Third District Congressional Candidate Makes Stop In Warsaw

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jennifer [email protected]

Republican 3rd District Congressional Candidate Jim Banks made a stop at the Times-Union Wednesday afternoon to discuss his run for the seat.
Banks, Columbia City, is seeking the seat currently held by Marlin Stutzman, who is seeking the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Dan Coats.
Other Republicans seeking the congressional seat are Pam Galloway, Warsaw; Liz Brown, Fort Wayne; and Scott Wise, Columbia City. Todd Nightenhelser, a Huntington Democrat, also is seeking the seat.
Banks is currently a state senator for District 17. When he was elected to the state senate five years ago, the district included Kosciusko County, but redistricting changed the boundaries.
“I’m a conservative with a track record at the statehouse of advocating for less government at all levels, and I’m deeply concerned about the growth of our federal government, and a ballooning national debt that stifles our economy,” Banks said.
He said he returned home from serving in Afghanistan as a naval officer three months ago and saw first-hand how complicated the world is.
“I returned home with my commitment to public service and where our country is headed economically and the security at home and abroad, and I felt compelled to run for Congress for the 3rd district,” Banks said.
Banks said if elected there are issues globally, nationally and locally he is concerned about.
“When we talk about repealing Obamacare we can’t lose sight that a significant piece of Obamacare is the medical device tax, and if I’m elected I will be a champion of eliminating that tax just like Senator Coats has,” Banks said.
He said the medical device tax stifles the economy at home in the district in Kosciusko and Whitley counties where there are a number of businesses who are unable to create more jobs because of the tax.
He said the eastern part of the district is affected by the 122nd Fighter Wing unit of the Indiana Air National Guard stationed in Fort Wayne.
“The next congressman from this district will be involved in the transition from  A-10s to the F-16s in the next few years, and I believe I am uniquely qualified to be an advocate for the base to advocate for protecting and strengthening the base and protecting and growing it,” Banks said. “Currently, it has a $60 million economic impact on Northeast Indiana and I think we can grow that by adding more components to that base.”
He said globally he personally believes through his experience with his deployment that the current administration has done more to weaken the military.
“The next president and congress will have much work to do to rebuild our stature as the greatest country in the world,” Banks said.
He said he will be an advocate for national security, and is the only veteran and candidate with a military background of service in the race.
He said he has a business background in the commercial construction business, having worked for the Bradley Company that has an office in Kosciusko County.
“My business background teaches me that government is often what gets in the way of progress for business and creating jobs,” Banks said.
Banks said as a congressman he would advocate for the business community and eliminate hurdles and regulations that get in the way of entrepreneurs and small businesses from creating more jobs.[[In-content Ad]]

Republican 3rd District Congressional Candidate Jim Banks made a stop at the Times-Union Wednesday afternoon to discuss his run for the seat.
Banks, Columbia City, is seeking the seat currently held by Marlin Stutzman, who is seeking the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Dan Coats.
Other Republicans seeking the congressional seat are Pam Galloway, Warsaw; Liz Brown, Fort Wayne; and Scott Wise, Columbia City. Todd Nightenhelser, a Huntington Democrat, also is seeking the seat.
Banks is currently a state senator for District 17. When he was elected to the state senate five years ago, the district included Kosciusko County, but redistricting changed the boundaries.
“I’m a conservative with a track record at the statehouse of advocating for less government at all levels, and I’m deeply concerned about the growth of our federal government, and a ballooning national debt that stifles our economy,” Banks said.
He said he returned home from serving in Afghanistan as a naval officer three months ago and saw first-hand how complicated the world is.
“I returned home with my commitment to public service and where our country is headed economically and the security at home and abroad, and I felt compelled to run for Congress for the 3rd district,” Banks said.
Banks said if elected there are issues globally, nationally and locally he is concerned about.
“When we talk about repealing Obamacare we can’t lose sight that a significant piece of Obamacare is the medical device tax, and if I’m elected I will be a champion of eliminating that tax just like Senator Coats has,” Banks said.
He said the medical device tax stifles the economy at home in the district in Kosciusko and Whitley counties where there are a number of businesses who are unable to create more jobs because of the tax.
He said the eastern part of the district is affected by the 122nd Fighter Wing unit of the Indiana Air National Guard stationed in Fort Wayne.
“The next congressman from this district will be involved in the transition from  A-10s to the F-16s in the next few years, and I believe I am uniquely qualified to be an advocate for the base to advocate for protecting and strengthening the base and protecting and growing it,” Banks said. “Currently, it has a $60 million economic impact on Northeast Indiana and I think we can grow that by adding more components to that base.”
He said globally he personally believes through his experience with his deployment that the current administration has done more to weaken the military.
“The next president and congress will have much work to do to rebuild our stature as the greatest country in the world,” Banks said.
He said he will be an advocate for national security, and is the only veteran and candidate with a military background of service in the race.
He said he has a business background in the commercial construction business, having worked for the Bradley Company that has an office in Kosciusko County.
“My business background teaches me that government is often what gets in the way of progress for business and creating jobs,” Banks said.
Banks said as a congressman he would advocate for the business community and eliminate hurdles and regulations that get in the way of entrepreneurs and small businesses from creating more jobs.[[In-content Ad]]
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