Issue Updates

Family Values and Right to Life Issues

I have had several people over the past month or so approach and question me regarding an issue key to their hearts, and rightfully so, regarding my stance on family values and right to life issues. Although I personally don't have children of my own, I've come to the realization that every child in District 55 will be my child, indirectly, if I am honored by being elected to serve and I consider this to be a great responsibility that I intend to take seriously.

My position on abortion can be summed up simply that I personally think the taking of an innocent life is wrong and cannot be carelessly justified. My stance on voting on these issues will be with the people of this District.

As a patient with multiple sclerosis many people may try and assume what my position is on “embryonic stem cell” research. Although stem cell research has been highly touted as a cure-all for MS there's yet to be any solid scientific evidence that embryonic stem cells are the wave of the future for cures for this disease.

With regard to my position on parental notification for minors seeking abortions: I believe that parents working hard to raise their families in the world we live in today need to be respected and not be undermined in their monumental task of raising good kids. I have heard from many in this district the question of “what is to keep an individual from having an abortion in Ohio?” I suppose nothing is the answer; however why would we not want to try to protect our children? On the federal level President Bush has a new bill before Congress which will require interstate notification of parents for minors seeking abortions. I believe that this bill if enacted will actually help support family values.

Although this isn't the final measure, it is a good start in the right direction for keeping families values and right to life issues at the forefront.


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Pledges

Tom Knollman pledges to share his vision for the state's future with Hoosiers throughout District 55. Working with other House Republicans for Hoosiers across the state, Tom wants to make clear his shared vision for us all.

May 23rd, 2006

On May 23rd, 2006 Tom and the House Republicans gathered on the Statehouse steps to make the first in a series of pledges to permanently eliminate the Taxpayer Paid Lifetime Healthcare Benefit for House Members.

The Taxpayer Paid Lifetime Healthcare Benefit was instituted by previous legislative leadership and placed an undue burden on Indiana taxpayers and while it was procedurally eliminated in 2006, Tom has pledged to the permanent elimination of this benefit.

Click here to see the pledge that Tom signed.

June 20th, 2006 Tom and the House Republicans again gathered at the State convention Statehouse steps to make the second in a series of pledges to reform the practice of Gerrymandering.

Click here to see the pledge that Tom signed.

Click here to see the current boundaries for the Indiana House Districts

Click here to see the current boundaries for the Indiana House District 55

Tom has stated many times that we are sitting on the next Middle East. Ethanol and Bio Butonal are the future and Indiana needs to be on the forefront of that vision.

See Tom's pledge on Comprehensive Plan for Indiana's Energy Needs

Our Indiana State budget has been honestly balanced with the leadership of Indiana Republicans and Mitch Daniels and at the same time paid back debts to the schools that the previous Democrat administration had created. Tom pledges to continue to have an honestly balanced budget for the next fiscal year.

See Tom's pledge To Honestly Balance the FY2008/FY2009 Biennial State Budget

To see all the pledges of the Indiana House Republicans, follow this link http://www.56in06.com/default.aspx.

Issues

Knollman takes stance on tax issue: Americans for Tax Reform

I see needs in our district that are not adequately being addressed. Strong Economic Development has to be Priority #1 in the area. Our District 55 has been hit especially hard in the area of unemployment in the last decade.

Indiana ranked 45th in the nation in Job growth in 2005, the only states that had less growth were Michigan and Ohio, two states with heavy reliance on the Automotive industry, Mississippi and Louisiana, the hurricane ravaged states.

In the coming days we are going to hear a lot of Democrats blaming Republicans for the current condition of our great state. Republicans are in turn going to blame the Democrats. I am not going to stand here and blame any group of individuals for our current state of affairs. Indiana's current condition did not happen in one year, nor do I think they can be fixed in one year. I am here to offer myself and my abilities to take on the heady burden and find solutions for what faces our state.

Taxpayers in our state have been asked to do enough. Many property owners in our district have seen a doubling or even tripling in there property taxes over the past several years and the talk in Indianapolis is for this increase trend to continue as well as the exploration of even more taxing avenues, toll roads, increased cigarette tax, etc.

Allen Greenspan has recently stated (that "Tax increases of sufficient dimension to deal with our looming fiscal problems arguably pose significant risks to economic growth and the revenue base,") that government should seek to "close the fiscal gap primarily, if not wholly, from the outlay side."

There are many issues that are important to District 55 and Indiana. Tom looks forward to hearing you and wants to work for you and Indiana.

Please continue to check this page as it will continue to be updated.

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