Indiana senator to hold session for public input on redistricting

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — State Senator Greg Goode (R-Terre Haute) will be hosting a listening session on mid-cycle redistricting this weekend at the Terre Haute City Hall.

“As I have been fielding calls and electronic communications on this important matter, my position has been to not speculate on the intentions of the Governor with regard to a special legislative session,” said Senator Goode in a social media post. “Now that the special session has been called by the Governor, I want to hear directly from people in Senate District 38.”

Earlier this week, Indiana Governor Mike Braun called for a special session to redraw congressional boundaries.

Gov. Braun called for the General Assembly to convene Nov. 3 for the special session.

This comes after weeks of pressure on Indiana lawmakers to back President Donald Trump’s bid to add more winnable seats with redistricting.

While Republicans in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina have already enacted new congressional districts, Indiana lawmakers have been hesitant. A spokesperson for state Senate Leader Rodric Bray’s office said last week that the chamber lacks the votes to redistrict.

Even though Gov. Braun has called for the assembly to convene at the beginning of November, our sister station in Indianapolis is reporting the Indiana General Assembly is not expected to be ready for a special session on Monday.

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston said that the general assembly has up to 40 days to conduct legislative business in a special session. Meaning we could have a decision on the mid-cycle redistricting by the second week of December.

Goode will hold his listening session in Terre Haute on November 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., just days before the assembly was supposed to meet.

Goode said he recommends the residents of Senate District 38 to do their research and treat everybody with Hoosier hospitality during the meeting.

“I encourage the citizens of the state of Indiana to do their own research on this matter, reach out directly to their state legislators, and treat one another with courtesy and respect—this is the Indiana way,” said Goode.

During the listening session, attendees are also asked to follow this set of ground rules:

1. Participants entering council chamber must provide proof of residency in Senate District 38 with a State of Indiana photo identification.
2. Those who are unable to provide proof of district residency will remain outside and will be provided with an opinion form that Sen. Goode will review.
3. No signs or political propaganda will be allowed in the council chamber.
4. Participants will be expected to behave in a manner that shows courtesy, respect and civility to one another.
5. Attempts to disrupt the listening session will result in immediate removal from the council chamber.
6. Participants will be allowed up to two minutes to state their opinions. Sen. Goode will not engage in debates – he is there to listen.
7. Due to the fire code capacity limits, participants are encouraged to exit council chamber after stating their opinion so others may enter and voice their opinions.