[R74] Ellspermann Edition: Creating an economic climate to attract jobs (11/23/2011)

This week, the General Assembly met at the Statehouse for Organization Day. Traditionally, it is a day of ceremony and a time for us to prepare for the upcoming session. It is customary for the Speaker of the House to address the members and this year Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) focused on the need to continue promoting job creation. There are over a quarter of a million Hoosiers who are unemployed and our goal is to create an economic climate that will help attract jobs to Indiana.
In order to help accomplish this goal, it was also announced this week by Speaker Bosma that making Indiana the 23rd Right to Work state will be a top priority this session.
Right to Work is important economic development legislation to consider. With nearly 9 percent statewide unemployment, and a need to have good career opportunities for our young people, Indiana must be able to attract high tech, high wage jobs.  Further, Right to Work has not been shown to reduce wages nor cause unsafe environments.  It will, however, give Hoosier workers more choice on two fronts: more job opportunities and the choice of paying union dues.

In addition, I will introduce legislation which will encourage small business growth in our rural communities.  And, to close the loop on last year’s Young Entrepreneur Program, I am visiting our state universities to inform graduating entrepreneurs about this program and helping Office of Community and Rural Affairs train our local communities on how to “bid” on these new businesses.  This program will launch in late Spring 2012.
 
The upcoming 2012 legislative session is quickly approaching and will begin on Jan. 4. It is a short session this year and according to state statutes it must conclude by March 14.

I encourage you to contact me with questions or concerns about our community and legislative issues. Your feedback is important to me and allows me to better represent you and District 74 at the Statehouse. I can be reached at my Statehouse office by phone at 317-232-9769, by email at H74@in.gov and by mail at 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, Ind. 46204.

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Rep. Sue Ellspermann (R-Ferdinand)

Ellspermann Edition, Creating an economic climate to attract jobs, 11-23-11.doc