as Attorney General, I will fight every single day to make the lives of Hoosiers better and to do what I can to ensure we recover fully and safely from COVID-19.”

Jonathan Weinzapfel was elected mayor of Evansville in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. After his two terms as mayor, Weinzapfel served as chancellor of the Ivy Tech Evansville campus from 2014-2019. He also served in the Indiana General Assembly as a state representative from 1999-2003. He currently works as a partner at the law firm of Jones Wallace in Evansville. Jonathan and his wife Patricia reside in Evansville and have three children.

For more information on Jonathan or his campaign for Indiana Attorney General, please visit www.WeinzapfelforAG.com. To schedule an interview, email media@weinzapfelforAG.com.