Moseley: "Steelworkers forged this state and deserve our protection"

Today, April 17, the Biden-Harris Administration announced their plan to protect American steelworkers from China’s predatory practices. For years, China has been producing artificially cheap steel – producing more than there is demand – flooding the market with low-quality products. The Biden-Harris Administration is calling for the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to triple tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum and to investigate their unfair practices.

State Rep. Chuck Moseley (D-Portage) released the following supportive statement: 

“I strongly support any action that protects American businesses, their employees and their products. These are common sense policies that will protect Hoosier steelworkers who helped forge our state. Indiana leads the nation in steel production, so we must prioritize the security and well-being of this industry. 

“We know that one bad actor can undermine an entire industry. For too long, China has flooded the market with cheap steel which has drastically lowered prices and eliminated competition. Tripling tariffs on China’s steel and aluminum imports will protect Indiana’s industry. Our domestic industry – and our thousands of steelworkers – will be safeguarded from layoffs, mill closures and loss of profits due to offshore production. It’s both the state and nation’s responsibility to protect prosperity and our manufacturers from harm. I’m glad that we’re protecting Indiana industry and the thousands of steelworkers who call the Hoosier state home.” 

Moseley warns of the dangers of overriding local home rule

During the 2024 legislative session, House Republicans have proposed multiple bills that threaten local home rule. Home rule is the ability for our local municipalities including townships, counties and cities to govern themselves. Multiple bills proposed this session override local ordinances or negate city council votes. 

State Rep. Chuck Moseley (D-Portage) released the following statement:

“We in the state legislature have a duty to respect the desires of our local communities, and there are currently bills going through the legislature that threaten this duty. This session, this legislature has consistently proposed and passed legislation that neglects this responsibility. These bills set a bad precedent by threatening the individualism of localities across Indiana. We must remember that our local communities understand the challenges they’re facing the best.” 

House Bill 1199 is an example of legislation that overrides a local vote. The bill – passed by the House on Jan. 30 – repeals the economic enhancement district for the Indianapolis Mile Square. The Indianapolis City-County Council voted to adopt the fiscal tool in December after its approval in the 2023 state budget. Moseley voted against the bill to protect the interest of Mile Square property owners and locally elected councilors.  

“We enshrined this commitment in our constitution through the Indiana Home Rule Act,” Moseley continued. “In 1980, the legislature declared that local governments possessed the power to conduct their own affairs. We work for the people, and I fear that this anti-locality agenda delegitimizes the choices made by those same people. Instead of overstepping local elected officials – and therefore the will of Hoosier communities – we have a commitment to work together on the challenges our communities are facing.”

Moseley calls for increased protections for our animal friends

Monday, Jan. 29, House Bill 1412 passed through the House of Representatives, aimed at regulating the retail sale of dogs. The legislation would increase the responsibilities of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) and strip communities of the mandate to regulate puppy mills. State Rep. Chuck Moseley (D-Portage) released the following statement regarding the passage of the bill:

“As an animal lover and dog dad, I am outraged that members of this legislature would support legislation that allows bad actors to return to the puppy mill industry. House Bill 1412 replaces local control with underfunded oversight, uprooting the years of progress made in cities and towns around Indiana, including in my own, where communities like Valparaiso are taking steps to crack down on the abusive puppy mill industry. Twenty-one of our Hoosier communities have already addressed unethical breeding, wielding the local mandate to uphold the duty of care we owe to our animals. This legislation would have the Indiana General Assembly override that mandate from local voters.”

“The bill’s proposed plan for oversight ignores infrastructural needs by drastically increasing BOAH’s responsibilities, yet it doesn’t allocate funds to expand its operations. This lack of oversight will make it impossible to ensure pet retailers and breeders treat their animals humanely. If this legislation becomes law, the local groups around Indiana who work tirelessly with local officials to protect our pets will be powerless to prevent the abuse animals will endure at pet stores and unregulated breeders. House Bill 1412 is just another in a long line of legislation stripping localities of their power. We elect our local officials to govern. Why don’t we trust them to do their jobs?”