The Inside Scoop from the Senate Democrats
According to an AP story this evening, Governor Daniels may be reconsidering cuts to the Meat and Poultry Inspection Program under the Indiana Board of Animal Health. Read the full story >
This may be good news for the meat processors and farmers we’ve been hearing from. We will be waiting on more information from Governor Daniels.
State Senator Sue Errington of Muncie spoke in support of an amendment on Monday that reinstates the requirements of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Program under the Indiana Board of Animal Health. Recent budget cuts threatened locally owned state-inspected meat processing facilities as well as an estimated 1,600 jobs in those processing facilities. Errington said that she has heard from many constituents who own local farms that are concerned that without the amendment to reinstate the inspections, the recent investments made in their farms would be threatened.
The provision was amended into Senate Bill 35 and will be heard for a final vote by the senate on Tuesday.
Listen to Sen. Errington’s comments from the Senate floor today:
Today members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, including Senator Tim Lanane, Senator Bob Deig, Senator Sue Errington, and Senator Vi Simpson, held a press conference introducing a series of legislative amendments today aimed at protecting Hoosier jobs and encouraging businesses to rehire laid off workers.
Listen to the full press conference below:
Download: PressConference.020110.MP3
Continue reading ‘Audio: Senate Democrats push for jobs bills in Senate’
State Sen. Sue Errington has proposed a measure that would encourage expansion of Indiana’s local and organic food production. Senate Bill 194 was heard in the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Small Business Committee today, but the committee’s chair did not permit a vote on the bill.
Listen to Senator Errington discuss Senate Bill 194:
Errington originally proposed the creation of a new state task force to work with local farmers and grocers to expand local and organic food production and distribution. Today she suggested that she would instead draw from a similar program already being implemented by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), eliminated the cost of an additional state body. Under the new plan, a comprehensive report of the existing program’s impact and findings would be sent to the legislature to inform policy makers technology and logistics necessary to expand and modernize Indiana’s local and organic food network. Errington said this is important right now so Indiana can move forward in this industry during better economic times.
The report would focus on ten program goals:
