Week in Photos: April 22-26

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VIDEO: Rogers proposes Indiana DREAM Act

To make an Indiana college degree accessible to more Hoosiers, State Senator Earline Rogers has pushed Senate Bill (SB) 207 through the legislative process. The proposal seeks to restore in-state tuition eligibility to a group of students who lost their eligibility as a result of a 2011 law requiring proof of citizenship. Students will now have the chance resume their education who were forced to withdraw after their tuition rates more than tripled. After changes made by the House, honorably discharged veterans will also benefit from SB 207 by becoming eligible for resident tuition rates as long as they enroll at a public university within 12 months of leaving the service. The measure aims to increase access to higher education for individuals who wish to reside in Indiana. SB 207 currently awaits Senate approval of House changes.

Week in Photos: April 15-19

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Week in Photos: April 8-12

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Budget proposals to strengthen public schools, repair local roads, expand health care coverage blocked

On Monday, Senate Democrats offered eighteen substantial amendments to House Bill (HB) 1001, legislation crafting the state’s next biennial budget. Proposed changes to the measure included investments in the areas of education, infrastructure, and health care.

“Hoosier families know that sound fiscal footing relies on a foundation of good investments,’ said State Senator Karen Tallian. “Our budget recommendations are comprised of strategic contributions our state can make now that pay off in the long-run.”

Sen. Tallian, who serves as Ranking Minority Member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, continued saying that proposed changes to the budget reflect discussions Hoosier families have around their kitchen tables and endows the state’s resources towards strengthening Indiana’s network of communities.

Improving Hoosiers’ health

Budget proposals offered by Senate Democrats included initiatives to expand health care coverage to 400,000 working Hoosiers. Recommendations included expanding Medicaid when the cost is fully paid for by the federal government, structuring an expansion after the state’s Healthy Indiana Plan and creating a contingency plan if the governor’s proposed expansion is rejected. Democrats continued to reiterate the 30,000 jobs expanding coverage would create as a strong basis to cover more Hoosiers, though the initiatives were rejected along party-line votes.

Sen. Tallian explained why offering an alternative health care component was an important addition to the budget:

SEN. TALLIAN: “The Senate Democrats today offered four amendments that would have addressed Medicaid expansion, health care expansion for Indiana…”

(Length – 02:09)

Investing in pre-k, capping voucher funding

Acknowledging the strong support for the importance of early education and the need to oversee the state’s school voucher program, Senate Democrats offered a package of amendments to improve educational outcomes for all Hoosier children. An initiative offered by State Senator Earline Rogers would have created a pilot preschool program to evaluate best practices. An additional amendment would have separated the funding appropriated to the state’s voucher program and capped the amount of funds diverted from public schools.

SEN. ROGERS: “Well, what it would have done was, for us to stop and take a look at the vouchers and to not proceed until we were certain that the dollars were there for the other public schools…”

(Length – 00:32)

SEN. ROGERS: “We’ve always thought that early childhood education was the missing piece of the puzzle that we needed for education reform. You know studies show…”

(Length – 01:21)

Rebuilding local roads

An amendment offered by Senate Democrats to restore transportation funding back to the levels included in the House-passed budget were rejected along party lines on Monday. The amendment would have allowed more flexibility and control for local governments. Senate Democrats aimed to give those communities additional  infrastructure funding to be  allocated to where attention is most needed in their communities.  State Senator Tim Skinner authored the amendment as a means of injecting immediate dollars into communities to begin their local roads projects.

SEN. SKINNER: “Well, I think every one of us recognizes that we have not done enough in the last few years because of the recession to stay on top of the funding that we need for local roads…”

(Length – 00:39)

Senate Democrats will continue to push for these common sense initiatives as the budget process moves forward.

A complete listing of Senate amendments can be found at: http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2013&session=1&request=getBill&docno=1001 .

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Week in Photos: April 1-5

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Open for Questions: Your top three questions answered

In February, the Indiana Senate Democrats launched an interactive campaign to learn what you wanted to know about state government. Over 300 constituents weighed in, recording 90 questions and logging more than 5,000 votes.

The three most popular questions and answers straight from Senate Democratic Caucus members are featured below. Thank you to those citizens who participated in this online conversation.

Government Transparency

“Citizens United turned corporations into people. One state is even considering a law to allow corporations to vote in elections. It’s time for Indiana to ban corporations from buying our politicians and running (ruining) the Great State of Indiana.” – Brett from Shelbyville, IN

Education Funding

“With all the money that was cut from education, and the new tax credit we are getting, why can’t we try to fight back now to invest in education and get some or most of those funds back? I don’t know any other country that doesn’t recognize that they must invest in the education of their country’s children to survive and to strive forward. Every time there are cuts, it is in education.” – Community member

Benefits for Elected Officials

“Seeing how the rest of the country is struggling, and our debt just keeps increasing with no end in sight, and no help from our politicians, don’t you think that politicians should be the first in line to help cut the deficit by eliminating their endless perks and lifetime benefits?” – Anthony from Munster, IN

Education bills await committee hearings

Members of the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus have filed a legislative package for the 2013 General Assembly that would increase access to early education for Hoosier children and provide oversight and accountability for education funds. The Senate Democrats seek to begin restoring assistance to Indiana education following $300 million in funding cuts in recent years.

Studies consistently show the positive impact of quality early education on not only a student’s academic career, but even beyond education. Ensuring Hoosier children have access to  full-day kindergarten and creating standards for pre-K education have been Senate Democrat priorities for years and could drive academic achievement in Indiana.

Senate Democrats also seek to protect and uplift students of underachieving schools in order to propel the state toward its full academic potential. Read on for more information about these bills.

2013 Education legislation

Senate Bill 469: Full-day kindergarten – Sen. Tallian

Making certain that Hoosier children attend full-day kindergarten will ensure our children receive an early education to prepare for successful careers in adulthood.  Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, this bill requires a student to enroll in a full-day kindergarten program if the student is at least 5 years of age on Aug. 1. Students in full-day kindergarten learn more in reading and math over the kindergarten year than those in half-day programs.  They also exhibit more independent learning, classroom involvement, productivity in work with peers and reflectiveness than half-day kindergarteners.

Senate Committee: Education

Senate Bill 602: Access to early education - Sen. Taylor

Access to universal pre-kindergarten means Hoosier children would have the opportunity to score higher on achievement tests, graduate from high school at a higher rate and be more likely to attend college than students who don’t have access to pre-K.  This bill requires the Indiana Department of Education to establish standards, requirements and guidelines for approving preschool education programs for children 4 years of age.

Senate Committee: Education

Senate Bill 426: Turnaround school oversight – Sen. Rogers

Oversight of turnaround school management organizations will ensure guidance from the Indiana Department of Education to oversee organizations contracted by the state to take over underachieving public schools. The bill provides specific standards to regulate those private organizations contracted for public school takeovers.

Senate Committee: Education

To voice your support for these bills: Contact your State Senator and members of the Senate standing committee to which the bill has been assigned (see committee assignments at the end of each bill description). Contact information for every State Senator is available on the General Assembly’s website.

Senate Democrats host Latino community leaders for the second time

Sen. Jean Breaux gives an update on Senate Bill 540.

Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus  held a second round table discussion with Hispanic community leaders today. Organized by Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane, the meeting continued an established dialogue between the growing Latino population and several senators of the Democratic Caucus.

While the previous discussion focused on education issues impacting the community and state, today’s discussion targeted health care issues. The forum consisted of community leaders with backgrounds ranging from education to health care and law representing cities from across the state. Senators Breaux & Rogers were also in attendance and discussed the opportunities upcoming health care legislation can offer to the Latino community in Indiana, emphasizing preventative care and cultural competence among health care providers.

The next round table discussion will cover entrepreneurship promotion and job training.

Senate Democrats host Latino community leaders

Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus  held an inaugural roundtable discussion with Hispanic community leaders today. Organized by Senator Tim Lanane, the meeting reached out to the growing Latino population for input on issues impacting the community and state. Senators Breaux, Mrvan, Tallian, Rogers, Arnold, Young and Stoops as well as legislators from the Indiana House were in attendance and discussed upcoming legislation and its effect on the Latino community in Indiana.

The forum consisted of community leaders with backgrounds ranging from education to healthcare and law representing cities from across the state. Though the floor was open for discussion on any topic, the conversation primiarly focused on education issues that affect the Latino community. Attendees also discussed graduation rates, bilingualism and poverty as areas of concern for Latinos. Future round table topics will include healthcare, the criminal justice system, community sensitivity, obesity and more.

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