VIDEO: Taylor aims to increase child care protections

State Senator Greg Taylor has been involved in numerous proposals aiming to raise standards of child care for Indiana. Senate Bill 305 seeks to streamline and strengthen standards for child care providers across Indiana by establishing safety and sanitation guidelines in areas such as bathroom hygiene and transportation safety for facilities that are licensed and accept Child Care Development Fund vouchers as payment. The legislation also equalizes standards and investigative procedures across private care providers and child care services offered through religious establishments.

Week in Photos: April 8-12

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Week in Photos: April 1-5

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Week in Photos: March 25-28

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Call for public study of Marion County overhaul denied

Sen. Breaux debates an amendment to SB 621 that would create a committee to study the impact of eliminating Marion-County Council’s at-large seats. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 13-37.

On a party-line vote, members of the Indiana Senate rejected an amendment to study a major overhaul of Marion County government. The amendment to Senate Bill (SB) 621, proposed by Assistant Democratic Leader Jean D. Breaux, would have created a summer study committee to examine the impact of eliminating the City-County Council’s At-large councilor seats and reducing mayoral residency requirements, among other significant changes.

Sen. Breaux’s proposal to study the move aimed to lengthen the conversation on the issue; however, it was rejected, 13-37. Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, particularly those representing areas within Marion County, expressed their disappointment that more public discussion was not had before passing such a substantial shift of power.

SEN. BREAUX: “I was hoping, with the amendment I offered to 621, to do as I said on the floor and that is to slow this process down…”

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SEN. LANANE: “It seems very clear to me that the elimination of the…”

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SEN. LANANE: “I was disappointed our amendment was defeated because…”

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SEN. TAYLOR: “I think the amendment would have done something we always do in the legislature. We allow the public to have public input…”

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Small business and economic development bills await committee hearings

Members of the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus have filed a legislative package for the 2013 General Assembly to promote small businesses and economic development. Our state is in the midst of a challenging time, with unemployment hovering above 8 percent and many Hoosiers hopeful that better days are on the horizon.

Senate Democrats recognize that Indiana already possesses several tools to invigorate its economy. One possible proposal would equalize tax benefits between small businesses and large companies for new hires. Leveling the playing field for Indiana’s brick and mortar retailers by collecting online sales tax could mean as much as $2.9 billion in businesses for local communities. Finally, Indiana has the chance to reduce its disproportionate unemployment rate among veterans by offering a tax incentive for hiring veterans.

2013 Small business and economic development bills

Senate Bill 427: “New Hire” tax credits for smaller employers – Sen. Taylor

New hire tax credits for smaller employers would provide Indiana’s small businesses with the same tax benefit for new hires that is available to larger companies under the New Employee Tax Credit established in 2010. The proposed legislation would eliminate the 10-employee minimum qualification now required under the program, providing any sized business with a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the wages paid for qualified new hires during a 24-month period.

Senate Committee: Commerce

Senate Bill 309: Online sales tax collection – Sen. Broden

Indiana retailers, who employ more than half a million Hoosiers, are losing an estimated $2.9 billion in business annually to online retailers. The proposed legislation would require all online retailers with any presence in the state to collect sales tax, leveling the playing field for local businesses and providing the state with an estimated $200 million in uncollected sales tax revenue.

Senate Committee: Appropriations

Senate Bill 504: Tax incentive for hiring veterans – Sen. Broden

Providing employers tax credit incentives to hire returning vets is another way the General Assembly can encourage the development of jobs for veterans at a time when the Hoosier veteran unemployment rate is 8.3 percent.

Senate Committee: Tax and Fiscal

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.

 

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 panel debates health care coverage expansion

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services met to examine the state’s implementation of elements of the federal Affordable Care Act.  The committee’s discussion centered on how the state could expand health care coverage to low-wage earning Hoosier families and ultimately voted 7-4 to petition the federal government for block grant funding.

A look at the benefits of expanding health care coverage to low-wage earning Hoosiers.

The committee took up Senate Bill 551, legislation drafted to clarify and provide requirements for Indiana’s participation in a health care exchange. An amendment proposed by Senator Jean D. Breaux aimed to maximize the economic benefit of the federal health care law by expanding Medicaid coverage to Hoosiers families of four making up to $33,000. Currently, Medicaid covers families of four with an income of up to $4,100. Breaux along with Senators Mark Stoops Frank Mrvan and Greg Taylor argued that the economic benefits to local communities outweighed the cost and any delay to the implementation could cost Hoosiers jobs.

INFOGRAPHIC: The Benefits of expanding health care coverage for Hoosiers>>

Senate Democrats pointed to a recent report released by the Indiana Hospital Association that quantified the impact of a full expansion of healthcare coverage. The report noted the potential creation of 30,000 new jobs to meet the demand created by expanded health care coverage. Local communities could see as much as $3.4 billion in federal funding as a result of full expansion.  The federal law covers in full the cost of covering an additional 400,000 Hoosiers through 2016 and the non-partisan Indiana Legislative Services Agency estimates the expansion to be cost neutral to the state through 2019. Breaux’s amendment was defeated along party lines, 8-4.

VIDEO: Sen. Taylor on the need for an independent redistricting commission

Sen. Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) explains his bill, Senate Bill 302, which would create an independent redistricting commission to draw General Assembly and congressional district lines for more competitive elections.

 

Video: Sen Taylor reacts to Gov. Mike Pence’s first State of the State address

Sen. Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) reacts to Gov. Mike Pence’s first State of the State address on Tuesday night.