Indiana General Assembly
House of Representatives
NEWS RELEASE
Indiana House Republican Caucus
Room 401-6, Statehouse
Indianapolis, IN 46204		  
Contact: Tony Samuel
(317) 232-9887 or 1-800-382-9841
e-mail: tsamuel@iga.state.in.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		  
Tuesday, November 22, 2005

State Representatives Organize for 2006 Session
Offer Support to Those Affected by Natural Disasters

(STATEHOUSE) Nov. 22, 2005 - The Indiana House of Representatives met today for Organization Day to prepare for the upcoming 2006 legislative session which begins January 4th. In addition to technical and
ceremonial proceedings, Members paid tribute to those affected by tornadoes in Indiana and hurricanes of
the gulf coast region and honored the many Hoosiers that assisted the victims of the natural disasters.

Representatives and staff collected items needed for the relief efforts, and are distributing them to the gulf region with the assistance of Grace Community Church of Indianapolis. Volunteers from the church will be
delivering the items to a relief and distribution center in the gulf region. State Representatives from
southwestern Indiana will also be delivering relief items to the areas affected by tornadoes in Vanderburgh and
Warrick counties. Financial contributions for Indiana victims are being made as well.

The legislative session will begin on Wednesday, January 4th at 1:30 p.m. Speaker of the Brian Bosma outlined
and spoke briefly on the following House Republican priorities of the legislative session:

  • Property Taxpayer Relief
  • Job Creation
  • Education
  • Local Government Efficiency
  • Road Funding

    "Last year we accomplished a great deal of work in just a few short months," said Speaker of the House Brian
    Bosma. "We must continue to steer Indiana in a new direction towards opportunity and prosperity for all
    Hoosiers. We must not squander even one minute of this session. Our fellow Hoosiers deserve and expect us to work diligently and expediently to continue the progress already made and take the next steps forward."

    Further details of the House Republican agenda will be released prior to the legislative session.

    Speaker Bosma also announced a new House Republican Open Government Initiative to provide video and audio from the House Ways and Means Committee room, where fiscal issues are debated, and one of the four House Committee rooms located in the basement of the Statehouse. Committees will be scheduled in Room 156-C for Internet broadcast. The public can access the House floor or Committee proceedings at www.in.gov/legislative. A schedule of committee meetings to be broadcast will be posted on the website. Due to the number of committee meetings that take place simultaneously, not every committee meeting will be available via the Internet. Video broadcast of House floor proceedings has also been updated to include a voting board which will show each Member's vote, information title bars to display the name of the Representative speaking, and better camera angles on each Member addressing the Chamber.

    In addition, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Jeff Espich (R) - Uniondale, joined Speaker Bosma to announce a series of hearings to take place prior to session throughout the month of December to discuss property taxpayer relief measures. The Ways and Means Committee hearings will take place on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 1 p.m., Thursday Dec. 15 at 9:30 a.m., and Thursday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. They will take place in the House Chamber in order for them to be broadcast via the Internet while equipment is being installed in the Ways and Means Committee room.






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