Boone County Clinton County Hamilton County Howard County Rep. VanNatter: Hoosiers demand jobs and a stable economy STATEHOUSE —Members of the Indiana General Assembly, including State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo), returned to the Statehouse for Organization Day to hear the House Speaker deliver a speech setting the tone for the upcoming legislative session. This year, Speaker Brian C. Bosma (R-Indianapolis) addressed job creation during the Organization Day ceremony. Indiana currently has a stubborn unemployment rate hovering around 9 percent. “We have seen improvement in job creation over the last few months as result of the legislation enacted last session, said Rep. VanNatter. I look forward to returning in January to debate important job creation legislation that will bring even more jobs to Indiana, and put Hoosiers back to work.” The Indiana General Assembly is a part-time legislature, meeting on a two-year cycle — three months in even-numbered years and four months in odd-numbered years. Short sessions, such as the upcoming one, are relatively new for the legislature. Until 1969, Indiana legislators only met once every other year. In 1970, the legislature decided to allow short sessions to deal with important issues facing the state. The upcoming 2012 legislative session will begin on Jan. 4 and according to state statutes must conclude by March 14. The public is encouraged to watch the legislative process online, a Republican-created transparency initiative, to view both the House Chamber and committee proceedings at www.in.gov/legislative . Click on “Watch the General Assembly Session,” on the right side of the screen. For questions or comments regarding this session, Rep. VanNatter can be reached by email at h38@IN.gov, by phone at 1-800-382-9841 or by mail at the Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, Ind. 46204. -30- |
