Thank you...

Well, today was a major victory for us and a major defeat to the ACLU! The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in our favor and reversed the prayer ban in Indiana! Yeah for us, for freedom of speech and religious expression. It is amazing to think that a liberal court would actually uphold the Constitution and vote AGAINST the ACLU!! Wow....justice prevailed. Thanks to all of you who have been praying about getting this ridiculous ruling reversed. The Indiana House can now pray with uncensored prayers again, when we convene in January, as has been the tradition in our State for nearly 190 years!
Jackie

Huge Victory in Indiana!!

Today, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the ACLU lawsuit regarding praying in Jesus name in the Indiana House of Representatives. The District Court ruling was a landmark decision marking the first time a federal court had attempted to dictate the specific content of prayer in a state or federal legislative body.

Representative Jackie Walorski said, "This is a great day of victory in the State of Indiana and for the United States as well, that the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of uncensored prayers at the Indiana Statehouse. I am thankful to the thousands of people in our State that have fervently prayed for this ruling to be overturned and today, we are thankful
that we can again openly pray in Jesus' name in our State. In our culture today, it is critical to protect individual freedom and freedom of expression, and this is a major victory!"

For nearly 190 years, it has been the tradition of the Indiana House to allow clerics from many faiths to offer prayer before the House begins its business for the day. This tradition is also followed by Congress for over 200 years. This freedom, for individuals to offer prayers freely and in accordance with their own religious beliefs has been protected for generations as a free expression of speech and freedom of religious expression. The District Court that originally banned prayer ignored this tradition and sought to require the House Speaker to censor prayers.
The Court of Appeals returned the case to the District Court with instructions to dismiss for want for jurisdiction.

Property Tax Reform

"I have consistently said that Indiana only has a chance at real property tax reform under this Governor. Gov. Daniels has displayed courage and political will to take on a broken system. I am very pleased that the Governor has heard the pleas of thousands of Hoosiers and is leading the charge to take action. This bold plan gives the legislature a starting point to begin the process of bringing much needed property tax relief in 2008. I look forward to the debate and the details of how this plan will effect my district. I will be holding town hall meetings for the next 8 weeks to see what my constituents think of the plan and how it will effect them."
Jackie

Nappanee Update

" For 5 hours on Sunday, I registered volunteers at the Northwood High School parking lot...some 3,500-4,000 people..who came to help a community put their lives back together after a fierce F3 tornado ripped thru Nappanee on Thursday night. It was awesome to be part of such a relief effort..I have never seen anything like it. People came from everywhere to lend a hand and the logistical part of organizing that many people was incredible as well. Again, I am grateful to the officials in the City of Nappanee, Elkhart County & the Indiana State Police for doing an incredible job. Keep the people of Nappanee in your thoughts and prayers over the coming weeks and months as the rebuild continues. Thanks."
Jackie

Nappanee Tornado damage

I toured the damage area in Nappanee this morning to see, first hand, how devastating the tornado was that touched down there @ 10:15 pm. The Dairy Queen & Taco Bell on US 6 are gone and a subdivision there has sustained significant damage. Thank God no one was killed. Keep the people of Nappanee and the officials in your prayers. There is a great deal to clean up and rebuild. Thanks! Jackie

From Jackie's Desk...

Friends,

Good Morning! There is so much happening right now, I wanted to slow down a bit to catch you up, and let you know what I've been up to the past few weeks!

I was honored to speak at the Gun Rights Policy Conference in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky last weekend. Not only am I a huge proponent of our 2nd amendment rights but am honored to have co authored the lifetime handgun permit in Indiana back in 2006. There were over 800 people in attendance representing pro gun groups from all over the nation..from the NRA, 2nd Amendment Patriots, to every small grass roots group in the country. I urged them to pass the Castle Doctrine in every state this next session as well as the lifetime handgun permit. I'll be carrying two pro gun bills (or amendments) in the upcoming session...good, common sense gun bills. Stay tuned for more details on that as the time approaches.

Yesterday I had a chance to speak to about 60 candidates and "would be" candidates running for office in Indiana. These are die hard conservatives that have either already committed to running or are helping someone else's campaign. We have great hope for the future by the looks of the folks that showed up at that training conference!

Thank you for your support, I am looking forward to the things that are ahead! You can now keep in touch with me through Face Book and My Space! Stop in an drop me a note!

Keep pressing forward!!

Jackie

Jackie Awarded National Legislator of the Year!

Jackie received Eagle Forum's Legislator of the Year award in St. Louis, Missouri for her work on pro family, pro life issues in the past session. Jackie is an outspoken advocate for the family & has quickly become the conservative leader in Indiana. This past week she also recieved Citizens for Community Values Public Servant of the Year award in South Bend, Indiana. This award was again for leading on conservative values and for defeating the Hate Crimes Bill in Indiana in during the 2007 General Assembly.

Congratualations Jackie!

Monica Boyer

Jackie speaks at 2007 Gun Rights Policy Conference!

Jackie speaks at the 22nd anual gun rights policy conference on October 6th in Cincinatti Ohio.

Jim Tomes (Second Amendment Patriots) Jackie Walorski (Indiana State Representative) & Larry Pratt (Executive Director of Gun Owners of America)

Jackie Walorski (Indiana State Representative) & Larry Pratt (Executive Director of Gun Owners of America)

Alan Gottlieb ( Founder of the Second Amendment Foundation) Jackie Walorski (Indiana State Representative)

Monica Boyer

Photo's taken by Vanderberg Photography 2007 (http://www.vanderbergphotography.com/)