Articles
Governor Daniels' Weekly Wrap-up: 11/05/07
Weekly Wrap-up
A look at news and events in the Daniels Administration
Volume 2, Issue 55
October 29-November 4, 2007
Firm to create more than 750 jobs in southern Indiana
Nov. 1, 2007- Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from business process integration leader Connextions Inc. to announce the company's plans to locate a new customer support center in
The Orlando-based firm will invest more than $6 million to establish a secure customer contact center that will employ customer care professionals, licensed insurance agents, registered nurses and technical support specialists to serve its national client base.
"We're welcoming another great company to
Connextions, which operates similar facilities in
Plastics company to make
Oct. 30, 2007- Governor Mitch Daniels and Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel joined executives from Berry Plastics to announce the company's plans to consolidate its global corporate headquarters in
The manufacturer and marketer of plastic packaging products will begin to invest more than $20 million to build and equip a new headquarters facility and will begin increasing staffing to meet the needs of the growing business.
"Berry Plastics joins a growing list of companies like Arcadia Healthcare, Really Cool Foods and SMC Corporation that have decided to grow their global headquarters in
Governor and first lady host trick-or-treaters at Governor's Residence
Oct. 31, 2007- For the third consecutive year, Governor Mitch Daniels and First Lady Cheri Daniels hosted trick-or-treaters at the Governor's Residence on Halloween night.
The governor and first lady handed out assorted candy donated by four
"We were excited to continue the tradition of hosting trick-or-treaters at the Governor's Residence," said First Lady Cheri Daniels. "As a bonus this year, we handed out candy made right here in
The governor and first lady dressed as members of an Indy Racing League (IRL) pit crew and had an IRL race car at the Residence during trick-or-treat hours.
Governor requests federal assistance for northern Indiana
Nov. 2, 2007- Governor Mitch Daniels took action to request assistance for Hoosiers in northern
In compliance with federal regulations and Indiana Code, Executive Order 07-19 was issued to declare a disaster emergency in northern
The letter outlines the effects of the tornado that ripped through this area of the state, causing severe damage to homes and businesses.
The governor is seeking assistance that would qualify residents for individual and disaster assistance. Specifically, he has requested the implementation of Individual Assistance Programs, which include disaster housing, disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling, and individual and household programs, as well as hazard mitigation and Small Business Administration disaster loans.
Read the governor's letter to President Bush. Read the news release.
Gov. Daniels also sent a letter this week to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) appealing a decision to deny federal assistance for Hoosiers in
On September 14, the governor sent a letter to President George W. Bush to request federal assistance for Hoosiers affected by this severe storm damage and flash flooding that occurred primarily in the
Read the governor's letter to President Bush. Read the news release.
Governor's schedule for November 6-7
NOTE: All times are local.
Tuesday, November 6
- Governor Daniels will speak to and take questions from juniors and seniors at
1 p.m.
Wednesday, November 7
- Governor Daniels
7:30 a.m.
Horseshoe Casino Ballroom
- Governor Daniels will honor Dr. Philip E. Nelson, former head of the food science department at
1:30 p.m.
Governor's Residence
IN THE NEWS
There are fans of 'the Man's' plan
Oct. 29, 2007
By Morton Marcus
This is why I like Mitch Daniels. Speaking about his property tax program he said, "When
Look at his idealism: "fair, far-reaching, and final." Our state is known for its persistent lack of fairness, its short-sighted special interest legislation, and its never-ending tinkering. Mitch thinks he can overcome this history.
The Governor's property tax program is an efficient political statement that apportions goodies to everyone. Homeowners are given the most favored treatment because they constitute a majority of voters. As the Governor puts it: "There's something special about homeownership and we want to protect it and promote it,"
For conservative
Under the Governor's plan homeowners would see their property taxes capped at one percent of assessed value. The Daniels folks tell us that today "55% of homeowners pay property taxes in excess of 1% of their home's value." That's what I like; these folks consider the facts.
Yet, what makes one percent of assessed value 'fair'? Why is it fair for rental residential property to bear a two percent cap and commercial/industrial to suffer a three percent cap? If we are taxing property, why discriminate by use? Is the lawn of an owner-occupied property more precious to us than the lawn in front of a dentist's office?
To ensure that these inequities endure, the Governor seeks a Constitutional amendment to preserve the details of this proposal. Such changes would give legitimacy to the long-standing discriminatory violations of the Indiana Constitution passed by previous General Assemblies.
Some people who don't know the meaning of tax incidence assert they know businesses can pass on higher taxes to customers, but that homeowners are stuck with whatever higher taxes they pay. Believe me, no reputable economist will assert anything but ignorance about who bears the ultimate burden of a tax.
If sales taxes rise to cover lower property taxes, consumers will buy less and/or pay more for what they get. If they buy less, both the consumer and the retailer, her employees as well as his suppliers, will all be unhappy. But their unhappiness depends on how much they benefit from the lower property taxes.
How much less do you weigh when you take change out of your right pocket and put it in your left pocket? That's what is being proposed here: cut property taxes and raise both sales and personal income taxes. But wait, there is more:
The Governor's proposal (like proposals made by Democrats and Republicans for years) says we must cut local spending. Is our local public spending too high? Are our public schools too good for our children? Does the level of education over-qualify them for the future? Are our police and fire departments too well-equipped? Do we over spend on public health? Are our streets too clean and our sidewalks (if any) in decent condition?
How much local spending is mandated but not funded by the state? Yes, it's always easy to blame the locals, but then
First, the Tax Board in each county, not directly elected by the people, is to sit as a super-governmental entity, empowered to review and approve or reject the spending programs of all government. This is not new. It's a question of emphasizing the word "all" and making sure that these boards have teeth. But why is their judgment superior to that of the elected representatives who propose the spending?
Second, the Governor wants to keep local spending increases from exceeding the six-year growth rate of personal income in a county, unless approved by the voters. This presumes that our needs are related to our collective income and its past growth. It runs the danger of government spending trailing needs because the public rarely sees beyond its collective noses. We elect officials to study needs and examine alternatives with an eye to the future. Referendums often are based transitory, even hysterical, swings of public opinion, not fact.
Similarly, the Governor wants "significant" capital expenditures approved by public referendum. Once again representative government is demoted and public ignorance is elevated. Remember the writings of the founding fathers in the Federalist Papers? Perhaps back then there was more concern about good government and less fuss about property taxes.
750 jobs coming to Jeffersonville
November 2, 2007
By Larry Thomas
Orlando, Fla.-based Connextions Inc. announced Monday that it will open a 750-employee call center early next year at the
Mike Tripp, the company's executive vice president of contact center operations, said the 105,000-square- foot facility will open with approximately 100 employees in January and that employment will expand to 750 by the end of 2008.
Gov. Mitch Daniels said Connextions' announcement represents a big boost in the development of the 6,000-acre River Ridge Commerce Center, which occupies about half of the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant.
"This is the biggest of all of the steps, to date, for River Ridge and, frankly, for
Daniels said the state has been involved in 49 successful economic development projects from
Mayor Rob Waiz said Connextions' $6 million capital investment is "another sign of the real progress we are making."
One Southern Indiana Chairman Kerry Stemler said Thursday's announcement represents the single largest recruitment success in the 20 years Clark and Floyd counties have had combined, organized economic-development efforts.
"This, ladies and gentlemen, is economic development, and the bar has just been raised," said Stemler.
Tripp said once the facility is fully staffed, its annual payroll will range from $15 million to $20 million, or approximately $20,000 to $27,000 per job.
The call center will begin with shifts between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., Tripp said, but there is "every probability that it will turn into a 24/7 operation before year's end."
Connextions is a third-party customer service provider for Fortune 100 companies. Most of its clients are in the insurance industry, but other clients range from FedEx to Mercedes-Benz.
