State Rep. B. Patrick Bauer was selected to serve as Indiana's Speaker of the House on Nov. 7, 2006. He will serve in this role through the 2007 and 2008 sessions of the Indiana General Assembly. The Speaker of the House presides over the legislative activities of the Indiana House of Representatives.

Speaker Bauer has served previously as House Democratic Leader and as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He also served previously as Speaker of the House during the 2003 and 2004 sessions.

During his legislative service, Speaker Bauer has gained recognition as one of the leading fiscal experts in Indiana state government. In his position as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Pat played an influential role in the creation and passage of the biennial budget that funds most state operations.

When not working as a state legislator, Pat serves as Vice President of External Partnerships at Ivy Tech Community College. He also is a member of the advisory boards for Indiana University-South Bend and the Urban Enterprise Association of South Bend, Inc.

During his tenure in the Indiana House, Speaker Bauer has received dozens of state and national awards for legislative excellence.

Pat and his wife Karen have three children: Bart, Megan and Maureen.

In their spare time, Pat and Karen spend a lot of time tracking the academic and athletic efforts of Bart, Megan and Maureen. Pat also is an avid reader, and enjoys walking and swimming.

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