Meeks Stepping Down From Sixth Senate Bid

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(STATEHOUSE) - Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Meeks is abandoning his bid for a sixth term in the Senate.

Meeks (R-Lagrange) suffered a stroke during this year's session, and a second a day after the legislature adjourned. He says his doctor warned he probably wouldn't survive the stress of another four-year term.

Meeks says the initial stroke did more damage than he first thought. The senator says his left leg is gradually weakening, and he's losing the vision in his right eye.

Meeks says he sees himself at the "pinnacle" of his 20-year legislative career, and wants to be remembered that way, rather than risk becoming incapacitated in midterm or mid-speech.

Meeks was the Senate's lead negotiator on some of the most difficult state budgets in Indiana history -- he jokes he learned how to say "no" in several languages. Meeks' mantra in 2003 and 2005 of "there is no money" became a standing joke, but Meeks says he's proud of his ability to reach agreement with Democratic budgeters while holding the line on spending, and wrenching the budget into balance in 2005 when Governor Daniels took office.

Meeks cautions next year's budget negotiations will be difficult again, with declining state revenues, and a new $2.8 billion state obligation to fund schools under this year's property-tax reform law.

Daniels issued a statement calling Meeks "a rock for taxpayers" and said he couldn't have achieved that balanced budget without him.

Meeks was unopposed in last week's Republican primary -- he says his health problems cropped up after the late February deadline to take his name off the ballot.

Precinct leaders will caucus next month to replace him on the November ballot. Meeks has been unopposed in the solidly Republican district the last few elections, but Democrats this year have nominated former community state bank CEO Fred Demske. State Reps. Matt Bell (R-Fort Wayne) and Marlin Stutzman (R-Howe) are reportedly considering bids for Meeks' seat.

Meeks says he won't recruit or endorse any candidate. Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) says he won't make any decision on filling Meeks' appropriations chairmanship until after the November election. One possibility is to merge the panel with the tax and fiscal policy committee, now chaired by Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville). The committees were split in two in 2004 after the defeat of longtime Senate Finance Chairman Larry Borst (R-Greenwood).

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