STATEHOUSE – State Representative Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville) was appointed as the State Auditor today by Governor Mike Pence. After serving House District 78 for 8 years, Rep. Crouch has submitted her letter of resignation effective Jan. 1, 2014 in order to serve in her new capacity. “I want to thank Speaker Bosma and my colleagues in the House of Representatives for all the opportunities they gave me during my time in the Legislature,” said Rep. Crouch. “I was part of several key pieces of legislation that helped move Indiana forward and truly made a difference in the lives of Hoosiers. Even though I will no longer be serving in the House, I look forward to continuing to work with the General Assembly in my new role as Auditor.” While serving as the Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Crouch was heavily involved in crafting balanced budgets that included no tax increases for Hoosiers. She was a strong advocate of less taxation, more efficient and smaller government and insuring that more money reached Indiana’s classrooms. One of Rep. Crouch’s major initiatives was Indiana’s Major Moves, a bill she co-authored in 2006 that funded the I-69 extension from Evansville to Indianapolis. In Nov. 2012, 67 new miles of I-69 opened for business under budget and ahead of schedule. Specifically, this past session she championed language in the budget for funding of the IU School of Medicine in Evansville, more full-time faculty at the University of Southern Indiana and early childhood education to ensure that we have a well-educated future workforce. “I am thrilled that one of our veteran team leaders has been selected as Indiana’s next State Auditor. Suzanne’s prior experiences as Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, serving two terms as the Auditor of Vanderburgh County and serving as a County Commissioner will serve her new position well. She will certainly be missed as a member of our Caucus and a fiscal leader on our Ways and Means Committee, but I am pleased that the Governor has selected a proven elected official for this critical position and am confident she will serve our state well,” said Speaker of the House Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis). She also worked to secure $2 million in education funding from the budget to go toward the Academic Health Science & Research campus in Southwestern Indiana – a new collaborate campus where Ivy Tech Community College Southwest, University of Southern Indiana, University of Evansville and Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville will work together to train health care workers with new education models and will be one of the first campuses of its kind in the nation. “I enjoyed every moment of my eight years as a state representative,” said Rep. Crouch. “State Auditor was not a role I sought after, but I am honored that Governor Pence asked me to fill the position. I am looking forward to starting my new position on Jan. 2nd and working with all levels of government to keep Indiana moving in the right direction.” -30-
Rep. Crouch (R-Evansville) represents portions of Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.
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