There is a bill coming before the state involving bi-partisan school boards which would force candidates to declare their political party and includes that designation to be on the ballot. Also, this would be for 10 years, if enacted.
This was one of the things brought up at the second Legislative Breakfast of the Year held Saturday morning in the cafeteria at Clinton Prairie High School.
“I’ve heard arguments on both sides of this,” said State Representative Mark Genda. “When I spoke in Tippecanoe County yesterday (Friday), I said ‘folks its out there. Please let me know how you feel on this. I had my two terms as a school board member and I don’t know if this would have affected my decision to run if I had to make this affiliation to run.'”
Genda added he needs to learn more about the matter.
“We will see where that goes,” said State Senator Brian Buchanan. “I know there are strong feelings on both sides. The question I still have is what problem are we trying to solve. I definitely have a lot of questions and want to have more discussions. I want to proceed cautiously.”
Time is something neither may have as a vote on the matter is scheduled early this week.
Genda also mentioned that Clinton County Coroner Ed Cripe helped fix something that needed change.
“All the sudden they (terminally ill patients) went into Tippecanoe County for medical needs and they passed away there, all the sudden the county coroner there (Tippecanoe County) superceded and said we’re going to do a post-mortem examination and generated a fee for that,” said Genda. “He turned around and charged Clinton County for that fee because that person was a Clinton County resident.”
Genda added that was totally wrong and Cripe got together with State Representative Heath VanNatter and said that was a good bill for Clinton County residents and taxpayers money.
This is also a budget year for the State of Indiana to haggle about and go back and forth on.
“I believe the budget’s moving along,” said Buchanan. “The House just made an amendment on their proposed budget. So, we’ll see what happens to it over there. Probably in about a week-and-half or two weeks, it’ll be on the Senate side and we’ll start diving in, have discussions and see where it goes. As far as I know, things are going pretty good.”
Buchanan added this year’s budget will exceed $40 million.