State Politics
State Legislators Honor House Staffer
By Emily Landis on Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
Several state representatives took time today to honor their staffer, Press Secretary Gareth Evans, on his recent accomplishment of becoming an American citizen.
Evans moved from Zimbabwe to Indiana in October 2001 due to the political and economic unrest that had plagued the country... Read More...
St. Representative Matt Lehman to speak
By Lamont Neal on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
The Wells County Constitutional Patriots invite you to hear State Representative Matt Lehman. He will address the dire issues facing our Nation and the challenges of Government Over-Regulation. The event will be held at the Abundant Life Christian Center 1409 S. Main Street, Bluffton, ,IN (next to Dollar General South) on Monday December 12th at 7:00 PM... Read More...
Banks Appointed Chairman
By Erin Reece on Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) today appointed State Sen. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) as chairman of the Water Resources Study Committee.
Members of the Water Resources Study Committee will examine the usage, quality and quantity of water resources across the state... Read More...
Banks praised
By Erin Reece on Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
Senate President Pro Tempore David Long (R-Fort Wayne) today recognized State Sen. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) for his outstanding 2011 voting attendance record of 100 percent.
“Senator Banks realizes the importance of being the voice for those Hoosiers within Senate District 17,” Long said... Read More...
Rep. Leonard Delivers on Promises
By Gareth Evans on Sunday, May 1st, 2011
The 2011 legislative session has been a session of historic challenges and historic accomplishments. Despite the road bumps presented this session House Republicans have delivered on the promises they made in 2010. Rep. Leonard (R-Huntington) along with other House Republican legislators presented the ‘Strengthen Indiana Plan’ in Sept... Read More...
Unemployment Benefits Bill Becomes Law
By Gareth Evans on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
Rep. Dan Leonard’s (R-Huntington) bill on unemployment insurance was signed into law by Governor Daniels.
Senate Bill 86 details the conditions that those who receive extended unemployment insurance benefits must meet.
12,000 Hoosiers who currently receive unemployment benefits will stand to benefit from the passage of the bill, through the end of 2011... Read More...
Cracking Down on Severance Payouts
By Erin Reece on Thursday, April 14th, 2011
Members of the Senate Committee on Education this week voted in favor of an amendment that would limit school administrators’ severance payouts, a move State Sen. Jim Banks said would cut down on abuses that sometimes saddle districts with hundreds of thousands of dollars in farewell costs.
Lawmakers voted 8-2 in favor of Banks’ amendment to House Bill 1369 – legislation that would link school administrator pay to performance... Read More...
Benefits Bill Passes the House
By Statehouse on Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
STATEHOUSE- Rep. Dan Leonard (R-Huntington) sponsored Senate Bill 86 which passed the House by a vote of 88 to 1 and will now return to the Senate with the House recommendations.
“Under current law state extended benefits expire on April 15th leaving approximately 12,000 unemployed Hoosiers without benefits,” said Rep... Read More...
Leonard's Bill Passed Through the House
By Gareth Evans on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
Rep. Dan Leonard’s (R-Huntington) unemployment insurance bill passed through the House by a vote of 61 to 38.
Indiana has borrowed over 2 billion dollars from the federal government and the first interest payment of approximately 80 million dollars is due in September... Read More...
Banks’ proposal
By Darrel Radford on Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
In northeast Indiana alone, they put two congressional candidates on the November ballot, selected a pair of new Indiana House members and one for the Indiana Senate.
And yet, in some cases it was difficult to find out exactly who these political officials – known as precinct committeemen – actually were... Read More...
Amendment sought to protect Hoosier
By Darrel Radford on Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
State Sen. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) recently filed legislation seeking an amendment to the Indiana Constitution guaranteeing an individual’s right to vote by secret ballot in any election where union representation is at stake.
Banks explained that the question is not whether unions are good or bad for the Indiana economy... Read More...
Leonard Appointed to House Committees
By Emily Landis-Owens on Saturday, November 27th, 2010
House Republican Speaker Brian C. Bosma (R-Indianapolis) has announced committee members for the Indiana House Republican caucus.
In 2011, Rep. Dan Leonard (R-Huntington) will serve on the following House committees:
· Ways and Means Committee
· Judiciary Committee
“These committee appointments are truly an honor,” said Rep... Read More...
Leonard Joined the Spending Revolt Tour
By Lamont Neal on Saturday, October 30th, 2010
State Rep. Dan Leonard (R-Leonard) joined the Spending Revolt Bus Tour yesterday evening for a rally asking Hoosiers to take a stand against the federal government’s reckless spending and bring spending reform to Washington D.C.
About 30 concerned constituents attended to listen to the Government Affairs Manager for Americans for Tax Reform, Mattie Corrao as well as local leaders... Read More...
Leonard to Attend “Spending Revolt Tour"
By Tory Flynn on Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
State Rep. Dan Leonard (R- Huntington) will be attending the Spending Revolt Bus Tour and Rally. The tour bus’ mission is to educate citizens about how current federal spending is jeopardizing America’s future, engage them in taking action against this reckless spending and bring permanent spending reform to Washington D... Read More...
Indiana good with taxpayer dollars
By Tory Flynn on Friday, July 16th, 2010
STATEHOUSE – Over the past several years the State of Indiana successfully executed fiscal responsibility with taxpayers’ hard earned dollars. Today the announcement was made that Indiana has $830 million in their savings account. This reserve money was able to be saved by reigning in state spending... Read More...
