Australian Gold was a sponsor for a recent fundraising event for Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana. Sen. Lugar spoke without any notes for almost an hour on immediate issues facing our congress and answered questions of many small business owners in attendance. Over 100 people were in attendance, along with the mayors of Marion and Muncie, Ind., and Barbara Quandt, the Indiana executive director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Over $30,000 was raised at this event for Sen. Lugar’s re-election campaign.

Also in attendance was Susan Brooks, who introduced Sen. Lugar to the attendees. Brooks was appointed by Sen. Lugar as U.S. attorney for the southern district of Indiana during the Bush presidency, and later served as the deputy mayor of Indianapolis under former Mayor Goldsmith. Brooks announced that she will be challenging Republican Rep. Dan Burton in the newly configured 5th district of Indiana in the 2012 election.

Sen. Lugar is a strong supporter of small business and recently submitted a letter to the FDA commissioner requesting consideration of all relevant data and scientific studies available in this area in regards to the current tanning device regulatory review by the FDA. Furthermore, he added that he was hopeful that the review would have the highest possible level of transparency and industry consultation and welcomed any relevant information the FDA could provide him in regards to FDA anticipated actions.