GOP State Senator Mark Messmer is latest state Republican to support the Democrats’ $100 million in broadband investments, joining Steve Collier and Jim Brainard
Awkward: Kyle Hupfer, Congressional INGOP call broadband “socialism”, opposition “a great campaign to run on”
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today thanked Republican State Senator Mark Messmer for his endorsement of President Joe Biden’s Jobs Act and its transformational investment to Indiana’s infrastructure system. Yesterday, Messmer praised the law’s $100 million investment to solve the state’s broadband problems — saying “we’re looking forward to” the federal dollars. The Job Act’s allotment for high-speed internet is in addition to the state’s $250 million investments in broadband via the American Rescue Plan — which Messmer also supported.
Here is Mark Messmer’s full quote from WISH-TV:
“Obviously, anything we can do to enhance broadband availability to people in unserved areas will be of benefit to the state, so we’re looking forward to that.” – Mark Messmer, GOP State Senator – District 48
“A huge shout out goes to State Senator Mark Messmer for joining Indiana Democrats in celebration of the Jobs Act and the transformational broadband investments this law will bring to the Hoosier State,” said Lauren Ganapini, executive director of the Indiana Democratic Party. “Democrats now call on Messmer to ask Todd Young and Kyle Hupfer why they view high-speed internet as ‘socialism’ and the kind of opposition that’s ‘a great campaign to run on’. Indiana Republicans’ extreme partisanship is not only divisive, but the INGOP is quickly becoming the party that’s betting against the future of this state and the Hoosier families.”
The bipartisan praise by Mark Messmer and other Indiana Republicans like Mayors Jim Brainard (Carmel) and Steve Collier (Lawrence) is in direct contradiction to their INGOP Chairman, Kyle Hupfer, and Indiana Congressional Republicans who all said “NO” to the Jobs Act. Further, Republicans like Todd Young, Jackie Walorski, and Jim Baird have all referred to broadband, roads and bridges, and clean water as “socialism” – despite campaigning on the very issues themselves. The INGOP’s willingness to politicize issues like clean water make it clear they value misinformation and extreme partisanship than delivering a better tomorrow for the Hoosier State.
In contrast, Indiana Democrats are visiting small towns across the state to tout how the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, and overall Build Back Better agenda is creating a better future for rural Hoosiers. The Democrats’ “Small Town, Indiana” tour has crisscrossed Indiana and will conclude this week with stops in Greensburg, Columbia City, and Marion. Hoosiers wanted action, and Democrats delivered for them when it mattered most.
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