By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

The Democrat Party’s meme included Indiana Reps. Jackie Walorsk (bottom row, second from the left) and Jim Banks (bottom right).

Indiana Democrats are working hard to make sure voters remember how Republican members from Indiana voted in the controversial decision to remove Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments.

Indiana Reps. Jackie Walorski and Jim Banks were among seven GOP lawmakers scrutinized by the Indiana Democratic Party for standing alongside Green in the vote. In fact, the state party promoted a meme on Twitter connecting them with QAnon (at right).

Greene’s controversial remarks supporting QAnon and violence against Democrat lawmakers prior to the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection led to the vote.

Walorski posted a three-minute statement explaining her view and claiming she opposed the process. She said she’s on the record in denouncing some of Greene’s comments. You can find her video on YouTube.

Editor’s Note: The thoughts found in this weekly column are an expression of opinion by the author and not necessarily the opinion of InkFreeNews.

“I’m not here to defend Representative Green,” Walorski said in the video.

Indiana’s 2nd District Representative argues the process did not play out properly and that the chair of the House Ethics Committee sought to bring the matter before the house “without proper committee jurisdiction and due process.”

Indiana’s 3rd District Rep. Banks, who serves on the Republican Steering Committee, said the Democrats’ plan to remove Greene from her committees is a “slippery slope,” according to the Washington Examiner.

In a predictable response following her removal from two committees, Greene doubled down, saying Trump is still the leader of the Party and that those who voted to oust her are “morons.”

ONE OF THE FEW – Conversely, Michigan Congressman Fred Upton has emerged as one of the few moderates left in the Republican Party. His district is in southwest Michigan, north of South Bend. He voted to impeach former President Donald Trump and was one of 11 Republicans who voted to oust Greene from her two committee assignments.

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RISING UP – Libertarians are unifying in Kosciusko County. Buoyed by a strong showing by Libertarian Donald Rainwater in the gubernatorial race in November, local supporters announced this week that they have formed an affiliate chapter in Kosciusko County with the state organization.

Rainwater finished second in Kosciusko County, garnering 19.2% of the vote, showing that there are many in the county who are looking to the Libertarian Party for answers against big government and their rights being infringed upon, according to a news release issued by Cassie Rolon, who will serve as chairperson of the county organization.

Several additional counties have also become affiliated with the Libertarian Party, including Whitley County. Approximately 20 other counties have also stepped up to the plate, Rolon said.

“I knew we needed to do something here because the diversity in Kosciusko is almost non-existent when it comes to bills and laws being put forth. Most of our seats run unopposed with the same few people leading every time. We need change, and we need common sense people who are concerned with the way our county is headed.”

Other local leaders of the group include Amber Stump, who will serve as secretary; Amy Brown, treasurer and David Lewis, vice-chair. Learn more about the state party at www.lpin.org. 

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PENCE UPDATE – Looks like former Vice President Mike Pence is finding ways to keep busy and politically relevant.

The Indiana native will launch a podcast in the coming months hosted by the Young America’s Foundation, a conservative youth organization dating back to the 1960s. Pence will join YAF as the group’s first Ronald Reagan presidential scholar and is expected to become a regular member of its campus lecture circuit, according to Politico.

Pence is also going to be joining the Heritage Foundation as a distinguished visiting fellow, according to numerous reports.

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SUPER SILLY PREDICTION – Old Man Tom Brady (age 43) crushed the hopes and dreams of my Green Bay Packers, but I’m hopeful he’ll be upstaged by the NFL’s newest star QB, Patrick Mahomes, of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. My Monopoly money says Chiefs by 14 over the Bucs.

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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.