Local Democratic Party mourns loss of Bottorff

The Floyd County Democratic Party was sadden to learn that local State Representative James Bottorff (D – Jeffersonville) had lossed his battle with cancer Tueday.

Although Bottorff did not represent Floyd County, many in our community were friends with Bottorff and his work on behalf of Indiana touched the lives of all Hoosiers. A supporter of local institutions such as IU Southeast, Bottorff often worked with State Representative Bill Cochran (D - New Albany) to ensure Southern Indiana received its fair share of State resources.

During this tenure in the Statehouse, Bottorff lead efforts to enact policies such as the expansion of the states home health care program; more funding for schoolchildren; expanded economic development opportunities; and greater tax relief for Hoosiers. Bottorff also worked with Cochran to remove the burdens placed on residents of Clark and Floyd Counties by federally mandated vehicle emissions testing.

Bottorff was a fun person to be around, said Cochran.

“There was no pretense to him. Jim was an effective legislator,” Cochran said.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Jim's family. His presence in the community will be missed.

A sad day for state government in Indiana

By JOHN L. GILKEY and LARRY THOMAS
Jeffersonville Evening News - New Albany Tribune

State Rep. James L. Bottorff, 61, a 15-year veteran of the Indiana House, died Tuesday at Louisville’s Norton Hospital following a months-long battle with cancer.



“This is a sad day for state government in Indiana,” said House Democrat Leader B. Patrick Bauer from South Bend. “We have lost a man who defined the role of public servant, a man who devoted much of his life to the idea that answering the needs of others was a noble calling. Our heart goes out to his family at this time of loss.”

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State police to lower education requirements

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- Faced with tough competition for new recruits, the Indiana State Police will drop its longtime requirement that would-be troopers have at least some college education.

The requirement, which has been in place for more than a decade, requires state police candidates to have either 60 credit hours of college or previous police or military experience. That set the department apart from local agencies that require only a high school diploma.

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Laid-off workers to get debit cards - Unemployment pay takes different form

By Lesley Stedman Weidenbener
The Courier-Journal

INDIANAPOLIS -- Laid-off Hoosiers soon will begin getting their unemployment payments as debit cards rather than checks.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development announced yesterday that it plans to hire a company to issue MasterCard- or Visa-branded debit cards -- which are used like credit cards except they withdraw money from an account -- to Hoosiers who qualify for unemployment benefits.

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