Tag Archives: republicans

Independents Rising

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More and more Hoosiers consider themselves true “independents,” casting aside any political identification with either Republicans or Democrats. 

Twenty percent (20%) of Indiana voters today identify themselves as “independent,” even after factoring out those who self-identify as leaning to one party or the other. This is a 150% increase in true independent voters in just the last six years.

Indiana has whip-sawed in recent elections, delivering the state to President Obama in 2008 in the same year it voted by historic margins for Mitch Daniels. Then in 2010, the state led the nation in a surge for the GOP. What will Indiana independents do in 2012?

These are just some of the findings from a recent statewide poll commissioned by the Indiana Chamber’s political action program, Indiana Business for Responsive Government (IBRG).

Adding Up the Legislative Votes

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There are three key components whenever our 150 legislators gather for their annual lawmaking duties at the Indiana Statehouse:

  1. A LEGISLATIVE session takes place
  2. Senators and reps VOTE on a wide variety of issues
  3. When it’s all over, we do the ANALYSIS

Put it all together and you have the Chamber’s annual Legislative Vote Analysis. For the 27th year, we tell you which legislators voted for the pro-economy, pro-jobs agenda and which attempted to stand in the way. It’s an involved process to compile all the votes on the identified issues for each legislator. But the result is a simple score.

The full analysis has all the individual votes on pages that contain an overload of +/- symbols. Then there are the bill descriptions for those who want to know exactly what each vote meant. But the bottom line is the one-page scoresheet that gives a score for 2011 and a two-year average.

You can also check out our BizVoice magazine story for some analysis. Pay attention! Thank the legislators with the high totals; for those who don’t measure up, insist that they do better.

Golf Industry a Driver in Hoosier Economy

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I’ll admit it: I’m a golfer. It’s become my favorite sport to play over the years, which is high praise for the game considering how poorly I play it.

A new report from the Indiana Golf Alliance conveys golf has a much greater impact on Indiana than merely forcing Hoosiers like myself to create new curse words while outdoors:

As the Indiana Golf Alliance releases the results of the Economic Impact Study on the game of golf in the Hoosier State, top Indiana PGA Professionals will provide free lessons to legislators in the historic capitol rotunda. This is the first time golf will take center stage at the Statehouse but its presence has had a profound impact on the state for many years…

The Study, completed in 2010, showed impressive data. Golf provides $909 million in direct revenue to the Indiana economy. Compare that number to other industries in the state and it paints a clear picture of how important the golf industry is to the state’s economy. In Indiana, medical equipment manufacturing accounts for $5.8 billion to Indiana’s economy. Soybean production accounts for $2.4 billion to the economy and dairy products account for $640 million to Indiana’s economy. Additionally, the Indiana Study showed that over 21,000 jobs in Indiana are created through the golf industry and account for a total wage income of $530 million.

It’s well publicized that golf and charities work hand in hand. The Study found that in 2008, charitable giving by the Indiana Golf Industry topped the $42 million mark. Golf course owners, operators and PGA Professionals serve as access points for hundreds, if not thousands, of local service organizations for their annual fundraising needs.

The findings of the study came as no surprise to those closely associated with the golf industry.

“The Economic Impact Study validates that golf is an economic engine that contributes substantially to the momentum of the Indiana economy,” said Linda Rogers, owner of Juday Creek Golf Course in Granger, Ind. and Vice President of the National Golf Course Owners Association.

PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka concurred with Rogers’ statement. “The biggest benefit of these studies is the ability to show how golf benefits not only the 1 in 11 Americans who play, but entire communities which benefit from the jobs it creates, the green space it protects and the healthy recreation it provides for people of all ages,” said Steranka.

Congress Uses over 25% of Communication for Taunting

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I was sent this article and at first thought it was from The Onion. It seems a fairly in-depth study found that Congress spends a significant amount of its communication efforts simply goading one another. The Washington Post has the depressing story: 

To come up with this insight, King and two graduate students analyzed 64,033 press releases sent out by all U.S. senators from 2005 to 2007. They used a computer program to sort them into different categories, based on their content.

Three of their categories were well known to political scientists. Over the years, they have come up with a Grand Unified Theory of Congressmen, which holds that there are three primary ways a legislator expresses him- or herself.

The first is credit-claiming. That involves a legislator trumpeting his own role in securing a bridge or a dam or some other thing voters want. “ ‘The government did this thing. It’s because of me,’ ” King explained.

The second is position-taking. This is the thing that “Schoolhouse Rock” and civics classes teach you is the point of congressional speechifying. “ ‘I’m at this point on the ideological continuum,’ ” King said.

The third traditional category is “advertising.” It might be recognizing some hometown team or dignitary, a nonpartisan effort to get one’s name out there. “ ‘Look at me! I’m a member of Congress!’ ” King said.

But, he said, some news releases he and his team studied didn’t fit neatly into the three traditional categories.

“They’re a different thing. To say that the only thing members of Congress do is advertising, credit-claiming or position-taking, that’s not right,” King said. “Because sometimes, they just stand up there and taunt the other side.”

Now, it’s not earth-shaking news that legislators like to insult each other. But what King did is quantify how much they do it: more than a quarter of the time. He found taunting was most common in members whose districts were “safe” — strongly held by their party.

Charter Schools Bill Amended & Approved

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The following is an update on HB 1002, regarding charter schools:

Authors: Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis), Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis), Rep. Mary Ann Sullivan (D-Indianapolis) and Rep. Cindy Noe (R-Indianapolis)
Sponsor: Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn)

Summary: Allows private universities to serve as charter school authorizers.  Creates the Indiana Charter School Board to serve as a statewide authorizer. (Continues authorizing authority for state universities and the Indianapolis mayor.) Makes unused and underutilized public school facilities available for charter school use. Eliminates limits on charter schools approved by the Indianapolis mayor and on virtual charter schools. Increases funding for virtual charter schools from 80% of average state tuition support to 85%. Cancels interest payments on loans from the state that charter schools have acquired as the result of delayed tuition payments. Makes additional changes. 

Chamber Position: Support
Status: The Senate Appropriations Committee made additional changes this week that would increase funding for virtual charter schools to 85% of the state average rather than 90%, as proposed originally. Additional amendments were made to adjust how charter schools receive first semester funds (an ongoing concern that has caused charter schools to incur substantial operating loans) and to improve accountability for charter schools. The committee approved the amended bill on an 8-2 vote, with Sen. Earline Rogers (D-Gary) and Sen. Karen Tallian (D-Portage) joining Republicans in support of the bill; it is now eligible for consideration by the full Senate. 

Update/Chamber Action:  The Indiana Chamber continued to work much of this week in helping to develop an accountability component for charter school authorizers that would raise performance expectations without putting charter schools at risk of future political swings. We believe that the amendment adopted this week accomplishes that balance. As the bill continues to progress, we join Speaker Bosma, the author of this bill, in wanting to see the triggers for conversion charter schools improved. Those triggers, we believe, should focus on some super-majority of parents in the school, rather than a focus on teachers who often do not live in the school boundaries, do not send children to the school and do not pay taxes in the district. We also note some continuing frustration with a small minority of legislators who remain unwilling to acknowledge that charter schools are public schools and who continue to portray these schools as siphoning funds from "real" public schools.  Nonetheless, we continue to be pleased that this substantial bill is progressing and will continue to work with legislative leaders, the Indiana Department of Education and other charter school supporters to continue improving and advancing the bill. 

Never Ending Campaign: Keep ‘Em in Office — Longer?

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Legislative term limits have experienced a pendulum ride over the past two decades. Limiting lawmakers’ time in office was all the rage at one point before some of the states backed away from that initiative.

Florida falls in that latter category, wanting to extend the ability to serve from eight to 12 years. But it also is looking at a new angle — extending the terms themselves. In other words, state reps would be up for election every four years instead of two with senators in office for six years instead of four. Voters would have the final decision if the legislature passes the language.

One representative is quoted as saying that the continual campaigning is "not what I think legislators’ primary focus should be. It should be on legislation and good policy and moving the state forward."

Something worth considering. The seemingly non-stop "running for re-election" does often appear to do a disservice to key topics and issues.

Your thoughts?

Wyoming Reps: “Let’s Hug It Out”

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While Indiana’s House of Reps has seen more drama and strife this year than "Real Housewives of Putnam County" (or whatever it’s called), Wyoming takes a much different approach. State Legislatures magazine explains how the Equality State’s reps "hug it out" before each day of legislation.

Mind you, when I worked on a newspaper in Wyoming, I never felt this kind of love from angry readers. Anyhow, here’s the glorious message of brother/sisterhood:

Wyoming representatives know how to start the day off right. Every morning right after the roll call, opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, Republicans and Democrats shake hands and even sometimes give each other hugs and backslaps.

“Basically, everybody’s just saying, ‘Have a good day,’” Rep. Pat Childers told the Associated Press.

This isn’t new to the Wyoming House. The 60 lawmakers have been doing it since 2001, although no one seems to be sure exactly why.

It’s a reminder, Rep. Bernadine Craft says, that “we’re all here really for the same purpose. And even though we disagree on many of the issues … we really are citizens of Wyoming trying to do the best we can.”

The practice hasn’t caught on yet in the Senate.

Enough is Enough! Get Back to Work, Folks

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It’s time for the rhetoric and political theater to stop. It’s time for members of the Indiana House to return to work and do the job – helping to govern our state – they were elected to do.

Over 250 pieces of legislation have come to a standstill because of the House Democrats’ walkout. Important proposals to grow our state’s economy, to create jobs, to keep the state fiscally sound – and to even pass a budget – are all in jeopardy.

The legislative proposals that led to the House shutdown:

  • Education reforms to improve teacher evaluations, introduce performance pay, limit collective bargaining to wages and benefits, and increase accountability. These should not be partisan issues at all.  In fact, President Obama and leading groups like Democrats for Education Reform actually support these efforts.
  • Funding schools based on a per-pupil formula, not guaranteed funding levels at shrinking school districts.
  • School choice vouchers and expanded public charter school options, so Hoosier families can have more access to quality schools for their kids.
  • Protecting the rights of workers to secret ballot votes in union elections, a core democratic principle.
  • Open and fair competition for public construction projects. Just as public projects shouldn’t be forced to be non-union, they shouldn’t be forced to be "union only."
  • Right-to-work (which is now off the table this year), even though it’s the single most effective step Indiana could take to attract jobs and 70% of Hoosiers support it.
  • In other words, the House has been brought to a standstill to protect the status quo in K-12 education and to preserve special privileges and powers of organized labor. It’s as simple as that.

These are important issues and good and honorable people can disagree about them. However, the democratic process cannot work if elected officials refuse to participate in the process. 

Call to action: Please take a moment to contact state representatives to tell them it is time to end this destructive walkout and get back to work. You can send a quick e-mail via our online grassroots system or call (800) 382-9842.

Brinegar Speaks on Today’s RTW Testimony

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Chamber President Kevin Brinegar sat down for an interview with Gerry Dick of Inside INdiana Business to discuss this morning’s testimony in the House labor committee on right-to-work legislation (HB 1468 passed the committee with an 8-5 vote). Brinegar clarifies some misinformation about what the bill actually does.

Here’s more on RTW legislation from the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jerry Torr:

Rep. Torr’s (R-Carmel) HB1468, commonly known as Right to Work, was heard in the Employment, Labor and Pensions and passed through committee with a vote of 8 to 5.

Right to Work legislation would make it a Class A misdemeanor for employers to require their employees to be a member of the union, pay union dues, or pay fees to a third party organization, such as a charity, that are a part of the union fees. The provisions of the bill exclude construction workers or those included in the national Railway Labor Act.

“Right to Work simply provides workers with a choice of whether they want to be a part of the union,” said Rep. Torr. “There is no provision that limits their collective bargaining rights.

“Statistics and several academic studies have demonstrated that Right to Work states experience more economic development and increased quality of life than those without such legislation,” said Rep. Torr.

Rep. Torr serves District 39 which includes Carmel, Fishers, and Westfield. For the 2011 legislative session, Rep. Torr is the Assistant Majority Floor Leader and serves on the Labor and Employment Committee, Insurance Committee, and the Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee.
 

Senate Republicans Call for Withdrawal of NLRB Member

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Forty-seven U.S. Senators have signed a letter to President Obama asking him to withdraw his nomination that put Craig Becker on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Notable signers include Richard Lugar, John McCain, Tom Coburn and Mitch McConnell, among many others.

Sworn in April of last year, Becker had served as associate general counsel to both the SEIU and AFL-CIO. The letter (linked below) points out that the Senate voted in opposition to his initial appointment, and argues he has done nothing to alleviate previously held concerns. The Senators contend Becker "has led the Board to re-open and reverse settled decisions, made discrete cases a launching point for broad changes to current labor law, and used an 18-year-old petition to initiate a rulemaking proposal that likely exceeds the Board’s statutory authority."

Here is the full letter — with signatures.