STATEHOUSE- Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, Brian C. Bosma (R-Indianapolis), joined by a dozen of his House Republican colleagues, announced the House Republican Agenda today which focuses on making Indiana a stronger state for future generations. “It is every parent’s hope that their children will be better off than their own generation. But for the first time in history the majority of Americans believe that the next generation will not enjoy a quality of life better than their parents,” said Speaker Bosma. The two most important ways to improve life for the next generation are through the creation of high wage jobs and an education that prepares our young people for the realities of the workforce. The work of the next General Assembly must focus on these critical issues. “House Republicans have also spearheaded the concept that our state must live within its means. That simple fiscal principal has made our state the envy of the nation. In addition to that cornerstone, we will continue to focus on a bright future focused on job creation and education improvement,” said Speaker Bosma. The House Republicans’ “Own Your American Dream” plan focuses on three key concepts. Financial Security for Future Generations “Indiana has received national recognition as a leader known for its business friendly environment,” said Rep. Neese. “We need to keep that momentum going by balancing the budget and by continuing to focus on job-growth legislation that not only benefits Indiana now but for generations to come. That will be achieved by providing incentives to corporations which will bring more jobs to Indiana putting more Hoosiers to work.” Indiana is one of only nine states that has a triple-A credit rating from all three credit agencies. Indiana holds a higher credit rating than the federal government, whose debt has now passed the $16 trillion mark for the first time in our nation’s history. That equates to more than $50,000 of debt for every man, woman and child in the U.S. Bridging the Skills Gap According to the Indiana Vision 2025 report published by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, more than 930,000 Hoosiers lack even the most basic skills to thrive in today’s economy. “We have focused over the past decade on creating the best environment in the Midwest through policies that encourage and incentivize companies from all over the world to relocate and grow in Indiana,” said Speaker Bosma. “Now it’s time to focus on ensuring we have a workforce that will meet the needs of a globally dynamic marketplace,” said Bosma. By 2018, it is estimated that 55 percent of Indiana’s jobs will require some postsecondary education, but only 33 percent of our current working age Hoosiers have an associate’s degree or higher. “To protect the future of Indiana, we must provide top-level education which is essential for future job placement,” said Rep. Neese. “This quality education must focus on building proficiency in core skills like reading, writing, arithmetic and speech. This will secure Indiana’s future and provides Hoosiers with the tools they need to become successful in the job-market.” Leaders in Classrooms; Leaders in Life “Excellent teachers are one central key to success for young Hoosiers. We need to continue to look for ways to provide additional support to classroom teachers and ensure we have a strong pipeline to get teachers in hard to fill areas, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics [STEM],” said Speaker Bosma. Currently there are nearly two and a half STEM jobs for every one unemployed person in Indiana. Despite the economic downturn, these jobs have remained in demand, and will only increase as technology marches on. At the opposite end of the education spectrum, House Republicans also intend to promote early learning opportunities for young Hoosiers. “The positive effects of early childhood education are becoming more and more evident. Most experts would agree that a strong educational foundation at an early age is a key factor in determining whether or not an individual will be successful later in life. Now that we have completed our goal of making kindergarten available to every Hoosier family, it’s time to look at additional opportunities, especially for low income families,” said Bosma. In Indiana, 61 percent of children (ages 3-4) are not enrolled in a preschool program. Only six states have a higher percentage of children not attending a preschool. “We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go to reach these critical goals. We won’t be a state that passes problems on to future generations to handle. Through continued fiscal integrity, quality jobs, and strong education opportunities the American Dream can be a reality for future generations of Hoosiers,” said Speaker Bosma. -30- |
