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Rep. Woody Burton was appointed to serve as chair of the Pension Management Oversight Commission. He will also serve as a member of the Military Base Planning Council and the Interim Study Committee on Redistricting.

“I look forward to the work we will accomplish through these summer study committees,” said Rep. Burton. “I have been working on pension issues for several years now, most recently this past session with House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1123 that helps retirees cope with inflation and provides a thirteenth check for teachers and public employees. I am honored to be appointed to this committee and look forward to addressing this topic over the interim.”

Rep. Burton has worked with pension issues for several years and has previously served on the Pension Management Oversight Committee. This is his first year serving as chair. The commission is charged with studying a system which a retirement plan of the state or a political subdivision shall periodically report operating and financial conditions to the state and the General Assembly.

Rep. Burton will also be a member of the Military Case Planning Council and the Interim Study Committee on Redistricting. Every year after the legislative session is completed, the Legislative Council meets to assign topics for study during the interim as well as establish any new interim committee that is needed to examine a particular issue. Most interim committees will begin meeting in July with their work wrapping up toward the end of October.

“Summer study committees provide the General Assembly the opportunity to continue to exam issues facing Hoosiers,” said Rep. Burton. “Each legislator has been assigned to committees to prepare and field the data on specific issues to better understand and prepare for next session.”

Interim committees are an integral part of the legislative process. Even though session is adjourned for 2012, legislators will be continuing their duties by conducting in-depth studies of various topics assigned to their committees. Interim committees with specific expertise receive public testimony and work out the details of proposed legislation before it is introduced in the 2013 session.

To see a complete list of the assigned committees, member appointments and what the committees are charged with studying please visit: www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/

I recently read a very moving story about Samantha Fisher, a high school senior from our community,
who overcame many obstacles to accomplish a big goal, to graduate from high school.

You might have read the same story and I am sure you were as moved as I was. During her first year at Whiteland Community High School, Samantha’s mother died of a drug overdose; her father died two years later of alcohol poisoning.  Samantha and her siblings were separated and in and out of foster care for months, causing her focus on school work to be nearly impossible.

By January she had a 1.5 grade-point average, making graduating on time seem impossible.  Fortunately, she had a teacher that suggested Samantha attends Clark-Pleasant Academy. Through Samantha’s hard work and determination, and the help of her teachers at the academy, she began to make progress. By early March, she was able to make up all the courses she was missing.

On May 25, Samantha walked across the Whiteland stage, where she received her high school diploma.

Samantha’s story is remarkable. No one should have to go through something so horrific, especially at such a young age. For her to come out on top—even with all the obstacles life presented her—is amazing and speaks volumes of her character.

Because of the opportunities presented by the Clark-Pleasant Academy, Samantha was able to graduate on time. The academy is the first of its kind in Johnson County, located just west of Whiteland Community High School. The curriculum covers all the major skills required by the Indiana Department of Education, but offers a fresh alternative for students on their educational path toward graduation.

The academy is a public school that specifically addresses low achievement, poor attendance and/or lack of effort by students. They provide academic support with personalized instruction and work to eliminate practices that push students out of school.

Public charter schools and academies are put in place to provide students,and their families, with an additional educational option that may better fit the student’s needs. Either way, I am grateful we have a school in our community that helps students in need.

But more importantly, I am glad it provides a happy ending to stories like Samantha’s.

The Indiana General Assembly was able to address critical issues and end session in a timely manner despite an unprecedented five-week walkout by House Democrats. I worked hard this session to pass a balanced budget that does not raise taxes, to promote private sector job growth, and enact historic education reforms.  Additionally, I believe we took great strides on other important issues that may be of interest to you and I would like to take this opportunity to update you on some of those measures.

Many states across the country are raising taxes and making cuts to vital programs.  Fortunately, through the strong fiscal management of Governor Daniels and the General Assembly, Indiana is in a far better position.  I worked hard to not only pass a balanced budget without tax increases, but also maintain funding for the Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled (CHOICE) program.  This program is vital for many seniors who wish to remain living independently at home.

Another piece of legislation I worked on helps protect individuals from being victimized by fraud and deception involving residential real estate transactions, credit services organizations, and mortgage foreclosure consultants. As a result of House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1182, these victims can now receive assistance from the Consumer Protection Assistance Fund (CPAF). The CPAF provides fraud victims an incentive to bring lawsuits against entities that violate various consumer protection statutes. Unfortunately, senior citizens are often times victims of telephone solicitation by individuals and organizations who sell fraudulent products over the phone. To combat this growing problem, I worked on HEA 1273 which expands the reach of Indiana’s “Do Not Call” list.  To sign up for this program, please call 1-888-834-9969.

As we become a more mobile society, we are continuingly seeing problems with multi-state adult guardianship cases.  During this session, I worked on HEA 1055 which enacts a uniform adult guardianship law.  HEA 1055 will help provide uniformity and reduce conflicts among states when dealing with this very important subject.  Families should not have to deal with undue legal burdens during these difficult times.  Additionally, I supported Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 169 to clarify the law dealing with wills and estate plans to help ensure they are properly carried out.

Finally, I supported SEA 331 which requires a task force to develop a state plan concerning the provision of Alzheimer’s and related dementia services. The state plan will create the infrastructure and programs necessary to build dementia-specific programs to help improve the quality of life for the 120,000 Hoosiers diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Although we made progress and passed many pieces of legislation that will positively impact seniors, I believe there is still work to be done. I will continue to work toward improving programs that will benefit senior Hoosiers. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any suggestions, comments or concerns at either 1-800-382-9841 or by e-mail at h58@in.gov. I want to hear from you.

I receive many emails during the week from friends, constituents, and neighbors.  Some contain interesting information that make you stop and think and with the anniversary of September 11^th attacks approaching I felt that this email was worth sharing.

I didn’t know this event took place at the Pentagon until I read the email. I have since shared it with friends and family who have thanked me for sending it to them.  I felt that this story needed to be shared, especially as we remember those who died during the horrendous attacks on our country almost ten years ago.  I hope this story gives you a sense of pride for what our men and women, who are serving, do for us every day.

Mornings at the Pentagon

Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war.

Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals.

Here’s Lt. Col. Bateman’s account of a little-known ceremony that fills the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America Website.


It is 110 yards from the “E” ring to the “A” ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands here.

This hallway, more than any other, is the ‘Army’ hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.

Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area.

The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. “10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained, and hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.

A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class.

Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden … Yet.

Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier’s chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel.

Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer.

11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt. Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway – 20, 25, 30… Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts.

They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.

There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband’s wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son’s behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.

These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.

State Rep. Woody Burton (R-Whiteland) is encouraging local students to apply for the Statehouse Page Program. The Indiana House of Representatives offers the chance for students, between the ages of 13 and 18, to come into the Statehouse to both interact and get a firsthand experience of what a full day is like involving the legislative process.

“I think our Page Program is a fantastic experience for young students to come into the Statehouse and learn the ins and outs of how our legislature works,” said Rep. Burton.

Pages will get to assist Rep. Burton with his daily activities during their visit.

Students that choose to take advantage of this opportunity will have an excused day of absence from their school. Pages will be responsible for finding their means of transportation both to and from the Statehouse.

Availability fills up fast, so interested students are encouraged to make an appointment as quickly as possible. Those students interested in serving as a page for the House of Representatives should go to http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/page.html. Please have the first and second choice dates ready, and provide the student’s name, address, age, home phone number and school.