STATEHOUSE (Oct. 8, 2010) – Indiana is among states expected to see revenues grow during the current fiscal year, according to a new survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The survey results are welcomed news, but the lingering effects of the national recession on state revenues will still present substantial challenges as lawmakers go about crafting a balanced budget next year.

Forty states expect tax revenues to increase during the current fiscal year, legislative fiscal directors forecast in the NCSL report. In Indiana, budget officials predict 6.3 percent total revenue growth over last year. Unlike some states, Indiana is expected to achieve its revenue forecast without implementing any general tax increases.

State budget officials released the September revenue report this week. Total revenues for the month were up 5.8 percent over the same period last year, but fell $29 million below the most recent revenue forecast. Revenues have improved over the previous year each month of the current fiscal year, which began July 1.

More specifically, Indiana’s sales tax and individual income tax revenues in September were up 5.8 percent and 3.7 percent respectively over the same period last year.

While the improvement over last year is good news, Indiana, like almost every state, has a long way to go before revenues return to pre-recession levels. Revenues for the current fiscal year are steadily improving over last year, but it’s important to remember that last year saw one of the worst revenue declines in state history. Indiana isn’t alone in its effort to climb out of the hole dug by the national recession. According to the NCSL survey, at least 17 states don’t expect to return to their peak revenue levels until 2013 or later.

Indiana’s ongoing revenue challenges underscore the importance of maintaining reserves in the last budget plan and supporting Gov. Mitch Daniels’ spending reductions in the months since its passage. Without these prudent fiscal decisions, Indiana would face even bigger challenges than those currently facing state leaders.

The full NCSL report can be found here: www.ncsl.org/documents/fiscal/Projected_Revenue_Growth_in_FY_2011_and_Beyond.pdf

Monthly state revenue reports for the current fiscal year can be found here: www.in.gov/sba/2551.htm

« Back to News Release List

Link to this event: http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/58302.htm

National Report Says Indiana is Among States Expected To See Economic Growth Oct 08, 2010 content_id:50A834A835DA43C09E0BD0748142ED9C; type:press; agency:s06; showOnHomepage:; sortDate:Oct 08, 2010; filterDate:201010; isBanner:no; agencyDivision:s06;10 – October;2010;Press Release

STATEHOUSE (Sept. 13, 2010) – Indiana Senate Republicans are seeking college interns for the 2011 legislative session – a learning experience State Sen. Sue Landske (R-Cedar Lake) says offers a “unique behind-the-scene view of democracy in action.”

Landske said applications for the four-month, Indianapolis-based paid internships are available online at www.senaterepublicans.in.gov/internship.htm and due by Oct. 31.

“Graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in state government should apply now for a spring internship with the Indiana Senate Majority Caucus,” Landske said. “All academic majors are welcome with some intern positions being especially appealing to students studying communications, criminal justice, business, education, health, history, photography, political science, public relations and telecommunications, among others.”

Qualified candidates should have successful academic backgrounds and will be teamed with full-time press secretaries and legislative assistants, she said.

Interns are invited to attend the General Assembly’s ceremonial Organization Day in mid-November and officially begin their internships with an orientation at the end of December. The internships last the duration of the legislative session, which by law is scheduled to end by April 29.

According to Landske, students should plan to live in or near Indianapolis, because of the varied work schedule. A $700 bi-weekly stipend is paid to help interns with expenses, she said.

Communications interns will gain practical experience in helping prepare and distribute news releases, guest columns, letters to the editor, direct mail, e-newsletters, e-invitations, web updates, radio feeds, pod-casts and video productions. Legislative interns will work alongside senators and legislative assistants in responding to constituent calls, letters and e-mails, as well as staffing Senate committees and assisting with floor proceedings.

College Credit
Landske said academic credit for the internship varies from college to college and is determined by their academic advisors. Interns often arrange correspondence or independent courses. A three-credit-hour state government course, conducted at the Statehouse throughout the session, is available to all interns.

Scholarship Opportunities
At the end of each year’s legislative session, Verizon Communications offers a $3,000 scholarship to the top intern from each of the caucuses – Republican and Democrat. Additionally, each caucus awards a $1,000 scholarship in memory of longtime Senate staffer Rick Gudal.

More Information
Landske said for more information about internships with the Indiana Senate Republicans, students may contact Jennifer Carlton, intern coordinator, by calling her toll-free at 800-382-9467.
                                                                                                                       
Landske represents Senate District 6, which includes Benton, Lake, Newton and Porter counties.

STATEHOUSE (September 9, 2010) – Recently released state revenue figures for August show continued fiscal improvement over last year, though the fragile state of the national economy remains a threat to Indiana’s recovery.

Total revenue collections for August were $938 million, an 8.4 percent increase over the same period last year. These totals were slightly below the amount predicted in the two-year state budget that passed in June 2009. However, experts released an updated forecast in December 2009 that more accurately reflects the severity of the national recession and has helped determine more acceptable spending levels for state agencies. When measured against this updated forecast, August collections actually exceeded the newer targets by $51 million.

The state’s two largest revenue sources, sales taxes and individual income taxes, both showed solid growth over the same period last year. The jump in income tax collections reflects the state’s strong private-sector job growth, which has increased at four times the national average this year, totaling nearly 56,000 new jobs.

Despite this encouraging one-month revenue snapshot, state lawmakers continue to face serious fiscal challenges heading into next year’s budget-writing session. Even if the most recent revenue forecast is achieved, the state would end the current fiscal year $797 million below what was expected in the June 2009 two-year budget.

Indiana’s continued revenue challenges affirm Statehouse Republicans’ insistence on protecting at least $1 billion in reserves during the 2009 budget-writing session and supporting Gov. Mitch Daniels’ spending reductions in the months since. Had we followed Statehouse Democrats’ plan to spend the reserves and avoid difficult reductions, Indiana would be broke or raising taxes like other states.

Senate Republicans are committed to maintaining a responsible approach to budgeting as we move forward, so Indiana can remain in the black and protect Indiana taxpayers during already tough economic times.

STATEHOUSE (Sept 7, 2010) - State Sen. Sue Landske (R-Cedar Lake) today reminded area residents the Indiana Department of Natural Resources recently made changes to this year’s wild turkey hunting rules.

According to Landske, Hoosiers can hunt wild turkey with archery equipment – including crossbows – statewide from Oct. 1-31 and Dec. 4, 2010, to Jan. 1, 2011.

Landske said seven days were added to the early archery season.

She said the late turkey archery season starting in December was created to coincide with the late deer archery season. As an added precaution, individuals hunting wild turkeys throughout Dec. 4-19 must wear hunter orange. This generally is not required of turkey hunters.

Visit www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/6069.htm#wild_turkey for a complete county list where legal firearms can be used. Additional information – including license and tagging requirements – can be found online at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2343.htm.
                       
Sen. Landske represents Senate District 6, which includes Benton, Lake, Newton and Porter counties.

STATEHOUSE (Aug. 17, 2010) – A partnership between Indiana and an online university could help more Hoosier adults earn accredited degrees while balancing work and family, according to State Sen. Sue Landske (R-Cedar Lake).

Gov. Mitch Daniels signed an executive order earlier this summer creating the first state branch of Western Governors University (WGU). The governor’s new push for WGU allows Hoosier students for the first time to use state scholarship money to enroll at WGU.

Landske said Indiana’s established colleges continue to complement their traditional classroom instruction with online courses and accelerated associate and bachelor’s degrees. It is important Indiana’s higher education institutions continue to find affordable, alternative ways to educate more Hoosiers, she said.

“The Indiana Commission for Higher Education estimates nearly 1 million Hoosier adults are in need of further education or training,” Landske said. “Western Governor’s University is not trying to compete with the state’s existing colleges and universities; rather it will complement them and help residents gain or complete the education they need, while also providing Indiana employers with the workforce necessary to remain competitive in the 21st century economy.”

“WGU Indiana will fill the clearest and most challenging gap remaining in our family of higher education opportunities, helping thousands of adult Hoosiers attain the college degrees they’ve wanted and needed, on a schedule they can manage, at a cost they can afford,” said Daniels, who was elected to the board of directors of WGU in January.

Landske said the university – which currently enrolls 20,000 students across the nation – operates as a non-profit and offers an online, competency-based approach to education. Founded in 1997 with the support of former Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon and 18 western governors, WGU aims to expand access to higher education while creating a more educated workforce.

“In the current economic climate, many Hoosiers are looking for ways to learn new skills and improve their marketability to prospective employers,” Landske said. “Hoosier adults with an online degree from Western Governors University may be a perfect fit in this global economy. This school can provide a student with a quality education at an estimated cost of $6,000 a year, while allowing them the flexibility to balance school with work and family commitments. A student can study and learn individually while receiving one-on-one guidance and support from a faculty mentor.”

Landske said WGU offers fully accredited bachelor and master’s degrees in business, teacher education, information technology and health professions. The school’s online academic model focuses on individualized learning, allowing students to move quickly through areas where they have prior work or academic experience and concentrate on new subject matter.

While state and federal financial aid is available to students, WGU Indiana is not directly supported by Hoosier tax dollars. Landske said the university is being established with private dollars from the Indiana-based Lumina Foundation for Education and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and will be self-sustained through student tuition.

Constituents can find more information at www.indiana.wgu.edu.

Sen. Landske represents Senate District 6, which includes Benton, Lake, Newton and Porter counties.

STATEHOUSE (July 27, 2010) – Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) today appointed State Sen. Sue Landske (R-Cedar Lake) as a member of the Census Data Advisory Committee.

Long also tapped Landske to serve as a member of the County Redistricting Commission, Interstate Rail Passenger Advisory Council, Illiana Expressway Proposal Review Committee and Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Commission.

During summer and fall months when the legislature is not in session full time, lawmakers utilize bipartisan interim study committees and commissions to conduct in-depth research into complicated, complex issues facing Hoosiers. Often their work results in solutions and legislation that might otherwise go unaccomplished during the fast pace of the winter- and springtime legislative session, Long said.

Long said the Census Data Advisory Committee will research ways to ensure the state’s redistricting process is fair and accurate for the 2011 redistricting and explore the best practices of other states and the option of establishing an independent commission to draw district boundaries in the future.

“Senator Landske brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to these important commissions and committees,” Long said. “Her lifetime of experience coupled with her commitment to helping solve problems facing our state make her uniquely qualified to help lead this charge.”

Landske said she will also closely watch developments of other key study committees, review their recommendations and seek public input before the Indiana General Assembly reconvenes in January of 2011:

• Interim Study Committee on Economic Development: Will study economic development tools and evaluate how Indiana’s tax laws can encourage business investment and job creation. Members will also review best practices in state and local economic development policies and study the use and effectiveness of tax credits and deductions.
• Interim Study Committee on the School Funding Formula: Will conduct a comprehensive review of how the state distributes education dollars to rural, suburban and urban school corporations. Members will examine funding to address students living in poverty, needing special education and lacking English-speaking skills.
• Health Finance Commission: Will evaluate impacts of Obamacare on Indiana. Members will also study the prevalence of brain injuries and the availability and costs of brain injury treatment.
• Unemployment Insurance Oversight Committee: Will study the costs of linking unemployment benefits to average weekly pay and cost of living increases, as well as adjusting the wage base on which employers must pay unemployment insurance premiums.
• Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee: Will examine if methamphetamine ingredients ephedrine and pseudoephedrine should be classified as controlled substances, the effectiveness of tracking the sales of these substances and the cost of cleaning contaminated properties where methamphetamines were manufactured. Lawmakers will review policies regarding “sexting” – sending sexually suggestive material over the Internet, cellular phones and other devices by minors – and study ways to reduce prison costs, stop repeat offenders and improve public safety.
• Interim Study Committee on Driver Education: Will review instructional standards of Internet-based and classroom programs and compare moving-violation and crash statistics among teen drivers from both learning models.
• Interim Study Committee on Gaming: Will study the new requirements for Hoosier-owned, sired and bred horses participating in Indiana races. Committee will also review the distribution of money between horse owners and race tracks.

More information about committee topics, schedules and agendas will be available online at www.in.gov/legislative/interim.
                       
Sen. Landske represents Senate District 6, which includes Benton, Lake, Newton and Porter counties.