Video- Senator Tallian: Three reasons to oppose “right to work”

Watch the video below to hear Senator Karen Tallian outline three reasons to oppose right to work legislation currently being considered by the Indiana General Assembly.

June unemployment rate bumps up to 8.3%

On Friday, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced that Indiana’s unemployment rate for June 2011 rose slightly to 8.3 percent.  Indiana’s unemployment rate continues to sit below the U.S. rate of 9.2 percent, and stands lower than neighboring states Illinois (9.2 percent), Ohio (8.8 percent), Kentucky (9.6 percent) and Michigan (10.5 percent).

• County with the highest unemployment rate: Fayette 12.1%
  
• County with the lowest unemployment rate: Dubois 5.5%
  

Employment Report (LAUS)

• Labor Force Estimates for U.S., Indiana, MSAs, Counties, Cities
• Ranking of Indiana Counties by Unemployment Rate
• Indiana County Map with Unemployment Rates

Jobs Report (CES)

• Seasonally – Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana
• Non-Seasonally – Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana
• Detail Employment Listing – Statewide & MSAs

Budget Briefs: Medicaid Budget Breakdown

Medicaid is a federal program, jointly administered and funded by the Indiana Families and Social Services Administration and the US Department of Health and Human Services. A projected increase in Medicaid enrollees combined with state and federal budgetary pressures have presented challenges in most states. The federal reimbursement of state Medicaid costs has a significant impact on states’ economies, accounting for nearly 43 percent of all federal funds received by states according to the National Association of State Budget Officers.

State/Federal Relationship: Medicaid is funded by both the state and federal government. Currently in Indiana, the state pays about 34% and the federal government pays about 66% of Medicaid costs. The federal government sets broad eligibility requirements that the states must meet to receive federal funding.  States administer the program and set their own guidelines concerning eligibility, optional services and provider reimbursement rates using federal requirements as a guide.

Background:

• Federal eligibility requirements
• Brief Summary of Medicaid

Budget Briefs: Higher Education Budget Breakdown

A new series in Budget Briefs, the 2011 Budget Breakdown will explain each piece of the Budget Pie Chart from the state’s largest to smallest category of expenditures.

Indiana’s public institutions of higher education absorbed a number of changes this legislative session as a result of the state’s new budget, House Enrolled Act 1001. Public universities saw their overall funding cut even as more Hoosiers attended college.  Performance funding metrics took on an increasingly significant role in determining higher education funding and a number of changes were made to financial aid options offered by the State. For each budget item discussed below, the figures represent appropriations made by the Indiana General Assembly.

Enrollment: Indiana continues to lead the way in increasing the number of Hoosiers attending college. According to the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) report “State Higher Education Finance FY 2010”, between 2005 and 2010, Indiana enjoyed a 20.1% increase in Full Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment, ranking 9^th among all other states during the period. Indiana experienced the 6^th largest increase in FTE enrollment from 2009-2010 and now is the 12^th largest state in terms of total university enrollment.

Update on Indiana’s health exchange progress

The Health Finance Commission met on July 13, 2011, to hear testimony and discuss Indiana’s preparation for the Insurance Health Exchange to be implemented as part of the federal Affordable Care Act.  The legislature will be coordinating with the Family Social Services Administration (FSSA) and the Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI) during the next two years to set up a structure for Indiana’s Health Exchange program. According to FSSA, an estimated 1.1 million Hoosiers will potentially use the Health Exchange.

• The U.S. Health Exchange at a glance>>

The Health Exchange will be a tool with which individuals or small employers can find, compare and enroll in health insurance coverage.  The Exchange features an online comparison chart and includes educational outreach to potential enrollees.  Customer support will be available online, by phone and in person. Governor Daniels issued an executive order on January 14, 2011, allowing Indiana to begin planning and studying the implications of the Exchange.  The order conditionally establishes a not-for-profit entity to operate an Indiana-based Exchange.

During the Health Finance Commission hearing, FSSA outlined different structures of Health Exchanges being considered by various states.  The basic model provides the different health plan options to the potential enrollee.  Another model gives ratings to the different health plans available and provides comparisons to other health plans in the Exchange.  Regardless of the model, the Exchange will provide a centralized location to obtain quality data for plans and providers.

• View FSSA’s committee presentation in the Health Exchange>>

The state will have the flexibility to create its own Exchange structure as long as it meets federal requirements. If legislation should be considered by the General Assembly in the 2012 session to assist in designing the Exchange, proposals from FSSA and IDOI will be submitted to the Health Finance Commission by the October 12 meeting date.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has established a timeline by which the states will use to implement their Exchange programs and if a state chooses to not implement the Exchanges, then the federal government will facilitate the program. The tentative timeline for a two year implementation of the Exchange includes a June 2012 federal assessment of state readiness and a January 2013 federal decision of whether the state or federal government will operate the Exchange.

Read more from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services>>

Open enrollment into the Exchanges is estimated to begin in October 2013 and the implementation date of the Affordable Care Act is set for January 1, 2014.

I Am a Senate Democrat Video

The Indiana Senate Democrats are committed to serving Hoosiers.  Watch this video to learn about who the Senate Democrats are and where they come from.

Budget Brief: K-12 Education Budget Breakdown

A new series in Budget Briefs, the 2011 Budget Breakdown will explain each piece of the Budget Pie Chart from the state’s largest to smallest category of expenditures.

K-12 education

The most substantial changes during the 2011 legislative session were made in the administration and funding of Indiana’s K-12 schools under the new state budget, House Enrolled Act 1001. The new budget appropriates funding for all state programs and services for fiscal years 2011-2013.

A new funding “base” for K-12 education was established that incorporates the governor’s 2010 $300 million cut as a permanent base reduction. The statewide funding available for K-12 schools was increased 0.5% for CY 2012 and 1% for CY 2013, relative to CY 2010′s new base. The statewide average tuition support per student (for regular programs) is:

• School Fiscal Year 2012 = $6,268 per student  [$6,262,800,000/999,124]
• School Fiscal Year 2013 = $6,313 per student [$6,308,700,000/999,279]

>> See how your school  fares under the new funding base.

Implications of new charter schools, increased funding for virtual charter schools,  a new voucher program and several other policies approved this year will result in even fewer dollars available to traditional public schools.

Senator Lanane reaches out to new Senate District 25 constituents

State Senator Tim Lanane (D-Anderson) introduces himself to constituents new to Senate District 25 after changes were made during Indiana’s redistricting process.

Senator Arnold introduces himself to new Senate District 8 residents

State Senator Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) introduces himself to constituents new to Senate District 8 after changes were made during Indiana’s redistricting process.