Articles
Governor Daniels' Weekly Wrap-up: 12/11/07
A look at news and events in the Daniels Administration
Volume 2, Issue 60
December 3-9, 2007
State to buy abandoned rail line-doubling state's rail trail corridor
Dec. 4, 2007- Governor Mitch Daniels announced the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has reached an agreement in principle to purchase more than 150 miles of abandoned railroad corridors that will nearly double rail trail corridors in the state.
"Our goal is to have a trail within 15 minutes of every Hoosier within ten years," Daniels said. "Today we have made a quantum leap forward that puts
DNR is currently working with the owners of the former Penn Central Rail Line to purchase several segments of abandoned rail corridors. Pieces of the line are located in 39 counties throughout the state. The department's plan is to give the land to local governments and not-for-profit groups for future trail expansions.
Read the news release. View a map of new rail trail segments.
Former IU dean completes IDEM permit process review
Dec. 6, 2007- Governor Daniels received the review he requested from Jim Barnes, the former dean of the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs and former deputy administrator of EPA, regarding state and federal laws about
"His report vindicates
Read the news release. Read Professor Barnes' report.
Governor appeals denial of federal assistance for north central Indiana
Dec. 7, 2007- The governor sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) appealing a decision to deny federal assistance for Hoosiers in north central
"Local government and voluntary agencies are doing all they can to support the people and businesses affected, but there's more to be done," said Daniels.
Company to relocate Midwest distribution center to
Dec. 6, 2007- McJunkin Red Man Corporation, one of North America's largest distributors of industrial pipe, valves, and oilfield supplies, announced it will relocate its Midwest distribution center to
The company will close its
"We are proud that McJunkin Red Man has selected
Auto supplier to expand its
Dec. 3, 2007- Nyloncraft, a leading provider of plastic components to the automotive industry, announced it will consolidate its
The company, which manufactures components ranging from vacuum distribution systems to interior trim panels, will invest more than $2 million into its 165,000 square-foot facility in preparation for the early 2008 consolidation.
"Decisions like the one Nyloncraft is making to continue to invest in
Nyloncraft, whose customer list includes Firestone Industrial Products, Ford, General Motors and
Steel processor to grow its
Dec. 5, 2007- Eagle Steel Products, Inc., a processor and fabricator of steel products for the automotive, commercial and industrial markets, announced it will expand its operations in
The minority-owned company, which specializes in the cutting and packaging of coiled steel products, will invest more than $8 million to double the size of its existing facility located at the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville.
"We've seen a string of jobs announcements in
Steel company to expand its
Dec. 7, 2007- Heidtman Steel Products, Inc., one of the nation's largest privately held steel processors and marketers, announced it will expand its steel processing operations in
The company, which specializes in processing and marketing flat-rolled carbon steel, will invest $13.5 million to build and equip a 120,000 square-foot addition to its manufacturing operations, making room for a new multi-stamping, blanking and steel slitting operation.
"Decisions like the one Heidtman Steel is making to invest in its
Governor's schedule for December 12-13
Wednesday, December 12
- Governor Mitch Daniels will join executives from a Canadian company for an economic development announcement.
9:30 a.m.
- The governor will join local officials and company executives for an economic development announcement.
11 a.m.
Wells
Bluffton
- Governor Daniels will join State Representative Randy Borror for a major announcement.
2:30 p.m.
Greater
Thursday, December 13
- Governor Daniels will chair a meeting of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation board of directors.
10:30 a.m. - meeting
11:30 a.m. - media availability (approximately)
Interactive Intelligence
7601 Interactive Way
IN THE NEWS
Hoosier Youth ChalleNGe Academy grads honored
December 9, 2007
By Rob Schneider
The one-time high school dropouts stood ramrod straight, soaking in a sound they likely have never had before: a standing ovation.
Then, with Gov. Mitch Daniels and Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, the adjutant general for the Indiana National Guard, looking on, the first graduating class of the
The 35 cadets of the class all had one thing in common: They were high school dropouts looking for a second chance.
Nearly six months ago, the teenagers arrived at the Indiana National Guard-run program housed at a former Indiana Department of Correction facility near
The initial class had more than 100 students, but for various reasons, many had dropped out. "Everybody showed up eager, but not everybody was ready," Daniels said during the ceremony at Community Church of Greenwood. "You were ready."
Devon Hobbs, 17, Brownsburg, who received a $2,000 academic scholarship, dropped out of school a year ago.
Her decision to leave school worried her parents, said her mother, Shannon Dickerson. "
"It was a very emotional time," Dickerson said of seeing her daughter graduate. "She has exceeded all of our expectations."
Deven Brown, 17,
Before enrolling at the academy, "I was doing absolutely nothing," Brown said. He dropped out of
But at the academy, he found people who were willing to push him to succeed, Brown said.
Prior to starting at the academy, Luciania Poge said, her son "just laid around and didn't do anything." Brown always said he wanted to do something with his life, she said. "I guess this is a start for him."
"I'm very proud of him," Poge said.
After seeing her son on a stage shaking hands with the governor, she said, "I thought, 'Oh my gosh, that's my baby.' "
Our Opinion: Now is the time to be HIP
December 5, 2007
It seems appropriate that the next step before the Jan. 1 start up of the Healthy Indiana Plan, Gov. Mitch Daniels' plan to provide health care to low-income adults, has arrived just in time for the holidays.
This is, after all, the season of giving. And beginning next year,
The first step is applying. The Family and Social Services Administration began posting application forms on its Web site Nov. 26. Beginning this week the FSSA will make applications available at its local Division of Family Resources office, at Hoosier Healthwise enrollment centers and at some private social service providers.
Under the plan, uninsured adults ages 18-64 who make less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($41,300 for a family of four, or $20,420 for an individual) qualify to participate. The FSSA won't begin accepting completed applications until Dec. 17.
Though as many as 130,000 low-income residents are likely to be enrolled, that is just a start. It is estimated that there are about 560,000 adult residents of the state with no health care coverage. Many of these are the working poor. They are people with jobs but not jobs that include health insurance as a benefit. In addition, the pay they receive is not sufficient to allow them to purchase their own insurance.
This program is a start and credit must be given to Daniels and the General Assembly for making it happen. Now it's up to those eligible residents to take the first step and apply. Those with access to the Internet can download an application form at www.in.gov/fssa/hip.
MY VIEW: Tax reform rests on reduced local spending
December 6, 2007
By Rex C. Early
Local spending in
These massive increases are neither fair, nor sustainable to the property taxpayers of
That's why I support Gov. Mitch Daniels' proposal to cut property taxes for every Hoosier homeowner, capping them forever at a maximum of 1 percent of a home's value.
Make no mistake: This plan is a big change. It will provide real and permanent property tax relief that homeowners need and deserve.
First, it's appropriate that the state assume the costs of child welfare and the remaining school funding. We can pay for this with a one-cent increase in the state sales tax, gaming revenue already earmarked for property tax relief, and a portion of the state's surplus, which Daniels achieved by controlling state spending the last three years.
I do not support tax increases, and this isn't one. I support the governor's plan because it shifts the tax burden away from property taxes, but remains revenue neutral.
Permanently capping property taxes at 1 percent of assessed value will give homeowners stability and prevent massive property tax increases. We should demand that this cap be permanent.
I have read that 55 percent of Hoosiers pay more than 1 percent of their home's assessed value in property taxes every year. But it is important to remember that the 1 percent cap is a maximum. Even those homeowners who currently pay less than 1 percent of their home's value will receive a property tax cut under Daniels' plan.
Perhaps the more critical components of the governor's plan are those that limit the growth of local government spending.
Under the current system, each of
Daniels' plan would end this practice and mandate that tax boards in each county review all local spending plans to keep budgets in check and protect homeowners from overspending.
Hoosier taxpayers deserve this extra level of accountability, and a more significant role in determining local spending. The governor's call for replacing the burdensome remonstrance process with a more direct referendum process only makes sense.
In
When the General Assembly reconvenes, property taxes will be the most significant issue.
There will be competing property tax plans and every legislator will have opportunities to
Tax reform rests on reduced local spending bring ideas to the table.
Rightly, much of the focus will go toward Daniels' proposals to cut property taxes and cap them forever.
It is equally important that any plan adopted by the legislature also include the governor's proposals to limit local government spending. Hoosiers should demand nothing less.
Deal to buy rails puts Indiana on path to statewide trail system
December 5, 2007
By Bill Ruthhart
The state took a big step in that direction Tuesday when it announced plans to acquire more than 150 miles of abandoned railway.
Gov. Mitch Daniels said the tentative deal could nearly double the state's mileage of rails converted to trails.
He said the agreement was a "quantum leap forward" in his vision to develop a web of trails that would span the state.
Under the pact, owners of the former Penn Central Rail Line would sell 400 parcels of land in 39 counties to the state, which would then give the land to local communities for the development of trails.
Daniels made his announcements during a luncheon Tuesday for The Greenways Foundation, an
"We have this statewide plan, but this really starts to put some meat on the bones," said Ron Carter, a
Ray Irvin, director of greenways and bikeways for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said the state would spend $1.5 million to buy the abandoned railroads.
Daniels' office declined to disclose the price tag, saying that any amount at this point would be speculative until the deal is closed later this month.
"We've been working on this plan for over a year and a half now, and what we've been looking for is something to bring it all together statewide," Irvin said. "People can start to realize throughout the state that this is going to happen."
Daniels also announced Tuesday that a $1.25 million donation from the Lilly Endowment would help pay for the construction of five additional multiuse trails across the state, including an extension of the Monon Trail through
"This is a great statement by our governor, who has realized that with our rather boring topography in Central Indiana, where we're a little short on oceans and mountains, that we can make something out of not much, so to speak," said Andy Cook, who will become Westfield's mayor next month when the town becomes a city.
"Trails create a wonderful amenity that will not only keep our quality of life and our children here, but attract businesses," Cook said.
Other parts of
Communities in Boone, Hancock, Johnson, Madison, Morgan and
With local budgets stretched and a proposed property-tax reform plan that could make money even tighter, Daniels acknowledged that building the trails likely would require contributions from businesses and nonprofit organizations.
"I think that even in a time when public money might be a little tight, this is ideal for a broader, more collective effort," Daniels said. "Companies have a very direct interest in having greater recreational opportunities. The nonprofit sector, I hope, will embrace this as a top priority. If we do that, the public commitments are important, but they're not essential."
Daniels said Tuesday's announcement was a major advancement of his goal of having a trail within 15 minutes of every Hoosier within 10 years. Still, the governor acknowledged that
"I'm so excited about the idea of the day when you could get on a bicycle in
"The pieces are there; much of the right of way is there. All we lack is the will to come together."
