Spouse(s) Karen Profession Educator | Name B. Bauer Political party Democratic Party | |
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Born May 25, 1944 (age 79)
Fort Wayne, Indiana United States ( 1944-05-25 ) Alma mater University of Notre Dame, Indiana University Residence South Bend, Indiana, United States Education Indiana University, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Notre Dame | ||
B. Patrick Bauer is a Democratic member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing the 6th House District since 1970. His district consists primarily of the city of South Bend in St. Joseph County in northern Indiana.
Contents
- Indiana Speaker of the House
- Indiana House of Representatives Minority Leader
- Committee membership
- References
Bauer and his wife Karen have three children, Bart, Megan and Maureen. When not working as a legislator, he serves as the Dean of External Affairs for Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. He is also an advisory board member for Indiana University South Bend and the Urban Enterprise Association of South Bend.
Indiana Speaker of the House
Rep. Bauer was elected to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indiana on November 7, 2006. The Speaker of the House presides over the Indiana House of Representatives and sets the legislative agenda. The Speaker also assigns other members of the House of Representatives to their respective committees. His term expired at the end of the 2010 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
Rep. Bauer also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 2003 and 2004 sessions.
Indiana House of Representatives Minority Leader
With the start of the 2011 session representative Bauer became the minority leader of the House of Representatives of Indiana.
One of his first acts as minority leader was to lead a 34-day walkout of 40 Democratic representatives over a right-to-work bill. The bill (House Bill 1468 ) would have prevented union dues from being taken from non-union workers in union shops.
With the start of the 2012 session of the Indiana House of Representatives, he led a boycott of the house floor to again prevent action on the right-to-work bill (House Bill 1001 ). The effort failed, and the bill passed (55 to 41) the Republican dominated Indiana House on January 25, 2012. On February 1, 2012 it was passed by the senate (28 to 22) and signed by governor Mitch Daniels.
Twenty-three bills "timed-out" and were killed by the right-to-work dispute.
As of July 26, 2012, Bauer was removed from this leadership position. Bauer supported the state mandated purchase of syngas through coal gasification technology. Developers of Leucadia National proposed a $2.6 billion syngas plant in Rockport, Indiana. Under the terms of the deal endorsed by Bauer, the state of Indiana would have bought syngas under a 30-year contract and then mandate that utilities within the state pass on any losses from the transaction on to Hoosier customers. Gas from the plant would make up about 17 percent of the state's supply. The deal received criticism due to government intrusion in the energy markets, and for forcing consumers to sign up for risky long-term gas purchases at prices substantially higher than market prices. Questions were also raised due to Leucadia National hiring Mark Lubbers to promote the deal. Lubbers is a former aide and close friend of former Governor Mitch Daniels. The project was ultimately panned by the state legislature in 2013.
Committee membership
Rep. Bauer serves on the Committee on Joint Rules.