Senate Democrats Respond to State of the State 2012

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels delivered his eighth and final State of the State address Tuesday evening to a partially empty chamber in a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly. While a significant portion of the address reflected on a the governor’s accomplishments, he also used the event to push for the contentious so called “Right to Work” bill’s passage. During his address, protesters outside could be heard both inside the Statehouse and on TV. Following the address, protestors held a rally outside of Governor Daniels’ office.

Several Indiana Senate Democrats have released the following statements in response to Governor Daniels’ State of the State address.

Sen. Simpson: “I had hoped for a stronger message of leadership from the governor in this difficult time for our state. Indiana deserves state leaders who work together to take on the tough issues, protect those in need, and improve the lives of Hoosiers. That’s not the agenda the governor laid out tonight.”

Download: Simpson.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Lanane: “I have to say I was very disappointed that the governor spoke about this ‘hallmark’ legislation that he is pushing…”

Download: Lanane.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Arnold: “I keep hearing about the positives that Indiana is. We’re a destination site…”

Download: Arnold.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Breaux, “Yet another year where I wonder what state the governor is living in…”

Download: Breaux.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Broden: “I was very disappointed in the governor’s speech this evening. I did not hear a concrete plan to improve Indiana’s economy…”

Download: Broden.SOSResp.11012.MP3

Sen. Mrvan: “We have bragging rights about the state being the greatest state to do business in… “

Download: Mrvan.SOSResp.11012.MP3

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Study Released: Justice Reinvestment in Indiana

On Wednesday December 15 the governor endorsed recommendations on changes to Indiana’s criminal code and sentencing policies based on a recently concluded study. With the governor’s endorsement, the recommendations will now go before the Criminal Code Evaluation Commission and are expected to be included in a legislation to be filed in January.

According to the governor’s press release,

…the state will improve public safety and security for Hoosiers by concentrating Department of Correction resources on the state’s most violent criminals and by taking a new and smarter approach to those who commit lesser offenses.

Announced in June 2010 by Gov. Daniels, the review was conducted through a partnership with the Pew Center on the States and the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center (CSG).

For a quick summary of the study, visit the CSG website >>

Download the complete report Justice Reinvestment in Indiana (PDF)>>

More support for Senate Democrats’ Open Government Initiative

Support for the Senate Democrats’ Open Government Initiative is spreading, with House Speaker Pat Bauer, the Hoosier State Press Association, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and the South Bend Tribune recently weighing in on the issue.

The Open Government Initiative, announced by Senate Democrat Leader Vi Simpson earlier this month, will call for greater transparency in state government and will be proposed during the 2011 legislative session. Read more from the June 1 announcement >>

In the most recent show of support, several Republican state senators have asked Gov. Mitch Daniels to create a website where the public can access budget and spending information. Simpson said she was pleased to hear that there will be Republican support for the Democrats’ initiative, which includes a website but will be much more far-reaching.

LISTEN to Simpson’s full audio statement>> or select comments from June 24:

A new website alone, without legislative mandate, does not mean a change in attitude. And it won’t by itself break through the culture of secrecy that has been eminating from this current administration.

LISTEN to the audio clip>>

Simpson said the Democrats believe that legislative action is absolutely necessary.

To make government more open and more accessible to the public it is going to require more than posting budget figures and agency totals. We also want to shine the light on what programs have been cut within the individual departments and how much those programs have been cut, some have been eliminated…

LISTEN to the audio clip>>

Through a series of requests, Simpson has already begun the process of gathering this information and plans to post the information online.

We’ll be doing our part to make the information available to the public and practice the principles of open government, which we believe in very strongly… We’ll be doing that whether the governor decides to cooperate or not.

LISTEN to the audio clip>>

Photos: Workers’ Memorial Day observed at the Statehouse

On Wednesday families of Hoosiers who died in work-related accidents, along with Governor Mitch Daniels, Lori Torres of the Indiana Department of Labor, Linda Hamilton of the Workers’ Compensation Board and Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott, gathered in the Statehouse rotunda to observe Workers’ Memorial Day and remember the 91 Indiana workers killed on the job in 2009.

Families of the deceased workers placed flowers in memorial at the ceremony.

According to the Indiana Department of Labor, there were 132 work-related deaths in Indiana in 2008, and the workplace fatality rate was 4.1 per 100,000 Hoosier workers. The top three industries with workplace fatalities in Indiana were construction, agriculture and manufacturing.

Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott told the crowd gathered in the Statehouse:

It’s clear that workers’ safety and health remain in serious and unacceptable danger. Indiana’s working families need good, safe jobs now. So we’re here to remember and honor those workers who have paid the ultimate price and to call on Congress to create jobs and strengthen job safety laws.

Sally Voland, president of Kids’ Chance Indiana, discussed the opportunity for children whose parent was injured or killed in a work-related accident to receive financial aid for college through the Kids’ Chance scholarship program.

Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott addresses the audience at the ceremony.

Held annually on April 28, Workers’ Memorial Day recognizes and remembers workers who have been injured or killed on the job. April 28 was chosen as the observance day because it marks the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA).

US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued a statement on today’s observance, which began:

Mary Harris ‘Mother’ Jones once said, ‘Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.’ That call to arms rings especially true today, on Workers Memorial Day, and on the heels of a tragic month for the nation’s working families.

The AFL-CIO reported that in 2008, 14 U.S. workers were killed each day as a result of job hazards. More than 4 million U.S. workers were injured on the job, while 5,214 workers were killed. There were 50,000 to 60,000 deaths resulting from occupational diseases reported nationally in 2008.

State of the State Address Tonight at 7 p.m.

Governor Mitch Daniels will deliver his sixth State of the State Address to the Indiana General Assembly tonight at 7:00 p.m. The address will be broadcast live on all Indiana Public Broadcasting television and radio stations, with analysis on radio following the speech. The speech can also be viewed via live webcast on the state’s website.

The governor is expected to comment on the General Assembly’s progress during the first two weeks of the 2010 session, particularly regarding ethics reform and the constitutional amendment for the already-enacted property tax caps. He will also likely discuss the state’s fiscal condition and defend his decisions to cut back on state services and education funding. The governor hasn’t given an indication that there will be any surprise topics in this year’s speech.

Look for Democrats to call for a greater investment by the governor in economic stimulus and job growth efforts while the state unemployment rate remains over 9% as it has for the last year. (Indiana’s November 2009 unemployment rate was 9.6%.)

Dear Governor Daniels. . .

Senate Democrat Leader Vi Simpson sent a letter to Governor Daniels today requesting an accounting of discretionary cuts he has made and appropriations he has withheld against the General Assembly-approved state budget. She also requested information on the methodology being used to determine which reductions are made, how much, and when, so that she and other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus can better help Hoosiers prepare and work within the cuts. Additionally, Simpson is calling for a new revenue forecast to be prepared in June to inform decisions on cuts – or restorations – at that time.

Sen. Simpson said today:

The governor has the authority to make these cuts, but he also has the authority and obligation to restore funding to vital services and schools if state revenue picks up.

Sen. Simpson was joined by State Senator John Broden of South Bend for a Statehouse media availability today to discuss the letter and their concerns.

Watch highlights from the media availability in the video below:

In the News: Local feedback on gov’s K-12 school cuts

On Monday Governor Daniels announced that $297M would be cut from K-12 school funding during calendar year 2010. The cuts will begin with the January monthly distribution.

The governor and Superintendent Tony Bennett appear confident that schools can absorb the cuts without teacher layoffs, but school superintendents sound less confident that teachers and other employees can be spared. That means the cuts could force larger class sizes and push teachers and staff onto the unemployment rolls. 

News: Board of Ed suggestions for governor’s K-12 cuts

The State Board of Education sent a letter to the governor today with guidance for implementing his desired cuts to K-12 funding.

According to the Board’s letter to Governor Daniels, the Department of Education will prepare “a prioritized ‘Citizens’ Checklist’ of cost saving measures for each school corporation, school board, and school community to adopt the list at its January 8, 2010 meeting and provide the list and a framework for an appropriate public inquiry process to school corporations, the business community, and the media.”

Read the Indiana Dept. of Education’s related press release.