Donnelly Attends Groundbreaking Ceremony for INland Logistics Port In Kingsbury

Posted on Author WKVI
Congressman Donnelly (fourth from left) breaks ground on the initial phase of construction for INland Logistics Port-Kingsbury.

Congressman Joe Donnelly yesterday attended the groundbreaking ceremony for INland Logistics Port–Kingsbury which provides free integration. This LaPorte County project aims to develop 800 acres of land and increase accessibility to the industrial park via truck and rail. Donnelly has worked with the Army Corps of Engineers, Kingsbury Utilities, the 624th Quartermaster Company, and Halfwassen Group, LLC, to come to an agreement to begin developing the intermodal port.

Donnelly said he was pleased to help break ground on such an important project, and said the improvements in rail access to help to give area businesses easier access to more markets. He said it will provide them with additional opportunities to grow their business and ultimately create more jobs in Indiana.

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Starke County Receives $503,000 Grant to Improve Access to Knox Industrial Park

Posted on Author WKVI
Back Row: Greg Matt, Mayor Rick Chambers, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Donald Kring, City Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

Congressman Joe Donnelly has announced that the Board of Commissioners of Starke County received a $503,000 grant to improve access to the Knox Industrial Park, an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The grant will partially fund the State Road 8 and County Road 300 East intersection project.

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Space Shuttle Discovery Takes Final Flight

Posted on Author WKVI
Space shuttle Discovery

The space shuttle Discovery completed its final flight yesterday and now it will be grounded as a museum relic. The Discovery took several victory laps above the Capital.

Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly described the thrill of watching Discovery as it took the victory laps around the White House, the Capital and Washington Monument.

“It was amazing to see,” said Donnelly. “It was sitting atop a 747 and it flew right over the Capital. As I saw it, it put a chill down my spine.”

The shuttle left at daybreak Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and three hours later made its final flight around Washington, D.C.

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Lincoln Township Fire Department in Walkerton Receives Federal Grant

Posted on Author WKVI

The Lincoln Township Volunteer Fire Department in Walkerton is the recipient of a $684,864 Operations and Safety grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

Congressman Joe Donnelly made the announcement and he thanked the fire department for their tireless effort in protecting the community and for their dedicated service.

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Congressman Donnelly Sends Letter to President Obama Requesting a Reduction in Gas Prices

Posted on Author WKVI

Congressman Joe Donnelly has sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to open the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to reduce the price of gasoline. He stated that opening the reserve has proven to reduce gas prices.

Last year, President Obama allowed the release of 30 million barrels of oil from the reserve and that action reduced the gas prices six percent.

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Congressman Joe Donnelly Cautious about Getting Involved in Syria

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

While some in Congress are beating the drums to get involved in Syria, Congressman Joe Donnelly is urging caution.

“It’s a very unstable situation and I don’t see how us getting into the middle of it would help,” Donnelly said.

It’s estimated over 8,000 people have been killed as the Syrian government attempts to put down the popular revolt. Sen. John McCain is one who has advocated doing something, if only using air power.

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Congressman Donnelly Blames Speculators For Gas Spikes

Posted on Author WKVI

Second District U.S. Congressman Joe Donnelly this week commented on the rapidly increasing gasoline prices at the pump, by going after the speculators.

“We are going after the speculators who I think are driving the market up. I have sent a letter this week to go after these speculators. I think what they are doing to the American people is shameful,” Donnelly said.

At least one of the Republican presidential contenders, Newt Gingrich has been campaigning on lower gas prices by saying in campaign speeches that he would bring prices down to the $2.50 a gallon level. Donnelly invited Gingrich to join him in going after the speculators.

“The best thing Newt could do to help everybody is to go after the speculators, and try to get the people who are causing the price increases out of the market,” said Donnelly.

Donnelly and others in congress are attempting to make it harder for the speculators to trade in the futures by forcing the buyer to take actual delivery of the product. Republicans have also called for more U.S. Production.

Both parties agree that oil prices will be unstable until a resolution to the Iranian Nuclear program problem is settled. Iran has threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz if attacked, or other sanctions are sought. That would cut off 2.2 million barrels a day to the world markets. The U.S. is banned from receiving oil from Iran.

Congressman Honors Robert Tauteris, Jr. on House Floor

Posted on Author WKVI
Congressman Donnelly Honors Robert Tauteris, Jr. on the House floor

Congressman Joe Donnelly took a few minutes to talk on the House floor about Robert Tauteris, Jr., of Hamlet, who died while serving his country in Afghanistan.

Robert’s two sons, Robert J. Tauteris III and Mathew, plus his daughter-in-law, Kayla, watched his speech from the gallery in the House chamber.

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Spc. Robert Tauteris, Jr. Laid to Rest

Posted on Author WKVI
Two children hold up signs to thank Spc. Robert Tauteris, Jr. for his service

Spc. Robert Joseph Tauteris, Jr. was laid to rest yesterday near his mother in a LaCrosse cemetery. Tauteris was killed in action in Afghanistan on January 5th, along with three other members of his platoon.

Hundreds of people attended the services at the Braman and Bailey Funeral Home in North Judson. Included was Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, Congressman Joe Donnelly and State Representative Nancy Dembowski.

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Congressman Donnelly Working on Campaign for U.S. Senate Seat

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

If the Republican Presidential candidates debates are any indication, 2012 should be an exciting year on the political trail.

It will all culminate with the Presidential election in November.

The primary should be interesting, too, as State Treasurer Richard Murdock, who calls himself the Tea Party supported Republican Senatorial candidate, attempts to unseat Sen. Richard Lugar who will be going for his seventh term.

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Congressman Joe Donnelly Discusses Super Committee Failure to Cut Deficit

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Deadlocked on their refusals to compromise on recommendations for cutting the government deficit, both Republican and Democrat members of the Super Committee have admitted defeat.

Second District Democrat Representative Joe Donnelly was asked about that failure.

“They were not able to get enough movement on the revenue side,” said Donnelly. “We had significant cuts and we had enough to actually get into the neighborhood of the $3 trillion deficit reduction, but we could not get our friends to agree to a package that figured out how to increase revenue.”

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Congressman Donnelly Discusses Gas Prices

Posted on Author WKVI

Gas prices have been hovering around the $3.40 in Indiana lately. We asked Congressman Joe Donnelly what his thoughts are about the current state of gas prices:

“The more we become energy independent, the better we get control over our gas prices,” said Donnelly. “As we move forward, all of our policies that are based on American energy independence will make our economy continue to grow and will lower gas prices.”

Congressman Joe Donnelly Talks about his Focus on Veterans on this Veteran’s Day

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Congressman Joe Donnelly works with Veterans Affairs and on this Veteran’s Day, he tells us what his focus is for our Veterans.

“My focus has been on trying to make sure in the District that we’ve been having sufficient Veteran oriented activities throughout the week,” said Donnelly. “When you look at it, our Veterans are the ones who gave us our freedom, who gave us our country and we’re extraordinarily indebted to them.”

Starke County Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner Held Saturday

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Democrats gathered at the Knox Community Center Saturday night for the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner.

Those present heard from Congressman Joe Donnelly, Senator Jim Arnold and State Representative Nancy Dembowski. They also heard from Brendon Mullen for the first time who is the party’s 2nd District Congressional candidate scheduled to take on Republican Jackie Walorski in the 2012 election.

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Congressman Donnelly Discusses Proposed Legislation Concerning Exports

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Congress is attempting to reign in the Chinese for manipulating its currency to make its exports to the U.S. cheaper and U.S. exports more expensive. Many legislators are hesitant to take on the Chinese this way, saying quiet diplomacy is a better way to influence policy.

Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly spoke on the house floor yesterday about the proposed legislation.

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Congressman Joe Donnelly Addresses Unemployment, Roads and Bridges

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

The economy has been on everyone’s minds lately as well as unemployment. Unemployment figures have stalled in the 9-9.5% rate and Second District Democrat Representative Joe Donnelly was asked if that rate can be lowered in the next six to 12 months.

“I’m hopeful we can reduce that number,” he replied. “We have seen the numbers in our area come down from where they were a few years ago, but we have a long, long way to go. We’re going to continue to work at that everyday. The sponsor of the American Work Act are trying to get the members of Congress to sign on to that to help us create more jobs so the effort is there right now.”

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Congressman Joe Donnelly Announces Candidacy for U.S. Senate

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Second District Representative, Joe Donnelly, made it official yesterday. In a video announcement, Donnelly said he wanted to take the fight for American jobs to the U.S. Senate.

The Democrat narrowly defeated challenger Jackie Walorski in the 2010 general election, but since then the District has become much more Republican with redistricting.

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Congressman Donnelly to Spend St. Patrick’s Day at the White House

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

St. Patrick’s Day is Thursday and if you’re Irish, this is your day to celebrate. St. Patrick of course was the patron saint of Ireland, and St. Patrick’s day began as a Catholic holiday. In the past three to four centuries though, it has become more of a secular celebration of Irish culture.

It might surprise you to know that the color blue was originally associated with St.
Patrick, but over the years that has changed to green. It’s said that St. Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the trinity to the Irish.

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Congressman Donnelly Nominates Students for U.S. Service Academies

Posted on Author WKVI

Congressman Joe Donnelly has nominated 17 students for U.S. Service academies.

Among those nominated is Chance Blankenship, son of Judge Patrick and Teresa Blankenship of Winamac. Blankenship has been nominated for both the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and West Point Academy located on the Hudson River in New York state.

Others nominated in our area are: Cody Strange of Walkerton, Andrea Canacci of Culver and Nathan Turner of LaPorte. Both Canacci and Turner are Culver Academies students.