House Democrats and Republicans Discuss Biennial State Budget.
INDIANAPOLIS – House Democrats and Republicans had the chance this week to provide their priorities for the next biennial state budget.
Let’s take a moment to see how they compare.
The Democratic budget offers middle class Hoosiers a choice: either a cut in their income taxes or taking a credit that will reduce the textbook taxes middle class families pay each year.
The Republican budget offers no tax cuts of any kind. We tried to give House members a chance to vote on the governor’s proposed 10 percent income tax cut, but the Republicans refused to let us debate and vote on their own governor’s plan.
The Democratic budget gives every public school in Indiana an increase in state support each of the next two years.
The Republican budget cuts state support for 30 percent of public schools in the first year and 40 percent of public schools in the second year.
The Democratic budget creates private sector jobs through funding for infrastructure projects that will improve our roads, bridges and sewers, and construction of new buildings at our state universities. It also calls for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, a program that has been estimated by the Indiana Hospital Association to create as many as 30,000 new jobs.
The Republican budget rejects the job creation that could come from the Affordable Care Act, and offers only a few opportunities to create private sector jobs.
The Democratic budget was rejected by the Republican majority.
As a result, in the next few days, we will be voting on a Republican budget that does not cut middle class taxes, does not increase funding for all public schools, and does not create very many new jobs.
Let me ask you this:
Would you vote for the Republican budget?
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As always, please contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns related to our state government. Here is how you can stay in touch: call my office toll-free at 1-800-382-9842; write to me in care of the Indiana House of Representatives, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204; or email me at h77@iga.in.gov.
State Representative Gail Riecken
Indiana House District 77
As always, please contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns related to our state government. Here is how you can stay in touch: call my office toll-free at 1-800-382-9842; write to me in care of the Indiana House of Representatives, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204; or email me at h77@iga.in.gov.
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State Representative Gail Riecken
Indiana House District 77
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3rd Annual St. Jude Radiothon – Official “Thumbs Up” Video + Big Concert Announcementâ€
Great Incentives Available To Become A St. Jude Partner In Hope
By Eric Cornish
The WKDQ St. Jude Radiothon is this Thursday and Friday, February 21st and 22nd. While your donation goes to give hope and save children from all over over the world from cancer and other catastrophic diseases, you also have a chance to get some cool stuff when you make your donation.
By becoming a Partner In Hope for St. Jude, which means $20 or more per month on a credit card, you will automatically get a WKDQ/St. Jude T-shirt.
Also, every person who becomes a Partner In Hope over the two-day Radiothon will be entered into a drawing for a guitar, autographed by stars Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, Gary Allan, Kellie Pickler, and Randy Houser!
In addition to that prize, we’ll also draw from all our Partners In Hope for a pair of Front Row seats for the April 18th, Little Big Town concert at the Victory Theater!
We also have two autographed Evansville Icemen jerseys to give away, one Partner from Thursday and one from Friday will be drawn for those!
Plus, you can listen for other opportunities to win fun prizes and autographed memorabilia signed by folks like Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Casey James, and more!
The biggest incentive is helping a sick child, but if we can throw in some goodies, we’re happy to entice! Join us for the St. Jude Radiothon sponsored by Kenny Kent Chevy and 99.5 WKDQ!
Filed Under: evansville icemen, gary allan, jason aldean, kellie pickler, Kelly Clarkson, little big town, Randy
Hoosiers receive $134M in relief as part of landmark settlement
New state, national figures released on anniversary of National Mortgage Settlement
INDIANAPOLIS – One year after the National Mortgage Settlement, the nation’s five largest banks reported extending more than $134 million in total relief to Indiana consumers.
The settlement resulted from state and federal investigations which found that Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo routinely signed foreclosure related documents outside the presence of a notary public and without really knowing whether the facts they contained were correct. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said the state’s total is made up of more than $125 million in relief to help consumers avoid foreclosure and more than $9 million in loan modifications that are currently in progress.
“This announcement means more than 3,200 Indiana consumers have received much-needed relief through refinancing or home-loan modifications,†Zoeller said. “While there has been substantial success, it is clear that the servicers have more to do to meet the requirements set by the National Mortgage Settlement.â€
The Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight released their report Thursday which outlined the state and national consumer relief activities of the banks from March 2012 through December 2012. Nationally, the report revealed $45.83 billion in gross relief was extended to 550,000 borrowers.
The full report and the monitor’s state-by-state data map are available at www.mortgageoversight.com.
Zoeller will participate in a National Mortgage Settlement conference in Chicago today at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. The conference will focus on the housing market collapse, the intricate path to the National Mortgage Settlement and the independent monitor that has been established to oversee the terms of the agreement. Zoeller will speak during a panel titled, “An Innovative Approach to Law Enforcement: A Bipartisan State-Federal Partnership.â€
The monitor’s office has certified that as of Feb. 1, 2013, Ally/GMAC completed its consumer relief requirements and that the bank is in substantial compliance with its requirement to reach out to consumers and provide them with loss mitigation assistance.
Indiana homeowners who were foreclosed upon and experienced a servicer error between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2011 will receive a total of $31.4 million in cash payments. Claim forms were mailed to eligible borrowers last fall and the deadline to submit a claim has now passed. If you have submitted a claim form, the settlement administrator will contact you if any additional information is needed to complete your claim. Checks to borrowers who submitted claim forms are expected to be mailed mid-year in 2013. The exact amount of the payment to be made to each eligible claimant is not yet known, but it will exceed the minimum payment of $840 that was indicated on the claim form.
As part of the overall settlement, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office received $43.8 million, with $28.8 million dedicated to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the rest committed to the Consumer Protection Division and Homeowner Protection Unit consistent with the terms of the agreement. Zoeller said the LIHEAP funding helps low-income individuals, including homeowners who are most at-risk to be foreclosed upon, pay their heating bills.
Zoeller said the banks, as part of the settlement, were also required to implement comprehensive servicing reforms by Oct. 2, 2012. The monitor is currently evaluating compliance with those reforms and plans to file its first report on servicers’ compliance with the court later this year.
MILES FOUND GUILTY OF DRUG CHARGE
February 21, 2013, Debra Miles, age 55, was found guilty in Vanderburgh County Superior Court of Dealing in Methamphetamine – Class A Felony. Miles pled guilty to being an habitual offender. Miles faces 20-50 years for the Class A Felony. Thirty years will be added to that sentence for the Habitual Offender Enhancement. Judge Robert Pigman will sentence Miles on March 20, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
For further information on the case listed above, or any pending case, please contact Regene Newman, at 812.435.5156 or via e-mail at rinewman@vanderburghgov.org
Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
Evansville, IN – Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, February 21, 2013.
Charlotte Weiss Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Taron Polk Domestic Battery-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to a Class D Felony due to Prior Convictions)
For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Regene Newman at 812.435.5156 or via e-mail at rinewman@vanderburghgov.org
Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
SENTENCE CHART
Class Range
Murder 45-65 Years
Class A Felony 20-50 Years
Class B Felony 6-20 Years
Class C Felony 2-8 Years
Class D Felony ½ – 3 Years
Class A Misdemeanor 0-1 Year
Class B Misdemeanor 0-180 Days
Class C Misdemeanor 0-60 Days
Breaking News: Anonymous Complaint Against David Garrett Dropped by State Board of Accountancy
The City County Observer has learned that the complaint against David Garrett over a CPA license has been dropped by the State Board of Accountancy. Also it also was announced that the State Board of Accountancy hereby considers this case to be closed.
This is a developing story, shall post more later.
Previous: An anonymous complaint to the Indiana State Board of Accountancy against David Garrett who was hired for $20,000 by the Evansville City Council to provide financial analysis resulted in a media firestorm with City Councilman Jonathan Weaver leading the opposition to his hiring and appearing on local television to support his positions. Weaver’s assertion was that Mr. Garrett did not have a CPA. It was later verified that the tasks that Garrett was hired to perform did not require a CPA. Garrett furthermore has never claimed to have a current CPA license and the City Council was apprised of that prior to his hiring via his resume’. Mr. Garrett did at one time pass the CPA exam as verified by the State Board of Accountancy.
IS IT TRUE February 22, 2013

IS IT TRUE we first wish to advise all of our readers to drive and walk with caution today as the Tri-State seems to have had another run-in with mother nature’s snow machine?…this will of course be particularly true in downtown Evansville where the Barnett Doctrine of “let the empty buildings shovel their own snow†is still in force?…Yukon Cornelius is still looking for gold and silver in downtown Evansville and it is a good thing he has a sled and a dog pack to moooosh because otherwise he would fall flat on his butt like some downtown worker or even a possible shopper will probably do today?…local government still finds it perfectly acceptable to spend $127 Million on a temple to sport with another $40 Million plus being considered for a hotel yet spending $500 to clear the sidewalks is unaffordable and out of the question?…sometimes visitors to Evansville must think Neanderthals are in charge of city government?
IS IT TRUE that site selectors now advise local economic development officials that their website is just about the only way to make it through to round two in a business attraction project?…the only thing that can get a location to round two without a website that is informative and easy to navigate is a strong personal relationship?…over 90% of acceptable locations do not even make round two because of website deficiencies?…the CCO would like to commend the SW Indiana Coalition for Economic Development for establishing and maintaining a most excellent and easy to navigate website?…this website is probably why the Evansville region really does make the cut and always seems to have lots of opportunities to pursue?…getting beyond round two however takes things like a ready to go workforce, specialized talent, and infrastructure?…only after those things are cleared does one make the final round?…exemplary websites may cause lots of interest but cannot eliminate problems like dilapidated infrastructure, dysfunctional government, and an inadequate workforce?…we seem to have great icing but a cake of questionable quality?…it is time to fix the cake?
IS IT TRUE world economists are now projecting that the Eurozone will have a contracting economy in 2013 due to continued debt issues in Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Ireland?… they will all of course be looking to Germany to bail them out again?…one must wonder just how long the German people are going to tolerate being the lender of last resort to irresponsible dysfunctional countries?…one may ask how on earth does that affect us here in the United States and why do we care?…it is about customers, markets and investments?…the USA is a strong trading partner with the Eurozone and has maintained a win-win relationship for years?…if more turmoil comes into the Eurozone financial markets we will suffer too?
IS IT TRUE that on the home front there is both good news and bad news?…that hiring in the private sector while slow is consistent and positive so from an unemployment perspective the worst seems to finally be behind us?…that is not to be confused with something that is acceptable or prosperous but it should diminish some of the paranoia that has had the country in a funk for 5 years now?…the latest self defeating micro-blow is the fact that the reinstatement of the 2% FICA tax that hits the average family for about $1,000 per year combined with the spike in gas prices has flat-lined consumer spending?…consumer spending is about 70% of the US economy so this avoidable phenomena will hurt earnings which will hurt hiring, etc. etc. etc.?…the comes at a time that the Obama Administration is crowing about not raising taxes on the middle class and doubling the gas mileage on cars?…sometimes one has to wonder if the President and Congress are even living on the same planet that regular people are?…that both of the President’s claims are either extreme delusion or outright lies?…what is really disappointing is that lots of people apparently believe him when he says gas mileage has doubled and that we all got a tax cut?…the cognizance of the entire country or maybe the interest in politics is perfectly reflected in Evansville’s electorate?…maybe we should send the City Council to Washington as they seem a capable as our congress is?