Herald-Republican. April 20, 2010.
New state laws affect Hoosier teens
Two new laws affecting Indiana teenagers received the governor’s signature last week.
One aims to protect teens from dating violence. The other allows more teenagers to help save lives by donating blood.
“Heather’s Law” encourages schools to address issues of dating violence.
The Indiana Department of Education must work with experts to come up with educational materials about dating violence, ways for students to report incidents and plans to respond to them.
The law is named for Heather Norris, who was brutally murdered by her estranged high school boyfriend in 2007. Since then, her mother, Debbie Norris, has led a campaign to protect other young people from the same fate.
Indiana legislators from both political parties worked to pass Heather’s Law. They include Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn.
“Why should state government get involved in this issue?” Kruse asked.
Approximately 10 to 12 percent of Hoosier high school students say they’ve experienced dating violence, he explained.
“If we can prevent this kind of violence, not only are we saving young people from pain and stress in their lives, we are also preventing these problems from growing into other, less manageable situations that ultimately will cost the state more _ both in terms of human and government costs,” Kruse said.
Indiana is taking the lead in the fight against dating violence. It becomes one of seven states with laws that encourage schools to educate teens about the problem.
Indiana is joining 30 other states that allow 16-year-olds to donate blood with the written consent of parents or guardians.
Our state’s previous age limit was 17. Donors 18 and over do not need parental consent. As a safeguard, donors under age 19 must meet height and weight requirements.
The American Red Cross said it is excited that _ starting July 1 _ donating blood will be something a 16-year-old student can do to make a difference in Hoosier communities.
“Many of our committed donors began donating blood while they were in high school. As our donor base continues to age, it is important to educate the next group of young donors about the importance of a safe and stable blood supply,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross.
To become a blood donor at age 16 _ or any age above 16 _ visit the Web site redcrossblood.org/indianaohio for more information.
Post-Tribune. April 23, 2010.
Gary losing HUD grant hard to understand
So much for U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh’s newly lost clout. Bayh shocked Washington in February with his decision not to seek re-election, ruffling quite a few feathers in the Democratic party. The move set off a May primary scramble for the open seat and could jeopardize the Democrats’ margin in the Senate.
Bayh’s decision not to run and the recent announcement that Gary would not be on the receiving end of some $25 million in a federal grant seem to be merely an unfortunate coincidence. But it seems hard to find a city in a worse financial bind than Gary.
Bayh blasted officials at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for failing to award a chunk of federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program money to Gary. The city hoped to use the grant to tear down 900 abandoned homes and 200 empty commercial buildings.
The grant would have gone a long way to provide employment and reduce blight. It could have been a boost to taxpayers and rundown neighborhoods.
Last summer, Bayh, trailed by members of the media, personally escorted HUD deputy secretary Ron Sims on a tour of an east side neighborhood while the city prepared its application. The city seemed poised to receive a share of the $1.93 billion.
Yet HUD stiffed Gary and an embarrassed Bayh, who all but guaranteed the money.
Meanwhile, the city is stripping millions off its operating budget as it cuts payroll, closes fire stations and raises fees for citizens to stay afloat. It’s the only city in Indiana to petition for tax cap relief. City officials appear before the state’s Distressed Unit Appeals Board Monday for the second straight year in a bid to raise more taxes from its citizens.
It isn’t clear why Gary wasn’t among the grant recipients. Hopefully, the city will get answers as it looks for future federal funding.
Journal and Courier. April 26, 2010.
Better to cut expenses than raise taxes
The news many dreaded arrived Thursday when Chris Ruhl, the state budget director, announced that state agencies would have to get through fiscal year 2011 with 15 percent cuts in the budget.
The recession has cut into state revenues, causing a $867 million gap between anticipated revenue and funds actually collected for the 2010 fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Gov. Mitch Daniels announced 10 percent cuts in the 2010 budget in November, and then expanded budget cuts to school districts and higher education.
Thursday’s announcement shaves another 5 percent from state agencies, and there is no guarantee that Thursday’s cuts might eventually be extended to school districts and higher education.
Ruhl estimates that even with the 15 percent trimmed for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1, the state’s rainy day funds will be depleted.
“As a result of these dramatic revenue declines, we are currently forecasting that all reserves will be consumed before the end of the FY 10-11 biennium,” Ruhl said in the memo, according to The Indianapolis Star. “We have two options: 1) continue to restrain spending or 2) raise taxes on Hoosiers at a time when they can least afford government impounding more of their income. The choice is clear.”
It’s easy to clamor for government to live within its means. Unfortunately, the reality of that cliche is what is being experienced with the reduction of funding and cutting of programs.
As unpleasant as the spending cuts are, tax increases would discourage businesses from hiring and scare off consumers from making purchases, which would pinch state income and sales taxes even more, making the situation worse.
For all the gloom in Ruhl’s announcement, there are hopeful signs.
The economic headlines last week showed promise _ new home sales jumped 27 percent, and the stock market appears healthier than it has been in a while.
In the best case scenario, Indiana’s employment will pick up and purchases of taxable merchandise will increase, which might keep the cuts from spreading to education.
The challenge for the 2011 General Assembly will be to craft a biennial budget that gradually rebuilds the state’s rainy day fund while living within the state’s means.
Pharos-Tribune. April 22, 2010.
Positive signs for American cars
The American auto industry got two bits of good news Wednesday.
First came results of a survey that found a growing number of Americans saying U.S. manufacturers build the best cars. Second came an announcement that General Motors had repaid the $8.1 billion in loans it got from the U.S. and Canadian governments.
According to an Associated Press-GfK Poll released Wednesday, slightly more Americans now say the United States makes better-quality vehicles than Asia does, with 38 percent saying U.S. cars are best and 33 percent preferring autos made by Asian companies.
The survey suggests those numbers are largely fueled by a plunge in Toyota’s reputation and an upsurge in Ford’s. The poll was conducted in March, as Toyota was dealing with a recall of more than 8 million vehicles and responding to claims that it had been slow in addressing safety concerns.
It’s only a slight lead, but it represents a dramatic change from December 2006 when the same question found 46 percent of Americans saying Asian countries made superior cars, while just 29 percent preferred American vehicles.
In the latest poll, those preferring European autos such as BMW, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen stood at 15 percent, down slightly from the 17 percent who listed that preference four years ago.
Highlighting the changing attitudes, 15 percent in the March poll said Toyota makes the best cars, down from 25 percent who said so in 2006. Moving in the opposite direction was Ford, cited as tops by just 9 percent in 2006 but by 18 percent last month.
Eighteen percent said GM cars were best, little changed from 2006. Chrysler remained at 3 percent.
Brand loyalty remained strong in the latest survey. Well over nine in 10 owners of vehicles made by Ford, GM, Honda and Toyota expressed satisfaction with their cars. The figure was slightly lower for Chrysler.
GM, meanwhile, formally announced the loan paybacks at its Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, where it also announced plans to invest $257 million in that factory and the Detroit-Hamtramck plant, both of which will build the next generation of the midsize Chevrolet Malibu.
All of this is good news for the American auto industry, and that is a good sign for auto-related jobs in Logansport and the surrounding area.
