A Challenging Week in the Indiana House of Representatives
by Terri Jo Austin on Monday, February 21, 2011 at 7:58pm
As I write this, we are about to begin one of the most difficult weeks in my time at the Indiana General Assembly.
In the days ahead, the people of this state will be facing an unprecedented attack from a radical agenda advanced by House Republicans. As a result, we will see hundreds of millions of dollars drained away from our public schools in favor of for-profit schools and private schools. Working men and women will be deprived of their rights to earn a decent living and to have a voice in the decisions that will impact them in the workplace. It is nothing less than an anti-child and anti-worker agenda that is a huge step backward for most Hoosiers.
Here is what is happening to our children.
As you know, our public schools already have had to deal with $600 million in spending cuts ordered by the governor over the past two years. Thanks to legislation that will divert your tax dollars toward private schools through charter schools and vouchers our schools will see even more cuts. As more public money goes toward for-profit schools, the funding available for public schools gets smaller and smaller. How can we justify these steps when we haven’t even paid for full-day kindergarten for all children yet?
This week we will be voting on a new state budget (House Bill 1001) that cuts support for most schools across Indiana. Madison County schools will lose over $15 million dollars. That will mean larger classes and fewer programs and materials for children who will never have a chance to attend a private school. Is that a fair trade in return for unchecked growth in charter schools and voucher programs? I don't think so.
But funding cuts are only one place where public schools are under attack. Another proposal enables many private schools to avoid following the same rules and regulations as those imposed on public schools.
Schools are not the only area of attack from this radical agenda. This House majority also has done nothing to help Hoosiers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are trying to support their families while they look for work.
We have done nothing to help close to 300,000 unemployed Hoosiers find jobs. The only thing we have told them so far is that the House Republicans want to cut their unemployment benefits by 25 percent.
Today, a House committee passed a "right to work" bill that was described as a job creation measure by its proponents. In fact, all this legislation will do is force salaries down at a time when Hoosiers already are only making 85 cents for every $1 earned by the average American.
Unfortunately, this has become one of the most partisan sessions I have ever experienced. More than 71% of roll call votes have been along party lines. Time after time, amendments offered by House Democrats have been rejected, dismissed or denied an opportunity to be heard in committees and on the floor. The people of Indiana elected us not just to represent a particular party or philosophy, but to represent the needs and interests of our constituents and our communities. I will do everything in my power to see the most extreme parts of this agenda defeated, but I need your help. Call the toll-free Statehouse telephone number of 1-800-382-9842 and tell the members of the Indiana General Assembly that we need to protect our children and our workers. Insist that we make all children a priority, not just some.