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Senate Republican Leaders > A Message From Senator David Long A Message From Senator David Long

Balancing the State Budget
 
While the nationwide economic climate is forcing other states to pass unbalanced budgets, increase deficit spending and jeopardize funding to vital state-supported programs like education, Indiana is better poised to weather the storm because of fiscally responsible policies and tightly crafted budgets in recent years. Still, in these tight times, state lawmakers face the same challenge Hoosier households do — costs rising faster than income. Legislators must tackle this problem with the same resolve and frugality that Hoosiers utilize every day. Indiana Senate Republican’s top priority during the 2009 session is to work with their fellow lawmakers in both the Senate and House of Representatives to craft and pass a sound, balanced state budget.
 
Permanently Capping Property Taxes
 
Hoosiers are just now feeling the first round of relief provided by last year’s historic property tax reforms. Despite these much-needed reductions, lawmakers must not lose sight that fellow Hoosiers suffered from life-changing decisions because of Indiana’s most recent property tax crisis. For too many — especially seniors on fixed incomes and young homeowners on limited incomes — emergencies existed and continue to exist. Legislators must keep the promise of permanent property tax relief and reforms. Senate Republicans understand how pressing and crucial it is for the General Assembly to again pass a constitutional amendment capping property taxes. Lawmakers successfully passed the amendment last year, but must do so again before the constitutional change can be considered by voters and added to our Indiana Constitution. Only then will taxpayers be guaranteed that these vital property tax reforms will be permanent.
 
Protecting K-College Funding, Higher Education Accessibility
 
Chief among the state’s many responsibilities is making certain that Indiana’s public schools, community colleges and four-year universities have the resources they need to ensure the future success of our students. As other states are cutting off dollars to classrooms and lecture halls, Senate Republicans understand protecting K-12 education dollars and keeping higher education affordable and accessible are the best long-term investments the state can make in these difficult economic times — ones that will produce solid returns despite the ups and downs of roller-coaster markets. At the same time, Senate Republicans will also champion policies that help make these investments reap results — advancing academic achievement and college and career readiness — in safe and disciplined classrooms.
 
Continuing Job Creation
 
While Indiana has positioned itself as a nationwide leader in job creation, ranking first among the Midwest states and 12th nationwide for its excellent business climate, now is not the time to rest. To attract more 21st-century jobs, Indiana must focus on equipping its workforce with 21st-century skills. Experts estimate that 60 percent of future jobs will require skills that are currently possessed by only 20 percent of workers. Senate Republicans are committed to bolstering job creation through workforce education, low taxes, eliminating excessive government regulation, and incentivizing business expansion and investment.
 
Energy and the Environment
 
Rising cost of fuels, skyrocketing energy prices and increasing waste and pollution—all of these are challenges facing policymakers nationwide and across Indiana. Senate Republicans are committed to promoting policies that encourage and incentivize Hoosiers to harness the state’s abundant natural and renewable resources—biofuels, wind, clean coal and others—to help drive down the price of energy, promote energy-efficiency, reduce waste and protect the environment.
 
Streamlining Government
 
Indiana represents two percent of the U.S. population, yet maintains eight percent of local government units nationwide — somewhat surprising for a state often viewed as fiscally conservative. Many Hoosiers support the reform recommendations of the Kernan-Shepard Commission, a bipartisan panel of business, education and civic leaders whose mission was to study improving government’s efficiency and effectiveness across Indiana. Already, legislators and voters have adopted one such recommendation by combining most township assessors’ offices with those of county assessors. Legislators this year will debate similar reform proposals regarding Indiana’s overlapping layers of government that often confuse citizens and make accountability difficult. Senate Republicans support open, fair discussions of proposed bipartisan reforms intended to provide Hoosiers more economical, accessible and accountable government.