Governor Daniels travels the state in support of responsible budget

June 26, 2009- In recent days Governor Daniels has visited Elwood, Albion, Angola, Lagrange, North Manchester, Brazil, Terre Haute, Evansville, Paoli, Hardinsburg, Corydon, New Albany, Madison and Lawrenceburg to provide an update on the progress of the Special Session and talk about the importance of passing a responsible state budget.  Governor Daniels today discussed the importance of legislators passing a budget by June 30 in order to ensure that state government can continue regular operations.  He also outlined what would happen in event that the General Assembly fails to pass a budget by the end of the fiscal year.  Click here to access audio and video of the governor's remarks.  Also, please be sure to check out an article below about the governor’s recent travels as well as an editorial urging lawmakers to reach agreement on a budget that ran in the Muncie Star Press.

Overheard: Governor Daniels in the News

Governor discusses status of state budget

The Brazil Times
June 24, 2009
By: Jason Moon

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels left the motorcycle at home Wednesday.

"This trip would have been great," Daniels said. "But I have too much ground to cover."

Daniels spent his day traveling the southern part of the state drumming up support for a state budget.

Daniels made a stop in Brazil at the Double 'N Diner before heading to Terre Haute.

The Indiana Senate passed a version of a new state budget Tuesday, setting the table for negotiations between state Senate and House leaders.

Lawmakers were unable to pass a budget during the regular session, which ended in April. A special session for lawmakers began June 11 and is set to end Tuesday. Lawmakers must come to a compromise on a state budget by that day before the current budget expires.

"I do feel optimistic," Daniels said. "If (Indiana House of Representatives Speaker Pat Bauer) would simply relax his iron grip and allow his people to vote their conscious."

According to Daniels, the current budget proposal offered by the Senate called for further compromises, including:

* Restoring funding for more than 30 programs,

* Meeting all requested parameters, and

* An insurance against government shutdown.

In contrast, Daniels said the budget proposal from the House did not show compromise.

Daniels said the House budget proposal called for tax increases and tapping into the state reserve.

Following his re-election, Daniels said he wanted to keep a state reserve set at $1 billion.

"That reserve is the taxpayers' last line of defense," Daniels said Wednesday. "I agreed to let them use some, but the House tried to spend it all.

"We're one of the few states with any reserves at all. We've got to have a savings account to fall back on."

On Wednesday, Daniels said he would sign a budget that did not include a tax increase, but allowed to keep at least $1 billion in the state reserve. He also called for no gimmicks, which he said included the "raiding" of the teachers pension fund and the Next Generation Trust Fund.

"We will not be bullied into a tax increase," Daniels said, adding a shutdown of state government would be "unacceptable."

"This is our way of saying we will not shut down the parks and we will not shut down state government," Daniels added. "We will not be blackmailed into bankruptcy."

Daniels said despite the Republican and Democrats' differences, he believed a bipartisan vote could be reached.

"We're close," he said. "We only need a handful of votes."

He said education spending has become a central issue regarding the budget. But, according to Daniels, his budget proposal calls for an increase in education spending.

However, Democrats have said the proposal calls for a decrease in funding.

On Wednesday, Daniels said most states across the nation are cutting education spending.

"We're trying to avoid this," Daniels said.

From his point of view, Daniels said that while on his many trips across the state, most people agree with his proposal.

"I have yet to have one person come up to me, and I've visited a lot of places, and say, 'go ahead, spend it all,'" Daniels said. "These next few days are really important, if we're going to protect our taxpayers and our economy."

Daniels pointed out that only four years ago, the state was fiscally broke during a good economy.

"We can't let that happen (again)," he said. "It really matters that we protect our budget and our taxpayers."

Editorial: Time is running out on special legislative session

The Muncie Star Press
June 26, 2009

It's not unusual or rare for the clocks in either the Indiana Senate or House to be stopped as time runs down and final passage is near on a crucial piece of legislation.

Some might say the clock was never started this year in a General Assembly session that should have resulted in a biennial budget. Time didn't seem to be a concern, in the regular session, and based on the conference committee's delaying tactics this week, doesn't seem to be a concern now.

It should be.

For one thing, the session will end at midnight Tuesday whether or not a budget is passed.

For another, time is money. The special session already has cost recession-battered Hoosiers well over $100,000 just in legislator expenses, nevermind support staff, supplies and all of the other costs involved.

If a budget compromise is not found, there's a chance state government will shut down Wednesday morning. That's because under Indiana law, the state can't spend money that hasn't been appropriated, with a few exceptions that include state mental health facilities, the schools for the deaf and blind and a juvenile corrections facility. It doesn't include education, state police, the department of transportation or state parks, which could have their entrance gates locked just days before the busy July 4 holiday weekend.

And, while the Senate included in its budget a provision to keep government operating under the current budget, House Speaker Patrick Bauer has flatly refused to consider such a measure.

Only once in its history has the Indiana General Assembly not passed a budget. During the Civil War, Gov. Oliver P. Morton, a Republican, refused to allow the Democrat-dominated legislature to meet out of fear lawmakers, who were tiring of the war and Indiana's vigorous support for President Abraham Lincoln's policies, would take away his power to command the state militia. During that period Morton raised private funds to keep state government functioning.

Given the hundreds of millions of dollars it takes to run even basic state government today, a private bailout is not feasible, no matter how many favors Gov. Mitch Daniels might call in.

And, it shouldn't even be a concern. It is the General Assembly's job to pass a biennial budget during the long session, but they didn't. Now we are footing the bill for a special session that may be headed for the same conclusion.

The clock is ticking down, and Hoosier taxpayers are running out of patience. It's time for legislators to get serious about doing their job.

Six selected as Governor’s Fellows

June 24, 2009– Six of Indiana’s young leaders have been selected for the Governor’s Fellowship, a competitive, year-long program giving recent college graduates experience in various state agencies.

Fellows have the opportunity to work in various state agencies on a rotating basis. Last year’s fellows served in the Family and Social Services Administration, Office of Management and Budget, Criminal Justice Institute and Department of Correction, among others.

“We want the best and the brightest to utilize their talents and abilities to serve their fellow citizens and help build a stronger Indiana,” said Daniels.  “These young leaders will experience the rewards of public service through hands-on opportunities during an exciting time in state government.” 

The fellowship is open to college graduates who receive their bachelor’s degrees in either fall of 2008 or spring of 2009. Any such graduate is eligible to apply, however special consideration is given to applicants from Indiana and candidates who have a B- or above grade point average. This year’s fellows hail from Carmel, Elkhart, Fishers, Griffith, Indianapolis and Martinsville.

The program’s year of service corresponds with the state fiscal year, July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. Fellows will receive a salary and benefits.

The 2009-2010 Fellows are:

Andrew Brotherson

Brotherson is a Butler University graduate with a degree in marketing. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and the Butler University Student Foundation. An Elkhart native, he has volunteered at the Hope Lodge for Cancer Research and East 10^th Street Center for Children, both in Indianapolis.

Trent Hagerty

A graduate of Wabash College with a degree in economics, Hagerty has previously worked as a budget intern with the Indiana Department of Child Services. The Indianapolis native was a camp counselor at the Student Leadership Institute and tour guide at Wabash College. He also spent a semester studying abroad in Scotland.

Abigail Hoye

Hoye is a Purdue University graduate from Fishers with a bachelor’s degree in communication. During her undergraduate studies, she spent time in Italy where she studied Michelangelo and Italian. While at Purdue, Hoye was president of Purdue’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, vice president of marketing and communication for the Purdue Foundation Student Board and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.

Brent Kent

Kent is a graduate of Wabash College with a degree in political science and international relations. He has completed internships with the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C., the Indiana Cable Telecommunications Association, and KWK Management Group, LLC. Kent wrote for student publications The Bachelor and The Phoenix while at Wabash. He also founded the Mentoring Youth Fitness Program in his hometown of Martinsville.

Stefanie Krevda

Krevda graduated from Purdue University with a degree in political science and global studies. While at Purdue, she spent a summer studying in Brussels, Belgium. Krevda is a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and has volunteered as a youth soccer coach in both West Lafayette and her hometown of Carmel.

Ross McMullin

A graduate of Purdue University, McMullin studied secondary education and political science. Raised in Griffith, he was a member of the West Lafayette City Council from 2007-2008. He has previously worked in state government as an intern for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. While at Purdue, McMullin coached junior high basketball and track teams and studied abroad in England.