The Indiana General Assembly is scheduled to convene Jan. 6, 2014. As this important date approaches, I am seeking your input on topics expected to be discussed during the legislative session, which runs through March 14.
In early January, you will . . .
I would like to invite young Hoosiers in the Fort Wayne community to visit the Statehouse and serve as a Senate page during the 2014 legislative session.
The Senate Page Program is a special opportunity to witness the legislative process firsthand, . . .
November signals the start of Indiana’s next legislative session. On November 19, lawmakers will convene at the Statehouse for “Organization Day” to kick off the 2014 General Assembly.
Though largely ceremonial, Organization Day provides . . .
The news headlines say it all: our federal government is struggling. Gridlock and debt plague Washington D.C., and in the wake of the recent shutdown, many Americans are losing trust in those behind the economic steering wheel.
Despite these troubles, . . .
On December 11, 1816, Indiana became the 19th state to join the Union. Each year on that date, various activities celebrating Indiana’s birthday take place around the state.
One of my personal favorites is the Statehood Day celebration held at . . .
It’s never too early to start planning for college. The more preparation and saving Hoosier families do today, the more affordable higher education will be for their students tomorrow.
This fall, I encourage students of all ages and their parents . . .
Enrollment in the federal Affordable Care Act’s insurance overhaul begins October 1, and many questions remain. What insurance plans will be offered in the online exchange? How high will the premiums be? Will this insurance process be more effective . . .
More than one million Hoosiers over the age of 12 – that’s one-fifth of the state’s population – admit to abusing prescription drugs at least once in their lives. This statistic, reported by the Indiana University Center for Health . . .
Are you or is someone you know a college student in need of an internship? The Indiana State Senate is looking for passionate, hard-working students to share their talents during the 2014 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
The Senate Republican . . .
For more than 150 years, the best of Hoosier tradition has annually culminated in one event: the Indiana State Fair. Hoosiers from all walks of life have converged each year to celebrate the best of agriculture, innovation, food, family and fun.
In . . .
“Cutting the red tape.” It’s a figure of speech we’re all familiar with, and one we can all stand behind. Each year, as business practices and technology become more advanced, government must make necessary changes to outdated, . . .
Every year, an estimated 4,200 Hoosier women are diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in our state.
Last month, Whitley County native Carrie Barcus shared her heroic battle with breast cancer in The . . .
Many questions remain following this spring’s ISTEP testing errors, which interrupted at least 78,000 Hoosier students. Though all students were eventually able to complete the test, the technical problems have left educators, families and lawmakers . . .
When asked to name the people in your life who’ve been most influential, I can almost guarantee a teacher makes the cut.
Teachers are the backbone of our education system, and as such, shape our future. Teachers set the foundation for young lives, . . .
Though the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly has come to an end, legislators are already gearing up for next year. Last week, the Legislative Council – a bipartisan group of senators and representatives – met to establish the top priorities . . .
The 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly came to an end just a few weeks ago with the final passage of our state’s next two-year budget. Months of deliberations have led to a budget that’s honestly balanced, retains adequate reserves, . . .
There is no greater public priority than protecting our young people. This April, as we mark National Child Abuse Prevention Month, I’m reminded of my duty as a state lawmaker to make sure Indiana’s child protection services are working . . .
For 50 years now, Ivy Tech Community College has filled an absolutely vital role in our state. The institution provides high-skill jobs training to Hoosiers in a setting that many students find more cost-effective and attainable than a traditional, . . .
David C. Long is a Republican member of the Indiana State Senate representing the 16th district.
He serves as the President Pro Tempore of the Indiana State Senate.
Prior to his election to the Senate, David Long served from 1988 through 2005 as a member . . .
Indiana lawmakers are now in the second half of the 2013 legislative session. Key initiatives to better this state and our Fort Wayne community are well on their way to becoming law. In the Senate, 98 percent of the bills we’ve passed garnered . . .
Too often the men and women who dedicate their lives to serving our country struggle to find meaningful, high-paying work when they return home. The General Assembly is taking several important steps this session to curb this unfortunate trend and . . .
The Indiana Senate had the unique opportunity last week to host a conversation with NASA Commander Kevin Ford live from the International Space Station. We watched from our desks as NASA mission control in Houston beamed us through to Commander Ford, . . .
There’s an old saying that without our health, we have nothing. I’m sure most of us agree with this sentiment, and hold our health and the health of our loved ones above all else. Ensuring Hoosiers have access to high-quality, affordable . . .
Indiana closed out 2012 with a bang. Job growth, new company investment and state revenue all showed positive results, which means more Hoosiers are back to work, more small businesses are finding success and our state economy is growing at a significant . . .
Visit the Senate, Share Your Thoughts on Issues Affecting Hoosiers
As the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly draws near, I would like to take the opportunity to invite you and your family to visit me at the Statehouse, take part in legislative . . .
Perhaps it’s hard to believe, but election season is over and the start of Indiana’s 2013 legislative session is just around the corner. Next Tuesday, November 20, my fellow lawmakers and I will meet at the Statehouse for Organization Day . . .
Access to a consistent, reliable and ample supply of water is one of the most essential services for a functioning community. Unfortunately, residents of Aboite Township in our area have continually faced unsatisfactory water services from private . . .
Each year on December 11, we celebrate Indiana’s statehood. Though the date is foremost a commemoration of Indiana’s entry into the union as the 19th state, it’s also an opportunity to celebrate Indiana’s present and future . . .
It’s not fall in Indiana without a trip to the apple orchard, a hayride with family or pumpkin-picking at the local farm. Because Indiana is a state blessed with abundant agricultural resources and beautiful seasonal weather, enjoying these autumn . . .
It’s no secret college tuition costs are rising at unsustainable rates. As parents who have sent two children off to college, my wife and I understand the anxiety many parents experience when thinking about paying for their children’s education. . . .