Amendment Protects Major Moves,
Boosts Hoosier Economy
After talking with leaders in the construction industry, the roads trades, small business owners and Gov. Mitch Daniels’ administration House Republicans put a strong package together to move Indiana further and faster in these tough times.
It passed by a 99-0 vote.
The intent was to find an opportunity for progress in these tough economic times. Our Republican amendment is full of opportunity:
• Local governments have the opportunity to improve their streets while still protecting important Major Moves projects.
• Unemployed Hoosiers have the opportunity to gain new skills and fresh hope through educational grants.
• Hoosier universities have the opportunity for infrastructure improvements.
All of this adds up to an opportunity for the state to make the best possible use of federal stimulus money by putting Hoosiers to work and protecting programs that have already proved their value.
Improving our infrastructure is a way to stimulate Indiana’s economy and improve the quality of life throughout the state. Our plan gives us better roads and more jobs, while protecting the promise of economic development for the future.
Here is a brief look at what the amendment offers:
The plan protects Major Moves projects and their economic potential.
• The Republican plan retains all existing funding for Major Moves projects, preserving funding for U.S. 31, the Hoosier Heartland Highway, Interstate 69 South, the Fort to Port project and dozens of other scheduled projects.
The plan provides money for local road projects.
• In fiscal years 2009 and 2010, municipalities and county governments would receive a total of $500 million for road construction, maintenance and repair from the newly established Local Road Special Projects Fund.
• $250 million in federal highway funding would be placed in the fund from these existing state funds: Surface Transportation Fund, Bridge Fund Equity Bonus Fund.
• $250 million in money generated through the federal stimulus bill would also be placed in the special projects fund for a total of $500 million over the biennium available to Indiana cities, towns and counties for local road projects.
The plan creates a Community Infrastructure Assistance Program.
• As the federal stimulus road dollars contain aggressive timeline restrictions, and the Special Projects Fund also contains timeline restrictions placing difficult challenges before local communities, the State would establish a $20M Community Infrastructure Assistance Fund from unallocated stabilization fund monies to assist local units with technical and engineering expertise to qualify and utilize the federal stimulus money and the Special Project Fund.
The plan creates Adult Workforce Retraining Grants.
• Indiana residents who have lost their jobs in the past year due to reductions in the workforce would be eligible for the Adult Workforce Retraining Grants administered by the Department of Workforce Development.
• Out-of-work Hoosiers would be eligible to receive a $3,000-per-year grant for two years to be used at any two- or four-year year institution of higher learning.
The plan provides for higher-education construction.
• Under the federal stimulus bill, Indiana will receive money from the Higher Education Modernization, Renovation and Repair Fund. House Republicans believe this money should be utilized immediately to put Hoosier tradesmen to work on needed higher-education projects.
 Casting
Indiana's
Progress
- This week Rep. Clere discusses the importance of maintaining Indiana’s funding for the Ohio River Bridges Project. Listen Here.
Feticide Deserves a Harsher Sentence
The Indiana statute contains hundreds of laws that protect our citizens from unthinkably awful crimes. Sometimes, though, they’re not tough enough.
Last spring, during an Indianapolis bank robbery, a pregnant teller was shot in the abdomen, resulting in the death of the twin girls, Katherin and Franchesca, the teller was carrying.
Because the twins were only five or six months along in the pregnancy, the suspect may get away with only eight years of prison time for this double feticide when he stands trial in May. Current law provides a scant two to eight years for feticide if the fetus is younger than the age of viability, which most courts determine to be about seven months.
Rep. Mike Murphy (R-Indianapolis) and Rep. David Yarde (R-Garrett) have authored HB 1698 to increase the sentence for feticide, or killing a baby in the mother’s womb before it can survive on its own. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
The bill provides that violent crimes, such as homicide, battery and sex charges, as well as arson, burglary or dealing illegal drugs, that result in the death of an unborn child could be punished with a sentence equal to the sentence for the violent crime. That sentence would not be susceptible to suspension.
In the Senate, Sen. James W. Merritt (R-Indianapolis) has introduced a bill that would make the sentence for feticide equal to that of murder. Both bills need work, discussion and careful deliberation from General Assembly legislators.
Let’s hope that next time tragedy strikes, Indiana courts will have the power to demonstrate that the value of unborn lives is no different than the value of humans outside the womb. Let’s hope that tough laws mean criminals think twice before resorting to violence — especially since violence may have unanticipated consequences.
Wolkins Bill Would Create Silver Alert
The House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee unanimously passed a bill that would create a Silver Alert for missing older Hoosiers.
House Bill 1512 would inform the public and police quickly through the new Indiana Clearinghouse for Information on Missing Children and Missing Endangered Adults. The Silver Alert would use the same response procedures as an Amber Alert for missing children.
“Missing adults are just as serious as a missing child,” said Rep. Dave Wolkins (R-Winona Lake). “Having a Silver Alert is extremely necessary and would save lives and put families at ease.”
Three months ago, Alzheimer’s victim George Brelsford, 82, Warsaw, was reported missing by his daughter after he did not return home from his bowling league. He was found by Vigo County authorities 30 hours later in Terre Haute, more than 200 miles away.
“It is a blessing George was found with no injuries or harm done,” said Rep. Wolkins. “This has happened too many times to endangered adults, and the search was not always as successful as George’s.”
Nine states already have a Silver Alert procedure. Six of 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease will turn up missing, according to statistics.
This bill is supported by the AARP, Indiana Alzheimer’s Association, Indiana State Police and the Indiana Broadcasters Association.
Current law states local law enforcement must complete a missing person report within five hours of notification. The local law enforcement agency may forward the report to any police department, area broadcaster and the National Crime Information Center’s Missing Persons File.
HB 1512 would now have law enforcement agencies first contact the Indiana Clearinghouse for Information on Missing Children and Missing Endangered Adults. From there, information on the missing person and alerts would quickly be transmitted to broadcasters.
“I am happy to have been able to pass this bill into the House,” said Rep. Wolkins. “This is a civil issue I am glad to see Rep. GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) address. Having the support of the clearinghouse will revolutionize the procedure of a missing person.
House Bill 1512 will next be heard by the full House. |
