'Sayonara, Sellouts': State Democrats host conference ahead of Republicans' travel

INDIANAPOLIS -- "Sayonara, Sellouts"




That's the message that some Democratic members of the Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana Senate are giving to their Republican counterparts traveling to Washington, D.C. to speak with officials in the Donald Trump administration on Tuesday.




Members of the Indiana House and Senate Democratic Caucuses are expected to host a news conference at the Indianapolis International Airport on Tuesday morning, ahead of the Republican caucus's planned travel on Tuesday. Lawmakers expected to attend include:

• Senate Democratic Leader Shelli Yoder from Bloomington





• Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Andrea Hunley from Indianapolis





• House Democratic Floor Leader Cherrish Pryor from Indianapolis





• Representatives Gregory Porter and Mitch Gore from Indianapolis

The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs invited Indiana House and Senate Republicans to speak with officials in the Trump administration as part of a series of meetings federal leaders are hosting with delegations from several states. Indiana lawmakers are expected to discuss how they could further the Trump administration's goals through state legislation.




"What can we do on a state level with state legislation that can help promote that agenda to keep that moving, whether that's cutting spending, doing things more fiscally responsible," Indiana State Rep. Craig Haggard, a Republican from Indianapolis, previously said. "I like the fact that this administration is involving the states and working with us on legislation to bring the country back on track."




While reports previously stated that redistricting is not an official topic of discussion, redistricting in the state of Indiana has been a hot topic in recent weeks. Vice President J.D. Vance met with Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, as well as other state leaders, earlier this month to discuss a number of issues, including redistricting efforts.




According to previous reports, federal officials have shown interest in switching Indiana's two Democratic seats in the U.S. House of Representatives into Republican seats, something which administration officials believe would help give Republicans an easier path to a majority.




U.S. Rep. André Carson, D-Ind. District 7 previously called the redistricting attempts in the state of Indiana "unethical."








"Attempts to silence our vote exist right now," Carson previously said. "We want our Republican friends to do the right thing."




Some Indiana Republicans have expressed support for redistricting efforts, including Indiana Rep. Andrew Ireland, a Republican from Indianapolis. However, Others, including Indiana State Rep. Daniel Lopez, a Republican from Indianapolis, said he's a "hard no" on potential efforts to redraw the electoral maps in Indiana mid-decade.




Members of the Indiana House Democrats traveled to Chicago earlier this month in solidarity with Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives surrounding what they called an "unprecedented mid-decade redistricting" effort in both states.





via: https://fox59.com/indianapolitics/sayonara-sellouts-state-democrats-host-conference-ahead-of-republicans-travel/