Howdy, I'm doing this in response to a blurb I found on the entry by Jo Ann Schoen. My contacts so far to our Indiana Governor, Mitch Daniels and to Senator Richard Lugar's office has been positive so far. The aide in our Evansville, In, office immediately on Friday within five minutes of my first phone call emailed Washington, D.C. of my request to consider sponsoring a Senate bill if it passes in the House. I've kept our Lt. Governor Becky Skillman aware of my river boat interests for the past three years and is my best state supporter for politicians. She rocks.
I got an email today from the Governor Mitch Daniels office that they emailed Senator Lugar's office and expect me to get a call from that office soon. Even the campaign manager of our Governor emailed me that things have been passed in the proper channels to see if Senator Richard Lugar will help on this. Now, Jo Ann, if you contacted Senator Evan Bayh's office, I would imagine you would get a cold ear. The Democrats in our city is the same way for river boats. They like the LST 325, but riverboats can be a different story. My contact in our city is our President of the Vanderburgh County Commission Bill Nix and he wants to help river boats, likes riverboats, and already ready to clear land and brush to help bring in more riverboats to a better looking boat ramp at marker 797 1/2. You won't find that with Democrats in our city. Even after Katrina, even though Senator Bayh's office mentioned that it would be two weeks before I heard from anyone in New Orleans, LA, which was useful information, it was accurate. Past that, zip. Our Republicans in our state offices understand the importance of river boats. I know that.
Senator Richard Lugar's office was helpful, insightful, and was fair after Katrina. In this Delta Queen situation, I got even more help from Senator Lugar's office. So, please don't count out our Indiana folks when so many state offices are already trying to make things happen. Our Evansville, In, city media is doing its part: newpaper story soon, radio interviews, and not sure yet what any TV station is doing, usually Fox 7 TV News does something. So far, there is going to be a lot of news stories done about this vote coming for the Delta Queen Exemption. We are the third largest city in our Indiana state. Our media reach is one hour radius and some see us further than that. We are a balanced Tristate area and we reach out to all of our three state residents as they reach out to our city.
Jo Ann Schoen, you have done wonders and your passion is remarkable. It is passion that will make things happen on this issue. If each of us only does our part, no matter the time or size of input, you will be surprised how much can be done. I've contacted the Washington Post newspaper in Washington, D.C. and hope they do a news story, just like I did with the Wall St. Journal and NY Times newspapers but haven't seen anything yet from them. Our state of Indiana is just now moving on things. What will happen, what will they do, who knows. But, at this point, folks are in motion and we're not letting anyone get in the way.
I'll do what I can to convince Senator Richard Lugar and who knows, maybe Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky can help out. He's the one who got Owensboro and Henderson, Ky money for their river fronts. I've contacted his office and asked two cities in that state to do so also.
Everyone, do what you can, as each letter, each call, each sign, everything adds up. Keep in there. We all have the passion for the Delta Queen---lets show them in this way, and see what happens to the "Save the Delta Queen" campaign. Mary K. Hukill, Evansville, Indiana
