Week in Photos: April 22-26

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VIDEO: Sen. Tallian calls for action to support public schools

State Senator Karen Tallian (D-Portage) appeals to the public to contact local legislators and show their support for public schools in the closing weeks of the 2013 legislative session. Share this video on Facebook and Twitter, and contact your local legislator at 1-800-382-9467 to show your support.

 

VIDEO: Tallian to shape state budget

State Senator Karen Tallian led several Senate Democratic initiatives to improve the 2013 biennial budget for Hoosiers in House Bill 1001. Senate Democrats sought funding for a pilot pre-kindergarten education program, oversight of school voucher expansion through a summer study committee and additional funding to improve local infrastructure. The Senate Democratic Caucus will continue to push for these initiatives as the proposal moves through conference committee.

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: March 18-22

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Week in Photos: February 18-22

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VIDEO: Tallian with an update on health care expansion

State Senator Karen Tallian explains the fiscal impact of expanding health care coverage to low-wage earning Hoosier families.

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.

VIDEO: Tallian with an update on workers’ comp, health care expansion legislation

State Senator Karen Tallian (D-Portage) updates constituents on the progress of bills updating compensation for workers injured on the job and expanding health care coverage for Hoosiers.