Political Notebook - The blog

  • Coats, Donnelly divided on immigration provisions
     Sens. Dan Coats, R-Ind., and Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., split their votes Tuesday on two amendments to the Senate immigration bill, both of which were defeated.
  • Summer assignments announced
    Senate President Pro Tem David Long has doled out summer assignments to his chamber members.Area lawmakers will serve on a variety of Interim Study Committees.Sen.
  • Stutzman files measure to split ag, food stamps
    Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-3rd, announced Monday that he has filed amendments in the House to remove the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – also known as food stamps – from the five-year farm bill.
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Morris might meet a Republican after all

Barranda

Republican Fort Wayne attorney Michael Barranda is exploring a possible independent run for House District 84.

The move comes after current Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, criticized the Girl Scouts earlier this year, causing national ridicule and scorn.

Morris' comments occurred after the deadline to file for the primary ballot.

"The issue with the Girl Scouts really got my attention," said Barranda, whose daughter is a Girl Scout. "As a community leader I felt it was a poor reflection on Fort Wayne. I wanted to explore what I can personally do."

He submitted the campaign finance paperwork for an exploratory committee in recent days though it still doesn't show up on the Secretary of State's online database.

And he hasn't yet started collecting the hundreds of signatures needed to get on the ballot as an independent. The deadline to file is July 2.

Barranda -- who is a longtime Republican who has never run for office before -- promises to caucus with the House GOP caucus.

To contact Niki Kelly email her at nkelly@jg.net or follow her on Twitter @nkellyatJG.

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