Indiana Democratic Party 11-21-20 Weekly Radio Address

Chairman John Zody and the Indiana Democratic Party 11-21-20 Weekly Radio Address:

Yesterday, the news came out that over a period of 10 years, the jobs the state gained were more low-wage than high-paying. One notable piece of the article stated that the researchers who put together this information said that this trend “reduced Hoosiers chances of securing a good job, one that pays a family-sustaining wage and offers employer-sponsored health insurance.”

TRANSCRIPT:

This is Chairman John Zody, bringing you the weekly message for the Indiana Democratic Party.

This week, the Indiana General Assembly held its Organization Day, which is the first-time legislators gather to prepare for the next year’s session of the General Assembly. The 2021 session of the legislature will have to tackle important issues, the largest of which is the state’s budget for the next two years.

Discussion has already started about whether K-12 public education will be fully funded. Be advised – when Republican legislators talk about “K-12 education” being made whole with funding – be mindful of whether the word “public” comes before that. Over the last 10 years, the Republican General Assembly has slashed funding for public education and has diverted that money to charter schools and to schools that accept vouchers – but that are allowed to discriminate against members of the LGTBQ community.

These are the same issues that were discussed in the last biennial budget session – and yet the question remains how K-12 PUBLIC schools will fare for the next two years. In addition, we must continue to pay attention to important issues such as healthcare and wage growth. Yesterday, the news came out that over a period of 10 years, the jobs the state gained were more low-wage than high-paying. One notable piece of the article stated that the researchers who put together this information said that this trend “reduced Hoosiers chances of securing a good job, one that pays a family-sustaining wage and offers employer-sponsored health insurance.”

This quote alone explains so much of what we need to stay mindful of when the next legislative session starts in January. What conditions are present in our state for Hoosiers to secure a good job that will allow them to provide for their families and afford healthcare – especially as we deal with a global pandemic. COVID cases are up – and as we adjust plans for Thanksgiving this year, many families will be without loved ones.

Indiana Democrats will continue fighting for livable wages, public education, equal rights and so much more both during the 2021 session of the General Assembly and so much more.

There’s a lot of work to do, and the Democratic Party needs you. Want to help make a difference? Sign up at indems.org/join, and we’ll get you plugged in. Please follow the IDP on Facebook and Twitter. Simply search INDEMS – that’s I-N-D-E-M-S on Facebook and Twitter and follow us to get the latest news about our elected officials and what we’re doing to hold our counterparts at the Statehouse and in Washington accountable. Thank you for listening.