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District 83
Representatives Matt Bell and Dan Leonard Focus on Separate, Yet Significant, Issues
The Journal Gazette briefs over the issues that Matt Bell and Dan Leonard are addressing this summer. Representative Bell will concentrate on alcohol sales, while Representative Leonard works to improve adult education.
• Alcoholic beverages – Reps. Matt Bell, R-Avilla, and Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, are among the committee members who will look at issues involving alcohol sales, including the history of the state’s alcoholic beverage laws. Stateline.org reports that lawmakers across the country are examining laws that date back to the repeal of Prohibition. This past week, Colorado became the 35th state to allow residents to buy alcohol on Sundays.
• Adult education – Rep. Dan Leonard, R-Huntington, will serve on a committee studying funding for adult education. The state’s Department of Education now oversees most programs, but there are efforts to move more money to the Department of Workforce Development, where some critics believe rural communities will be overlooked and basic skill programs will be lost in favor of job-training programs.
State Representative Matt Bell Agrees with Sports Gambling Ban
According to The Journal Gazette, bars and taverns of the Fort Wayne area will soon offer low-stakes gambling. While the wrinkles of the plan are being ironed out, it is already decided that there will not be any wagering on any sports event. Representative Bell was in full support of the idea.
Rep. Matt Bell, R-Avilla – one of the co-authors of the bill legalizing the bar and tavern gambling – agrees with the policy decision the commission made.
“I think that’s a very dangerous road to go down,” he said. “That would more or less be taking the public-policy stance of allowing sports-pool betting in Indiana, and I don’t think the General Assembly is ready to take that step.”
Indiana casinos are not allowed to offer sports betting. Bell said specifically he did not want to encourage betting on local high school sports teams.
