FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2008
Contact: Keric Fitzgerald, 317-223-4774 (Sullivan), or Amber Bacavis, 317-504-0204 (Barnes)
INDIANAPOLIS - John Barnes and Mary Ann Sullivan, the respective Democratic candidates for House Districts 89 and 97, today joined U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh in calling for increased Amtrak funding at the federal level to help protect workers who live and work in their districts.
Bayh and U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) recently urged key lawmakers to appropriate $1.8 billion for Amtrak to maintain its current rail operations and increase intercity rail services throughout the nation.
Amtrak's Beech Grove maintenance facility currently employs more than 400 Hoosiers.
"These highly skilled workers are building and maintaining a system of transportation that's both efficient and effective," Barnes said. "We need to do everything we can to protect those jobs while investing in an alternative to driving that saves energy and money."
Both candidates stressed the importance of maintaining the workforce at the Beech Grove facility, which has been threatened in the past.
"These are good-paying jobs that are critical to our community," they said. "We have to do everything we can to fight to keep them here."
In light of soaring gas prices, Barnes and Sullivan also pledged to do their part working on legislative solutions at the Statehouse to improve and develop mass transit in Indianapolis and across the state. The candidates both said they would work across the aisle to accomplish this important goal.
"From Washington to Indianapolis, we have an obligation to work together to find ways to reduce our reliance on oil," Sullivan said. "We need to focus on making mass transit more accessible and easier to use, and we need to start now."
Barnes and Sullivan strongly support the development of alternative fuels and the promotion of other initiatives, such as carpooling, that would reduce Hoosiers' dependence on oil.
They also believe we need to study the efficacy of developing mass transit and look for ways to improve our public transportation systems in urban and suburban areas such as the districts they are running to represent.
John Barnes is the Democratic Candidate for State Representative in House District 89.
District 89 is located on the east and southeast sides of Marion County and includes parts of Warren, Perry and Franklin Townships. The community of Irvington and part of the City of Beech Grove are included in the district. Barnes is a lifelong eastsider and has been a public school teacher for the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township for 25 years. He lives in southern Warren Township with his wife Leslie and their two children.
Mary Ann Sullivan is an Indianapolis native who has spent the last 20 years as an advocate for public education. She has worked in and for the Indianapolis Public Schools and holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs, focusing on policy analysis. Mary Ann and her husband, Brian, live in Downtown Indianapolis. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
On the Web: www.johnbarnes.us and www.maryannforhouse.com
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Paid for and authorized by Mary Ann Sullivan for Indiana House.and the Committee to Elect John Barnes
July 18, 2008
Contact: Keric Fitzgerald, 317-223-4774 (Sullivan), or Amber Bacavis, 317-504-0204 (Barnes)
Barnes, Sullivan call for increased Amtrak funding
House candidates committed to preserving jobs, improving mass transit
House candidates committed to preserving jobs, improving mass transit
INDIANAPOLIS - John Barnes and Mary Ann Sullivan, the respective Democratic candidates for House Districts 89 and 97, today joined U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh in calling for increased Amtrak funding at the federal level to help protect workers who live and work in their districts.
Bayh and U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) recently urged key lawmakers to appropriate $1.8 billion for Amtrak to maintain its current rail operations and increase intercity rail services throughout the nation.
Amtrak's Beech Grove maintenance facility currently employs more than 400 Hoosiers.
"These highly skilled workers are building and maintaining a system of transportation that's both efficient and effective," Barnes said. "We need to do everything we can to protect those jobs while investing in an alternative to driving that saves energy and money."
Both candidates stressed the importance of maintaining the workforce at the Beech Grove facility, which has been threatened in the past.
"These are good-paying jobs that are critical to our community," they said. "We have to do everything we can to fight to keep them here."
In light of soaring gas prices, Barnes and Sullivan also pledged to do their part working on legislative solutions at the Statehouse to improve and develop mass transit in Indianapolis and across the state. The candidates both said they would work across the aisle to accomplish this important goal.
"From Washington to Indianapolis, we have an obligation to work together to find ways to reduce our reliance on oil," Sullivan said. "We need to focus on making mass transit more accessible and easier to use, and we need to start now."
Barnes and Sullivan strongly support the development of alternative fuels and the promotion of other initiatives, such as carpooling, that would reduce Hoosiers' dependence on oil.
They also believe we need to study the efficacy of developing mass transit and look for ways to improve our public transportation systems in urban and suburban areas such as the districts they are running to represent.
John Barnes is the Democratic Candidate for State Representative in House District 89.
District 89 is located on the east and southeast sides of Marion County and includes parts of Warren, Perry and Franklin Townships. The community of Irvington and part of the City of Beech Grove are included in the district. Barnes is a lifelong eastsider and has been a public school teacher for the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township for 25 years. He lives in southern Warren Township with his wife Leslie and their two children.
Mary Ann Sullivan is an Indianapolis native who has spent the last 20 years as an advocate for public education. She has worked in and for the Indianapolis Public Schools and holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Masters Degree in Public Affairs, focusing on policy analysis. Mary Ann and her husband, Brian, live in Downtown Indianapolis. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
On the Web: www.johnbarnes.us and www.maryannforhouse.com
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Paid for and authorized by Mary Ann Sullivan for Indiana House.and the Committee to Elect John Barnes
