Here are a few items we came across in our Indy Politics e-mail, except for the last one. We got that one after making a few phone calls.
A companion to U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly’s bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act passed the Senate Wednesday. Donnelly said, “As the suicide rate continues to rise in Indiana and across our country, this bipartisan legislation could make a difference for teenagers, veterans, or anyone who is experiencing a mental health crisis and seeking help. This legislation would require the Federal Communications Commission to review the national suicide prevention hotline, including whether a particular three-digit dialing number should replace the current ten-digit number to make it easier for those in crisis to connect with the necessary mental health resources. I look forward to President Trump signing it into law soon.”
U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) Wednesday met with families from Franklin, Indiana who founded the non-profit “If It Was Your Child” to raise awareness of the high pediatric cancer rate in Johnson County. Senator Young met with Kari Rhinehart and Matt Findley who lost their daughter to cancer, as well as Stacie and Matthew Davidson whose son is a leukemia survivor.
Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane used three-year-old Facebook messages by Republican State Senator Andy Zay to call for hate crimes legislation.
Americans for Prosperity-Indiana (AFP-IN) released the results of a new survey showing that 69% of likely voters want the U.S. Senate to pass the bipartisan FIRST STEP Act in the next few months. The legislation would create access to second chances for individuals transitioning to life after prison and reduce the number of incarcerated Americans – an idea 68% of likely voters say is important. AFP-IN says the survey follows new research from Florida State University that shows both male and female inmates crave more opportunities to work, learn, practice a faith, improve their health, and spend more time developing personal relationships than they currently do while incarcerated.
The Republican National Committee says volunteers across Indiana surpassed 500,000 voter contacts this weekend for 2018 cycle. The RNC says it outpaced Indiana Democrats by contacting nearly 90,000 additional voters.
Meanwhile, Indiana Democrats are pointing out an op-ed by Cummins CEO Tom Linebarger that tariffs, supported by Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun, will harm his company and employees.
Look for local governments to get notification from the state as to how much income tax revenue disbursements they’ll be getting for the upcoming fiscal year. Marion County is expected to receive up to $20 million additional dollars.
