UPDATE: Redistricting in Indiana
On Fri., Dec. 8, the House passed HB1032 to advance redistricting in Indiana – its in the Senate this week for further consideration.
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A few months ago, I held a town hall with Former U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly so we could hear directly from you. And you were clear in making it known that Hoosiers want meaningful change, not more of the same political games.
That’s why what’s happening right now at the Statehouse is so frustrating. When people say they feel ignored by their government, this is exactly what they mean. And instead of tackling these challenges, legislative leaders are pushing forward HB 1032 — a gerrymandered congressional map that takes us in the opposite direction of where Hoosiers want to go.
The Senate will have a final vote on HB 1032 tomorrow, Dec. 11.
WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW:
- Call your State Senator
- Find them here: https://iga.in.gov/information/find-legislators
- Tell them to vote NO on HB 1032
- Share this message:
Make sure your friends, neighbors and networks know what’s happening. - Stay loud.
They are counting on you to give up. Don’t.
I stand with you and I’m focused on issues you care about: utility bill reform, youth development, and affordable heath care and child care.
EVANSVILLE DESERVES TRANSPARENCY: CITY COUNCIL’S SECRETIVE REDISTRICTING FAILED HOOSIERS
Evansville, IN – The Vanderburgh County Republican Party is calling attention to the flawed and deliberately secretive redistricting process carried out by the Evansville City Council. While redistricting is required after the census, it was the process chosen by Democrat leadership, not the census itself that failed our city. The city spent $30,000 of taxpayer money on a consultant whose contract included hosting public hearings for residents to review and comment on proposed district maps. City council leadership refused to hold those hearings and never recouped the portion of taxpayer dollars wasted on the meetings
they chose not to conduct. Even more concerning, the maps were intentionally withheld from conservative members of the council, while some Democrat councilors were permitted to take the maps to their constituents. That selective access speaks for itself. A fair, no-cost map drawn by the Vanderburgh County Surveyor using the same census data and within accepted population-deviation standards was available but ignored. Instead, the council adopted a map that exceeded population limits and disproportionately benefited Democrat incumbents. Several of the councilors now speaking out against redistricting were the ones who gained the
most from the very map they pushed through in secret. Evansville now has a city council with nearly 90% Democrat representation, far out of step with the city’s voter demographics. This imbalance has contributed to policies that burden families already struggling with rising costs. The newly adopted wheel tax, $20 per passenger vehicle and S25 per commercial vehicle pulls in more money from taxpayers than the city lost due to changes in the Community Crossings Grant
formula, yet city officials continue implying the tax was necessary to offset that loss. The Vanderburgh County Republican Party remains committed to a redistricting process that is transparent, equitable, and reflective of the people of Evansville. Our city deserves honest representation,
not partisan maps drawn in the dark.
– Vanderburgh County Republican Party
SENATE VOTES DOWN REDISTRICTING, A WIN FOR HOOSIERS
INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) issued the following statement after the Indiana Senate voted against advancing HB 1032, halting the Republican redistricting proposal:
“Today proves that Hoosier voters and voices matter. Outside influence sought to force redistricting and it didn’t work – even in the face of loud voices, swatting and bomb threats.
“Now, the focus can shift to utilities, housing, child care, health care and other important policies needed to ensure a prosperous Indiana, for everyone. Households throughout the State desperately need the legislature to act on their behalf and I’m looking forward to championing legislation that relieves anxiety on payday.
“I’m looking forward to bold action, reasonable policy discussions and a legislative session that keeps Hoosiers first. Families, teachers, small business owners, public safety officers and local elected officials are depending on us.”
First Lady Maureen Braun Unveils Indiana’s First Dolly Parton Imagination Library Christmas Tree at the Statehouse
First Lady Maureen Braun unveiled a first-of-its-kind Christmas display at the Statehouse featuring hand-painted ornaments that are designed to showcase participating Indiana counties and their local Dolly Parton Imagination Library programs.
The idea for the display originated earlier this year, when First Lady Braun sought a way to celebrate the thousands of Hoosier families, volunteers, and community partners who make the Imagination Library possible. Literacy is an important initiative for the First Lady.
“Every ornament on these trees represents a community that believes in the power of reading and the potential of every child. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is sparking wonder in young Hoosiers and uniting counties across Indiana. This display is an invitation for more Hoosiers to join us in helping give every child the gift of reading.” – First Lady Maureen Braun
With support from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana, the First Lady contacted county partners in all 92 counties and sent each an unbreakable ornament with a request to decorate it in a way that reflects their county and their community’s Imagination Library. The ornaments were then shipped back at no cost to taxpayers or county partners thanks to a partnership with UPS and the Indiana Motor Truck Association (IMTA).
The resulting ornaments now adorn one of three Christmas trees located in the Statehouse atrium. The book ornaments on the tree were handmade by friends of First Lady Braun, who also helped decorate the trees.
County partners are invited to visit the Statehouse on December 17 at 11:00 a.m. to view the display and see their ornaments showcased in this one-of-a-kind celebration of literacy, community, and the holiday spirit.
Food Inspection Reports
Immigration crackdown bill continues Indiana Republican split
Committee members voted 6-2 along party lines to advance the bill to the full Senate
A key state senator and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita are facing off again over what steps the state should take in cracking down on illegal immigration.
At issue is Senate Bill 76 — authored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, after she blocked a bill with some similar provisions during the last legislative session. That move resulted in Rokita claiming she did so because she has an “illegal alien”in her family.
Her current proposal includes language allowing state agencies and Rokita’s office to investigate the “employment of an unauthorized alien” and report possible violations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Department of Labor.
Rokita, however, is backing a differing proposal in Senate Bill 122, which would give the attorney general’s office authority to seek court orders suspending an “employer’s operating authorizations” over such suspected violations.
Rokita, a Republican, blasted Brown on social media over her bill, saying she had “introduced a watered-down, bizarro world version … that takes all the enforcement teeth out of the bill. That makes her bill meaningless.”
Brown countered that she has worked with entities from the Trump administration to county sheriffs in order to find effective ways to help enforce federal immigration laws.
“The biggest thing is making sure that we didn’t grow government and that the power isn’t centered in one agency or individual,” Brown told reporters.
Hiring practices in question
Erin Tuttle, the attorney general office’s legislative director, criticized Brown’s bill during a Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday as an “inadequate response” to prevent businesses from hiring people who are in the country illegally.
“The Supreme Court has confirmed that states may sanction the license of employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers,” Tuttle said. “If Indiana refuses to adopt the one enforcement mechanism available under federal law, it cannot credibly claim to be a leader in combating illegal immigration.”
Immigrant advocates, however, raised concerns about the impact of the legislation.
Carolina Castoreno, co-founder of the Indianapolis-based Alliance for Latino Migrant Advocacy, told committee members that the proposal encourages racial profiling by businesses.
“It pushes them toward discriminatory hiring practices, meaning someone who fits a certain look or has a certain name or has an accent may be discriminated against, just out of precaution,” Castoreno said. “We know who is harmed, people with brown skin, people with accents, people with names that sound unfamiliar to an HR manager.”
Committee members voted 6-2 along party lines to advance the bill to the full Senate, which could take up the proposal in early January.
Rokita-Brown conflict continues
The dispute between Rokita and Brown over the legislation grows out of their conflict over an immigration-enforcement bill from the legislative session earlier this year.
House members approved House Bill 1531 in February, but Brown did not hold a Senate committee hearing on the bill and it died when the legislative session ended in April.
Rokita then claimed Brown had blocked the legislation because she had a “family member who’s an illegal alien.”
Brown called that claim “blatantly false.” She also filed an attorney misconduct grievance over Rokita’s comments with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission that she said Tuesday was still pending.
Rokita and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks have repeatedly criticized Brown on social media over last session’s bill.
They also are backing Darren Vogt, who works on Banks’ Senate staff and is a Northwest Allen County Schools board member, in a Republican primary challenge to Brown’s 2026 reelection bid.
Following the committee vote, Rokita posted to X that the bill “would actively shield sanctuary jurisdictions and directly undermines our ongoing lawsuits to end sanctuary policies in Monroe and St. Joseph counties. We need to stop illegal immigration—not protect the counties and officials who defy state law and put Hoosier families last.”
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
THUNDERBOLTS TRAVEL TO QUAD CITIES FOR SINGLE SUNDAY GAME
