By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Too little, too late?
That’s the assessment offered by former US Sen. Joe Donnelly on President Donald Trump insistence on pushing through an election integrity bill known as the SAVE Act.
Some Republicans have suggested the Senate remain in session and pass the legislation, which has stalled with less than 100 days before the midterm election.
Donnelly said the proposal lacks enough Republican votes in the Senate and that time is running out to pass and enact it in all 50 states before the midterms.
“The other point is we have an incredibly safe election system. We really do,” Donnelly said. “I know a lot of people say this and say that, but it doesn’t lean Republican. It doesn’t lean Democrat. It leans to make sure every voter has a chance to vote.”
“And if you look at Indiana’s record, we have an incredibly safe system here in our state,” he added.
The legislation would implement strict physical proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration.
Donnelly was the lead speaker at a campaign kickoff hosted by Kosciusko County Democrats at Papa Vino’s in Warsaw.
Among the other speakers was Kelly Thompson, a candidate running for Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District. She says there’s plenty of examples that show Republicans are worried about the midterms.
“They’re so terrified that they have gutted the Voting Rights Act. They’re so terrified that Indianapolis is trying to shorten our early voting days. They’re so terrified they’re trying to continue to spread the lie that there is fraud in our voting system,” Thompson said. “That’s a lie.”
“They’re so terrified that they’re trying to pass the SAVE Act, which will disenfranchise millions of voters,” she said.
Other speakers include Jamee Decio, a candidate for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District and Jessica Bailey, who is running for the state-wide Comptroller’s office.
The gathering attracted a large turnout and was a fundraiser for three Plain Township advisory board candidates — Rebecca Noftz, Robert Osbun and Brian Smith.
All three are campaigning together and have a website, NeighborsForPlain.com.
Noftz, Osbun and Smith are calling for greater transparency with of Plain Township government operations and were critical of recent spending trends by the Republican-led advisory board.
Among other things, the trio wants to shift some salaries and direct the money toward firefighters.
“The first thing that we will do is we’re going to increase the stipend to our front-line firefighters. We’re going to cut our own salary from $1,500 to $1,000, reverse the salary increase of the current administration, and give that money to our front-line firefighters,” Smith told the crowd.
They also pointed out that spending for lawncare has risen from $15,3000 in 2021 to $34,000 in 2025.
Osbun said he filed a records request to learn more about township activities, but never received any documents.
Smith said they want to educate the public about how to access assistance through the township that he said is available for those struggling with insulin costs.
In a related matter, Kosciusko County Democratic Party Chairperson Vicki Morton said the annual Lake Wawasee boat ride coming up in a few weeks is sold out.
