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Another Day, Another Dollar
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Hoosiers showed a passion for a potpourri of pressing civic issues Tuesday night.
At a town hall meeting in the chambers of the Indiana House of Representatives, an overflow audience of 250 people sounded off about Medicaid cuts, the I-69 extension project, gambling, gay marriage, education funding and daylight-saving time.
About a dozen of Indiana's 150 legislators attended the People's Agenda forum, sponsored by The Indianapolis Star, WFYI (Channel 20 and 90.1 FM) and WTHR (Channel 13), The Star's news-gathering partner.
Proposed cuts in the state's Medicaid program drew the most comments and the strongest audience responses.
Betty Bledsoe, 42, Indianapolis, urged legislators "to look somewhere else for the cuts."
She's a foster parent who has cared for 200 children in 14 years and adopted 16. She said she has 11 children in her home now who receive Medicaid benefits, some for severe disabilities.
House Bill 292 would allow Gov. Mitch Daniels to save money by limiting or excluding optional Medicaid services such as dental coverage, mental health services and waivers allowing home care for the severely disabled.
Bledsoe said home care is cheaper than putting the children in full-time care facilities.
"We are saving the state a lot of money," she said. "They should realize that."
This was the fifth People's Agenda forum, and, as in the past, the I-69 extension was a hot topic. And, as they did last year, most speakers opposed it.
"I've been listening to the state's hearings on I-69 for 10 years, and I can tell you 60 to 80 percent of the people are against it," said Greg Foote, 80, a retired teacher from Indianapolis. "When we are given the opportunity to speak, we say we oppose it, but what we say gets thrown right into the wastebasket."
The $1.7 billion plan would build a new highway from Indianapolis to Evansville.
Some at the forum also said they oppose Mayor Bart Peterson's plan to finance a new stadium for the Indianapolis Colts by expanding gambling. Peterson wants lawmakers to allow pull-tab machines -- similar to slot machines -- in the city, with part of the winnings used to pay off the stadium.
Dan Gangler, 58, Clermont, said the stadium should be financed by a $10 tax on Colts tickets.
"The people who use it should pay for it," said Gangler, who works in communications for the United Methodist Church. He also warned that expanding gambling would increase the number of compulsive gamblers.
Ali Murtaugh, 19, Lafayette, said she favored a change to daylight-saving time because a later sunset would reduce crime.
With daylight-saving time, "people get home from work and school and complete more errands and chores in daylight," said Murtaugh, a student at DePauw University. "By doing this, it allows them to reduce their exposure to various crimes which are more common in darkness."
She also said the switch would reduce car accidents.
Legislators in the gallery listened patiently during the 90-minute forum, and some addressed the audience afterward.
Sen. Gary Dillon, R-Columbia City, ranking member of the Health and Provider Services Committee, was the lone member of that committee in attendance. He said he doesn't want to see benefits for the needy cut.
"I don't think any of us want to jeopardize necessary care for people who need it," he said. "We're in difficult times. We need to look at everything and consider everything."
Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, said town hall gatherings are an excellent opportunity for face-to-face exchanges with constituents.
"I think it's very valuable for us as legislators to hear what people have to say," Rogers said. "We have varying ways of getting input -- letters, e-mails, phone calls -- but when people take the time to physically come out and voice their concerns, I give that greater weight. It's important for us to be able to listen to their concerns."
indystar.com
At a town hall meeting in the chambers of the Indiana House of Representatives, an overflow audience of 250 people sounded off about Medicaid cuts, the I-69 extension project, gambling, gay marriage, education funding and daylight-saving time.
About a dozen of Indiana's 150 legislators attended the People's Agenda forum, sponsored by The Indianapolis Star, WFYI (Channel 20 and 90.1 FM) and WTHR (Channel 13), The Star's news-gathering partner.
Proposed cuts in the state's Medicaid program drew the most comments and the strongest audience responses.
Betty Bledsoe, 42, Indianapolis, urged legislators "to look somewhere else for the cuts."
She's a foster parent who has cared for 200 children in 14 years and adopted 16. She said she has 11 children in her home now who receive Medicaid benefits, some for severe disabilities.
House Bill 292 would allow Gov. Mitch Daniels to save money by limiting or excluding optional Medicaid services such as dental coverage, mental health services and waivers allowing home care for the severely disabled.
Bledsoe said home care is cheaper than putting the children in full-time care facilities.
"We are saving the state a lot of money," she said. "They should realize that."
This was the fifth People's Agenda forum, and, as in the past, the I-69 extension was a hot topic. And, as they did last year, most speakers opposed it.
"I've been listening to the state's hearings on I-69 for 10 years, and I can tell you 60 to 80 percent of the people are against it," said Greg Foote, 80, a retired teacher from Indianapolis. "When we are given the opportunity to speak, we say we oppose it, but what we say gets thrown right into the wastebasket."
The $1.7 billion plan would build a new highway from Indianapolis to Evansville.
Some at the forum also said they oppose Mayor Bart Peterson's plan to finance a new stadium for the Indianapolis Colts by expanding gambling. Peterson wants lawmakers to allow pull-tab machines -- similar to slot machines -- in the city, with part of the winnings used to pay off the stadium.
Dan Gangler, 58, Clermont, said the stadium should be financed by a $10 tax on Colts tickets.
"The people who use it should pay for it," said Gangler, who works in communications for the United Methodist Church. He also warned that expanding gambling would increase the number of compulsive gamblers.
Ali Murtaugh, 19, Lafayette, said she favored a change to daylight-saving time because a later sunset would reduce crime.
With daylight-saving time, "people get home from work and school and complete more errands and chores in daylight," said Murtaugh, a student at DePauw University. "By doing this, it allows them to reduce their exposure to various crimes which are more common in darkness."
She also said the switch would reduce car accidents.
Legislators in the gallery listened patiently during the 90-minute forum, and some addressed the audience afterward.
Sen. Gary Dillon, R-Columbia City, ranking member of the Health and Provider Services Committee, was the lone member of that committee in attendance. He said he doesn't want to see benefits for the needy cut.
"I don't think any of us want to jeopardize necessary care for people who need it," he said. "We're in difficult times. We need to look at everything and consider everything."
Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, said town hall gatherings are an excellent opportunity for face-to-face exchanges with constituents.
"I think it's very valuable for us as legislators to hear what people have to say," Rogers said. "We have varying ways of getting input -- letters, e-mails, phone calls -- but when people take the time to physically come out and voice their concerns, I give that greater weight. It's important for us to be able to listen to their concerns."
indystar.com
