After nearly four months of working with constituents, colleagues and stakeholders, the Indiana General Assembly adjourned Sine Die on April 25, meaning the 2025 session has now formally ended. The end of session gives lawmakers a chance to reflect on the important work we completed this year while looking ahead to find more ways we can make…
“Once capital becomes an idol and guides people’s decisions, once greed for money presides over the entire socioeconomic system, it ruins society. It condemns and enslaves men and women, it destroys human fraternity, it sets people against one another.“ (Pope Francis) As I sit this Saturday morning, the spring unfolding outside my window, I am…
What really is the purpose of the Mid-States Corridor? Hank Menke, from the beginning in 2011, has stated it’s purpose is to facilitate the flow of freight and trucking. Mr. Menke’s original concept was of an interstate, I-67, to connect Nashville, TN to Michigan. In March of 2014 Mr. Menke realized that there were major…
This week, the Indiana General Assembly adjourned the 2025 legislative session. One of the most important bills we worked on this year was Senate Enrolled Act 2, which would help preserve Indiana’s Medicaid program. In recent years, the state has experienced significant increases in Medicaid costs that have impacted our ability to fund other important budget…
Now that Congress is on a two week recess, does anyone know if Congressman Mark Mesmer has scheduled a town hall meeting to address everything that has taken place in Washington in just the past four months. We are confident the congressman will not count his recent unexpected appearance at a Jasper Chamber of Commerce…
As an 88-year-old citizen who has watched this nation endure wars, social upheaval, and moments of both shame and triumph, I find myself deeply troubled by what I see today. Our country was built on the sacrifices of men and women who risked their lives to defend its ideals — freedom, justice, truth, and unity….
The Draft Purpose and Need Statement recently released by the Lochmueller Group, (https://midstatescorridor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Combined_Purpose_Need.pdf), illustrates unequivocally again that the proposed Mid-States Corridor is NOT needed and will provide NO benefit to the residents of this region. There are much better options, if folks would just use their heads. The so-called “stakeholders” interviewed by the Lochmueller staff…
More than 900 students from throughout the country are expected to participate in a national Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Career Development Conference April 24-26 in Indianapolis. That the conference is being held in our state is an exciting opportunity! But we’re sad to share that the future of JAG across Indiana is in jeopardy. The…
INDOT and the Mid-States Corridor Project team will present the draft of the Tier 2 Study on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. It’s interesting to note that INDOT and the Mid-States Corridor people are suing 121 residents and taxpayers in Dubois County for access to their land. INDOT claims they need this access to evaluate the…
Today, I received a letter from Governor Mike Braun congratulating my family on receiving the Hoosier Homestead Award. The letter says in part, “The Hoosier Homestead Award is a well-earned tribute to the generations of your family who have worked tirelessly to preserve and grow this legacy. Your farm’s history is woven into the very…
