The Reporter-Times - Campaign Trail Leads to Martinsville

News Article

The Reporter-Times - Campaign Trail Leads to Martinsville

Ronald Hawkins

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson said she found the enthusiasm of Morgan County Democrats re-energizing as she ended her six-city tour of southern Indiana with a visit to the Morgan County Democratic headquarters Monday night.

A gathering of about 75 people greeted Long Thompson, including Del Chafey, Morgan County commissioner candidate, and state Senate candidate Joe Osborn. The Democratic candidate had stopped in Scottsburg, Seymour, Columbus, Nashville and Bloomington before arriving on the campaign bus shortly after 7:30 p.m. on North Main Street.

"I can't tell you what it feels like to see your enthusiasm" at the end of a long day, Long Thompson said.

The crowd answered "Yes" when she asked if Democrats would regain on Election Day, next Tuesday, the White House and the governor's office.

Long Thompson said she got into the race because she wants Indiana to have more good paying jobs and a healthy state economy. It's "wonderful" to be running on the Democratic ticket along with presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

"The senator is inspiring Americans," she said. "I'm looking forward to being a partner in change with the next president of the United States.

"And boy do we need change."

Indiana has the second highest rate of business bankruptcies, high foreclosure rates and low incomes compared to the rest of the country. Hoosiers only earn 87 cents to every $1 that Americans' average.

The average wage of Hoosier jobs lost was $70,000 and the jobs created during the Daniels' administration average only $43,000, she said.

Daniels can't blame Washington, she said, because he was the architect of President Bush's budget strategies.

"We can't afford four more years of the Bush-Daniels economy," Long-Thompson said. "I have absolute confidence we can turn this state around.

Long-Thompson criticized Daniels' "sell-off" of state toll roads. The state received $3.8 billion for leasing that asset when that asset is valued at $11 billion, she said.

One-third of the money from that deal, she said, was invested in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which the federal government is bailing out, as well as junk bonds.

"It's time for this man (Daniels) to go," the Democratic candidate said.

Among the proposals Long-Thompson presented were reforming the state tax structure, including providing tax incentives for jobs that are actually created. She also said she'd like to see a medical insurance pool for small business owners created.

In an interview after the rally, Long-Thompson said the economy is the issue that people are most concerned about. She said she has a 92-county plan.

Asked about Morgan County, she said, "Like all counties, it needs to be able to provide tax incentives for local businesses."

The 92 counties are divided into three tiers in the plan and there would be tax credits for good paying jobs. Based on unemployment rates and other factors, Tier 1 is for the most economically stressed, Tier 2 in the midrange and Tier 3 the least stressed.

Source