State Legislators Discuss Recent Session
WARSAW — Three Indiana legislators representing the local area were in Warsaw today, March 23, to discuss the most recent legislative session and to take comments, questions and input from local residents and officials.
State Sen. Ryan Mishler, along with State Reps. David Wolkins and Curt Nisly attended the Third House Review Session conducted by the Kosciusko Area Chamber of Commerce at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds’ Shrine building.
Mishler said he was involved in various education-related issues, including providing more money to schools due to a hike in enrollment. He also commented on challenges in state government concerning two embattled school systems and lamented legislation for school safety grants that did not pass.
“There was an increase in the enrollment numbers in K12, so we needed to put more money in to backfill,” said Mishler. “Another key issue that didn’t make it through was conforming to the federal tax rules. If we don’t change some things, it could be very costly to us.”
Nisly touted recent high-profile laws as being high-water marks during the recent session including the passing of Sunday alcohol sales and legalization of CBD oil, an extract of hemp that is said to have medicinal value.
In addition, Nisly said the state needed to take another look at child labor laws.
Nisly said current laws restricted students from working past 7 p.m. during the school year. “What was happening with this fellow from North Webster was he’d get out of school and start working at five o’clock and then by seven o’clock he had to quit.” Nisly said the new law allows for students to work until 10 p.m. on days when there is no school the following day.
Wolkins, a veteran of the Indiana State House with 30 years on the Indiana House of Representatives, told the audience that the legislature was not able to get everything done in the time allotted and would be going back to finish up the year’s agenda.
“We had 894 bills filed this year and we actually voted in the House on 370 of them and two-thirds of them were actually unanimous votes.” Wolkins said the governing body is working on legislation that would streamline government. “I’ve been involved in that since the committee was formed back in 2010 or 2011. We were trying to make government a little leaner, a little smaller and more productive.”
Didn’t think it had a chance but the public’s view is changing on it. It was an usual session, probably one of the most frustrating sessions we’ve had because we did run out of time and we’ve gotten an awful lot of criticism and we deserve it. It just didn’t flow the way it should have and we the Republicans were in charge and we didn’t get it done.”