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Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Ind. Gov't. - Local legislative meetings scheduled during the session praised
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has an editorial today praising local legislative meetings scheduled during the session, and asking that they:
become a routine exercise for House and Senate members alike. The political process is improved when it includes voices from the grassroots level.House Speaker Brian Bosma was host in Fort Wayne on Friday to the GOP caucus’ sixth and final town meeting. He and nine lawmakers from northeast Indiana listened patiently to two hours of testimony from area residents concerned with everything from Medicaid cuts to the loss of video slots revenue by veterans’ organizations. The opportunity to be heard was welcome, even if the session’s late date means the testimony is likely to have little if any effect on current legislation. And even if they didn’t hear responses they would have liked, area residents clearly appreciated. * * *
If the lawmakers were less helpful with the tough questions about providing for needy Hoosiers, they were at least respectful and interested. The town meeting should become a regular feature of the session. And while it was a bonus to have the House speaker in attendance, northeast Indiana residents would still be well served by meeting with their own delegation, preferably earlier in the session.
As one area resident observed, Indianapolis sometimes seems very far away. Bringing it closer to home is good politics and good policy.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 19, 2005 09:28 AM
Posted to Indiana Government