Mark B. Messmer is a Republican member of the

Indiana State Senate The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms ...

, representing the Senate District 48 since November 19, 2014. Messmer is a former member of the

Indiana House of Representatives The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House memb ...

, representing three terms for the 63rd district from November 5, 2008, to November 4, 2014. He previously served on the Holy Family School Board from 2001 to 2004. He served as its president from 2003 to 2004. Messmer supported the state mandated purchase of

syngas Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, in various ratios. The gas often contains some carbon dioxide and methane. It is principly used for producing ammonia or methanol. Syngas is combustible and can be used as ...

through coal gasification technology. Developers of Leucadia National proposed a $2.6 billion

plant in

Rockport, Indiana Rockport is a city in Ohio Township and the county seat of Spencer County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,270 at the 2010 census. Once the largest community in Spencer County, the city has recently been surpassed by the t ...

. 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. 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. 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. The project was ultimately panned by the state legislature in 2013. In 2022, Messmer sponsored a bill that bans the foreign ownership of agricultural land in Indiana.

References

External links

Mark Messmer at BallotpediaState Representative Mark Messmer
''official Indiana State Legislature site'' * 21st-century American politicians Republican Party Indiana state senators Living people Republican Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives People from Jasper, Indiana Purdue University alumni Year of birth missing (living people) {{Indiana-politician-stub