In a letter to congressional leaders, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita warns that a reckless piece of legislation under consideration on Capitol Hill “would allow the United States Department of Justice to usurp the authority states rightly possess over their own elections, essentially federalizing the election system.”

Attorney General Rokita’s letter opposing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act — or H.R. 4 — is joined by 22 other attorneys general.

Already passed in the House, the legislation requires states to obtain “preclearance” from the federal government before enacting election reforms such as voter identification requirements and voter list maintenance laws.

“This legislation is a misguided, clumsy, and heavy-handed effort to circumvent Supreme Court decisions, state sovereignty, and the will of the people,” Attorney General Rokita writes in the letter.

The legislation essentially establishes the U.S. Department of Justice as a national election czar dictating to states exactly how they must administer their elections.

“States that create laws based on what works best for their jurisdiction to respond to a crisis of confidence in our elections systems,” Attorney General Todd Rokita writes, “will inevitably be targeted by the Department of Justice leading to more confusion, litigation, and concerns over the validity of elections going forward.”

The proposed legislation ignores states’ legitimate interest in preventing voter fraud, safeguarding the right to vote, and ensuring that every legal vote is counted without being diluted by illegal votes.

H.R. 4 letter 9.13.21

Detectives from the Indiana State Police (ISP) in Sellersburg arrested a 30-year-old Pekin woman for the death of a 2-year-old girl in her care.

Around Midnight Tuesday morning, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department responded to a Poplar Street address in Pekin after receiving a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child. 

Washington County EMS immediately transported the child to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Salem after deputies and emergency medical personnel arrived.

Tragically, the child was pronounced deceased by the Washington County Coroner after arriving at the hospital. 

Sheriff Brent Miller requested ISP assistance, and Detective Travis Baker and Crime Scene Investigator Phil D’Angelo responded to the Pekin address scene.  

As part of the investigation, officers obtained a search warrant for the residence as Detective Travis Baker spoke with 30-year-old Sarah Maire Bierly, the live-in-girlfriend of the child’s father, as well as other family members at the scene.  

The investigation continued at the Washington County Jail, where Detective Baker later arrested Bierly for Neglect of a Dependent Causing Death, a Level 1 Felony.  

An autopsy has been scheduled for later this afternoon.   

Officers from Indiana State Police were assisted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, the Pekin Town Marshall, Washington County EMS, Pierce-Polk Township first-responders, the Washington County Coroner’s Office, and the Washington County Prosecutor.

This case is still under investigation and will be updated as information becomes available.    

The Indiana Senate Republican Caucus is offering paid spring-semester internships in its communications, information technology, legal, legislative and policy offices during the 2022 session of the Indiana General Assembly, said State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem).

Qualified candidates may be of any major and must be at least a college sophomore. Recent college graduates, as well as graduate and law school students, are also encouraged to apply. Positions are open to Indiana residents, as well as non-residents who attend a college or university in Indiana.

Interns earn a $750 biweekly stipend and benefit from scholarship and academic credit opportunities, professional development, community involvement, and networking.

Senate internships are full-time positions at the Statehouse in downtown Indianapolis that typically begin with a mandatory orientation in late December and conclude at the end of the legislative session in March 2022.

“As a past Senate intern I know how beneficial this internship can be for young Hoosiers looking to begin their careers,” Houchin said. “Interns are given the opportunity to gain unique skills and knowledge that will help them advance in whatever career path they choose. I encourage eligible students in Senate District 47 who wish to serve their community and gain professional experience to apply for this valuable internship.”

For more information and to access an application, visit www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Intern.

The deadline to apply is Oct. 31.