12 Hoosier Banker July 2015 Continued from page 11. do not necessarily improve safety or stability. Instead they make it more burdensome for them to operate. What we’re trying to do as a committee is to identify those areas to try to remove that burden.” What can bankers do to facilitate their visits to you in Washington D.C.? “We love having visitors come by. We are very lucky in that our bankers come to visit on a fairly regular basis. They represent a wide spectrum from across the state, and our doors are always open. “I’m the hired help. I work for the people of Indiana, and I hope that all of our bankers understand that it’s not ‘Joe’s office.’ It’s the office of the people of Indiana. It’s their office, and it’s my honor to serve.” How and why did you enter politics? “I had worked with a few campaigns and was interested in the process as a way to make our community a little bit stronger. Because I had helped others in their campaigns, a few people in the community asked me if I would be interested in running for Congress. “I was concerned about the situation in Iraq and various other issues. I thought maybe I could help make a difference.” You have been quoted as saying, ‘My question about everything I do is, does it make our country stronger?’ How does this philosophy apply to economic issues? “I was fortunate to be the congressman from north central Indiana in 2008, 2009 and 2010, a time when we saw the unemployment rate in some of our counties in the congressional district go over 20 percent. When I would hold a town hall meeting, or when I would meet with folks in the supermarket, it wasn’t anger that they felt. It was fear. “It was fear about, ‘How am I going to be able to pay my mortgage next month, when I’ve lost my job?’ ‘How am I going to be able to take care of my children, if I don’t have a place to go to work?’ So before anything else in our country works, we have to make sure that every mom and dad has the opportunity to go to work, take care of their families and make their American dreams come true. “My first and foremost obligation as a senator is the protection and defense of our country. In addition, working to make sure that every American has the chance to make their dreams come true is critical to me. That’s why the state of our economy is so critical. “When our economy is strong, hopes and dreams come true. When the economy struggles, it’s tough on everyone.” Who from your life has had a notable influence on you? “My mother passed away when I was 10 years old, so my dad raised all five of us kids as a single father. He would go off to work at 6 in the morning and come home at 7 every night. He practiced old-fashioned parenting that kept me out of trouble. I think about my father every day. “I also think about Father Ted Hesburgh of the University of Notre Dame, who gave me the chance to go to college. As the grandson of immigrants, I am the second person ever in my family to go to college. I never dreamed that I would have the chance to go to Notre Dame. Father Hesburgh gave me an opportunity that changed my life. “Over the years, what I learned most of all is that it’s really people who make a difference. It’s all about people and relationships and working together to try to make a difference in the lives of others.” t “Donnelly Days” give Sen. Joe Donnelly (second from right) the chance to travel statewide and work with Hoosiers to gain a deeper understanding of the issues affecting various jobs and professions.A sign company that he visited in Indianapolis welcomed him with a large digital greeting. An example of Sen. Joe Donnelly’s bipartisan efforts is his co-introduction, with U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, of S. 970 on April 16. The legislation is written to help more highly rated small financial institutions qualify for the 18-month on-site examination cycle instead of the usual 12-month cycle. The bill would increase from $500 million to $1 billion the total asset threshold below which highly rated small financial institutions can be subject to the longer cycle. “We have a strong community bank presence across our state, and they help create opportunities for many Hoosier businesses and families,” said Donnelly. “This legislation would make a common sense update to existing rules in order to make things a little easier for those banks that are in good standing.” The bill has been assigned to a congressional committee, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole. t Donnelly, Toomey Introduce Bill to Reduce Bank Burden
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