Attorney General Todd Rokita leads 17-state effort to protect utility companies and Hoosier consumers from Radical Left
Attorney General Todd Rokita leads 17-state effort to protect utility companies and Hoosier consumers from Radical Left
MAY 11, 2023
(Indiana and other states seek to intervene in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s handling of the BlackRock case)
Attorney General Todd Rokita is co-leading a 17-state effort to stop a multinational investment company based in New York City from forcing utility companies to embrace radical leftist ideologies — potentially harming investors and raising the rates of Hoosiers’ utility bills.
Attorney General Rokita and the other attorney’s general call out BlackRock Inc. for signing onto activist crusades such as Climate Action 100+ (CA100+) and the Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiatives — which seek to coordinate shareholder voting power across their membership to influence the operations of utilities.
“These elitists are trying to impose restrictions on energy companies and utilities that would never win approval at the ballot box,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Their schemes could raise utility bills for regular Americans, including elderly Hoosiers on fixed incomes, and they could diminish the value of investment accounts.â€
CA100+ and NZAM embrace targets that would force utilities to reduce their fossil fuel usage from 61% in 2020 to 25% by 2030 and to 2% by 2050. Another scenario calls for U.S. power-sector emissions to reach net zero by 2035.
In a filing to intervene, Indiana and other states insist the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) must ensure that BlackRock Inc. abstains from imposing environmental, social and governmental (ESG) priorities on energy companies in its portfolios.
Otherwise, the attorneys general argue, BlackRock should not receive advance “blanket authorizations†from FERC to acquire more than $10 million in voting securities in utility companies.
Under the Federal Power Act, Attorney General Rokita noted, any public utility holding company seeking to acquire more than $10 million in voting securities in another utility must secure an order from FERC authorizing it to do so.
Although large investment management companies like BlackRock may request advance blanket authorizations, such privileges are granted only when FERC finds the transactions consistent with the public interest in light of competition, rates, and regulation.
“The public interest is served when investment companies build their business models on maximizing financial returns for clients,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Conversely, the public interest is hijacked when these companies subjugate clients’ financial interests to social and political agendas.â€
In its applications to FERC, BlackRock repeatedly claimed to qualify for reauthorization on the basis of being merely a “passive†and “non-controlling investor†that exercised no “control over the day-to-day management or operations†of utility companies.
“Maybe BlackRock was a passive investor ten years ago,†the attorney’s general state in their motion to intervene, “but today it’s an environmental activist.â€
Bills lawmakers say you can feel good about from the 2023 legislative session
Bills lawmakers say you can feel good about from the 2023 legislative session
- By Ashlyn Myers, TheStatehouseFile.com
- May 10, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS—Though lawmakers are often seen sharing snippy debates and swapping sarcastic eye rolls, they sometimes create bills that almost everyone can happily agree on.
After the 2023 legislative session ended on April 28 in the early morning hours, over 250 bills passed, covering topics like trans health care, handguns for teachers and other culture war issues. However, lawmakers from the House Democratic and House Republican caucuses believe this session also brought something everyone can feel positive about..
Republican perspective
Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Merrillville, had multiple bills pass through with bipartisan support that she said she’s “super proud of.â€
The first aims to protect firefighters. Firefighter uniforms have been known to possibly contain PFAS, which are manmade chemicals commonly found in nonstick kitchenware and water and oil repellents. The concern from organizations like the U.S. Center for Disease Control is that PFAS chemicals can increase the risk of kidney and testicular cancer.
House Bill 1341 pushes to increase the transparency around fire gear and the risks that come with purchasing it. Authored by Olthoff, HB 1341 would prohibit fire departments from purchasing any fire gear that does not have a permanent label saying whether the gear contains PFAS.
The bill’s creation came after a volunteer firefighter in St. John shared some articles on PFAS with Olthoff. After researching further, she began drafting.
Olthoff said that in her first version of the bill, the goal was to eliminate PFAS-contaminated gear altogether, but after researching and hearing testimony, she found that manufacturers haven’t found a good enough waterproof alternative to PFAS—yet.
Going from a two-page bill to simply a paragraph, Olthoff said she ended up receiving unanimous bipartisan support in the House and Senate. Why? Because she said it’s not a controversial issue, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle care about firefighter safety.
Of all Indiana firefighters, 72.7% are volunteers, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, with an average of 2 deaths occur per 1,000 fires.
“I believe we are pro-firefighters in the state of Indiana. We want to keep them safe. They keep us safe,†Olthoff said.
The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously.
Olthoff also spent the 2023 session focusing on the foster care system.
Joining with three other lawmakers, Rep. Donna Schaibley, R-Carmel, Sen. Kyle Walker, R-Lawrence, and Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus, the quartet drafted up four different bills to protect the rights of foster children and foster parents. They met before the session started and took a look at foster care policies, trying to figure out how to get more Hoosiers to become foster parents.
Of the four bills, three survived.
Olthoff’s bill, House Bill 1570, which passed almost unanimously in both chambers, contained over 15 different statutes increasing the rights of foster parents.
The two other bills passed touched on tax credits for foster parents and the separation of siblings in the foster care system.
Olthoff said the bills received bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House because all lawmakers care about Indiana’s children.
“I want our state to really help children because that’s the next generation,†Olthoff said. “And it seems like there’s a lot of improvement that our state could do, as evidenced by our four foster care bills.â€
Democratic perspective
For Rep. Rita Fleming, D-Jeffersonville, the main “wins†this session were health care-centric bills. As a retired OB-GYN, Fleming’s goal when she first stepped into politics was simple: change the policies around general health care.
“Repeatedly I saw the consequences of an unintended pregnancy,†Fleming said.
“Anything that we could do that could safely increase access to birth control was going to be a goal of mine. And it took a long time, but I think that we finally did get something really substantial accomplished, and I’m very proud of that.â€
Her solution to the statistic that 49% of unintended pregnancies in Indiana? Expand access to hormonal birth control by allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives.
Under House Bill 1568, co-authored by Fleming, certain pharmacists who complete a training program will be able to prescribe and dispense birth control to be in good health without necessarily having to go through a doctor.
Fleming said this idea came after the restrictions put on abortion in Indiana. Lawmakers agreed in unison that something needed to be done about Indiana’s reproductive health, so the bipartisan support wasn’t a surprise to the bill’s authors, including Republican Rep. Elizabeth Rowray, R-Yorktown.
“I think there was a developing awareness that we need to do something to help women avoid unintended pregnancies,†Fleming added.
Fleming said this will have a positive impact on Hoosier women who are unable to visit a doctor.
“We know that the education that the pharmacists are receiving in order to be able to do this well qualifies them to be able to prescribe and dispense this type of birth control,†Fleming said. “So for women who are 18 or over who have no contraindications, who may perhaps work all day long, the ability to go on a Sunday afternoon and get your birth control, I think is going to help our women.â€
The bill passed the House by a vote of 86-12 and the Senate by a vote of 28-20.
Another bipartisan bill supported by Fleming? The change of eligibility requirements of Medicaid, as seen in House Bill 1091, authored by Rep. Ann Vermillion, R-Marion.
“We know that prevention is by far better . . . than treatment. If we can keep babies healthy and extend that throughout childhood, and provide those things like immunizations and screenings and health care of minor problems before they become major problems, we will keep children healthier,†Fleming said.
“We will keep them in school, we’ll keep their parents at work because they’re not home with children who’ve become increasingly sick. So it’s a win-win for everybody.â€
HB 1091’s final version passed the House by a vote of 89-1 and the Senate by 49-0.
For a full list of the 252 bills signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb, go here.
FOOTNOTE: Ashlyn Myers is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.Â
E-REP EVENT CALENDAR
Following are some events that may be of interest. See all of these and more on the E-REP Events Calendar - consider subscribing to weekly email alerts about events. If you missed one of our events, visit the isbdc.org website to find the recording (if one is available).
Highlighted Events
May 10th:Â Technology Interest Group Meeting
May 16th: QuickBooks Online Advanced Workshop
May 17th: Business Certification May Lunch & Learn Discussion Series
May 24th: Technology Interest Group Meeting
June 6th: Launching Your Own Business
Hope you’re having a great week,
Ivy Tech Community College Hires
Ivy Tech Community College Hires
MAY 11, 2023
Evansville, Ind.- Ivy Tech Community College Evansville has announced new employees in the departments of Ivy+ Career Link and the Ivy Tech Foundation.
Nick Bragin is now the director of employer engagement. He holds a master’s degree in arts administration and a bachelor’s degree in public affairs from Indiana University. He most recently served as director of the Office for Career Success for the University of Evansville. Bragin is currently a board member for the Singing Hoosiers Alumni Council. (add in a little more of his background, if there is more)
Steven Dabrowski, Jr. is now director of director of development and fundraising. He holds a master’s degree in theology from the St. Meinrad School of Theology and a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Indianapolis. He most recently served as diocesan director for the Diocese of Evansville. Dabrowski was recently named to the University of Indianapolis Communications Department Wall of Fame.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns to the needs of the community. The College provides seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a Bachelor’s degree. Follow Ivy Tech on Facebook, Twitter,Instagram, and LinkedIn for the most up-to-date information.
Cops Cycling for Survivors
Cops Cycling for Survivors
MAY 11, 2023
Cops Cycling for Survivors is pleased to announce plans for their 22nd annual bicycle tour of Indiana as well as unveiling the memorial photos on their support truck in anticipation of National Police Week, May 14-20, 2023. The group will bike nearly 1,000 miles over 13 days in July to honor law enforcement officers fallen in the line of duty and their survivors. As in past years, Cops Cycling does not make a determination of line-of-duty death status but honors Indiana officers recognized by state and federal officials as having died in the line of duty. This year, special honor is given to four (4) officers recognized as line-of-duty deaths in 2022 as well as one (1) officer from 2020 who was recognized by officials in 2022 as a line-of-duty death.
In 2002, Cops Cycling for Survivors began with a ride to Washington, D.C. to honor fallen officers. The cyclists now ride through Indiana meeting with survivors of officers to support them as they continue to deal with the loss of loved ones. The group honors the more than 450 Indiana officers who have been recognized as a line of-duty deaths by reading a memorial for each officer during the tour. Cops Cycling for Survivors vows never to let Indiana’s fallen heroes be forgotten and to support the survivors of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of the state.
Cops Cycling for Survivors make every attempt to contact survivors, including family, co-workers, descendants, and others, of fallen officers but may not have contact information for some. Survivors are asked to be in touch with the group at Cops Cycling for Survivors, PO Box 597, Ellettsville, IN 47429, by phone at 812-727-0725, or email at copscyclingforsurvivors@gmail.com. Interested cyclists may also contact the group for more information on joining the ride for all or parts of the ride. Cyclists include survivors, law enforcement officers, and friends of law enforcement.
In addition to memorializing Indiana’s fallen officers, Cops Cycling for Survivors raises financial support for survivors. Proceeds from the annual ride provide line of duty death benefits for primary survivors as well as fund scholarships, camps, and other avenues of support for survivors. The group also assists Line of Duty Death Justice as survivors work through years of court dates, including parole hearings and appeals. More information and a donation page are found at http://www.copscycling4survivors.com/. Cops Cycling for Survivors was granted 501(c) 3 status as a not-for-profit in late 2011 and is no longer directly affiliated with Indiana Concerns of Police Survivors (IN COPS).
The 2023 Cops Cycling for Survivors truck was also unveiled this week. While the group rides in support and memory of all line of duty dead officers, each year the support truck honors officers that were killed in the line of duty from the previous year. This year’s truck is in special memory of where: Deputy Sheriff Noah Rainey, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, End of Watch January 29, 2022; Deputy Sheriff Douglas Sanford, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, End of Watch March 29, 2022; Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz, Elwood Police Department, End of Watch July 31, 2022; and Police Officer Seara Burton, Richmond Police Department, End of Watch September 18, 2022.
Also honored on the truck is Correctional Officer Gary Weinke, Indiana Department of Correction, End of Watch April 25, 2020, who was recognized by officials as a line of duty death in 2022.
A recent line-of-duty death in 2023 will receive special recognition next year.
Dates and route for the 2023 Cops Cycling for Survivors ride are:
July 10, Indianapolis – Richmond July 11, Richmond – Madison July 12, Madison – Jeffersonville July 13, Jeffersonville – Jasper July 14, Jasper – Princeton
July 15, Princeton – Terre Haute July 16, Terre Haute – Delphi July 17, Delphi – Merrillville
July 18, Merrillville – South Bend July 19 South Bend – Angola
July 20, Angola – Bluffton
July 21, Bluffton – Elwood
July 22, Elwood – Indianapolis
As the group rides through locations, area residents are encouraged to show their support for law enforcement officers and the survivors of fallen heroes in whatever meaningful manners may arise.
FOOTNOTE” Â Additional information on the Cops Cycling for Survivors’ 22nd Anniversary Ride will be sent closer to the start date of July 10. We hope you will plan to attend the opening ceremony at 8:00 AM on Monday, July 10 at the Indiana Law Enforcement Memorial near the Statehouse or at other stops throughout the ride.
EVPL adding new service in collaboration with USI, Deaconess Clinic Evansville
EVPL adding new service in collaboration with USI, Deaconess Clinic Evansville
MAY 11, 2023
| EVPL adding new service in collaboration with USI, Deaconess Clinic Evansville, IN, May 10, 2023 – In collaboration with USI and the Deaconess Clinic, beginning May 15, the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library will provide access to library spaces and equipment for the purpose of telehealth appointments. “We are proud to partner with USI and Deaconess Clinic on this evolution of library services,†EVPL CEO-Director Scott Kinney said. “By expanding our services to provide spaces for telehealth, the library is fulfilling our purpose of removing the barrier to access.†Telehealth visits work by virtually connecting patients with their healthcare providers. Four EVPL locations will have a space and technology available for telehealth visits. EVPL Location | Appointment Days | Appointment Times |
| EVPL Central | Mondays & Wednesdays | 9:15 – 11:15 am |
| EVPL North Park | Thursdays | 9:15 – 11:15 am & 12:00 – 2:00 pm |
| EVPL Oaklyn | Mondays & Wednesdays | 9:15 – 11:15 am |
| EVPL Red Bank | Tuesdays | 9:15 – 11:15 am & 12:00 – 2:00 pm |
Indiana Grown June Marketplace: Spotlighting Local Indiana Products
Indiana Grown June Marketplace:
spotlighting local Indiana products
MAY 11, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS (May 10, 2023)— On Saturday, June 3, more than 50 Indiana food artisans, producers, and makers will set up shop at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center for the Indiana Grown June Marketplace. This one-day event is a one-stop shop for finding your favorite food, wine, spirits, flowers, art, ceramics, and more!
The Indiana Grown June Marketplace will be held in the Agriculture/Horticulture building at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, with parking available onsite. Stop by on June 3 to shop and experience vendors from all over the state in one convenient location from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (ET).
WHAT: Indiana Grown’s June Marketplace
WHO: More than 50 Indiana food artisans, producers, and makers
WHEN: Saturday, June 3, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (ET)
WHERE:Â Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center – Agriculture/Horticulture Building (1202 E 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46205)
To secure your tickets, click here.
Visit IndianaGrown.org for more information about Indiana Grown and its members.
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Note to the press: The image below is Indiana Grown member, Tamika Catchings of Tea’s Me Cafe, who will be one of the many vendors at the June Marketplace on June 3.
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ABOUT INDIANA GROWN
Indiana Grown is administered by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture in partnership with the lieutenant governor’s office. The initiative educates consumers on the importance of buying Indiana Grown products, helps Indiana farmers and producers sell more products and supports Indiana businesses in their efforts to process more Indiana Grown products. Indiana Grown members and partners include farmers, producers, processors and artisans, as well as retailers, grocers, hospitals and restaurants. For more information, visit indianagrown.org.
Marah Wood and Zoe Frossard earn MVC accolades
Duo honored as Aces open MVC Championship
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Missouri Valley Conference has announced the All-Conference Teams and specialty award winners on Wednesday morning ahead of the MVC Softball Championship.
Earning recognition from the University of Evansville softball team were Marah Wood and Zoe Frossard. Wood earned a spot on the All-MVC Second Team while Frossard garnered MVC All-Defensive Team honors.
Wood earned All-Conference recognition for the first time in her career after batting .260 with four home runs, 21 runs batted in and 19 runs scored. Between April 11 and April 30, Wood posted a 12-game hit streak, which was the longest of the season for the Purple Aces and the most for the program since Eryn Gould had a 12-game streak in 2019.
She wrapped up the season batting .353 over her last 15 games, including five multi-hit efforts. Wood tied for second in the MVC with three sacrifice flies and was 5th with 169 at-bats. Last season, Wood led Evansville with eight home runs and 31 RBI while batting .272.
Frossard, the 2022 MVC Newcomer of the Year, was a defensive star in 2023. Multiple diving catches in the field saved numerous opposing runs from scoring. She made the start in all 53 games this season and completed the regular season tied for second in the Valley with 28 walks.
In the final series of the regular season at Northern Iowa, Frossard batted .600, including a perfect 2-for-2 effort in the finale. She had the game-winning single in the April 1 victory over Belmont and launched her first home run in February against Eastern Kentucky.
Former VU Coach Tim Marsee to be inducted into NJCAA Hall of Fame
VINCENNES, Ind. – The NJCAA Track and Field Coaches Association announced the members of their 2023 Hall of Fame class, which includes former VU Assistant Coach Tim Marsee and three-time NJCAA National Champion pole vaulter Matteo Capello (Turino, Italy).
“Being inducted into the NJCAA Track and Field Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors you can get as a coach,†Marsee said. “To be voted in by your peers and people that recognize your accomplishments were worthy enough to be in the Hall of Fame is pretty cool.â€
“When I found out that I had been nominated to go in, I was kind of taken back by it because I didn’t know if I had enough qualifications for this honor,†Marsee added.
Marsee was named NJCAA National Meet Assistant Men’s Coach of the Year three times, the men’s Atlantic Division Assistant Coach of the Year three times and the National Meet Assistant Women’s Coach of the Year twice, working under former VU Head Coach Chris Gafner.
In 2018, Marsee was also named the men’s and women’s Atlantic Division Coach of the Year and the Region 24 Men’s Head Coach of the Year.
Marsee worked with several high-level athletes while at Vincennes University. His athletes earned 87 All-American honors, 71 All-Time top-five VU School records, including 21 VU school record holders, five National Meet record holders and four NJCAA National records.
Marsee’s athletes also finished as National Runner-Up 12 times and earned 21 individual National Championships at Vincennes University, including working with two NJCAA Hall of Fame Athletes in Natalia Bartnovskaya, who was inducted in 2019 and Matteo Capello, who will be inducted alongside Marsee.
“Working with Natalia and Matteo was great,†Marsee said. “I helped those two achieve some goals of theirs and they went on to be National Champions and National Meet record holders. But one thing that I am most proud of is I have had about six or seven athletes from Indiana and Illinois that have gone on to win National Championships and several more that have been All-Americans, my son included, that were anywhere from exceptional to average athletes in high school.â€
“Being able to help develop those kids to be able to achieve those high-level goals of being Champions, that’s probably one of the things I am most proud of,†Marsee added. “Being able to work with those kids and helping them achieve goals that they maybe didn’t know were possible has been really special.â€
“Going into the Hall of Fame with Matteo is nice,†Marsee said. “Matteo was such a great athlete. When he got here, his big goal was to try to get over 18 feet as a pole vaulter and he was able to accomplish that. Along the way he set some National records and won three National Championships. He would have won four, but the 2020 Outdoor meet was cancelled due to COVID.â€
“My first National Champion I worked with was Natalia,†Marsee added. “She was a lot of fun to work with. She won her event at the National meet on a Friday and Ryan Smith won his event the next day and those were my first two athletes to win National titles. The work ethic with those kids was tremendous and Matteo, he just worked and worked. We constantly communicated on what he needed to fix and kept trying to reach those goals and it finally ended up paying off in the end. It’s pretty cool to go into the Hall of Fame at the same time as an athlete that you coached.â€
“I still follow some of the athletes that I coached that are still competing,†Marsee said. “I also still follow VU and look at the results every weekend. I get to talk to Coach Marty Rogier every now and then and he’s working on building the program up. I think he and Coach Tyler are doing a great job.â€
“As a coach, you never want to see the program go down,†Marsee added. “You want to see the program continue to build and go forward and I believe that’s happening at VU. You always want the program to succeed and they are.â€
Marsee got his start in coaching Track and Field at nearby South Knox high school, where he helped guide the Spartans to back-to-back Sectional Championships.
“Several years ago, my daughter was a middle school track athlete at South Knox,†Marsee said. “I went by one day to pick her up from practice and she was out there trying to high jump. Nobody was over there trying to work with her, so I went over and started working with her on the high jump. Then some other kids came up and started asking me questions, so I started trying to help them. The next year they asked me if I wanted to coach middle school track.â€
“So, I did and we had some success, then the high school coach Bob Swank retired and I became the high school coach,†Marsee added. “We had some success on the high school team and won back-to-back Sectionals, won some Conference titles and had some really good athletes and then Chris Gafner approached me about coming to help at VU. I came to VU, first on a part-time basis and then became a full-time assistant, while still maintaining my regular job at South Knox.â€
“Chris and I developed a great relationship and without him, none of this would be possible,†Marsee said. “I started to learn some things about Track and Field that I needed to get better on and things just kind of took off from there. But Chris and I worked really well together and he gets a lot of the credit for this honor.â€
Marsee joins Trailblazer Track and Field Hall of Famers Jeff Phillips, who was inducted in 1991 and finished third in the 200 meters at the 1982 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and former VU Head Track and Field Coach Bill Smith who was inducted in 2021, along with the previously mentioned Bartnovskaya and Capello.
“I think the Track program at Vincennes University is finally starting to receive some of the recognition that it has deserved over several years,†Marsee said. “There have been a lot of very good coaches here. Chris Gafner did a tremendous job here. Those guys like Chris Gafner, Bill Smith, Art Cortez and Ben Johnson, who started the program back in the 1960’s. Those guys really developed the program and tried to take it to the highest level they could.â€
“Each coach tried to reach higher and higher and even though we haven’t won a team National Championship in Track, which is extremely hard to do, those guys kept building the program better and better and tried to make it more competitive,†Marsee added. “Chris and I started the women’s track program. There have been some women’s athletes who have competed in track and field at VU, but there was never an official women’s team. So, he and I started the women’s program and it has really taken off and we’ve had some tremendous women’s athletes here over the years.â€
When asked what it will be like to see his name up on the Hall of Fame banner that hangs in the P.E. Complex, Marsee said, “I don’t know. I think it’s going to be pretty emotional. It’s a great honor to be on that banner, so I think it’s going to be pretty emotional. It is now just thinking about it.â€
Marsee will be inducted into the NJCAA Track and Field Hall of Fame at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor National Championship meet in Hobbs, N.M. Marsee is a member of the Class of 2023 alongside former VU pole vaulter and three-time NJCAA National Champion Matteo Capello, as well as Coach Tony Dougherty from New Mexico Junior College and Coach Jane Vatchev from the College of DuPage in Illinois.
The Vincennes University Athletic department would like to congratulate Coach Tim Marsee on this tremendous and well-deserved honor.