House GOP Leader Is Media Day Speaker
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The press conference was part of the House Republican Media Day attended by approximately 30 television, radio and newspaper media representatives from Indiana.
The day gave the media an opportunity to tour the statehouse, meet with local representatives, attend a press conference on the legislative session and sit in on a legislative session.[[In-content Ad]]Dave Wolkins, district 18, representing Kosciusko, Elkhart and LaGrange counties; Bill Ruppel, district 22, representing Kosciusko and Wabash counties; and Bill Friend, district 23, representing Miami, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Fulton and Marshall counties were present.
Media Day has been held at the statehouse since 1999 to better acquaint media with the legislative process and its leaders, according to Matt Tusing, deputy communication director for the Republican Caucus.
Bosma spoke during the press conference about the need for urgency in bringing the 2007 legislative session to a close with only four weeks to go.
"I am a firm believer that everything in the general assembly rises and falls on leadership, and leadership is defined as doing things in the right way and at the right time," Bosma said.
Bosma said there has not been a sense of urgency in dealing with bills in the Indiana house in the last five to six weeks.
He said there are five legislative priorities that need to be acted on immediately, including immediate property tax relief, a responsible balanced budget and educational improvement.
A vote on the same-sex marriage ban amendment and health care for the uninsured are other issues.
"Property tax relief is one of the most urgent needs for the general assembly to address responsively in the next four weeks," Bosma said.
Bosma said State Rep. Jeff Espich (R-Uniondale), member of the House Ways and Means committee, announced a local government finance reform plan Wednesday.
The plan will provide immediate property tax relief to taxpayers on their 2007 property tax bills, and will remove the burden of school construction costs from property taxes.
Bosma said without this assistance, this year's property taxes for Hoosier homeowners are projected to rise by about 15 percent across the state.
The importance of a balanced budget also was discussed.
Bosma said as the senate completes the budget negotiations and votes, it is critical for the House to talk about important solutions for funding.
He said funding for prisons and adequate resources for the state's neediest in regards to healthcare are important budget issues.
Republicans support a 30- to 40-percent cigarette sales tax increase to fund Senate Bill 503, The Healthy Indiana Plan, that aims to reduce smoking in Indiana.
Education improvement also was discussed where House Republicans have proposed a full-day kindergarten block grant program.
The program would allow local schools, administrators and school boards to decide whether or not full-day kindergarten is an important tool to implement in their local school corporation.
He said Republicans have brought forward two goals with the program, including giving local schools the flexibility to apply full-day kindergarten and granting them the resources to do so.
He said those schools not ready to implement the program due to lack of classroom or transportation issues would be given equal resources to implement the program.
The legislature is also debating an amendment to the Indiana Constitution about what constitutes a marriage.
The amendment's defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman. The amendment also states the law "may not be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups."
If the amendment is approved, Indiana would join 28 other states in defining marriage as between one man and one woman, Bosma said.
This year, the amendment was passed by the Senate by a vote of 39-10. It is stalled because of a lack of commitment by House Democrats, the Republican leader said.
Latest News
E-Editions
The press conference was part of the House Republican Media Day attended by approximately 30 television, radio and newspaper media representatives from Indiana.
The day gave the media an opportunity to tour the statehouse, meet with local representatives, attend a press conference on the legislative session and sit in on a legislative session.[[In-content Ad]]Dave Wolkins, district 18, representing Kosciusko, Elkhart and LaGrange counties; Bill Ruppel, district 22, representing Kosciusko and Wabash counties; and Bill Friend, district 23, representing Miami, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Fulton and Marshall counties were present.
Media Day has been held at the statehouse since 1999 to better acquaint media with the legislative process and its leaders, according to Matt Tusing, deputy communication director for the Republican Caucus.
Bosma spoke during the press conference about the need for urgency in bringing the 2007 legislative session to a close with only four weeks to go.
"I am a firm believer that everything in the general assembly rises and falls on leadership, and leadership is defined as doing things in the right way and at the right time," Bosma said.
Bosma said there has not been a sense of urgency in dealing with bills in the Indiana house in the last five to six weeks.
He said there are five legislative priorities that need to be acted on immediately, including immediate property tax relief, a responsible balanced budget and educational improvement.
A vote on the same-sex marriage ban amendment and health care for the uninsured are other issues.
"Property tax relief is one of the most urgent needs for the general assembly to address responsively in the next four weeks," Bosma said.
Bosma said State Rep. Jeff Espich (R-Uniondale), member of the House Ways and Means committee, announced a local government finance reform plan Wednesday.
The plan will provide immediate property tax relief to taxpayers on their 2007 property tax bills, and will remove the burden of school construction costs from property taxes.
Bosma said without this assistance, this year's property taxes for Hoosier homeowners are projected to rise by about 15 percent across the state.
The importance of a balanced budget also was discussed.
Bosma said as the senate completes the budget negotiations and votes, it is critical for the House to talk about important solutions for funding.
He said funding for prisons and adequate resources for the state's neediest in regards to healthcare are important budget issues.
Republicans support a 30- to 40-percent cigarette sales tax increase to fund Senate Bill 503, The Healthy Indiana Plan, that aims to reduce smoking in Indiana.
Education improvement also was discussed where House Republicans have proposed a full-day kindergarten block grant program.
The program would allow local schools, administrators and school boards to decide whether or not full-day kindergarten is an important tool to implement in their local school corporation.
He said Republicans have brought forward two goals with the program, including giving local schools the flexibility to apply full-day kindergarten and granting them the resources to do so.
He said those schools not ready to implement the program due to lack of classroom or transportation issues would be given equal resources to implement the program.
The legislature is also debating an amendment to the Indiana Constitution about what constitutes a marriage.
The amendment's defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman. The amendment also states the law "may not be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups."
If the amendment is approved, Indiana would join 28 other states in defining marriage as between one man and one woman, Bosma said.
This year, the amendment was passed by the Senate by a vote of 39-10. It is stalled because of a lack of commitment by House Democrats, the Republican leader said.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092