State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) visits Whispering Pines Healthcare Center in Valparaiso where he helped celebrate Martha Soplanda's 100th birthday

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) visits Whispering Pines Healthcare Center in Valparaiso where he helped celebrate Martha Soplanda's 100th birthday

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) visits Whispering Pines Healthcare Center in Valparaiso where he helped celebrate Martha Soplanda's 100th birthday

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) visits Whispering Pines Healthcare Center in Valparaiso where he helped celebrate Martha Soplanda's 100th birthday

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) visits Whispering Pines Healthcare Center in Valparaiso where he helped celebrate Martha Soplanda's 100th birthday

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) visits Whispering Pines Healthcare Center in Valparaiso where he helped celebrate Martha Soplanda's 100th birthday

FORGING AN AGREEMENT: Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (seated, l) and Indiana Gov Mitch Daniels (seated, r) present a Memorandum of Understanding between the states to construct the Illiana Expressway. State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (standing, second row, third from l) authored Indiana’s new law containing provisions that could boost the state’s economy, provide jobs and make roads and bridges safer.

DRIVING THE FUTURE: Illinois State Sen. Toi Hutchinson (l) and Indiana State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (r) stand in support of an agreement between the neighboring states to begin work on the Illiana Expressway. Hutchinson and Charbonneau championed legislation in their states authorizing a bypass connecting Interstate 65 in Lake County with Interstate 55 in Illinois and containing provisions that will boost economic development and produce jobs.

PARTNERING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: (L-R) Illinois State Sen. Toi Hutchinson and Indiana State Sen. Ed Charbonneau shake hands at the Illinois and Indiana state line, symbolizing the partnership now in place to construct the Illiana Expressway. Hutchinson and Charbonneau crafted new laws in their states containing provisions spurring economic development and job creation while building bridges and a bypass connecting Interstate 65 in Lake County with Interstate 55 in Illinois. Nearly $5 billion in potential new highway and bridge projects – paid for without tax dollars – are included in Charbonneau’s bill.

ILLINANA UNDERSTANDING INKED: (L-R) Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois State Sen. Toi Hutchinson, Indiana State Sen. Ed Charbonneau and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels display a Memorandum of Understanding between the states to construct the Illiana Expressway. This new road will connect Interstate 65 in Lake County with Interstate 55, in Will County, Illinois. Daniels and Quinn said they are committed to moving forward with the proposed Illiana Expressway now that laws have been approved in both states to pursue public-private financing options to build it. Charbonneau authored the new law in Indiana, aiming to create thousands of jobs and spurring economic development.

 
Sen. Charbonneau honored as “Indiana Aviation State Senator of the Year.”