State Rep. Curt Nisly, who has already alienated Republican colleagues in the General Assembly, probably won’t be buddying up for dinner with Gov. Eric Holcomb any time soon.

Curt Nisly

The Milford-area lawmaker was quick to criticize Holcomb’s mandate Monday requiring bars and restaurants to close in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Nisly, in a two-page letter to the governor, dated the same day the ban was announced, asked the governor to rescind what he called “your heavy handed order to close privately owned bars and restaurants like our neighboring states.”

He points to the Indiana Constitution which says, “No law shall restrain any of the inhabitants of the State from assembling together in a peaceable manner, to consult for their common good.”

“Breaking of bread with friends and family in public places is the common good,” Nisly argues, while also adding that many Hoosiers “may heed warnings and choose to limit their contact with others as they see fit.”

He also expressed concern about the impact on businesses and their workers.

The letter then took a decidedly anti-government lament, accusing other states of seeking to “take advantage of this crisis in order to abuse the rights of citizens and residents.” (Insert opinion: Which governor ran on that platform?)

Nisly is not alone in his concern. Other conservative lawmakers in Indiana are also less than pleased over the ban.

But a terse two-page letter to the governor that also attacks other states’ decision-making (and motives) in a time of crisis seems a bit over the top.

We’ll know in a few months if the ban was worse than the virus itself.

Nisly faces Bill Dixon in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Kelly Thompson in the general election.

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NEW PRIMARY DATE – Both GOP chair Mike Ragan and Democrat Chair Brian Smith agreed with the decision on Friday by the governor to move Indiana’s primary from May 5 to June 2 due to the crisis. Both said they feared it would be difficult to find poll workers if held in May.

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GOP EVENT CHANGES – The virus crisis has led to changes for two Republican events happening in Warsaw.

• The party’s Lincoln Day Dinner, featuring the governor and 2nd District US Rep. Jackie Walorski has been postponed. Ragan said they are working with Holcomb to find a suitable new date. Those who already have purchased seats will automatically see their reservations forwarded to the new date.
• The Kosciusko County Republican Fish Fry will be moved from April 1 to Wednesday, May 6.

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KUDOS TO COUNTY COUNCIL – Kosciusko County Council embraced an idea first suggested by councilman Mike Long  and moved its normal meeting times on Thursdays nights from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. InkFreeNews certainly appreciates the change. While an hour might not seem like much to some, it’s a huge boost for reporters who need to file stories that night.

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Dan Spalding is the editor at InkFreeNews.com.
He covers city government and politics and always welcomes your input.
He can be reached at [email protected] or at (574) 855-7612.