Friend Report Activity in the General Assembly has picked up substantially this week, and serious issues are receiving hearings in committees. Some bills before us affect society in very controversial ways. There was a hearing on smoking that lasted over four hours. People in favor of a smoking ban were given two hours for testimony, and those in opposition were given the same amount of time. The Public Policy Committee will consider what it heard and will have the opportunity to vote on this bill. It is a polarizing issue with several components to consider. Health, business concerns and personal freedoms are all being discussed. Should cell phone use be restricted when people are driving? That question is also being debated. There are different viewpoints being presented, and, once again, the issue of personal freedom is being used as a major discussion topic. Part of this bill requires that only hands-free devices be used while driving. The question becomes one of enforcement and how can this be truly an effective law. Will it truly reduce accidents? That is the most frequently asked question. People also are concerned about what are asking our law-enforcement officers to police. Is talking on a cell phone reason enough for a traffic stop? These are serious issues for the committee to consider. When the legislature passed the Major Moves bill, it set aside $500 million to ensure that something would be available for future projects and emergencies. House Bill 1656 tried to open that lock box to allow that money to be spent. House Republicans unveiled a plan, and it was accepted by the Democrats. Our amendment has five goals:
The amendment to spend the state's legacy fund was also accepted, so the bill is convoluted and probably flawed. I support funding for local roads and streets, but I want a reasonable program, not just throwing money at a problem. Reorganization of local government is also being discussed in the Senate. This issue is very controversial and is causing a great deal of angst for legislators. Eliminating local elected offices is a serious action, and for state elected officials to do away with local officials takes a great deal of consideration. I believe it is premature to reorganize local offices without some plan in place to handle the tasks those offices perform. My opinion is that this bill has a very difficult path ahead. A discussion may be productive, but I think a logical plan of work is a more important first step. This is not a bill that I support. We can make some efficiencies happen without eliminating offices. One of our most immediate needs is to address the unemployed in our communities. In District 23, the Elkhart area is the most affected by job loss. Everyone in this district is affected, and I want to make sure we do everything locally to address the needs of Hoosiers. It is important to expand Ivy Tech programs and the Department of Workforce Development and to manage the unemployment program so that retraining and relief are available. I am determined to act reasonably and quickly so Hoosiers have the assistance they need. Confidence and resolve are very important issues for each of us to adopt. Being sour and negative won't help. Some cautious optimism and positive action will improve our situation. More later,
Bill Friend |
