Over 300 hundred gathered in Huntington Friday night for the one year TEA party Celebration and State Debate.  Tom Ringenberg brought us back in time to consider the delegations of the Continental Congress as they were debating what kind of government to establish that would provide for our country.  Founding Father Ben Franklin (Bob Stouder) shared one of his most famous speeches of which he delivered to the Constitutional Convention on June 28, 1787.  In His speech Franklin stated “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men.”  The first speaker of the evening was Jim O’Donnell who shared with us our nation’s crisis of debt, with graphs comparing our current debt to where it has been in the past.  Next, inspiring speaker Peter Heck shared how the Declaration of Independence is still relevant to our lives today.  He shared the words of the Declaration and compared the situation of our Founders with the situation that we currently find ourselves in today.

After the speakers, moderator Wil Kline kicked off the debate between State Senate Candidates Jim Banks and Tom Wall, and State Representative Candidates Ron Fusselman and Dan Leonard.  All 

questions were submitted by the audience leading up to the debate.  

The candidates answered multiple questions regarding taxes, education, religious freedoms, Indiana’s fight against federally-controlled 

health care, gun rights, immigration, jobs, and the economy.  

Afterward a straw poll was conducted with the following results:  For the Representative race, Ron Fusselman won with 92 votes while Dan Leonard received 84 votes.  For the Senate race, Jim Banks won with

138 votes while Tom Wall received 45 votes.

Creative and patriotic signs were entered into the sign contest with the winner, Lilyanna Alexander, coming out on top in a very tough competition.  Thank you to all the participants as the proceeds from the sign contest will go towards purchasing pocket constitutions.

Our next event will be a debate of 10 local offices on April 30th at the Awakening church from 7-9 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30.  For more information please visit huntington-tea-party.info.  Thank you to all those who attended and showed their support.  Thank you also to all those that helped put this event together.

                Indianapolis – The Hoosiers for Economic Growth PAC announced today its endorsement of Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) for election to the Indiana Senate in District 17.  

                “Indiana’s economic and job creation future is directly related to achieving significant improvements in our K-12 education system.  Jim Banks understands the importance of education, focusing on improving student learning, and providing school choices for parents,” said Jeff Brantley, executive director of Hoosiers for Economic Growth PAC.  “Jim Banks wants to see schools succeed for students in northeast Indiana and will provide the leadership locally and in the Senate to really make a difference.”

                “I am pleased to receive the endorsement support of Hoosiers for Economic Growth, said Jim Banks.  “We can energize efforts to attract and grow high-paying job opportunities right here in our area. Helping our students get the best education possible is an essential part of that vision.”

                Hoosiers for Economic Growth PAC supports the election of candidates to the Indiana General Assembly.  HEG advocates for thoughtful public policies designed to promote economic growth, competitiveness, and a highly-prepared workforce.  Improving the state’s K-12 education is a top-priority for the organization.

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Paid for by the Hoosiers for Economic Growth PAC and authorized by the Friends of Jim Banks.

Otis R. Bowen, M.D.

March 1, 2010

Columbia City – The Hoosier Gun Owners PAC announced their endorsement today for Jim Banks for State Senate in Indiana’s 17^th District.  “When it comes to protecting the Second Amendment, Jim Banks is the clear choice for voters in the 17^th District,” said Matt Boyd, Treasurer and Spokesman of the PAC.  “Hoosier Gun Owners PAC was created by a group of Second Amendment supporters who are passionate about protecting our constitutional freedoms.  Jim Banks is the type of proven leader we can count on to protect our rights in the Indiana General Assembly.  He is the only candidate in the race who has even addressed the Second Amendment.  The choice here is very clear between Banks and his opponent.  We encourage all gun owners in the 17^th District to vote for Jim Banks for State Senate.”

Banks has been endorsed by numerous conservative organizations and leaders including Indiana Right to Life PAC, Allen County Right to Life PAC, Indiana Family Action PAC, American Family Association of Indiana PAC, Patriots Project, Congressman Mike Pence, State Representative Jackie Walorski, Congressman Mark Souder, Marion Mayor Wayne Seybold, Wabash Mayor Robert Vanlandingham, Opportunity Project of Indiana and many others.

Hoosier Gun Owners PAC was created in 2008.

Op-Ed by Jim Banks

Feb. 25, 2010

747 Words

In the summer of 2003 when Mitch Daniels’ newly christened RV1 was making its inaugural lap through the highways and byways of our great state, a group of young Hoosiers organized a rally in Columbia City.  I was proud to lead this group and welcome them to my grandparents’ property for Mitch’s first trip to Whitley County.  We titled our rally “We Want to Stay.”  Nearly 250 college students and young professionals from every corner of the state gathered to send the future governor and many media outlets a message: we stood for Mitch because Mitch stood for opportunity for young Hoosiers.  We were on the verge of entering the Indiana workforce, and Mitch gave us hope.

While Governor Daniels has worked hard to spur economic development and put our state on the right track for a comeback, the economic downturn has created the perfect storm of unacceptably high unemployment and rising budget deficits.  These issues have taken center stage at our state legislature where the Governor has valiantly led efforts to cut state spending without raising taxes.

As a candidate for State Senate District 17, putting unemployed and underemployed Hoosiers back to work is priority number one.  In order to get there, we must focus on better educating our Hoosier workforce.  As companies expand and search for locations to build their business, they first ask Indiana economic development specialists whether the available workforce has the necessary skills to fill their jobs.  There is an important trend in Indiana public universities that we must address if we want those questions answered with an emphatic “yes.” 

Indiana and Purdue Universities are accepting an increasing percentage of out of state students each year in order to receive out of state tuition rates to cover budget deficits.  This trend hits home as I consider that my slightly better than average high school grades may not have been enough to earn me a spot at Indiana University and the opportunity to become the first in my family to graduate from college if I were applying today, rather than 13 years ago.  But more importantly, it concerns me greatly for young Hoosiers applying to pursue an education at I.U. or Purdue today.

Consider this: according to I.U. “Fact Books”, since 2004, the out of state student population has risen one percent each year and in 2009, the total percentage of I.U. out of state freshmen was an astonishing 45 percent.  Compare that with 2002 when the total out of state percentage was just 21 percent according to the same source. 

I’ve done enough research to see that this issue isn’t unique to Indiana.  In fact, states all across the country are wrestling with it.  With nowhere to turn to make up for budget deficits, college presidents are opting to increase the number of out of state students for the extra cash.  This is, of course, to the detriment of young Hoosier students and ultimately, to our economic recovery. 

As a result, some states have determined to cap the percentage of out of state students their state universities can enroll.  The caps vary widely, but all have the same goal: provide opportunity for in state students to attend college who, in turn, will be likely to enter the state workforce well-educated and primed to make a valuable contribution to the state’s economy. 

In Colorado the cap is nearly 50 percent while in North Carolina it is 18 percent.  Here in Indiana, a Democrat State Representative has sponsored a bill, House Bill 1141, to cap the out of state percentage at 25 percent of any freshman class at our public universities. 

As a legislator, I would push for a cap on the out of state student population in our public universities.  I believe we must work to ensure that every capable Indiana high school student who wants to attend one of our taxpayer subsidized universities has the opportunity to do so. 

With a state average of nearly 10 percent unemployment as of December of 2009 and closer to 12 percent throughout the 17^th Senate District, we cannot afford to fund our state colleges and universities to pay for the education of New York and Illinois students.  It is time to demand that our public institutions of higher learning welcome as many Hoosier students as possible.  If we don’t turn back this trend now, the education gap in our state will be one statistic that will very much hinder our road to an economic comeback. 

Jim Banks is a Whitley County Councilman, Director of Business Development at Hagerman Construction, Graduate of Indiana University-Bloomington and a candidate for State Senate District 17.  Visit his website at www.JimBanks.us.    

IFA PAC Executive Director, Ryan McCann, had this to say about candidate Banks, “Working with Jim on pro-family issues, from his time at Focus on the Family to the present, proves to me that he is a pro-family leader we need in the State Senate. Jim is a man Hoosiers can count on to make Indiana a better place for Hoosier families to live, work and play.”

Indiana Family Action PAC is the sister organization of Indiana Family Action and Indiana Family Institute. Indiana Family Institute is the state affiliate of Focus on the Family. Indiana Family Action PAC is committed to helping principled state leaders dedicated to pro-family values become elected public servants.

February 10, 2010

Contact: Mike Fichter, Chairman

Indiana Right to Life PAC endorses Jim Banks for State Senate

            Indianapolis, IN – Indiana Right to Life PAC today is pleased to announce its endorsement of Jim Banks for State Senate in District 17.  Indiana Right to Life PAC is widely regarded as the state’s most powerful pro-life voice in state political and legislative issues. 

IRTL-PAC Chairman Mike Fichter issued the following statement today regarding the endorsement of Banks:

“Jim Banks is a longtime supporter of Indiana Right to Life and its ongoing efforts to defend and uphold the sanctity of life.  We know that Jim will be a rock solid pro-life voice in the Senate.  We also know that he will never be intimidated by powerful lobbying forces in Indianapolis who want to see abortions expanded and paid for by our tax dollars.  There is no doubt that Jim Banks will quickly establish himself as a leading voice for family friendly values in the Senate.   With today’s endorsement, we are encouraging every pro-life voter in State Senate District 17 to support Jim Banks in the upcoming primary election.”  

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