Indiana Democrats-Weekly Talking Points
Indiana Democrats-Weekly Talking Points
sent by the State Democratic Party of IndianaOn Friday, November 13, 2015
Enthusiastically Supports New Infrastructure Plan by Indiana House Democrats
This week’s announcement by Leader Scott Pelath and Indiana House Democrats is what everyday Hoosiers demanded: a long-term, commonsense solution that would begin fixing Indiana’s D+ rated infrastructure system.
The commonsense plan allows all revenues from the sales tax on gasoline to be put toward our roads, includes funding for local roads, erases any additional burdens on taxpayers, and does more than the bare minimum, late-to-the-game strategy offered by Governor Mike Pence.
Leader Pelath and House Democrats now join John Gregg – who foresaw this issue and released his own plan during the 2012 campaign – in the fight to restore Indiana’s ‘Crossroads of America’ reputation.
After 127 Days, Governor Mike Pence Remains Silent About Details on Cancelled Contract with Porter Novelli
Mike Pence had no problem putting Indiana’s ‘Hoosier Hospitality’ reputation in jeopardy last spring, but he apparently does have a problem showing Hoosiers what their tax dollars were used for in the state’s contract with Porter Novelli.
For a contract that was supposed to repair the state’s image, Indiana continues to be the national punchline, and all eyes are on Mike Pence as he’s already late-to-the-game…again.
With a majority of Hoosiers, top businesses leaders, and third party organizations all calling for protections for the LGBT community, Mike Pence should not only show some transparency in his plans on this issue, but also release all documents involved with the taxpayer-funded Porter Novelli contract.
Hoosiers deserve to know everything about the contract that was meant to improve the state’s image that Pence so willingly put in jeopardy.
ICYMI: New WISH-TV/Ball State Hoosier Survey Shows Mike Pence Can’t Shake His RFRA Hangover
The new WISH-TV/Ball State Hoosier Survey shows the governor’s approval rating dropped 15 points from the same survey a year before.  And not only is the governor’s race a statistical tie, but Mike Pence’s approval rating has not budged since he signed RFRA into law last spring.
Governor Mike Pence is simply in denial if he thinks he’s in the clear after bowing to special interests and throwing Indiana into a $250 million economic panic earlier this year.
This RFRA hangover has caused Governor Pence to continue his late to the game strategy on solving today’s problems for everyday Hoosiers, including putting our other reputation – ‘Crossroads of America’ – in jeopardy.
Simply put, Hoosiers are tired of Mike Pence’s political agenda, and poll after poll shows they are ready to choose a leader who won’t put their out of touch ideology ahead of our state’s overall well-being.
ICYMI – Stories from This Week
NWI Times: Democrats raise stakes in road funding contest Indy Star: Gov. Mike Pence still undecided on expansion of LGBT protections  Indiana Public Media: New LGBT Coalition Indiana Competes Joins Civil Rights Fight  Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: “That was the perfect opening for Indiana Democrats’ “FixOurRoads†campaign, claiming the state has 1,900 structurally deficient bridges and the administration had wasted millions on faulty asphalt. As Gov. Mike Pence travels around the state, the opposition sends out data on infrastructure in the region he’s visiting, as it did when the governor visited northeast Indiana late last month, “where 116 bridges are structurally deficient,†according to a Democratic Party news release.â€
Save the Dates
Dec 11, 2015 – Holiday Party
May 3, 2016 – Primary
June 17, 2016 – JJ Dinner
June 18, 2016 – State Convention
July 25-28, 2016 – National Convention
Aug 25-28, 2016 – IDEA
Nov 8, 2016 – Election Day
FOOTNOTE:  The City County Observer encourages Republican and Libertarian party leaders to send us press releases and we shall post them without opinion , bias  or editing.
IS IT TRUE NOVEMBER 16, 2015
IS IT TRUE we are pleased that the presumed City Council President elect Missy Mosby has decided to re-visit the “Good Neighbor Ordinance” that was abruptly passed by Council last year? …we are pleased that Ms. Mosby allowed public comments both positive and negative at this public hearing? …if the current and past Presidents of City Council would had conducted this type of public hearing before amending city ordinances their favorability ratings with the public would had been higher than 22%?
IS IT TRUE we are pleased to hear that Chief Deputy Brian Gerth is tapped to be the replacement of outgoing Auditor Joe Gries? …Mr. Gries was considered to be one of the top elected officials in Vanderburgh County? …Mr. Gries was professional, polite, forthright, honest and personal? …wish him well in his new career and know his replacement Brian Gerth shall serve us well as the next Auditor of Vanderburgh County?
IS IT TRUE that this years Oakland City Christmas Parade will honor armed services members?  …this event will be held on December 12,  2015 and starts at 6:00 PM?  …the theme  will be “Red a, White and Blue” Christmas and the Grand Marshals will be someone for each of the Armed forces?
IS IT TRUE the Salem United Church of Christ will hold its annual Sausage Supper on November 21, 2015?
IS IT TRUE the Ohio Township Fire Auxiliary’s craft and Vendors fair will be held on November 21, 2015? Â …this event will held at First Christian Church in Newburgh?
IS IT TRUE that Abundant Life Church will be hosting a chicken and pork steak dinner buffet on November, 21, 2015? Â …the church is located at 7333 Sharon Road in Newburgh?
IS IT TRUE we are hopeful that later this week we will have an extremely interesting breaking IIT?
IS IT TRUE todays “Readers Poll” question is; Â “Are you finding George Lumley articles on correcting blight problems in Vanderburgh County Informative”?
MEDICARE SEMINAR SET FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10TH
St. Mary’s Senior Connection will hold a Welcome to Medicare seminar Thursday, December 10, at 4:00 p.m. at 951 S. Hebron Ave., Suite C (between Bellemeade and Washington Ave.) adjacent to the Senior Connection Office.
When individuals and their families are new to the federal Medicare program, it can be confusing and frustrating at first glance. This program will help you better understand the many different parts of Medicare and what your options are when you enroll.
This is an informational program only. No specific plans or companies will be discussed. The seminar will be presented by Gina Downs, Director of St. Mary’s Senior Connection. It is free but registration is required. Call St. Mary’s Senior Connection at 812-473-7271 or toll free at 800-258-7610 for reservations and directions.
Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records
Women’s soccer finishes championship season
A memorable run fell just short on Friday evening as the University of Evansville women’s soccer team fell to top seed Florida State by a 3-0 final in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 2015 Missouri Valley Conference Champions put up a great effort but fell just short as the defending national champion Seminoles outshot the Purple Aces by a 34-3 tally. For FSU, 14 of their shots were on goal. MVC Tournament Most Valuable Player Whitney Biggs made an impressive 10 saves in the match.
“I was very proud of our team, obviously our game plan was to keep the score as close as possible going into halftime and then depending on what that score was going to be would determine our tactics in the second half,†Aces head coach Krista McKendree said.
“Obviously with a 2-0 game we knew we had to score to win so we just thought, ‘Let’s just play the way we normally play. Let’s see what happens.’ I thought our girls fought very hard together, they executed they tried to execute our game plan as much as possible in the first half and they gave themselves a chance.”
Molly Lear had the shot on goal for UE while Emily Richardson and Allie Arguello also registered shots.
Biggs was strong in the first half, but Florida State finally got one past her at the 30:33 mark as Megan Connolly found the back of the net. Twelve minutes later, Elin Jensen found Berglind Thorvaldsdottir for their second goal of the game.
Thorvaldsdottir capped off the scoring in the 89th minutes on a header to make it the final of 3-0.
“Well communication was key tonight. We went into the game knowing we were going to get a lot of shots taken on us so we stuck to the game plan,†Biggs said. “We held it in tight, we knew that their throw-ins were going to be dropped right into our six so we marked up, we stayed tight, we communicated well. It was just a team effort tonight and I’m really proud of our girls.”
Picked to win the Valley in the preseason, the Purple Aces went 6-11-3, but in the end, accomplished their goal. Hosting the MVC Tournament on their home field last weekend, UE took down UNI by a 1-0 final to advance to the championship match. In Sunday’s game, Evansville fought Loyola through a scoreless 110 minutes of action before winning in penalty kicks.
Feed the hungry and reduce your library fines during annual Food for Fines
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library cardholders that have accrued fines can “pay†them off while helping to feed the hungry in our community during Food for Fines. The annual program will run November 16 through December 15.
For each canned or boxed food item a cardholder donates, their overdue fines will be reduced by $1. The maximum amount waived is $10. Food donated will go to the Evansville Rescue Mission and the Emergency Food Pantry Coalition.
Fees for Interlibrary Loan, lost or damaged items, or collection balances are not eligible to be waived.
To have an account credited, items can be taken to the Check Out desk at any EVPL location.
In 2014, more than 10,248 pounds of food were collected during Food for Fines.
Governor Pence Declares November Adoption Awareness Month in Indiana
Governor Mike Pence has issued a proclamation declaring the month of November as Adoption Awareness Month in the state of Indiana.
“Adoption Awareness Month is an important time to celebrate those around the state who have opened their hearts and their homes to Indiana’s foster children,†said Governor Pence. “We owe many of these success stories to the important work of adoption agencies and attorneys from around the state who help connect Hoosier families with some of our most vulnerable children. While our administration has made strides to improve the adoption process in Indiana, each of us must continue to play a role in seeing that every child in Indiana finds a loving home.â€
In 2014, Governor Pence signed into law House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1222, which created a nonrefundable $1,000 tax credit per adopted child beginning taxable year 2015. It also created an Adoption Study Committee to look at ways to make adoptions easier and more affordable for Hoosier families. The Governor’s Adoption Study Committee completed its work and issued its final report with recommendations on June 30, 2015.
Currently, the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) is actively recruiting adoptive families for between 75 and 100 children, and more than 100,000 children in the United States foster care system are waiting to be adopted. In 2014, DCS completed more than 1,100 adoptions.
The proclamation, which can be found attached, coincides with an Information & Awareness Adoption Fair that Governor Pence and First Lady Karen Pence are hosting on Monday, November 16 in the North Atrium of the Indiana Statehouse. The Adoption Fair will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. EST, with a short program beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST that will feature remarks by Governor Pence and Indiana Department of Child Services’ Director, Judge Mary Beth Bonaventura, as well as a closing prayer offered by First Lady Karen Pence. Representatives from the Indiana Department of Child Services and sixteen adoption agencies and associations will be in attendance to provide information on both public and private adoptions, post-adoption services, how to afford adoption, as well as additional available resources. Information regarding adoption in Indiana can also be found here: http://www.in.gov/dcs/2730.htm.
Adopt A Pet
 Meet Cookie, a 7-year-old female cattle dog mix. She is heartworm-positive, but VHS will cover the cost of her treatment! Her adoption fee is $100 and includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more. Visit www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!
EPA and Partners Launch Challenge to Recycle Nutrients from Livestock Waste
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pork and dairy producers, and environmental and scientific experts to launch the Nutrient Recycling Challenge, a competition to develop affordable technologies that recycle nutrients from livestock waste.
Every year, livestock producers manage more than one billion tons of manure, which contains valuable nutrients – nitrogen and phosphorus – that plants need to grow. Challenge participants will develop technologies that extract nutrients from livestock manure to generate products with environmental and economic benefits that farmers can use or sell.
“Scientists and engineers are already building technologies that can recover nutrients, but further development is needed to make them more effective and affordable,†said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “The Nutrient Recycling Challenge will harness the power of competition to find solutions that are a win-win for farmers, the environment, and the economy.â€
During the four-phase competition, innovators will turn their concepts into designs and eventually into working technologies that livestock farms will use in pilot projects.
Phase I, which begins Nov. 16 and ends Jan. 15, calls for papers outlining ideas for these technologies. Phase I prizes will be announced in March and include up to $20,000 cash to be split between up to four semi-finalists; invitation to a two-day partnering and investor summit in Washington, DC; and entry into subsequent phases of the challenge with larger awards. Final awards will be announced January 2017, with farm demonstration pilots to follow.
Partners in the Nutrient Recycling Challenge are:
•          American Biogas Council
•          American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
•          Ben & Jerry’s
•          Cabot Creamery Cooperative
•          Cooper Farms
•          CowPots
•          Dairy Farmers of America
•          Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy
•          Iowa State University
•          Marquette University
•          National Milk Producers Federation
•          National Pork Producers Council
•          Newtrient LLC
•          Smithfield Foods
•          Strategic Conservation Solutions
•          Tyson Foods
•          U.S. Department of Agriculture
•          Washington State University
•          Water Environment Research Federation
•          World Wildlife Fund