Long Thompson Travels Southern Indiana to Discuss Her Economic Recovery Plan

Press Release

Long Thompson Travels Southern Indiana to Discuss Her Economic Recovery Plan

"One Indiana Plan" a comprehensive vision for rebuilding the state's economy

Campaigning in southern Indiana today, Jill Long Thompson, the Democratic nominee for Governor, continued to lay out her vision for rebuilding Indiana's economy and creating new opportunities for Hoosiers in all 92 counties.

Long Thompson and her running mate, State Representative Dennie Oxley, are traveling the state this week to highlight their One Indiana Plan. The 56-page document includes proposals to overhaul the state's antiquated tax structure, institute policies to create green jobs, protect the environment, improve the state's infrastructure system, lower healthcare costs, transform the state's education system, reduce home foreclosures and spur economic development in distressed areas.

On Thursday Long Thompson made stops in Jeffersonville, Corydon, Huntingburg and Evansville to discuss various portions of the One Indiana Plan.

"As our economy continues to deteriorate, more and more Hoosier families are facing job loss, mortgage foreclosure and bankruptcy. Yet, instead of addressing these concerns or offering any type of vision for the next four years, Governor Daniels continues to try to convince us that everything is just fine," said Long Thompson. "It's not and Hoosiers know it."

"As Indiana's next Governor, I will work to implement my economic recovery plan so we can begin to reverse the damage inflicted by the Bush-Daniels economic policies," added Long Thompson. "More than 200,000 Hoosiers are without work, we are now in the top ten in the nation for job loss, home foreclosure and bankruptcy. Staying the course is not an option. We need fundamental change and that's what I am offering."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, Indiana's unemployment rate now stands at 6.4 percent, the highest rate since 1987. In the last year alone the unemployment rate has risen nearly 2 points as 63,726 more Hoosiers lost their jobs. In fact, the unemployment rate is 44 percent higher in Indiana than it was one year ago and 16 percent higher than when Governor Daniels took office. Personal income has also declined under Daniels watch. Hoosiers now make only 87 cents on the dollar compared to the average American worker.

The One Indiana Plan includes a number of ideas to reinvigorate the economy and help working Hoosiers, including proposals to:

Overhaul Indiana's Tax Structure: In an effort to retain existing jobs and attract new ones, a Long Thompson-Oxley administration would work with the Indiana General Assembly to simplify Indiana's tax code to make it easier for businesses to utilize; make it fair for families, farmers and businesses by ensuring an appropriate balance of income, sales, and property taxes; and base future business tax incentives on jobs created, not jobs promised.

Institute "Economic Tiers": This proposal would categorize the state's 92 counties into three different economic tiers - based on economic indicators including a county's unemployment rate, median household income, population growth and assessed property value per capita - to target graduated business income tax creates to spur job growth in communities hit hardest by the Bush-Daniels economy.

Improve Access and Affordability of Healthcare: During all or part of 2006-2007, 1.75 million Hoosiers were without health insurance. A Long Thompson-Oxley administration would establish a health insurance pooling option so small businesses and individuals who lack the buying power that larger businesses have would be able to join together to purchase health insurance in bulk, making it more affordable. They would also revive Indiana's Loan Forgiveness Program for medical students willing to locate to underserved areas; better align vocational and community college programs to address healthcare worker shortages; and increase broadband capacity to assist rural medical providers.

Reform Indiana's Education System: Because it's essential to growing the economy, a Long Thompson-Oxley administration will put in place programs to ensure all Hoosier children learn to read, create more flexibility in the classroom to reduce the state's high school dropout rate, better prepare the future workforce, and to create lifelong learning opportunities and college scholarships for more Hoosiers.

Expand on Indiana's Opportunity by Creating Green Jobs: A Long Thompson-Oxley administration would work to create new green jobs and investment in green technology by offering new tax incentives to Hoosier businesses; reallocate existing state resources to invest in start-up businesses developing green and clean technology and renewable energy projects; and work to encourage the increased use of alternative energy sources -- like solar or wind power.

Protecting Indiana's Environment: With Forbes' Magazine's recently ranking Indiana as the country's 49th Greenest State, there is a great deal of work to be done. A Long Thompson-Oxley administration would begin by enforcing existing state and federal law and rules; appointing new leadership at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management; making appropriate changes to strengthen existing laws to protect communities and families from pollutants; base policy decisions on science as well as quality of life concerns for Hoosier families; and conduct a full review of the state laws and permitting processes to ensure they meet industry standards and offer flexibility that will allow us to grow our clean technology industry.

Government and Campaign Finance Reform: A Long Thompson-Oxley administration would seek legislation to strengthen the state's campaign finance laws; prohibit businesses and the officers of businesses doing work with, or soliciting work from, state or local government from donating to political campaigns; fight for tougher disclosure requirements for lobbyists; and create a bipartisan committee to evaluate the effectiveness of all state contracts and services that have been privatized during the Daniels administration.

Improve Indiana's Infrastructure: A Long Thompson-Oxley administration would work with local governments to better utilize existing transit systems and place a greater emphasis on maximizing federal funding to ensure infrastructure continues to be built and maintained when the 'Major Moves' money is depleted.

Putting Hoosiers First: A Long Thompson-Oxley administration will reinstate collective bargaining rights for state employees; suspend and then cap the state's 7 percent sales tax on gasoline; institute reforms to better support Indiana's Veterans; increase the powers of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission and add protections against discrimination for more citizens; expand the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to work with organizations to address Indiana's most dire social problems; align Indiana's voter identification law with federal standards; and work to bring broadband internet connectivity to underserved Indiana communities.

Reduce Home Foreclosure: Under Governor Daniels' watch, Indiana now ranks sixth in the nation for home foreclosures. A Long Thompson-Oxley administration would tackle this problem by passing legislation to require homeowners and their lenders to sit down for negotiations prior to a foreclosure occurring; extending the foreclosure notice period to allow more time for resolution; and by banning predatory lending practices and products in Indiana.

"With my One Indiana Plan, I am offering a clear and comprehensive plan for putting Indiana back on track and Hoosiers back to work," added Long Thompson. "The choice is very clear. I am offering a real plan and real change. Governor Daniels is offering more of the same; more of the same leadership; and more of the same misguided policies that have gotten us into this economic mess."

"Hoosiers expect more, they deserve more, and they'll get more when I am Governor."

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