Open for Questions: Your top five questions answered

In December, the Indiana Senate Democrats launched an interactive campaign to learn what you wanted to know about state government. The Open for Questions campaign recorded 136 questions and 3,973 votes were made on those questions.

The five 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.

“If the senators work for the people how come we can’t cut their pay or reduce their benefits? Do you think we should start voting on pay raises or benefit packages for you?” -DC from Dyer, IN

“If students who receive voucher money to attend private school are dismissed (kicked out) mid-year and return to the public school, do the private schools return any of the money to the public school fund?” -Paul from South Bend, IN

“As the Indiana population continues to age, what can Indiana legislature do to ensure appropriate care (physical and mental) of its’ older adults living below the poverty line?” -Angie from Indianapolis, IN

“How will the legislature deal with the families who pulled their kids from private schools for one year so they can get voucher money forever thereafter? Is this not “playing” the system? A gold mine for private (religious) schools?” -Brian from Chesterton, IN

“When will a law be passed that prohibits those in public offices from receiving more than one paycheck from the same government unit?” -JLp465 from East Chicago, IN

Video: Simpson and Lanane react to one-sided debate on “Right to Work” bill

Senator Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington) and Senator Tim Lanane (D-Anderson) address the rushed approach and lack of debate on Senate Democrat amendments to the so-called “Right to Work” bill. The divisive legislation was heard on second reading in the Indiana Senate today.

Video: 2011 Session in Review Slideshow

The 2011 legislative session of the 117th Indiana General Assembly ended on April 29th, and 231 bills were sent to the governor’s desk for final action.  Click below to view the Session in Review slideshow to learn more about some of the issues that were covered during the legislative session.

Sen. Simpson’s comments on “Real Ideas, Real Jobs”

Watch video from the Senate Democrats’ Jan. 27 press conference on their jobs package.

Democrats call for Senate action on jobs package

Senate Democrats held a press conference today to call on Republicans today to begin hearing a package of legislative proposals aimed at spurring business activity and creating new jobs in Indiana. Senate Democrat Leader Vi Simpson (D-Ellettsville) and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus say the proposals would improve Indiana’s job market and generate income to support families and communities.

Senator Vi Simpson and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus

The bills focus on fostering entrepreneurial ventures and leveraging small business investments as well as additional accountability for state funds directed at job creation. Funded through the redirection of existing resources from ineffective programs to those that better serve Indiana’s employers and workers, the proposals require no new state funding or new taxes.

In a memo to Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee Chair Sen. Michael Young (R-Indianapolis), the Democrats requested that four bills containing these proposals be scheduled for a hearing in the committee.

Included in the “Real Ideas, Real Jobs” package proposed by the Senate Democrats:

• “Small Business Concierge Team” for one-stop service to start-ups and expanding businesses (SB 348)
• Capital Access Fund for entrepreneurs and start-ups (SB 435)
• New hire tax credits for smaller employers (SB 583)
• Redirect job creation funds to successful initiatives (SB 435)
• Give preference in state contracts to companies that use Indiana labor (SB 369)
• Immediately begin work on state infrastructure and university construction projects

Watch video from the press conference

Video >>

Listen to audio from the press conference

Senate Democrat Leader Vi Simpson’s remarks:

Download: Simpson.JobsPressConfFullAudio.12711.MP3

Comments from Senate Democrat Assistant Leader Tim Lanane:

Download: Lanane.JobsPressConference.12711.MP3

Comments from Senator Greg Taylor, author of SB 583:

Download: Taylor.JobsPressConference.12711.MP3

Alternative sentencing and community corrections

The Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee traditionally has a heavy interim workload, and this year is no exception. Among the topics assigned for review in 2010, the committee is looking at state’s alternative sentencing programs, community corrections and parole and probation matters.

Despite the first decline in nearly 40 years in state prison populations nationwide, Indiana’s prison population increased by 5.3% – more than any other state – from 2008 to 2009.    – “Prison Count 2010” by the Pew Center on the States

Watch the video update recorded after the meeting by committee member Sen. Lindel Hume of Princeton:

Also from the committee hearing:

• Kellie Bittorf, Lake Co. Community Corrections Director presented the local program’s 2009-2010 Annual Report, including success statistics.
• The Dept. of Corrections also presented information on the state’s Community Corrections Substance Abuse Programs.

The Criminal Code Evaluation Commission, another group that meets during the legislative interim, will also being playing a similar role as part of a comprehensive review of Indiana’s criminal code and sentencing policies. Announced in June 2010 by Gov. Daniels, the review will be conducted through a partnership with the Pew Center on the States and the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center and is aimed at improving public safety by reducing recidivism and managing the growth of Indiana’s prison population. A steering committee will share proposals with the Criminal Code Evaluation Commission, which will provide recommendations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2011.

Read earlier posts on the Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Committee’s work on Sexting>> and The impact of methamphetamine>>

2-1-1 in demand – and in need

Lucinda Nord, Vice President of Indiana Association of United Ways, and Attorney General Greg Zoeller testified before the Regulatory Flexibility Committee on September 28 to explain the need for additional funding for 2-1-1 services in Indiana.

Currently, most IN211 Centers are privately funded though local United Ways, community foundations, or other private donors. A state fund was established for 2-1-1 in 2004 by the General Assembly. But since that time, the demand for 2-1-1 services has doubled, but no state dollars have been deposited into the account.

Nord testified that as the recession and high unemployment rates have increased the need for social service referrals, Indiana’s 211 call centers have not been able to keep pace with demands.

Full implementation of the 2-1-1 program would cost an estimated $1.00-1.50 per capita, or $6.3-6.9 million per year. Currently, 2-1-1 is operating with approximately $3.8 million in private donations.

What is 2-1-1?

2-1-1 is like 9-1-1 for social service referrals. It is a toll-free, 24-7 hotline that people can call to get information about or immediate referrals for emergency shelter, food pantries, soup kitchens, assistance with their utility bills, etc.

Who is served by 2-1-1?

• In 2009, 2-1-1 centers answered over 440,000 calls and addressed 453,000 needs by making 636,000 referrals to 22,000 human service organizations across the state.
• Indiana’s 211 line is only accessible in 79 out of 92 counties.
• Due to technical routing issues, many individuals do not have access to Indiana’s 211 line.
• Click here for a map of areas served by 211 and a pie chart of caller needs.

Recommendations to the committee:

• Allow state agencies to use their discretionary funds to support the referrals that 2-1-1 makes on their behalf.
• Require all communication providers doing business in Indiana to enable access to Indiana’s 2-1-1 phone lines.
• Complete the “public” side of the public-private partnership to maximize federal, state and local resources.

Watch the video below for additional comments from Sen.  Jean Breaux of Indianapolis, a member of the Regulatory Flexibility Committee.

Economic Development Committee update

The Study Committee on Economic Development met for the second time today at the Statehouse. Sen. Sue Errington of Muncie said the testimony during this meeting focused on Indiana’s advantages and disadvantages in promoting job creation. The committee is scheduled to meet again on October 5 at the Purdue Technology Center.

Watch Sen. Errington’s brief update on today’s meeting:

Aging in Place: Creating Communities for a Lifetime in Indiana

On September 8 the Indiana Health Finance Commission heard testimony on the Hoosier Communities for a Lifetime initiative, a proposal designed to help local communities better address the needs of aging residents. The initiative has been proposed by several leading advocacy groups in the state, including AARP Indiana, IU Center on Aging and Community, and Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

State adoption of a statewide community model could help local communities better address basic needs such as housing and mobility, optimize physical and mental health through accessible services, maximize independence for those with frailty or disability, and promote social and civic engagement.

No news is… no news. A report from the State Budget Committee meeting

No news on state program cuts

The State Budget Committee met on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at the Statehouse. Despite “Fiscal Year 2010 Close-Out” on the agenda, no new information on state program cuts was presented by the State Budget Agency. Instead, committee members were presented with a series of graphs illustrating the overall status of Indiana’s state finances.

No further details on program cuts were available to legislators or the public. The State Budget Agency rests on information provided by agencies in response to Senate Democrat Leader Vi Simpson’s June 1 request. Read more from the June 1 announcement>>.

Only 10 of 62 responses answered all five of Simpson’s requested items. Some agency letters left all of the questions unanswered, including the primary information sought by legislators and the public -  “A list of your agency’s implemented and proposed cuts and withheld distributions for FY 2010 and 2011 by program.” Read the agency responses>>

The call for transparency in state spending continues. Read more about the Indiana Open Government Initiative>>

Timing just right: Move forward on capital projects, create jobs

Also on the agenda were state projects awaiting final funding approval, including a small number of university capital projects. Democrats on the committee pushed to get more capital projects at state universities underway as soon as possible, saying the projects would create as many as 2,000 jobs and push as much as $100 million in personal earnings into local economies.