Everything from charter schools to Sharia law was discussed Saturday morning at a legislative update at the Warsaw Farm Bureau Insurance building.
District 23 Rep. Bill Friend, District 18 Rep. Dave Wolkins, District 17 Sen. Jim Banks, District 22 Rep. Rebecca Kubacki and District 13 Sen. Sue Glick were on hand as well as Congressman Marlin Stutzman (R-3rd District).
Kubacki spoke about the state's need to pay back a $2 billion debt to the federal government.
"We can't create money, we can't borrow money," said Kubacki, who pointed at being a stay-at-home mom for allowing her to know how to work under a budget.
"Nobody knows like a mom how to stretch a dollar," said Kubacki.
Kubacki said one bill that is coming out of committee is one that will require those receiving unemployment benefits to take and pass drug tests if required by an employer.
Later in the meeting, one woman suggested that unemployment benefits for people with children be tied to the student's performance and attendance.
Glick said that the state is beginning to receive Census data and that those numbers will be used to begin redistricting.
Glick, then later on Friend, said that the Republicans would bring more integrity to the process than Democrats had in the past.
Friend said that much of the increase in Indiana's population has centered around the Greater Indianapolis area in places like Carmel, Fishers and Westfield.
Glick said the state is also looking at creating vote centers across the state for people who can't vote on election day.
Glick also said that starting June 1, class D felons will be sent back to county jails, which is causing concern among county facilities that they aren't prepared.
The issue of local government was also a big topic Saturday.
A bill is currently at the statehouse which would eliminate township advisory boards and put the fiduciary responsibilities for townships in the hands of the county council.
"Local government feels like they have a target on their back," said Glick. "The more people involved in government the better."
Wolkins said one bill on the horizon would allow homeschoolers to participate in high school sports. Another bill would not allow undocumented residents to receive in-state tuition for state universities.
Banks said he is fighting against an inheritance tax that he said will kill family farms and drive businesses and wealth out of the state.
Banks also took aim at groups like the Humane Society and Sierra Club and their effect on groups like farmers.
"There's a radical element in our society," said Banks. "It's unbelievable these people exist."
The issue of charter schools dominated Saturday's discussion.
Several of the legislators took issue with the behavior of the teacher's union last week at a hearing on the issue.
Wolkins said he had seen better behavior from teamsters and trade unions.
"If you would have seen (the teacher's union) behavior, you would have said 'These people are teaching our children'," said Kubacki.
Kubacki said there is misinformation regarding charter schools and that money is being taken away from public schools to fund them.
Kubacki said each child has a certain amount of money that is paid to whatever school they go to. She asserted that money should be allowed to go a charter school if the parents of that student want them to go there.
Kubacki and others Saturday also said there is a misconception regarding charter schools and who they take.
"They take everyone," said Kubacki.
Kubacki said once spots in a charter school fill up, at that point a lottery is held.
Friend said that both sides of the charter school argument need to calm down the rhetoric used.
County surveyor Dick Kemper brought up two issues Saturday. One involved county surveyors and the other involved Sharia law.
Kemper voiced his objection to a house bill that would put all drainage issues as the responsibility of county surveyor's offices. Kemper said that would create more work than any surveyor's office in the state could handle.
"It's bad for the state and it's bad for Kosciusko County," said Kemper.
Kemper then said a pending bill at the statehouse that would ban any foreign law, namely Sharia law, should be passed.
"We are asleep at the wheel," said Kemper. "This is serious."
Kemper said that Plainfield is a headquarter for Muslims.
Kemper pointed to events like 9/11, the Fort Hood shootings and the Ground Zero Mosque controversy.
He also noted two instances where a muslim man cited Sharia law as a defense for criminal actions.
One was where a man ran over his daughter with a car because she was becoming "too westernized", and the other was where a man beheaded his wife.
"Thank our God he was found guilty," said Kemper of the second instance.
Stutzman stopped by Saturday's meeting for about 45 minutes and took time to let those in attendance know what was going on in Washington, D.C.
Stutzman said he was proud to be a part of this year's freshmen class of representatives, and that many on both sides of the aisle aren't beholden to party politics but their constituents.
Stutzman talked about the farm bill and how it's now used to encompass everything involving food and nutrition and less about farming and agriculture.
Stutzman said there won't be a new farm bill this year.
Stutzman said he and other lawmakers fought the Republican Party to cut $100 billion from the budget. Stutzman said the Republican leadership wanted to cut 7/12 of $100 billion from the budget.
"This $100 billion is just the tip of the iceberg," said Stutzman.
Stutzman said the top problem for the budget is health care reform.
Members of the Indiana Beaglers Alliance also expressed their concern over issues like lifetime licenses, hunting enclosures and high-fence hunting.
Jack Hyden, from the Beaglers Alliance, said he felt like the government was intent on governing private ownership of property.
