Souder Seeks 9th Term As Congressman
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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The general election is Nov. 2 and the primary is May 4. Souder filed for the 3rd district congressional seat Monday.
Souder (R-Fort Wayne) was elected to Congress in 1994 after working for US Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) for 10 years during Coats' tenure in the House and Senate.
Phil Troyer, Fort Wayne, also is on the Republican ticket running against Souder. Troyer previously was interviewed by the Times-Union.
Dr. Tom Hayhurst (D-Fort Wayne) also is seeking the congressional seat. Hayhurst was previously interviewed by the Times-Union.
Souder said he is seeking re-election to the seat to continue his efforts on his support for veterans and job growth.
He said he thinks there is a fair chance that Republicans can take back the House where he would be in a policy-making role and could work on passing laws.
Coming out of a recession in the 3rd district requires general policies and specific needs for companies, and experience and understanding of the issues are critical, according to Souder.
"I believe veterans' medical coverage ought to be a part of the cost of war, and we need to make sure we have that coverage for our veterans," Souder said.
Souder also said he wants to continue to work with Congress on creating jobs in orthopedics, defense, RVs, manufactured housing and steel production.
"These are the largest employers in this district, and if they are restricted and aren't represented, they will lose their engines of economic growth," Souder said.
He said transportation systems are a part of where economic development occurs.
Souder suggested to create industry, CR 17 could be built to come down from the Indiana Toll Road to the north and eventually link to Kosciusko County, U.S. 31 and I-69.
"You need to have north and south routes or you will choke in the center of the manufacturing district," Souder said.
He said the number one thing for economic development that a congressman can do is get the federal government to step down and focus on letting industries grow.
He said one of the large changes while he has been in office has been steering money to smaller-sized airports.
Souder was asked what he thought about the Supreme Court campaign finance ruling that allows big businesses and unions to influence government decisions by freeing them to spend money to sway elections for president and Congress.
"I think it was a constitutionally correct decision, but I think the fundamental problem is that when government keeps expanding that you have to allow people whose rights are being taken away to defend themselves," Souder said.
He said corporations and labor unions should have rights to individuals.
A senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Souder is the lead Republican on the subcommittee on border, maritime and global counterterrorism.
He also is a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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The general election is Nov. 2 and the primary is May 4. Souder filed for the 3rd district congressional seat Monday.
Souder (R-Fort Wayne) was elected to Congress in 1994 after working for US Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) for 10 years during Coats' tenure in the House and Senate.
Phil Troyer, Fort Wayne, also is on the Republican ticket running against Souder. Troyer previously was interviewed by the Times-Union.
Dr. Tom Hayhurst (D-Fort Wayne) also is seeking the congressional seat. Hayhurst was previously interviewed by the Times-Union.
Souder said he is seeking re-election to the seat to continue his efforts on his support for veterans and job growth.
He said he thinks there is a fair chance that Republicans can take back the House where he would be in a policy-making role and could work on passing laws.
Coming out of a recession in the 3rd district requires general policies and specific needs for companies, and experience and understanding of the issues are critical, according to Souder.
"I believe veterans' medical coverage ought to be a part of the cost of war, and we need to make sure we have that coverage for our veterans," Souder said.
Souder also said he wants to continue to work with Congress on creating jobs in orthopedics, defense, RVs, manufactured housing and steel production.
"These are the largest employers in this district, and if they are restricted and aren't represented, they will lose their engines of economic growth," Souder said.
He said transportation systems are a part of where economic development occurs.
Souder suggested to create industry, CR 17 could be built to come down from the Indiana Toll Road to the north and eventually link to Kosciusko County, U.S. 31 and I-69.
"You need to have north and south routes or you will choke in the center of the manufacturing district," Souder said.
He said the number one thing for economic development that a congressman can do is get the federal government to step down and focus on letting industries grow.
He said one of the large changes while he has been in office has been steering money to smaller-sized airports.
Souder was asked what he thought about the Supreme Court campaign finance ruling that allows big businesses and unions to influence government decisions by freeing them to spend money to sway elections for president and Congress.
"I think it was a constitutionally correct decision, but I think the fundamental problem is that when government keeps expanding that you have to allow people whose rights are being taken away to defend themselves," Souder said.
He said corporations and labor unions should have rights to individuals.
A senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Souder is the lead Republican on the subcommittee on border, maritime and global counterterrorism.
He also is a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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