Issues
Election Night 2010
“So we had a little election last November. It changed a few things, like the seating arrangement in this chamber. One thing it didn’t change at all: our common duty to take every action possible to make this a better state, a more progressive state, a standout and special and distinctive state. That election, like all elections, was not a victory for one side, it was an instruction to us all. It was not an endorsement of a political party, it was an assignment to everyone present. By itself, it accomplished nothing, but it threw open the door to great accomplishment. Starting tonight, we must step through that door, together.”
Governor Mitch Daniels, State of the State Address 1/11/11
Agenda 2011
Protecting Taxpayers
- No tax increases
- Stay in the black with prudent reserves
- Structural balance
- No gimmicks
- Automatic taxpayer refund
We Will Aim Higher to make sure we always act in the best interest of taxpayers.
Local Government Reform
- Enact more of the recommendations of the Kernan-Sherpard report
- Pass legislation that eliminates the conflict of interest that occurs when government employees are elected to positions from which they can impact their employment.
- Eliminate nepotism
- Eliminate township level government
- Consolidate three person county commissions with a single county executive
We Will Aim Higher in order to make all levels of government efficient, transparent and responsive to Indiana’s citizens.
A Bold Education Agenda
- Identify and reward great teachers
- Empower local school leaders with flexibility to improve student achievement
- Establish real accountability measures that focus on achieving educational success for students
- Create a tenure system based on teacher success and not on longevity
- Do away with state mandates that distract schools from focusing on student achievement
- Limit collective bargaining to wages and benefits only
- Honor parents with quality educational choices, including expanding Charter schools and providing public scholarships for low and middle-income students to use at a non-government school of their choice
- Allow students who choose to to graduate high school in three years and allow them to apply the money that would have been spent on their Senior year on some form of higher education
We Will Aim Higher to create an education environment that supports strong teachers, empowers parents and instills confidence in all stakeholders.
Criminal Justice Reform
- Smarter incareration for offenders, matching offenses with place of punnishment
- Increase efficiencies to make Hoosiers more secure
We will Aim Higher an not delay in creating a safer, smarter criminal justice system.
