Congressman Baird speaks to Rotary Club

Friday, May 31, 2019
Returning to the club where he once served as president, Congressman Jim Baird speaks to the Greencastle Rotary Club Wednesday at The Inn at DePauw.
Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan

The only Congressman from Putnam County in anyone’s memory, Congressman Jim Baird was back in Greencastle this week and speaking to the Greencastle Rotary Club during its weekly meeting Wednesday.

Baird, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise from the Putnam County Commissioners to the Indiana House of Representatives to being elected to Congress last year, expressed his marvel at how fast things have moved, as well as his gratitude at being back in west central Indiana.

“I can’t tell you how quickly things have moved since Nov. 6,” Baird said. “It’s nice to come from a small town where people work together.”

The homecoming was twofold for Baird, as not only does his permanent residence remain in Putnam County, but he is a past president of the Greencastle Rotary Club and remains an honorary member.

In explaining his two committee assignments, Baird was quick to relate them to his congressional district and state, which stretches from Morgan County to north of Lafayette.

Baird explained that in his first meeting of the House Agriculture Committee, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue spoke of some issues that hit home with Baird.

“I know you share my concerns about the lack of growth (in rural America),” Baird said. “Secretary Perdue was sharing about efforts to bring in high speed internet.”

Baird also spoke of Perdue’s desire to move some USDA offices out of Washington and into middle America. To that end, Baird was part of the Indiana congressional delegation that sent a letter to Perdue endorsing the state’s bid to host the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

In Baird’s mind, Purdue University, in his own district, is a natural fit.

Speaking about his other appointment, to the Science, Space and Technology Committee, Baird said he sees good things out of the Hoosier state in this area as well.

“You would be amazed at the technology we have in this district,” Baird said. “We have talented young people. I feel Indiana has created an environment that’s good for that.”

Baird also spoke of his concern over the national debt.

“The one thing that I’ve become increasingly concerned about is we’re spending a tremendous amount on interest,” Baird said.

He went on to speak highly of Congressman Jim Banks’ (R-Indiana 3rd District) plan to balance the budget.

“We have to balance that budget,” Baird said. “Congressman Banks has put together a budget in which we could balance that in 25 years or so.”

Despite his optimism for such things, Baird also had some strong words for what he sees from others in Washington who endorse what he sees as socialism.

“I can’t understand how you could be in our country and talk about the merits of socialism,” Baird said.

“There are some people that I think probably hate this country,” he added later, “and that concerns me.”

Still, Baird said he thinks there is room for compromise in the middle of what he sees as a “bell-shaped curve.” While there might be those on the extremes Baird said, “In the middle, that’s where we solve our problems.”

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: