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!

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/

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”.

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.