February 5, 2018 at 6:41 p.m.
Survey results are in
Beumer shares District 33 opinions
Survey results are in
Copyright 2018, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
Medical marijuana? Yes
Constitutional carry? No.
Consolidate townships? Let us decide.
Those were the answers residents of District 33 gave Rep. Greg Beumer on his annual legislative survey.
Beumer discussed the results of his survey, the deadline for which was Jan. 31, on Friday, noting that the one that was unexpected came on the question of legalization of medical marijuana.
Both Beumer (R-Modoc) and Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) had asked for feedback on the issue when they visited Jay County for a Third House Session on Jan. 13. Opinions in the room were split that day.
Results of the District 33 survey showed a clearer picture, with 54.5 percent of the 408 respondents in favor of legalization for medical purposes compared to 37.6 percent against. Eight percent were undecided.
“This was surprising to me that 54.4 percent of the people said yes, they would be in favor of legalizing medical marijuana,” said Beumer, who is in his last year in office after announcing his decision in November to not run for re-election. “And that is indicative of other districts around the state, some of them even much, much more conservative districts than we are here.”
He pointed out northern Indiana’s District 22 — Republican Curt Nisly won re-election with 77.4 percent of the vote there in 2016 — where he said 60 percent of respondents favored legalizing medical marijuana.
The issue is not expected to come to a vote during the current session, but a resolution from Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) to form a summer study committee has already passed the house unanimously.
Beumer, who indicated that he is in favor of medical marijuana, said the use of a study committee to review the data available from other states where both medical and recreational marijuana are legal is prudent.
Respondents to the survey were against constitutional carry — allowing handguns to be carried in public without requiring a license — by a 61.5-33.6 percent margin with 4.9 percent undecided. It’s an issue that has been pushed by the National Rifle Association and the pro-gun lobby in general, Beumer said.
“(The survey) tells me clearly that people aren’t ready to move in that direction,” he said.
A question from the survey that could have direct impact on Jay County involves township consolidation.
House Bill 1005 proposes forcing small townships, those with a population of 1,200 or fewer, to consolidate within the next five years. That would affect two-thirds of Jay County’s 12 townships, with Wayne, Richland, Bearcreek and Penn as the exceptions.
Beumer’s survey question asked if that decision should be left up to the voters, with 67.5 percent saying it should.
“That’s a pretty clear signal,” he said.
Beumer voted in favor last week of an amendment that would have sent the issue to the voters rather than leaving the decision to the legislature. That amendment failed, but Beumer said there is still the possibility of the issue being raised again in the Senate.
The only survey question on which none of the options received a majority was regarding a constitutional amendment to establish a nonpartisan commission to draw legislative and congressional districts. More than 49 percent were in favor, with nearly 29 percent undecided and 22 percent against.
District 33 respondents were clearer in the assertions on other questions:
•Would you support repercussions for those who are administered “reversal drugs” (NARCAN, etc.) multiple times, such as requiring involuntary commitment to a certified addiction treatment program? Yes – 89.2 percent. No – 4.9 percent. Undecided – 5.9 percent.
•Indiana provides a $100 tax credit to educators for out-of-pocket school supply expenses. Do you believe this credit should be increased? Yes – 73.7 percent. No – 21.9 percent. Undecided – 4.4 percent.
•Do you believe indigent offenders should be given the ability to pay back court fines and fees through certified community service at the federal minimum wage? Yes – 86.3 percent. No – 7.5 percent. Undecided – 6.2 percent.
All Rights Reserved
Medical marijuana? Yes
Constitutional carry? No.
Consolidate townships? Let us decide.
Those were the answers residents of District 33 gave Rep. Greg Beumer on his annual legislative survey.
Beumer discussed the results of his survey, the deadline for which was Jan. 31, on Friday, noting that the one that was unexpected came on the question of legalization of medical marijuana.
Both Beumer (R-Modoc) and Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) had asked for feedback on the issue when they visited Jay County for a Third House Session on Jan. 13. Opinions in the room were split that day.
Results of the District 33 survey showed a clearer picture, with 54.5 percent of the 408 respondents in favor of legalization for medical purposes compared to 37.6 percent against. Eight percent were undecided.
“This was surprising to me that 54.4 percent of the people said yes, they would be in favor of legalizing medical marijuana,” said Beumer, who is in his last year in office after announcing his decision in November to not run for re-election. “And that is indicative of other districts around the state, some of them even much, much more conservative districts than we are here.”
He pointed out northern Indiana’s District 22 — Republican Curt Nisly won re-election with 77.4 percent of the vote there in 2016 — where he said 60 percent of respondents favored legalizing medical marijuana.
The issue is not expected to come to a vote during the current session, but a resolution from Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) to form a summer study committee has already passed the house unanimously.
Beumer, who indicated that he is in favor of medical marijuana, said the use of a study committee to review the data available from other states where both medical and recreational marijuana are legal is prudent.
Respondents to the survey were against constitutional carry — allowing handguns to be carried in public without requiring a license — by a 61.5-33.6 percent margin with 4.9 percent undecided. It’s an issue that has been pushed by the National Rifle Association and the pro-gun lobby in general, Beumer said.
“(The survey) tells me clearly that people aren’t ready to move in that direction,” he said.
A question from the survey that could have direct impact on Jay County involves township consolidation.
House Bill 1005 proposes forcing small townships, those with a population of 1,200 or fewer, to consolidate within the next five years. That would affect two-thirds of Jay County’s 12 townships, with Wayne, Richland, Bearcreek and Penn as the exceptions.
Beumer’s survey question asked if that decision should be left up to the voters, with 67.5 percent saying it should.
“That’s a pretty clear signal,” he said.
Beumer voted in favor last week of an amendment that would have sent the issue to the voters rather than leaving the decision to the legislature. That amendment failed, but Beumer said there is still the possibility of the issue being raised again in the Senate.
The only survey question on which none of the options received a majority was regarding a constitutional amendment to establish a nonpartisan commission to draw legislative and congressional districts. More than 49 percent were in favor, with nearly 29 percent undecided and 22 percent against.
District 33 respondents were clearer in the assertions on other questions:
•Would you support repercussions for those who are administered “reversal drugs” (NARCAN, etc.) multiple times, such as requiring involuntary commitment to a certified addiction treatment program? Yes – 89.2 percent. No – 4.9 percent. Undecided – 5.9 percent.
•Indiana provides a $100 tax credit to educators for out-of-pocket school supply expenses. Do you believe this credit should be increased? Yes – 73.7 percent. No – 21.9 percent. Undecided – 4.4 percent.
•Do you believe indigent offenders should be given the ability to pay back court fines and fees through certified community service at the federal minimum wage? Yes – 86.3 percent. No – 7.5 percent. Undecided – 6.2 percent.
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