Political News

GOP- Be in the Know

01/19/2021

House Republicans roll out legislative priorities

House Republican lawmakers are prioritizing several policies this session to ensure Indiana bounces back stronger than ever before:

Support A Responsible Budget, Key Investments
We are committed to crafting a fiscally responsible state budget that invests in key priorities, like establishing a new grant program to target Indiana’s most critical health challenges and expanding rural broadband to help close the digital divide, all while maintaining prudent reserves and our AAA credit rating.

Help Small Businesses, Accelerate Economic Recovery
To support Hoosiers, we are working on legislation that would provide civil liability protections related to COVID-19 for businesses, schools, health care entities and others. Another proposal would extend and strengthen an existing grant program and give priority to the hospitality industry.

Invest In Hoosier Students, Teachers & Schools
House Republicans are fast tracking legislation that would fully fund all K-12 public school students for the 2020-21 school year regardless of how they attend school due to COVID-19. This proposal is currently being considered by the full House of Representatives. Other bills would help more families exercise school choice and create a one-time grant to help school-aged children combat learning loss as a result of the pandemic.

Learn More

Support Law Enforcement, Boost Accountability & Transparency In PolicingÂ

In the state’s budget, we will invest in law enforcement training facilities and programs, and create a one-time grant to help pay for body cameras. Legislation is also being considered that would require de-escalation training for new recruits and current officers, provide additional flexibility to the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board in order to address significant officer misconduct, and require full employment record sharing between police departments to identify bad actors.

Be sure to check out iga.in.gov for more information on these bills and follow along as they move through the legislative process.

Our 2021 Legislative Agenda

The Senate Republican Caucus recently announced our legislative agenda for the 2021 session.

My colleagues and I will continue our commitment to maintaining our record of fiscal responsibility by passing the state’s ninth consecutive balanced budget. We are also committed to transparency and public access, including as it pertains to redistricting.

We are also prioritizing the following policies.

Give businesses, individuals and health care entities liability protections from COVID-19 lawsuits

To provide businesses and organizations the confidence to fully reopen operations, Senate Bill 1 would help protect businesses and individuals by giving them immunity from civil liability for damages resulting from a COVID-19 exposure on their property or during an activity they organized. This immunity does not apply if the party engages in gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. Likewise, Senate Bill 4 would expand the existing civil liability protections that apply to health care services rendered during a disaster emergency.

Fully fund students who are virtual due to COVID-19

To support schools who have had to dramatically change their operations due to the coronavirus pandemic, Senate Bill 2 would provide full per-student funding for the remainder of the school year to schools who have students learning virtually due to COVID-19.

Codify telehealth expansions enacted during the pandemic

Senate Bill 3 would permanently codify many of the expansions in telehealth implemented during the pandemic to ensure that all Hoosiers have access to the health care they need regardless of where they live.

Improve local government accountability

Senate Bill 5 would allow anyone who is subject to a public emergency-related enforcement action under a local health department order to appeal their case to the relevant local legislative body. Many local health departments have acted admirably to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic, but the reality is that appointed health departments – rather than local elected officials – are currently able to make enforcement decisions that have a major impact on members of the community. SB 5 would improve public accountability by giving elected officials greater oversight of these decisions.

To stay up to date on what is happening at the Statehouse during session, visit iga.in.gov to view session meetings, committee hearings, calendars, proposed legislation, vote tallies and more.

Four More Years Starts Now

On Monday, during a pandemic-adjusted ceremony, Governor Holcomb and Lt. Governor Crouch were sworn into their second term, and I couldn’t be more optimistic for Indiana’s future. As the governor said during his second inaugural address; “it’s important to look to the future, a future for our state and our citizens that I believe is full of hope and opportunity.” Monday’s ceremony begins the next four years of Republican leadership in the statehouse and the Holcomb-Crouch team will continue their mission of building One Indiana for All.

And the governor hasn’t taken his foot off the gas. Earlier this week, he introduced his proposed state budget, and Indiana once again sits in a much better fiscal position than many other states. The governor’s budget callsÂ for paying down debts, restoring funding to many programs and projects that were paused at the outset of the pandemic, and investing an additional $377 million in new money for our schools.

Additionally, on Monday, Todd Rokita assumed the office of Indiana Attorney General. I’m grateful Todd is in his new role. He’ll be a good partner to the governor and to our legislative super-majorities in the statehouse as he protects and defends the laws of Indiana.

We also received great news on the vaccination front, as Bloomberg News cites Indiana as having the highest vaccination rate in the Midwest. With the announcement earlier this week that all Hoosiers 70 and over can now receive the vaccine, I know these impressive vaccination rates will continue. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

-Kyle Hupfer

Holcomb-Crouch team will continue their mission of building One Indiana for All.

Continuing to Build One Indiana for All

It’s been another busy week forÂ Governor Holcomb!

On Monday, Governor Holcomb and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch were sworn into their second term in office. Under their leadership, Indiana has broken records and has become a trueÂ destination for people toÂ live, work, play, andÂ stay.Â During their second term, the Holcomb-Crouch team will continue their mission of building One Indiana for All!

“It’s important to look to the future, a future for our state and our citizens that I believe is full of hope and opportunity.” -Governor Holcomb

On Wednesday, Governor Holcomb introduced his 2021 budget proposal. Under his leadership and watchful eye, Indiana is in a better fiscal position than our neighbors.Â While many states have made cuts to essential services, Gov. Holcomb’s budget proposal will allow Indiana to fully fund areas that are vital to our state’s continued success. That includes paying our debts, restoring funding to many programs and projects that were forced to pause due to the pandemic, and investing an additional $377 million in new money for our schools. For his full budget proposal, click here.

–> View Gov. Holcomb’s Budget Proposal Here <–

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Â

What:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â GOP Caucus for Office of German Township Trustee
Where:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â C.K. Newsome Center – 100 E. Walnut St. Evansville
When:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tuesday, January 19, 2021Â at 6:00Â PMÂ (doors open at 5:30Â PM)

As Chairman of the Vanderburgh County Republican Party, I am calling a Republican German Township Caucus to be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 6:00 PM.

The purpose of the Caucus is to fill the vacancy of the German TownshipÂ Trustee.Â This position is vacant due toÂ the resignation of former Trustee Sherry Schlitt who is moving out of Vanderburgh County.Â

Sherry was elected Township Trustee in 2014 and was reelected to this position in 2018.Â She and her husband Tom will be relocating to Posey County.Â WeÂ wish them well as they continue their journey.

Any person interested in filing for this vacant trustee position must reside in German Township, mustÂ completeÂ a CEB-5 and CAN-12 forms, andÂ haveÂ submittedÂ these forms to Wayne Parke, Republican Party Chairman, prior to 4:00 PM Friday, JanuaryÂ 15. Only German Township Precinct Committeemen will be allowed to vote to fill this position.Â TheÂ ONLY proxy allowed is the Vice-CommitteemanÂ who can vote in the absence of the Precinct Committeemen.Â

At the Caucus, each candidate willÂ be permitted to have someone make a two-minute nomination speech and the candidate will be given three minutes to tell the PCs why they are the best candidate.

Wayne Parke
Chairman, VCRP

815 John St.

Suite 110

Evansville IN 47713>

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