Where I Stand

Economic Development and Job Creation

  • House Republicans laid the foundation for economic development efforts by adding several initiatives into the 2003 budget bill, all while being the minority party.
  • Republicans then gained control of the House in 2004 and reformed the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to ensure that Indiana is in a favorable position to attract and retain good jobs.

Property Taxes

  • Taxpayers know best how to spend their own money. I will continue the fight to make sure the Indiana government lives within its means by opposing tax increases and getting rid of ludicrous benefits like the legislature’s lifetime health care benefit.
  • The passage of an increased homestead credit on property taxes will result in no statewide increase in property taxes in 2006.  We as a majority, hope to further affect change in the use of property taxes to ensure that the citizens of Indiana are not unfairly burdened with high property taxes.

Find alternatives to make health care more affordable

  • 850,000 Hoosiers are without adequate healthcare. We are working to find real solutions to address this issue. 

Continue the Battle against Meth

  • Meth is a plague on the good people of Indiana. I have and will continue to help provide law enforcement officers with better tools to fight meth producers, pushers, and users.

More Dollars to the Classroom

  • Allows school corporations to collaborate with other school corporations in the purchasing and pooling of resources in the areas of buying insurance, school buses, energy costs, food services, facilities maintenance, transportation services, textbooks, and technology.
  • State Board of Education will examine school corporation expenditures in student instruction, support services, operational expenses, and non-operational expenses.

Agriculture and Bio-fuels

  • House Bill 1378, Corn Check Offs, allows for increased producer profitability and flexibility.
  • Establishes a tax credit paid to local gas station owners to help reduce their cost in installing pumps and tanks for the sale of Ethanol and/or other Bio-diesel fuels.
  • Reduction of E-85 based fuel gas tax from 18 cents to 12.8 cents.
  • Tax credits for E-85 and hybrid vehicles up to $85 per month or $1,000 per year income tax deduction for hybrid vehicles. 
  • 100% excise tax credit for the first year of ownership for E-85 compatible vehicles.