Dave Hall

State Representative R-Norman, District 62 (Brown, parts of Jackson & Monroe Counties)

Defunding Public Education

July 30, 2023

If you wonder why our state politicians funneled millions of dollars away from public schools in the 2023 legislative session, look no further than the Indiana Republican trifecta (governor, and both chambers in the General Assembly) since Citizens United unleashed political contributions in 2010.   Indiana became awash in out-of-state money interested in right-wing issues. And they are getting their money’s worth!

Follow the Money

Hoosiers for Quality Education (looking at you Walton family of Arkansas billionaires) gave over $1.3 million to Republican campaigns in 2020-22. Another pro-charter group, Hoosiers for Great Public Schools (funded by former Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and California billionaire), gave over $1 million.  Those monies are funneled in various ways to Republican candidates, such as Rep Dave Hall R-District 62 who beat Democrat Penny Githens by only 74 votes in 2022. He received $154, 589.80 from the party. That’s a lot of yard signs.

What do the voters of Brown County and parts of Jackson and Monroe Counties get for that? Right now they are getting a Republican beholden to that party’s increasingly right-wing agenda. He is keeping his head down. He is voting the party line. He even refused to answer the Political Courage Test submitted to him by Vote Smart, a non-partisan voter education organization. They measure a candidate’s willingness to answer voters’ questions and thus provide a record on a range of issues. 

If you are not happy with a state representative who keeps his head down and allows himself to be swept along, you have a chance in 2024 to elect an alternative. Remember, only 74 votes made the difference last time.

Additional Resources

Voter Supression

October 8, 2023

In 2020 Indiana ranked 41st in making voting accessible. So 40 states make it easier. Now it’s worse.

State Representative Dave Hall, R-Dist. 62, is new to the Indiana legislature. But so far his votes have followed the party line. So is he on board with their extreme agenda, or just afraid to come out of the foxhole? 

During the last legislative session Hall voted for H.B. 1334, which requires absentee voters to send additional identification when they apply for a mail-in ballot.T his could be confusing to seniors, out-of-state students, and Hoosiers in the military. According to the Cost of Voting Study conducted by Northern Illinois University in 2020, Indiana’s restrictive voting laws make casting a ballot in the Hoosier state more difficult than most others. And we already had laws in place that strictly limit access to a mail-in ballot.

This bill was signed into law by Gov. Holcomb on May 1, 2023.

Follow the Money

The financial influence of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council, a rightwing, group which lobbies for voter suppression) is apparent. Eighteen members of the Indiana House — all Republicans — are members. 

If you think we need to find ways to make our already-safe voting easier, Hall only won his seat in 2022 by 74 votes. He is up for re-election in 2024.

Plot to Gut the Constitution

February 7, 2024

There is a well-financed movement in the U.S. to call for a Constitutional Convention (under Article V) which could result in shredding First Amendment protections, gutting environmental regulations, and rolling back civil rights advances.

State Representative Dave Hall, R-Dist. 62, authored a House Joint Resolution 3 this spring, which calls for “A constructive dialogue that ultimately results in a constitutional amendment bringing about opportunity for the American People.” Specifically, he says he wants the U.S. Constitution changed to limit terms senators and representatives may serve. 

Or, is this just a foot in the door. The resolution passed out of the Indiana House, and is now with the Senate.

If a Constitutional Convention were called, it is unclear that it would be kept to the topic for which it is called.   

Follow the Money

It’s not clear what motivated Rep. Hall to introduce this Resolution. However, it is well known that the financial influence of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) is very much pushing this idea nationally. The influence of ALEC in Indiana is also well-known. Eighteen members of the Indiana House—all Republicans—are members, and their ALEC-funded trips and perks, a challenge to document.  

Oligarchs often use social, moral, and even plausible issues to rally ordinary people to support the architects of their destruction. Vote for term limits, receive a social order where wealth is even more concentrated, environmental protections are removed, or rights are abridged. 

Democratic State Representative candidate Thomas Horrocks, D-Dist 62, does not support rollbacks of rights and protections.

Our votes in the face of unprecedented money in politics since the 2010 decision in Citizens United, could never be more important. And in the 2020 election, voter turnout in Indiana was 46th in the country.

Steep Slope Development

June 9, 2024

State Representative Dave Hall, R-Dist. 62, introduced a bill in January 2024—now signed into law— which prohibits local governments from enacting laws preventing development due to the steepness of a site’s slope. His motivation for introducing this began with claims that Monroe County needs more inexpensive housing, when most of his district is Brown County.  When challenged by Bloomington District 61 Representative Matt Pierce, Hall said local residents should be able to use their properties as they best see fit. 

So property owners should have the right to do what they want despite how it affects their neighbors?  

It is a well-known fact that disturbing vegetation and soil integrity would increase the likelihood of erosion, which in turn would negatively impact the water quality of downstream water sources; that storm water and planning experts say allowing development on steeper slopes could send sediment pollution into underground streams that resurface in other areas of the county; and that one of the most expensive costs according to the Lake Lemon conservancy is constantly dredging the lake from all the siltation coming from development.

Follow the Money

When funding for the Republican Party is closely examined, one finds that $60,000 was donated to the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee (IHRCC) by the Indiana Multi-Family Housing PAC. This PAC’s contributors include many companies associated with the building industry. And those monies support legislators who vote the party line. This IHRCC is Hall’s largest donor.

Democratic State Representative candidate Thomas Horrocks, Dist 62, is Hall’s opponent in the fall election. He is a strong environmental advocate who believes in people over party.

Our votes in the face of unprecedented money in politics since the 2010 decision in Citizens United, could never be more important this November 5th.

Attacks on our Public Schools

October 14, 2024

State Representative Dave Hall, HD 62, supported 3 bills during the 2024 Indiana Legislative Session that were opposed by ICPE, the Indiana Coalition for Public Education, and now are laws.  

HB1447 creates a confusing set of standards which could have a chilling effect on the breadth of materials available to a school librarian.  It removes the legal defense of saying material is justified if it has an educational purpose.  A conviction is punishable for up to 2 ½ years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Hall also supported SB 391, which states that charter schools in 4 counties may share in the tax increases to property taxes for that school district, essentially taking more money away from public schools.  Those 4 counties have the majority of charter schools in Indiana.

The third bill that Hall supported HB 1380 is a poorly constructed omnibus bill that will take control away from school corporations to oversee privately managed “innovation network schools.”  

Follow the Money

A PAC called Hoosiers for Great Public Schools is an indirect recipient of a huge amount of money…$1.4 million…from the former CEO of Netflix Reed Hastings to promote charter schools.  This PAC has made campaign contributions of almost $426,000 to Hoosier GOP candidates and pro-charter school groups as well as $190,000 to the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee.  Might this have some influence on Rep. Hall’s support of anti-public education measures?

Democratic State Representative candidate Thomas Horrocks, HD 62, says that Brown County lost $761,000 in local taxes meant to support their schools, but instead was sent to other counties for charter/private schools, none of which are in Brown County.  Article 8, Section 1 of the Indiana Constitution states that the General Assembly has a duty “to provide, by law, for a general and uniform system of common Schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all.”   That is certainly not true of private or charter schools.  Horrocks is a strong supporter of public education and will work to overcome the corrosive effects of legislation detrimental to it.

Our votes in the face of unprecedented money supporting candidates like Dave Hall since the 2010 decision in Citizens United, could never be more important this November 5th.