If voters had any doubt where the loyalty of Rep. Jefferson Shreve, R-Indiana, is cemented, his recent statement on Indiana redistricting leaves no doubt. He’s a Trump puppet, all the way.
Shreve, who doesn’t have an office in Columbus and evidently couldn’t care less about Bartholomew County or his constituents here, refused to talk with a Republic reporter Tuesday about why he cast his lot with the Trump administration seeking redistricting in Indiana.
Bartholomew County’s three state legislators, Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus and even Trump loyalist Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, all were perfectly clear last week saying they did not think Indiana redistricting was a good idea.
Talking with reporter Andy East, Walker characterized the idea of early redistricting in Indiana as “ridiculous” and pointed to comments from former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels — also a Republican — who recently told Politico that he didn’t “see the point” of doing so in the Hoosier State and that it “would be just wrong.”
“I think it’s a ridiculous idea, and I think it would backfire,” Walker said.
Lauer said he thinks early redistricting would be “ill-advised” and described Indiana’s current congressional district maps as “very fair.”
“I think it would be ill-advised. I’m not for changing the maps,” Lauer said. “…From constituents reaching out to me, I think the consensus is that we should continue with the tradition of redistricting every 10 years unless there are extraordinary circumstances. But I don’t see this as an extraordinary circumstance.”
Lucas said called early redistricting “highly unusual and politically optically horrible.”
“I don’t believe Republicans should stoop to the level of Democrats on this issue,” Lucas said in a Facebook post. “Republicans hold about 90% of all local offices statewide and once the voter rolls get purged of illegals, we will hold an even more commanding lead. Democrats can’t compete with their Socialist policies and ideology, and if there are seats that need targeted, we should do it the old-fashioned way and campaign harder in those districts.”
This is Shreve’s statement about Indiana redistricting:
“I support the president’s call to counterbalance radical blue states governors like (California Gov.) Gavin Newson and (Illinois Gov.) JB Pritzker who’ve long manipulated districts in California and Illinois,” Shreve said in the statement. “Their gerrymandering efforts undercut fair representation. Hoosiers can help turn this tide.”
You know what, Sixth District Hoosier voters, there’s another way to turn the tide.
And in the Sixth District, that would involve sending a message to Shreve that it’s voters and constituents who get you into office, and you will need them to stay in office.
If Trump thinks he can pick up one congressional seat by redistricting Indiana, maybe Hoosiers in the Sixth District should decide on a different candidate than Shreve in the future.
Let’s start looking for someone who isn’t a Trump puppet, who actually has the courage to come to Bartholomew County and listen to his constituents talk about their concerns and issues affecting their lives — and Shreve should show up in person.
Shreve needs to remember he’s supposed to be representing the voters of this congressional district, not Trump.
Remember that when heading to the voting booth.
