Is Indiana's Middle Class Dying?
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V20, N23 Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 Is Indiana’s middle class dying? Status of Working Families report paints grim picture, but GOP sees higher wages on horizon By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Is the Indiana middle class dying? That was the headline of a recent Wall Street 24/7 story. And that is the conclusion of the 2015 Sta- tus of Working Families Report compiled by the Indiana Institute for Work- ing Families. While Indiana’s jobless rate has fallen to 5.9%, and Gov. Mike Pence touted “100,000 private sector jobs in the past two years, and we are on track to have more Hoosiers working than ever before” Pence reported to the state, “Graduation rates are up. Test during his State of the State address last month, the data scores are up, the doors of our pre-K program are already compiled by IIWF paints a distressing picture of what was open to disadvantaged kids, and Indiana now is home once the most dynamic and stable part of the population. Continued on page 3 When senator bites dog By CRAIG DUNN KOKOMO – There’s an axiom that when dog bites man, it’s not news, but when man bites dog, it’s news. Howard County Republicans witnessed just such a phe- nomenon late last month when Indiana Senate Majority Floor Leader Jim Merritt ad- “I have a lot of sympathy for dressed their annual Century Club breakfast. communities that are dispropor- Now, frankly, most politi- tionately affected by meth. But cal speeches tend to go “yada, yada, yada, been there, done I’m not convinced it’s the right that, got the bumper sticker.” However Sen. Merritt offered solution.” more than the political hum- - Chairman Ed Clere, on why drum. Sen. Merritt, who was first he won’t hear anti-meth, elected to the Indiana State cold med prescription bills Senate in 1990, covered the es- Page 2 sential pillars of the Republican Party will reduce hunger among our chil- by emphasizing our core values of dren. fiscal responsibility, improvements in The second challenge facing education and economic development. us is the explosion of mental illness Those items are just about givens for and depression in our population. This any Republican speaker worth their unseen and silent crisis is not be- salt. It was the remainder of Sen. ing dealt with effectively and needs Merritt’s speech that surprised and all of our attention. Merritt called on pleased his audience. the creation of a “depression center” Perhaps it shouldn’t have to specifically treat this growing and is a non-partisan newslet- come as a huge surprise to anyone deadly illness. He also advocated a ter based in Indianapolis and familiar with Merritt’s career that he campaign called “I need help,” to Nashville, Ind. It was founded has been passionate about young destigmatize mental health issues. in 1994 in Fort Wayne. people. He spends much of his spare This program would encourage people time working with young people to suffering from mental health issues to It is published by reduce driving while texting and seek help and support. WWWHowey Media, LLC promoting Indiana’s Lifeline Law in an Sen. Merritt related a story 405 Massachusetts Ave., attempt to reduce the needless loss of about speaking at a high school about Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN lives among teenagers and 46204 college students. Merritt has also devoted himself to tirelessly working to save Brian A. Howey, Publisher unwanted newborn babies Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington by expanding awareness of Jack E. Howey, Editor Indiana’s Safe Haven Law Mary Lou Howey, Editor that protects a new mother from legal consequences if Maureen Hayden, Statehouse she takes her newborn to Matthew Butler, Daily Wire a hospital or gives it to a Mark Curry, advertising public safety worker. Many babies who might have Subscriptions been abandoned to die in a dumpster or along the road HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 now live because of the HPI Weekly, $350 legislation championed by Ray Volpe, Account Manager Sen. Merritt. 317.602.3620 The man bites dog email: [email protected] moment arrived when the senator the subject and asking the students stated that despite all of our tremen- to close their eyes and raise their dous economic success here in Indi- hand if they knew anyone who had Contact HPI ana, troubles that could help wreck contemplated suicide. In a shocking www.howeypolitics.com our economic progress are beginning response, two thirds of his high school [email protected] to bubble to the surface. Merritt audience raised a hand. Either they Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 stated that these issues must be ad- all knew the same suicidal person or dressed if we are to sustain our status we’ve got a big problem on our hands. Washington: 202.256.5822 as the economic envy of the Midwest. The senator lastly outlined Business Office: 317.602.3620 Sen. Merritt identified hun- substance abuse as presenting anoth- ger as the first issue needing signifi- er problem that must be addressed. © 2015, Howey Politics Indiana. cant attention. You could see heads One might be tempted to say, “Duh, All rights reserved. Photocopy- in the audience nodding in agreement hasn’t this been a big problem for a as Merritt related that hungry people long time?” It has been and we have ing, Internet forwarding, fax- do much better during the weeks devoted countless millions to arrest- ing or reproducing in any form, of the Thanksgiving and Christmas ing, prosecuting and incarcerating whole or part, is a violation of seasons than they do during the other drug offenders and dealers for de- federal law without permission 46 weeks of the year. He called on cades. However, there appears to be from the publisher. Republicans to support programs that no winnable victory in dealing with the Page 3 supply side of the issue. Sen. Merritt advocated programs tator in the theater of government, my view has been, “I to stem the demand side of the drug equation was desper- loved the first two acts, what’s the third act going to be?” ately needed. It was refreshing and surprising to know that State When Mitch Daniels inherited the reins of gov- Sen. Jim Merritt has recognized the significant challenges ernment in 2005 after 16 years of disastrous Democratic that are bubbling up in our great Indiana success story fiscal management there wasn’t a lot of time, energy and and is not afraid to begin a much-needed dialogue on how money to deal with anything other than righting Indiana’s to deal with the issues. As most people know, the best listing ship of state. Gov. Daniels and Gov. Mike Pence did time to deal with a problem is before it gets out of hand. excellent jobs of reversing the economic decline of our v state and making appropriate changes to fiscal manage- ment, economic development, education and tax policy to Dunn is chairman of the Howard County Republican help successfully carry us into the future. As an avid spec- Party. campaigned for governor in 2003-04 on the top priority of Middle class, from page 1 raising personal income, to say, “After decades of relative decline, it will take many years of gains like this to make to the largest educational voucher program in America. Indiana the place of promise and prosperity we seek to be. Tonight, there are 49 other governors across this country But there’s no denying the good news this represents. The who wish they could be me!” patient building of the nation’s most pro-growth environ- The biennial Working Families Report paints a dif- ment is paying off, and if we continue to pursue sound, ferent picture. “Despite an improving unemployment rate, pro-jobs policies, there is every reason to expect more the number of impoverished and low-income Hoosiers is banner years like 2012.” still on the rise, median household income is still declin- “Regaining the lost ground took longer than it ing and income inequality in Indiana is growing,” the IIWF should,” Timothy Slaper, research director of the Indiana report began. “Whether these economic measures are ex- amined from the beginning of the recession, the start of the official recovery or from the beginning of the century, Hoosier families have steadily lost ground, too often at clips greater than the nation and even our neighbors. The data make it clear that Hoosier families are not the fiscal envy of the nation.” The problem is within and beyond Indiana. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, speaking to the Detroit Economic Club on Wednes- day, said, “The recovery has been everywhere but in the family paychecks. The American dream Business Research Center, told the IndyStar last November. has become a mirage for far too many. If Americans are ”Initial employment gains weren’t brilliant; but by 2013, working harder than ever earning less than they once did, Indiana gained some 52,000 jobs in one year. Indiana hit our government and our leaders should step up, offer a that 52,000 mark by September of this year and is set to plan, fix what’s wrong — or they should step aside.” exceed our forecast for the year, with employment in the Brookings Institution researcher Gary Burtless told construction of buildings and transportation equipment the Indianapolis Business Journal last August that while manufacturing increasing by double digits.” Indiana wages are about 13% below the national aver- Two years earlier, Slaper portrayed what he called age, those wages are only about 4% below average after a “grim” picture.