The Indiana Democratic Party 10-10-15 Weekly Radio Address

Chairman John Zody delivers the Indiana Democratic Party weekly radio address:  “Governor Pence is doing anything he can to salvage his career – and it includes being intellectually dishonest with everyday Hoosiers.”

TRANSCRIPT:

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

• This week, the Indiana Department of Transportation and Governor Pence tried to fix their PR crisis by claiming the state’s D+ rated infrastructure continues to improve.

• They even cited a $3.2 billion dollar investment over the next five years.

• However, INDOT wasn’t singing the same tune just 10 months before.

• In January of this year, INDOT was begging the Indiana General Assembly to provide the agency the bare minimum necessary to maintain its current infrastructure, an infrastructure carrying more than 1,900 structurally deficient bridges across our state.

• But it wasn’t until a report revealed INDOT wasted more than $71 million in taxpayer dollars for faulty asphalt – that the agency started to act.

• Instead of admitting fault, INDOT blamed the contractor whose asphalt had been approved more than 72 times.
• As Hoosiers are demanding answers, even Republican lawmakers say Indiana’s infrastructure needs at least $1 billion a year just to maintain its D+ rated system.

• Indiana’s roads and bridges are clearly a mess, and it’s evident Governor Pence has put our “Crossroads of America” reputation in jeopardy.

• Governor Pence and INDOT are acting now because the governor is vulnerable politically.

• With his approval rating is “in the low 30s” – and those numbers come from his own campaign – and his political career in “free fall”, Governor Pence is doing anything he can to salvage his career – and it includes being intellectually dishonest with everyday Hoosiers.

• And if that news wasn’t frustrating enough, Governor Mike Pence this week also held closed-door meetings with top business leaders from across Indiana where he discussed possible “legislative priorities for next year’s session” – including the idea to add LGBT protections to the state’s laws.

• However, it seems the governor is pushing the idea of what’s known as a “Utah Compromise” – where LGBT Hoosiers have their jobs and housing protected under our state law, but their public accommodations, including hospital visitation rights and restaurant patron rights, are still placed in jeopardy.

• Governor Pence has already been late to the game each time when it comes to other important issues to Hoosiers, like early childhood education and infrastructure investment. Whatever Governor Pence plans this time should be no different.

• That’s why this week, Indiana Senate Democrats moved beyond Mike Pence and introduced their legislation for across the board protections for LGBT Hoosiers.

• The moment we pass commonsense solutions to make sure the welcome mat is out for all Hoosiers will be the moment when we can move away from the $250 million economic panic that Governor Pence and Statehouse Republicans caused last spring.

• And only then would we be able to restore our “Hoosier Hospitality” reputation that’s very near and dear to our state’s identity.

• Hoosiers, we can do better than having Mike Pence as our governor. This begins by electing Democrats who will bring forth commonsense ideas that would help lead Indiana and the entire nation into the future.

• We deserve a better than Mike Pence and Statehouse Republicans. We must come together and make sure we elect a new governor, a new US Senator – and return Glenda Ritz to the Superintendent’s office – elected officials who will unite and improve the lives of all Hoosiers across Indiana – in 2016.

• Until that time comes, Democrats in Indiana will continue to talk about ways in which we can do better for Indiana’s economy, our education system, and for the overall well-being of Hoosiers.

• Thank you for listening.