Mark Messmer

Messmer supported the state mandated purchase of syngas through coal gasification technology.{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/gov/3047.htm|title=Indiana advances leadership in clean coal technology|publisher=Governor's Office|date=March 2009|access-date=2013-04-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316055947/http://www.in.gov/gov/3047.htm|archive-date=2011-03-16}} Developers of Leucadia National proposed a $2.6 billion syngas plant in Rockport, Indiana. Under the terms of the deal endorsed by Messmer, 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&ArticleID=63969|title=Vectren: Shale-gas boom makes Rockport coal-to-gas deal risky|publisher=Indiana Economic Digest|date=February 14, 2012|access-date=2013-04-29|author=Bradner, Eric}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/feb/14/indiana-house-committee-hears-testimony-planned-ro/|title=Indiana House committee hears testimony on planned Rockport coal-to-gas plant|publisher=Evansville Courier & Press|date=February 15, 2012|access-date=2013-04-29|author=Bradner, Eric}}{{cite web|url=http://www.indy.com/posts/daniels-takes-natural-gas-bet-that-others-refused|title=Daniels takes natural gas bet that others refused|publisher=Indianapolis Star|date=January 2, 2011|access-date=2013-04-29|author=Evanoff, Ted}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2011/05/lubbers-critics-of-coal-gasification.html|title=Lubbers: Critics Of Coal Gasification Deal Are Sneaky And Evil|publisher=Advance Indiana|date=May 1, 2011|access-date=2013-04-29|author=Welsh, Gary}} The project was ultimately panned by the state legislature in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2013/apr/27/no-headline---bradnercol/ | title=BRADNER: Rockport plant will never be | date=2013-04-27 | access-date=2013-04-29 | author=Bradner, Eric}}

In 2022, Messmer sponsored a bill that bans the foreign ownership of agricultural land in Indiana.{{cite web |url=https://www.thecentersquare.com/indiana/indiana-senate-passes-bill-to-restrict-foreign-ownership-of-cropland-to-320-acres/article_56f009d6-851a-11ec-9ead-63e5e6c87787.html | title=Indiana Senate passes bill to restrict foreign ownership of cropland to 320 acres | date=3 February 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/indiana-news/senate-passes-bill-to-keep-agricultural-land-under-ownership-of-americans/ | title=Senate passes bill to keep agricultural land under ownership of Americans | date=2 February 2022 }} He also sponsored bills in 2022 to provide in-state tuition and drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-house-hopeful-co-authored-bills-provide-in-state-tuition-driving-cards-illegal-immigrants | title=GOP House hopeful co-authored bills to provide in-state tuition, driving 'cards' to illegal immigrants | website=Fox News | date=6 February 2024 }}

In February 2024, Messmer announced his candidacy for Indiana's 8th congressional district in the 2024 election.{{cite web |url=https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/briefs/messmer-jumps-into-8th-congressional-district-race/ | title=Messmer jumps into 8th Congressional District race | date=4 February 2024}} He defeated former U.S. Representative John Hostettler in primary by a wide margin of roughly 20 points. He resigned from the Indiana Senate in September 2024 in order to focus on his campaign.{{cite web |url=https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/messmer-report-thank-you-southwest-indiana | title=Messmer Resigns from State Senate | date=26 August 2024}} Messmer would later go on to defeat his Democratic opponent, Erik Hurt.{{Cite web |last=Muñiz |first=Leslie Bonilla |date=2024-11-06 |title=Messmer wins in Indiana's 8th Congressional District • Indiana Capital Chronicle |url=https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2024/11/05/messmer-wins-in-indianas-8th-congressional-district/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Indiana Capital Chronicle |language=en-US}}

Rep. Messmer was sworn into the 119th United States Congress on January 3, 2025.

• Committee on Agriculture
• Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology
• Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
• Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development
• Committee on Armed Services
• Subcommittee on Readiness
• Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Committee on Education and Workforce
• Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education
• Subcommittee on Workforce Protections (Vice Chair)

• Congressional Western Caucus{{cite web|title= Caucus Memberships|author=|url=https://westerncaucus.house.gov/about/membership.htm|format=|publisher=Congressional Western Caucus|date=|accessdate=10 April 2025}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 Indiana's 8th congressional district Republican primary results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Mark Messmer|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=30,668|percentage=38.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=John Hostettler|votes=15,649|percentage=19.7}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Richard Moss|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=11,227|percentage=14.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Dominick Kavanaugh|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=9,397|percentage=11.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Kristi Risk|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=7,350|percentage=9.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Luke Misner|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=2,287|percentage=2.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Jim Case|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=2,107|percentage=2.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Jeremy Heath|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=944|percentage=1.2}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=79,629|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=2024 Indiana's 8th congressional district election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Mark Messmer|votes=219,941|percentage=68.0}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Erik Hurt

|votes =95,311

|percentage =29.5

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Richard Fitzlaff|votes=8,381|percentage=2.6}}{{Election box total no change

|votes =323,633

|percentage =100.0

}}{{Election box end}}

Messmer is a Catholic.{{cite web |title=Religious affiliation of members of the 119th Congress |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/12/pr_2025-01-02_faith-on-the-hill_member-list.pdf |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=January 8, 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Messmer Mark Messmer at Ballotpedia]
• [http://www.in.gov/h63/ State Representative Mark Messmer] official Indiana State Legislature site
• {{C-SPAN|140909}}
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=102958 | fec= | congress= }}

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Category:1967 births

Category:21st-century members of the Indiana General Assembly

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:Catholics from Indiana

Category:Living people

Category:People from Jasper, Indiana

Category:Purdue University alumni

Category:Republican Party Indiana state senators

Category:Republican Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana

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