Dick Dodge for State Representative

Meet-and-greet October 21

dick.dodge — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:41:25 +0000

Join us for a meet-and-greet with

Rep. Dick Dodge and State Auditor Tim Berry

Thursday, October 21 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM

Dekalb County Republican Party Headquarters

125 W. 8^th St. Auburn, IN 46706

A Tale of Two Mailings

dick.dodge — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:38:41 +0000

http://morgans2cents.blogspot.com/2010/09/tale-of-two-mailings.html

My Pledge to You

dick.dodge — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 01:41:31 +0000

Dear friends,

I would like to take a few moments to thank you for your support and let you know how it has helped me be a positive and effective representative. I have had the opportunities to serve on the Public Health Committee, where I have co-authored and sponsored legislation that involves health issues. As ranking minority leader of the Natural Resources committee I have sponsored and help pass legislation that protects our Constitutional 2nd amendment rights regarding firearms, legislation benefiting the county Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and storm water drainage issues and speeding up the permitting process for removing log jams from rivers and streams. As a member of the Lakes Management Work group I have been involved in studying and authoring legislation to benefit the lakes and rivers in Indiana. I also serve on the Military and Veterans Benefit Board, which develops policy and administrates benefits for our veterans and members on active duty military.

Over the past 6 years I have fought for legislation for our two counties and enjoyed every minute of it. I will never tire, find burdensome, or take for granted any moment I am your representative. I have been an example of a hard worker and know the right way, which is not always the easy way. During the past session I fought for legislation to improve legislator ethics, reduce homeowner and agriculture property taxes, and create incentives to reduce unemployment and won!!

You may have read some disparaging comments from my opponent. I have heard them too and as a representative I do not ever turn a deaf ear to anyone, even with those whom I may disagree with. I will say this “ I have not in the past and will never say anything in the future that I believe to be untruthful, inaccurate or unfair for the purpose of taking your vote”. I truly believe in optimism and that our wonderful state continues to provide real promise.

It is true, our economy is not immune to the recession and many hard times are upon us and while we can look next door to the pain, Hoosiers need only look to the north and east to see states that did not save and did not balance their books to see the economic wounds that will take much longer to heal than ours will. Because of the fiscal conservative leadership, that I have been blessed to be a part of, our economy has not collapsed. Our great state has balanced the books and not cooked them. We have limited the taxes for services. We have created an inviting business environment for companies that locate and create jobs in a clean and safe state. A state that has a world-class workforce and a government that wants them here, a state that wants to be a partner for economic growth and not just handing out assistance. Winston Churchill once said, “Trying to tax oneself out of a recession is like trying to stand in a bucket and try lifting it at the same time”.

I have worked very hard to create legislation and support decisions that bring in the new generation of employers, employers that create paychecks for Hoosiers in technology, health care, aviation, and science. I have never supported a bailout, nor do I support the socialization of some of our biggest and most iconic companies like General Motors. I do not support and never have supported the bailout of those responsible for creating the financial collapse on Wall Street.

I never have and never will yield to national mandate when a fight will either result in a win for Hoosiers or make them think twice before coming back to Indiana for more. In 2011, I plan to support a bill that mirrors Arizona’s new law that makes it legal to arrest and deport any person who is here illegally. If the President and those in Washington would do their jobs, such laws would be unnecessary. If they will not protect you, your families and your jobs, then you can count on me to do it!!

My fellow Hoosiers, I am just like you and I am proud of the manners I have learned as a Hoosier. I will not apologize for being affable and well liked. I am proud to be known as a man that has and will listen to you and you can trust. I am most of all proud to have spent a lifetime right here in Northeast Indiana, raising a family, making friends and doing the good work of the people. I consider the opportunity of serving this district as its representative a privilege and an honor and I ask you for your vote and promise to keep fighting for what is right

Dick Dodge, State Representative District 51

Greetings from Northeast Indiana HD 51

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:05:22 +0000

Greetings from Northeast Indiana HD 51. It has been a privilege to have served this district for the past six years and be a part of the recently completed 116th session of the Indiana General Assembly which consisted of the regular 60 day session in 2009, a special session in June of 2009, and the regular 30 day session this year. The 2009 session included the passing of a 26 billion dollar budget for biennial 2009-11 fiscal years. Indiana’s biennial budget is based on forecasted revenue and unfortunately because of the downturn in the economy the revenue has not met the forecast. This has resulted in over $800 million shortfall in revenue since the beginning of the fiscal year starting on July 1, 2009. The Governor has taken many cost cutting steps to shrink state government expenditures proportionately to the shrinking revenue. Going into the 2010 legislative session there was a general feeling among the legislators that there would be no legislation passed that would add any new spending and we would not raise any taxes.

During the session there were 420 bills filed in the Senate and 388 bills filed in the House. Of the 808 bills, 116 were enacted into law, including HJR1 which was the legislation to provide for a referendum vote to amend the Indiana constitution capping property taxes. Some of the other highlights of the session were legislation to delay raising taxes on employers to pay for the deficit in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, giving K thru 12 schools more flexibility in spending from their various budget funds and lowering the base rate for agricultural land assessments.

As a member of the Natural Resources committee I worked to help pass legislation that extends the expiration date for the Lake Management Work Group, protecting constitutional 2nd amendment rights for gun owners, provide Soil and Water Conservation Districts with more flexibility on paying claims, improve the permitting process for the removal of logjams in rivers and streams to speed up the permitting and granting drainage boards the authority to settle disputes from storm water nuisances. I also served on the House Public Health Committee where we worked on many issues involving insurer access to providers, health and Medicaid fraud matters, long terms care services, professional licensing and various family and social services issues.

I am pleased with the progress we have made on behalf of Hoosiers over the past several months and I know that we must remain diligent to keep Indiana as strong as possible for the future. I do believe that with the progress we have made and changes in creating a friendly place to do business, Indiana will be leading the country in recovering from our economic difficulties and I pledge to work every day to keep Indiana moving forward.

I sincerely appreciate and am grateful for your support and encourage you to contact me with questions and concerns.

Rep. Dodge Claims Victory for 2010 Legislative Session

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:07:09 +0000

STATEHOUSE – State Representative Dick Dodge (R-Pleasant Lake) claimed victory for the 2010 Legislative Session.

Rep. Dodge assisted passing four bills, with his votes to which will do what is best for his local communities as well as all of Indiana.

Rep. Dodge was able to stop the general assembly from having any new tax increases, living within our means and protecting Hoosiers’ pockets.

House Bill 1367

Rep. Dodge voted for House Bill 1367 to allow school funding flexibility.

HB 1367 passed the House by a vote of 97-0.

Also, HB 1367 passed the Senate by a vote of 50-0.

HB 1367 would permit schools to transfer money from specific funds into the school corporation’s general fund.

Schools can transfer up to 5 percent from miscellaneous funds into the school corporations’ general fund. A school can transfer up to 10 percent from the below funds into the school corporations’ general fund if teachers do not receive a general wage or salary increase in the 2010-2011.

“I hope this bill will continue to assist schools so they provide an excellent education without having to drastically cut programs or teachers,” said Rep. Dodge. “Allowing school corporations to choose how they would like to transfer funds within their budgets would allow schools to solely decided how to distribute their funds.”

Senate Bill 23

Rep. Dodge voted for Senate Bill 23 to support a tax delay on employers in efforts to keep Hoosiers employed.

Thankfully, SB 23 passed the House by a vote of 85-12.

Also, SB 23 passed the Senate by a vote of 50-0.

The delay implemented by SB 23 on unemployment insurance tax premiums will save businesses millions of dollars over the next year.

“This bill should help small businesses in our community,” said Rep. Dodge. “Raising costs on businesses will make it very difficult for job creation and make it harder to operate. My intentions for this bill are to create an atmosphere for job creation and to not scare away businesses from coming to into Indiana.”

Senate Bill 382

Earlier this year, Rep. Dodge voted for SB 382 one bill allowing the Illiana Expressway to be built without legislative approval.

House Joint Resolution 1

House Joint Resolution 1, one of the most important accomplishments of the session, was passed early on. It would graft property tax caps into the state constitution after being approved by voters on the November ballot.

Rep. Dodge’s vote is giving homeowners, farmers and business owners the chance to cap their own taxes was the most sweeping tax reform Indiana has seen in several decades. The vast majority of Hoosiers want the opportunity to vote on this critical issue.