House Republicans reject Pierce amendment to protect Hoosiers from higher utility costs

Today, Feb. 10, State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) offered amendments to House Bill 1007 that would have prevented utility customers from bearing the cost of failed nuclear power plant projects. The first amendment would have removed a provision in the bill that allows utilities to charge their customers for planning costs for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) even when they decide to abandon the SMR project. The other amendment would have prevented utilities from charging their customers for SMRs that are not yet generating any electricity. An existing "Construction Work in Progress" (CWIP) law allows utilities to charge customers during the construction of an SMR, including cost overruns, before the SMR provides any benefit to utility customers. No SMR project has been completed in the United States. The most recent SMR attempt was abandoned in Utah after estimated project costs ballooned from around $3 billion to $9.3 billion.

Pierce released the following statement on his amendments:

"HB 1007 allows utilities to gamble on expensive, unproven technology with utility customers' money. It shifts the risk of speculative projects from Utility corporations onto the backs of utility ratepayers. If HB 1007 becomes law, it will give a green light for utilities to pursue one of the most expensive forms of energy that will take years to build. I fear customers will be saddled with higher rates to pay for a boondoggle.

"Once again, the House of Representatives missed an opportunity to protect utility customers from higher rates."

Pierce statement on the unwarranted action of the Indiana University administration to arrest peaceful protestors

State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) released the following statement regarding the unwarranted actions of the Indiana University administration to arrest peaceful protesters:

“Yesterday, the Indiana University administration betrayed more than 50 years of support for free expression on campus by choosing to use force to shut down a peaceful protest and arresting students and faculty exercising their First Amendment rights.

“A University policy that has designated Dunn Meadow as a 'public forum for expression on all subjects' since 1969 was blatantly violated by the leaders of the University without justification. A policy that has withstood anti-Vietnam War protests, months-long shanty towns to protest apartheid in South Africa, the Gulf War, and numerous other controversies was summarily changed by an unknown committee with no public notice or input.

“It's clear this alleged policy change was directly targeted at a specific protest with speech the University wished to suppress. That is a textbook violation of the First Amendment. 

“It's ironic that University leaders who continually use the excuse of potential violence to suppress speech it opposes invited onto campus state police with military-style weapons that included what appeared to be snipers stationed on rooftops to force a physical confrontation with protesters. This reckless decision is indefensible. Does President Whitten not remember Kent State?

“President Whitten must correct this grievous violation of First Amendment rights by requesting all criminal charges against those arrested be dropped and rescinding any year-long bans from campus that have been issued against the protesters.

“It's time for President Whitten to put an end to her amateurish handling of campus protests before someone gets seriously hurt.”

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Pierce appointed to Federal Communications Commission advisory committee

State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) has been appointed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to serve on the FCC's Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC). The advisory panel provides expertise and recommendations on telecommunications issues affecting state, local, and tribal governments. Pierce will serve a two-year term on the Committee.

“I am excited about the opportunity to provide state perspectives about telecommunications issues affecting the states,” Pierce said. “State governments often share responsibilities with the FCC for telecommunications issues and work with the FCC to implement its programs, particularly making affordable broadband available throughout the country.

“I look forward to using my experience working on telecommunications policies and teaching about them in the classroom to work with my fellow committee members on important FCC issues.”

Pierce has an extensive background in telecommunications, including interning for the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance, clerking in the legal department of the National Association of Broadcasters, and serving on Bloomington's Telecommunications Council, which administered the city's cable television franchise. He received his B.A. in Telecommunications and Political Science in 1984 and a law degree in 1987 from Indiana University Bloomington where he currently is a Senior Lecturer in The Media School.

House Republicans vote down amendment for fair redistricting

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) offered an amendment that would create a two-year task force to create a pathway to adopting non-partisan redistricting. House Republicans defeated the amendment 67 to 28. 

“Republicans are clinging to the power that partisan redistricting gives them,” Pierce said. “The current redistricting process is inherently flawed. Elected officials, including legislators, have an inherent conflict of interest when they draw their own districts. Partisan redistricting makes general elections largely irrelevant, shifting control of elections to the most partisan primary voters. This results in a General Assembly that does not reflect the views of a majority of Hoosiers. It’s time to return the power to choose our elected officials to the people.

“In the 2022 election, Indiana ranked 50th for voter turnout in the United States. Perhaps Indiana voters don’t vote because the Republican-drawn maps allow for little to no competition in our elections. My amendment would have made many more elections competitive, giving people more reasons to participate in our democracy.”