Last week Willie Nelson turned 88 and this week his classic “On the Road Again” was the unofficial theme song of the Indiana Republican Party. I was on the road and visited with party leaders and supporters in Kosciusko, Warsaw, Elkhart, St. Joseph, and Howard Counties. This culminated with watching Governor Holcomb help kickoff Opening Night for the South Bend Cubs, the Cubs' first game in over a year. Traveling, meeting with Hoosier Republicans, and safely watching a baseball game in a fantastic stadium with fans are all reminders that, because of Republican leadership in Indiana, we’re returning to normal.

We were on the road to talk about some of the big wins from this legislative session, and make no mistake about it, there are a lot of BIG wins. Under Governor Holcomb and the Republican supermajorities in the state legislature, Indiana expanded school choice, paid down debt, is paying cash for capital improvement projects, made record investments in education and economic development and did all this while balancing the budget, maintaining a healthy reserve and triple-A credit rating and keeping our tax and regulatory burden low. These are real results for real people and are only possible because of real Republican leadership. Republicans will keep delivering for Hoosiers and I’ll keep getting on the road again to share the good news and meet with the grassroots leaders throughout our state who’ve made the Indiana Republican Party the dominate political organization in our state.

Thanks

Kyle

Photo: Chairman Hupfer visits with Howard County GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Jack earlier this week in Kokomo

Building One Indiana for All

Governor Holcomb addressed fans at Opening Night for the South Bend Cubs. This is a significant step in our state's continued reopening, because this is the first minor league baseball game played in South Bend in over a year! Thanks to the nearly 2 million Hoosiers who have been fully vaccinated and Governor Holcomb's data driven leadership, we're getting back to normal life in a safe and healthy way.

On Thursday, Governor Holcomb joined executives from Milwaukee Tool to cut the ribbon and celebrate the grand opening of the company’s new tool service hub in Greenwood. To support its new Indiana operations, Milwaukee Tool plans to create more than 450 new jobs and has already hired 120 employees toward that goal. Thanks to Governor Holcomb's pro-growth, business friendly leadership, we've broke jobs and economic development records year after year. 

Photo: Governor Holcomb and South Bend Cubs owner Andrew Berlin attend opening night of the Cubs’ 2021 season in South Bend on Tuesday.

Victoria Spartz Announces Reelection

Victoria Spartz has announced that she will run for another term in congress representing Indiana's 5th District.
 

"There is a lot at stake for our country and I believe I can be valuable to my constituents and fight for good policy solutions badly needed for our nation." -Victoria Spartz

Read her full announcement here: https://mailchi.mp/spartzforcongress/announcement

READI Grants

Governor Holcomb today announced the launch of the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI). This transformational initiative will dedicate $500 million in state appropriations to promote strategic investments that will make Indiana a magnet for talent and economic growth. 

Gov. Holcomb announced the concept of READI in his State of the State address in January, and the Indiana General Assembly funded the program as a part of its new biennial budget. READI is expected to attract at least $2 billion of local public, private and philanthropic match funding that will propel investment in Indiana’s quality of place, quality of life, and quality of opportunity. 
 

“READI will lead the nation in encouraging regional collaboration, and it will equip Indiana regions with the tools and resources needed to implement strategic investments in quality of place and innovation, creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our state for residents and for future generations of Hoosiers.” -Governor Holcomb

Session Highlights

It’s been just over a week since the Indiana General Assembly recessed the 2021 legislative session. It was a transformational session, the positive impact of which will reverberate for years.
 

“We’re investing in education at an all-time record high level,” Governor Eric Holcomb.

When it comes to education, the 2021 legislative session:

• Fully funded K-12 public schools
  • In fact, 50% of the state budget goes to K-12 education
  • This supports in-person and virtual learning due to COVID-19.
    • It’s worth noting that Governor Holcomb fulfilled his commitment to maintain 100% of education funding throughout pandemic.
• Expanded the best-in-the nation school choice program.
  • Now covers about 48,000 Hoosier students
  • The Wall Street Journal says “Once again Hoosiers are leading the way in establishing an education system that gives parents and children a choice.”
• Established record levels of investment in K-12 education.
  • Added $1.9 billion in NEW money to K-12 education
    • Fulfills Gov. Holcomb’s teacher compensation commission’s recommendation of $600 million increased investment in public schools.
  • Increased K-12 tuition support by 9.1%, or $1.03 billion, over the biennium.
    • 92% of Indiana students are in traditional public schools and 93% of education funding goes to those schools.
• Recommends starting teacher salaries at $40,000.
  • This follows through on another recommendation from Gov. Holcomb’s teacher compensation commission.
  • Requires schools to direct 45% of tuition support to teacher pay.
     

“The raises for educators, increased education funding…. are all game changers,” Governor Eric Holcomb.
 

• The 2021 legislative session is also paying down debts. In education this means:
  • Paying down $600 million to the teacher retirement fund, further easing district-level responsibilities to the fund.
• Continues Governor Holcomb’s expansion of broadband by investing $250 million in connectivity.

“In the 21st century, high quality, affordable broadband is essential to the success of all Hoosiers and our state,” Governor Eric Holcomb.

Governor Holcomb and legislative leaders are investing in students and teachers, paying down debt, and supporting Hoosier families. When Republicans lead, students, parents, and teachers win.