No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant effort to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others.” – Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, delivering the Republican response to the 2012 State of the Union address.

Statement to IURC public field hearing in Evansville on Monday, November 28, 2011

Regarding Cause # 44067 and other comments

Gail Riecken, State Representative, District 77

5935 Knight Drive

Evansville, IN 47715

Vectren has the highest utility rates in the State and they want more!  Speak out and make your voices heard at the Vectren Field Hearing November 28th!

The Evansville Courier & Press’ Megan Erbaher wrote an interesting article this week on increased popularity of mopeds and scooters as means of transportation. While there are financial and environmental benefits of switching to mopeds, there are some safety concerns. Following a serious accident in late March, Evansville police are urging moped drivers to find an alternative route to Lloyd Expressway and are considering making it illegal. Currently, it is legal to operate a moped on city streets, including roads like Lloyd Expressway which has a speed limit of 50 MPH. A moped’s max speed is 25 MPH. What are your thoughts on mopeds being restricted to ride on the Lloyd?

See the full article here:

Scooters still riding high, but local police warn of vulnerability on roadways

Please share with me your thoughts, comments and concerns. Thank you!

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Stays connected with Gail on Facebook and Twitter and please share with others!

Please help us continue the fight!

http://www.gailriecken.com/

No wonder the red flags kept popping up these last couple of weeks.

First, in the meeting to hear HB1001 the Republican majority denied those in the audience the right to testify. The chair and Republicans there said we had testimony on SB269 and we discussed RTW this summer in committee and that was enough. I was in shock. They voted out HB1001 without every taking testimony. Testimony should have been taken.

Next, the public was denied reasonable access to the Statehouse. We were told there was a maximum number that could come into the Statehouse for fire regulations and state police were dispatched to enforce that number. Belatedly but thankfully, the Governor backed down and opened the doors. Of course, demonstrators were roped off from close contact.

Next, we are sitting in Chambers today and we learn the sound system is turned off in the hallway. That means that remonstrators couldn't hear what was going on. Great way to continue to stifle complaint. Better than that, we were praying and they couldn't hear out there what was going on. I bet there were some inside the Chambers that criticized the remonstrators only confirming their already prejudiced opinion of them. There was problem with the taping,too. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Then, put that together with this fiasco over the referendum. I learned Saturday morning at Meet Your Legislators that the Republicans think the referendum bill they proposed is unconstitutional. Red flag!

They must have intended for the bill to come for a vote and the Republicans, who are queasy about voting against RTW, have a way out. "We're not voting against RTW, we're voting against a bill that is unconstitutional."

There is no question, their original sponsorship of the bill by the Republicans had to have been a rouse to procedurally kill any action on a vote for a referendum. They had no intention of putting referendum to a vote. For those Republicans who wanted the referendum, they should feel tricked.

I feel tricked.  We, Dems, put in an amendment for a referendum- in good faith. So, the unconstitutional remark shadows both their bill and our amendment. We Dems feel the constitutionality issue must be solved. After all,  Leader Bauer had negotiated in good faith with Speaker Bosma to get us to a vote on RTW today. No one suspected it was a trick. He and Speaker Bosma had made a deal.

And, now to top it off, the Republicans are denying us space to caucus. What's next!

We, Dems, want to have Session. We have said on the floor that we will proceed as normal on the schedule with just holding HB1001 until we have resolution. All other business will be dealt with. The behavior on the part of Republicans is undemocratic, unAmerican.

 

Sincerely,

 

P.S.  Please take a moment to fill out our petition against 'right-to-work-for-less' and share with others.

www.Dont-Touch-My-Paycheck.com

 

 

Stays connected with Gail on Facebook and Twitter and please share with others!

Please help us continue the fight!

http://www.gailriecken.com/

Last week I was in Oregon attending a conference on new approaches to issues of great concern we are facing in District 77 and through the state. 

I had the opportunity to attend a conference about building a better future for teens and young adults.  Presentations focused on achieving youth financial literacy and success in college and the workforce, preventing drug abuse, the problem of Internet security and youth in the juvenile justice system and the challenges for state correctional institutions. Further discussions   focused on “what can state legislators do” to help address these issues.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with the manager of a city-wide system of projects focused on employment and microenterprise development of low income people, including formerly incarcerated individuals. Additionally I met with the Oregon senator who was one of the primary sponsors of Oregon’s very effective laws around methamphetamine.

We spent way too much time last session discussing issues that did not get to the heart of concerns that we are facing in District 77.  Jobs, training for jobs and education give people the opportunity for a better future. That is what we all want for our children and our grandchildren and that is what we, legislators, should be studying about and acting on in the legislature.

Please share with me your thoughts, comments and concerns as we continue to work together for a brighter future.

 

Thank you!

 

Sincerely,

 

Stays connected with Gail on Facebook and Twitter and please share with others!

Please help us continue the fight!

http://www.gailriecken.com/

At the recent Midwest legislative conference Dr. David Smith, our Superintendent,Debbie Hartz,EVSC teacher and Sen. Vaneta Becker and I discussed EVSC's EQUITY schools. I was so proud of them. The attendance was outstanding.

Last month I had the pleasure of leading a discussion at the Midwest Conference of Legislators about Evansvillle/Vanderburgh School Corporation's model program,  E.Q.U.I.T.Y Schools. E.Q.U.I.T.Y stands for “Where Excellence and Quality Unite In Transforming Youth”.

Fellow Hoosiers, 

 

It has become clear that Republicans are more concerned on quantity of bills passed rather than the quality. Each of the bills brought to the house floor deserves the full attention and consideration of every elected official; whether it is a resolution to honor 100 years of the Girl Scouts or a bill that will make changes to the State’s Department of Child Services to stop the deaths of so many children.

After two hours debate on the House floor regarding child services, it is clear there is a lot of work left to be done if this Legislature is going to live up to its responsibility to save our children. It is everyone’s responsibility to advocate for the protection and in the best interest of our children. As public servants in the Legislature, it is our job to ensure those changes that prevent child abuse in our state. Our responsibilities have not been met. We must act now.

It was also an unprecedented week for me. For the first time during my time serving as a state legislator I was denied the opportunity to speak both in committee and on the House floor. My attempt to engage my Republican colleagues in a dialogue on the issue of child protection was shut down. I ask- why are they so afraid?

We are talking about life and death. The DCS child abuse hotline should serve as a voice to the children of Indiana, not a gate keeper. I am calling for a thorough review of the Department of Child Services, An independent audit of DCS, as well as a study of the faults in the centralized ‘phone tree’ hotline.

Next week will be a crucial week as SB 0286 will come to a vote on the House floor. I say to my colleagues in the legislature, we still have time to do the right thing and ensure that the systems in place to protect and prevent child abuse is doing just that; unfortunately many of the victims of child abuse in our state are not given the time for their voices to be heard.

Sincerely,

Vectren Petition & Rates Subject of Press Conference-City County Observer

Fellow Hoosiers,

Indiana is at a crossroads, choosing between decreasing paychecks through so-called ‘Right to Work’ (for less) ideas, supported by ruling politicians, that has been proven to lower wags without increasing jobs  (http://bit.ly/wsBkiY) or concentrating on increasing jobs by discussing the Helping Hoosiers Now plan. (http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats/docs/pdf/HelpingHoosiersNow20111121.pdf). 

Powerful special interests are pushing in the wrong direction. Don't let them run Indiana the way they do Washington, D.C.  We must stand up for jobs, job creators, a sound economy and stand against a special interest agenda to lower Hoosier paychecks.

Indiana needs jobs -- good-paying jobs.  We don't need to lower the paychecks of working families by anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000 a year. (http://www.epi.org/files/2011/BriefingPaper326.pdf)

Not only are working families hurt by a reduction in incomes, but small businesses and local economy are also affected.  "For every $1 million in wage cuts to workers, $850,000 less is spent in the economy."  (http://www.epi.org/files/2011/BriefingPaper326.pdf)

Some politicians have tried to throw out misleading statistics about their right-to-work proposal.  But the same studies they cite have already been challenged as false by leading economists. More rigorous studies and scientific data have shown that right-to-work laws have no positive impact and instead have serious negative economic consequences. (http://www.epi.org/files/2011/BriefingPaper326.pdf)

In the coming weeks, much will be decided about the future of Indiana and if our focus going forward will be on jobs and the economy or on lowering paychecks to increase the corporate bottom line.  Take a moment today to forward this email to a friend and to spread the word about what Hoosiers have at stake in this fight.

Sincerely,

P.S. So much is at stake for working Hoosiers. Please don't forget to forward this to people you know.

Be sure to exercise your right to vote tomorrow!

Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.