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November 21, 2008

Education, economy top priorities for 2009 Indiana Legislature

Stemler’s goals include Colgate property, Ohio River bridges

By MELISSA MOODY

Indiana State Rep. Steve Stemler, D-Jeffersonville, holds five specific county projects as priorities for the upcoming 2009 legislative session.

The development of the Colgate-Palmolive Co. property, designating the River Ridge Commerce Center as a “commerce corridor,” creating an Ohio River water compact with Kentucky, the construction of the Ohio River bridges and the expansion of Ivy Tech Community College are at the top of Stemler’s list.

And while it seems like a lot to try to accomplish in a single session, Stemler has high hopes that progress will be made on all five projects.

Stemler brought representatives from around Southeast Indiana together Thursday to give residents a preview of the legislative session that lies ahead. The six legislators shared what they expect to see come out of the Indiana General Assembly, which convenes Jan. 7 this year.

“It’s an opportunity to share with people in Southeast Indiana what the state government thinks is important for the legislature to accomplish,” Stemler said.

House Democrat Floor Leader Rep. Russ Stillwell, D-Boonville, gave residents the opportunity to learn what Statehouse members wants to accomplish next year. Stillwell said unemployment and state funding are two crises legislators are facing that will have an enormous impact on residents throughout Indiana — two things the legislature will have to address in the next session.

“We’re getting close to near record unemployment in the state,” he said. “That translates into less revenue and greater demands on the state.

“It is going to be difficult to craft legislation to ensure we provide what Hoosiers want and deserve.”

Specifically, Stillwell addressed the state’s unemployment benefits fund, which is a federal requirement. He said the fund is “going belly up.” If the fund is not solvent, the federal government will step in, but there are few options to fix it — and neither is popular among the legislators or residents.

“Raise taxes or cut benefits,” Stillwell said. “Neither is an acceptable way to go.”

Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, pointed out that the newly elected Democratic president and a Democratic Congress could significantly alter energy policies. Pierce emphasized the need for the state to embrace and advance alternative energy options. He said in order for the state to benefit from any new energy programs created by President-elect Barack Obama, it is essential for the legislature to get in a position to benefit from those programs by enacting progressive energy policies of its own.

Education is a major priority for the General Assembly in the next session — particularly since the state will be responsible for 100 percent of the funding for schools. Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-Lafayette, and Rep. Dave Cheatham, D-North Vernon, emphasized the need to modernize the way Indiana is educating its children. Cheatham particularly wants to take a close look at ISTEP testing and No Child Left Behind policies — something that also could dramatically change under Obama’s presidency.

“We’ve had [ISTEP testing] for a long time and we haven’t done anything to check it — what has it done?” Cheatham said. “It’s a high-stakes test leading a lot of kids to drop out of school.

“There are ways we can do testing and promote standards better and a lot less expensively. No Child Left Behind has been a burden on the state.

“We’ve gotten so obsessed with [testing], we really need to step back and take a look at it.”

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