Indiana Democratic Party 2-27-16 Weekly Radio Address Podcast

Chairman John Zody’s and the Indiana Democratic Party’s weekly radio address: “Perhaps Gov. Pence scrapped the JustIN news service publicly, but it appears as though privately, it still exists within his administration. Audits to the BMV and the Department of Child Services revealed that the agencies were not operating in the best interest of Hoosiers.”

TRANSCRIPT:

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

• This week, as Mike Pence and the GOP-controlled Statehouse were still mulling over an election year short-term strategy to address the state’s D+ rated infrastructure system, concrete pieces of the I-70 overpass in Terre Haute were literally crumbling and falling onto U.S. 41.

• And as there are more than 1,600 bridges in Indiana labeled as structurally deficient, it’s time for a long-term strategy on this issue-not the short-term plans presented by Mike Pence and Statehouse Republicans.

• But what’s worse, Gov. Pence’s so-called infrastructure plan was only presented following one of his worst public relations crises as governor.

• The fact is — after jeopardizing our ‘Crossroads of America’ reputation and wasting $71 million on faulty asphalt, Governor Mike Pence has been doing anything possible to appear concerned about Indiana’s crumbling infrastructure as he faces re-election.

• Gov. Pence has only provided the bare minimum needed for Indiana to keep its D+ grade while also ignoring 90% of the state’s roads.

• Instead, Hoosiers are ready for a leader like John Gregg, who foresaw this crisis and advocated for the improvement of the state’s entire infrastructure system back in 2012.

• It’s time Indiana has a governor who’s willing to solve today’s problems for Hoosier families.

• Also — did last week’s report on the faulty ISTEP review ring any bells? It should have. Memories of the worst public relations flubs of 2015- Gov. Pence’s JustIN news service – should come to mind.

• Perhaps Gov. Pence scrapped the JustIN news service publicly, but it appears as though privately, it still exists within his administration. Audits to the BMV and the Department of Child Services revealed that the agencies were not operating in the best interest of Hoosiers.

• Did Gov. Pence fear more bad results from another independent audit? It certainly looks that way. Why else would he have intervened in the review of ISTEP and manipulate the report?

• Obviously, the Pence Administration still believes they are entitled to put out their own version of news out. However, there was a reason JustIN failed right out of the gate. It looks like everyone understood that reason except for Mike Pence.

• Hoosiers deserve independent answers to the ISTEP review and full transparency from the governor and all of his staff.

• And finally, Gov. Pence sent a letter to Congress this week claiming he had “no confidence” in the independent evaluation of HIP 2.0. This letter comes after the Pence Administration last week manipulated that “independent” review of the ISTEP exam.

• Considering his administration manipulated a review of the ISTEP exam, Mike Pence is talking through both sides of his mouth if he claims there’s ‘no confidence’ in the independent review of the HIP 2.0 program.

• And once again, it’s Mike Pence putting his out-of-touch ideology ahead of the overall well-being of the state. Hoosiers deserve better than having an ideologue in the governor’s office.

• Hoosiers, we deserve better than Mike Pence and Statehouse Republicans leading our state. We must come together and make sure we elect John Gregg Governor, that we elect Baron Hill to the US Senate – people who will unite and improve the lives of all Hoosiers across Indiana – and we must return Glenda Ritz to the Superintendent’s office 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 infrastructure, our education system, and for the overall well-being of Hoosiers.

• Thank you for listening.