About me: Thank you for taking an interest in Indiana politics. Guiding the shape and course of our great state is my passion. With your continued help and support we can build a stronger Indiana. There are many important issues that face our state today. These are your issues and this is your government. I encourage you to be active and to make your voice heard. I will be a better representative with your input. I welcome your feedback on all the issues as I continue to serve you.
Hey Jackie! Thanks for adding me and for all you do for our state! Thanks for being a great Christian example to those around you and for standing firm in your faith. Like Huck inspired me, my motto has become, "Stand Firm, Stand Strong, and Be Heard!"
Keep exalting JESUS where ever you go! The political arena needs JESUS big-time!..God has positioned you for such a time as this!..Do it Sister!! CRY LOAD AND SPARE NOT!!
For those of you interested in reshaping and reforming local government, make sure you read the Kernan/Shepard Commission report. This report has a vast array of information about every area of local government and how it can become more efficient. It is important for you, as voters and taxpayers, to read this report and decide for yourself and your family if you agree with the suggested changes or not. This issue is an issue of "the people" and should be decide by "the people". Please take the time to see what is out there and ask questions of your elected officials, let them know how you feel about it and what you would like to see changed. This is the kind of issue that is so dramatic it should be allowed to be a referendum vote. I will post the link to this report as soon as it becomes available. Jackie
See Jackie today on the Harvest show! She speaks about the Prayer Ban Victory in Indiana. Follow link below! http://www.harvest-tv.com/video/VOD_GetShow.cfm?ShowID=262
Thanks to all of you who attended the "Repeal Property Tax" rally on Friday night..it was great! For those of you who didn't let me reiterate one point that is critical to remember on this issue. There is ONE person who stands between 6.2 million Hoosiers and true property tax reform OR repeal and that is House Speaker Patrick Bauer. If he doesn't hear these extremely important bills, there will be no votes. You might want to call or email him to urge him to MOVE on this issue in January.
Also: please remember to vote on Tuesday...VOTE FOR JUAN MANIGAULT, JEFF REA & JIM PETTIT!!! We CANNOT lose these important Mayoral races! If you know someone that lives in the city limits of these three cities of South Bend, Mishawaka or Elkhart....call them and encourage them to vote for these guys. In addition, offer to pick them up, drive them to vote, take a friend, etc. EVERY VOTE will count this year so it is critical. YOU will make the difference.
Hope to see you at the celebration parties Tuesday night!!
Today, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the ACLU lawsuit regarding praying in Jesus name in the Indiana House of Representatives. The District Court ruling was a landmark decision marking the first time a federal court had attempted to dictate the specific content of prayer in a state or federal legislative body.
Representative Jackie Walorski said, "This is a great day of victory in the State of Indiana and for the United States as well, that the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of uncensored prayers at the Indiana Statehouse. I am thankful to the thousands of people in our State that have fervently prayed for this ruling to be overturned and today, we are thankful that we can again openly pray in Jesus' name in our State. In our culture today, it is critical to protect individual freedom and freedom of expression, and this is a major victory!"
For nearly 190 years, it has been the tradition of the Indiana House to allow clerics from many faiths to offer prayer before the House begins its business for the day. This tradition is also followed by Congress for over 200 years. This freedom, for individuals to offer prayers freely and in accordance with their own religious beliefs has been protected for generations as a free expression of speech and freedom of religious expression. The District Court that originally banned prayer ignored this tradition and sought to require the House Speaker to censor prayers.
The Court of Appeals returned the case to the District Court with instructions to dismiss for want for jurisdiction. Jackie
"I have consistently said that Indiana only has a chance at real property tax reform under this Governor. Gov. Daniels has displayed courage and political will to take on a broken system. I am very pleased that the Governor has heard the pleas of thousands of Hoosiers and is leading the charge to take action. This bold plan gives the legislature a starting point to begin the process of bringing much needed property tax relief in 2008. I look forward to the debate and the details of how this plan will effect my district. I will be holding town hall meetings for the next 8 weeks to see what my constituents think of the plan and how it will effect them." Jackie
" For 5 hours on Sunday, I registered volunteers at the Northwood HIgh School parking lot...some 3,500-4,000 people..who came to help a community put their lives back together after a fierce F3 tornado ripped thru Nappanee on Thursday night. It was awesome to be part of such a relief effort..I have never seen anything like it. People came from everywhere to lend a hand and the logistical part of organizing that many people was incredible as well. Again, I am grateful to the officials in the City of Nappanee, Elkhart County & the INdiana State Police for doing an incredible job. Keep the people of Nappanee in your thoughts and prayers over the coming weeks and months as the rebuild continues. Thanks." Jackie
I toured the tornado damage this morning in Nappanee, Indiana....wow...unbelievable what a two minute tornado can do. Thank God no one was killed but the damge is significant. Keep the people & officials in Nappanee in your prayers. There's a great deal of rebuilding and work to be done. thanks. j
Jackie received Eagle Forum's Legislator of the Year award in St. Louis, Missouri for her work on pro family, pro life issues in the past session. Jackie is an outspoken advocate for the family & has quickly become the conservative leader in Indiana. This past week she also recieved Citizens for Community Values Public Servant of the Year award in South Bend, Indiana. This award was again for leading on conservative values and for defeating the Hate Crimes Bill in Indiana in during the 2007 General Assembly. Congratualations Jackie!
