State of Indiana Archives: on Environment
Eric Holcomb:
Investing in community trails, planting a million new trees
We're re-starting our $90 million state investment in community trails in every corner of the state to move us toward an even more interconnected system. Moreover, Indiana has more than four times the timberland acreage than we did
100 years ago, and we're adding to that by planting one million new trees--natural scrubbers--at or near our parks over the next five years.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature
Jan 19, 2021
Woody Myers:
Set standards for clean energy, reducing greenhouse gases
Q: Tighten or loosen environmental regulations?Woody Myers: Tighten. Set standards and incentives for more clean energy and reforestation, while reducing greenhouse gases and erosion.
Eric Holcomb: Loosen. Supports freeing Indiana from "Washington's one-size-fits-all overregulation," and streamlining permitting process.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Eric Holcomb:
Additional million trees to be planted over next five years
We now have four times more timberland acreage than we did 100 years ago. Recently, I learned the Central Indiana Land Trust has committed to planting one million trees throughout Indiana that will buffer some of our most iconic natural areas.
I've directed the Department of Natural Resources to plant another million trees on top of that over the next five years. That extra timberland will perfectly complement our $100 million renovation to our incredible memory-making state parks.
Source: 2020 Indiana State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Eddie Melton:
Clean car standards create jobs
State Sen. Eddie Melton [appeared] at Genesis Center's Fusion Sculpture for a "Clean Car Standards" campaign news conference. Melton said, "These standards have been a huge job booster for Indiana. These standards have spurred innovation and job
creation in the auto industry. As a leading manufacturing state, Indiana has many workers in the steel/aluminum, transmission and engine industries, making components that are going into making cleaner and more fuel-efficient cars."
Source: Times of Northwest Indiana on 2020 Indiana governor race
Jun 4, 2019
Andrew Straw:
EPA should have more power to clean up, not less
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Fight EPA regulatory over-reach"?A: Strongly oppose. The EPA has done wonders in cleaning up our environment and NW Indiana is a great example.
The EPA should have more power to clean up, not less. The success of the EPA will mean fewer people dying of cancer and other awful diseases, including on military bases, many of which are Superfund sites.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Indiana Senate candidate
Feb 28, 2018
Mark Hurt:
Rein in environmental regulations
Hurt supports requiring a cost benefit analysis and an up or down vote on measures affecting clean coal, clean air and many other areas of our society. Hurt believes Congress has allowed its legislative functions to be unduly delegated
to unelected staff at administrative agencies. Agencies circumvent Congress, increasingly bypassing elected representatives in carrying out unwise regulations and imposing hidden taxes.
Source: 2018 Indiana Senatorial website MarkHurt.com
Oct 15, 2017
John Gregg:
Reducing air pollution reduces healthcare costs for decades
Unfortunately, Indiana ranks first in the nation for air pollution, which is more than just a bad statistic. Our poor air quality is linked to Indiana having a higher rate of cancer and lung disease deaths than cleaner states. In addition,
Indiana ranks highest in the nation for air pollutants that cause increased respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, and difficult or painful breathing.Not only are these very real health consequences for
Hoosiers, but it increases the cost of healthcare in Indiana to treat people sickened by the air they breathe. In fact, over half the health care savings from reducing air pollution would come from Medicare, the public health care program for
senior citizens.
Improving our air quality will not only directly improve health for Hoosier senior citizens, but it will also reduce the tax burden on Hoosiers by reducing demand for expensive health care for generations to come.
Source: 2016 Indiana governor campaign website GreggForGovernor.com
Aug 31, 2016
Mike Pence:
Veto climate bill compromise by industry & environmentalists
A bill that originally would have required "no more stringent" regulations than federal rules was vetoed by Gov. Mike Pence, despite a compromise on the bill agreed to by both industry and environmental groups. Under the compromise on HEA 1082, IDEM
could propose regulations more stringent than the federal government, but would have been required to report them to the General Assembly. The regulations would not have taken effect until the conclusion of the following legislative session.
Source: HECweb.org "Pence Vetoes" on Indiana Voting Records HEA 1082
Apr 4, 2016
Eric Holcomb:
Stand up to federal government over environmental regulation
In the end, [the Republican candidates] are closely aligned on most policy issues. The difference is in tone. Holcomb is more likely to call for change with a smile and a Yogi Berra quote than with a fiery, angry speech.
His campaign will center on some basic questions, he said, such as "what are we doing to make ourselves safer and more economically competitive, and how is the federal government helping or hurting us do those things?"
Not that he lacks the red meat that many who will vote in next year's primary will want and even demand. He said he was pleased that Gov. Mike Pence recently "stood up to the federal government" over environmental regulations and said more
governors should take such steps. He said Republicans have "endured a long six-and-a-half years of the current president's reign," and that all of the domestic and international problems make it seem "like this place is on fire."
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2016 Indiana Senate race
Jul 14, 2015
Mike Pence:
Signed a bill that allows for more usage of eminent domain
State Summary of EMINENT DOMAIN ACTIONS (ZENT D for INDOT, Indiana Department of Transportation): Reduces from six to three years the deadline by which the Indiana department of transportation or any other person seeking to acquire property
for road construction must file a complaint to acquire the property by the exercise of eminent domain following the rejection of an offer to purchase by the owner of the property.
Requires a court to conduct an expedited hearing of the complaint.
Provides that a party to the court proceeding is entitled to an expedited appeal of the court's final ruling under rules to be adopted by the supreme court." Signed by Governor Pence on 3/13/2014.
Source: Indiana legislative voting record for HB.1076 for INDOT
Mar 13, 2014
Brian Bosma:
State funding for open space preservation
Q: Do you support state funding for open space preservation?A: Yes. Q: Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support state funding for improvements to Indiana's energy infrastructure?
A: Yes.
Source: Indiana Gubernatorial 2012 PVS Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Richard Lugar:
Ethanol mandates help state corn farmers
Mourdock claimed a government mandate to include ethanol in gas was driving up prices overall. Lugar disagreed, saying that the mandate he supported has helped keep the overall price of gas stable, and that ethanol is a "Hoosier product with Hoosiers
producing it."Lugar countered that the ethanol requirement helps state corn farmers, and said that gas prices are decreasing thanks to a relative calming of Middle East tensions.
Source: ABC News coverage of 2012 Indiana Senate debates
Apr 12, 2012
Mitch Daniels:
First state to phase in new environmental Clean Air permits
Unknown to most citizens, the air is now the cleanest in living memory. In 2011, every Indiana community met all national air quality standards for the first time in the history of the Clean Air Act. Last year, we wiped out the last of a 550-case
backlog of old, and therefore less strict, environmental permits, and are now the only state completely current. Our goal for 2012 is to maintain this status and, if national limits are lowered yet again, to find a way to meet those standards, too.
Source: Indiana 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 10, 2012
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021