Mitch Daniels

Don Peslis Honored as Distinguished Hoosier

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:32:45 -0700

Don Peslis was honored as Distinguished Hoosier at Edgewater Park in Anderson, Indiana Saturday October 11, 2008.

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Don Peslis Named Distinguished Hoosier

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:32:45 -0700

Don Peslis Honored as Distinguished Hoosier.

More information...

Don Peslis: Distinguished Hoosier

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:32:45 -0700

Don Peslis Honored as Distinguished Hoosier.

More information...

Character Counts Celebrates 10 Years in Madison County with Parade, Block Party

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:24:16 -0700

ANDERSON, IN - As part of 'Character Counts Week' in Anderson, Crime Watch put together a large block party for after the annual Character Counts parade. At the festivities, Don Peslis, director of the Center for Character Development at Anderson University, was named a Distinguished Hoosier.

The honor, bestowed by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, was presented to Peslis by Senator Tim Lanane and Representative Terri Austin.

"We live in a community that is built on a foundation of strong values and will continue to build on that foundation well into the future," Anderson Mayor Kris Ockomon said in a press release. "Anderson has been a Character Counts! community for 10 years and awareness of the six pillars of character has spread throughout schools, government, and private businesses."

For more information about the Center for Character Development at Anderson University, call (765) 641-3861, or go to www.character-development.org .

Review of Privatization Contracts Needed

kpaul.mallasch — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:36:12 -0700

By Dennie Oxley
Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor

When Mitch Daniels first ran for Governor four years ago, he promised to stop the practice of state government hiring contractors from other states and countries to do work that Hoosiers could perform. He also pledged to keep more of our tax dollars in Indiana.

However, as Governor, he has done exactly the opposite - privatizing and outsourcing billions of dollars in state government assets and services to foreign and out-of-state corporations.

Governor Daniels has outsourced numerous state government responsibilities including the determination of welfare benefits, food stamps and Medicaid; the operation of a state prison; as well as various functions of the Indiana Departments of Workforce Development, Natural Resources and Administration.

And, who can forget his 75-year lease of the Indiana Toll Road to a foreign consortium? That private business will recoup its investment in 15-20 years, while Hoosiers lose out on income for the next 50 years.

Governor Daniels argues that privatization saves money and creates efficiencies - but to date, he has been unable to show us any proof. In fact, we all know his efforts have lead to dismal upkeep of state property, poor customer service, unnecessary denial of services, a riot at the New Castle Prison, and the federal government stepping in to halt the rollout of a privatized program.

How is this better than before? How has any of this saved money or created new efficiencies?

The answers to these questions are unclear.

It is for that reason that Jill and I oppose privatizing essential government services in the future. We don't believe it is right to tie the hands of generations of Hoosiers to come - and that's why we are calling for a complete review of all state contracts that have been privatized or outsourced in recent years.

As Governor Jill will appoint a bi-partisan committee of Hoosiers from the business, labor, education, social service and government sectors to examine all state contracts and evaluate their effectiveness and cost savings. She has asked that I chair this committee and that we make recommendations to her on continuing or canceling existing agreements within the first 100 days of our administration.

Like most Hoosiers, Jill and I think it is time to take another look at these contracts and the performance of these vendors. As Indiana's next Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Jill and I will carefully scrutinize each of them to find ways that we can demand better service or cancel agreements that just don't make sense for Hoosier taxpayers.

We are committed to rebuilding Indiana's struggling economy, while making sure state government is operating effectively and efficiently; that it is truly serving the people who are paying for it; and that we are using our precious tax dollars in the best ways possible to create good-paying jobs and new economic opportunities for all Hoosiers.

Source: Hoosiers for Jill Long Thompson

Nestlé to Expand Operations in Anderson

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:40:55 -0700

ANDERSON, IN - Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from Nestlé USA today to announce the company's plans to expand its 880,000 square-foot beverage production facility here, creating nearly 135 new jobs by 2011.

The company, which is on track to begin full production at the central Indiana facility later this year, will invest $200 million to add additional beverage production and distribution capacity at the 190-acre site located approximately 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

"Nestle is making an even bigger commitment to Anderson and to Indiana. The company had a resounding response from Hoosiers who want to work at the new Anderson plant, and now before it even opens, the company is choosing to invest again in the facility and create new jobs for Hoosiers," said Daniels.

The expansion comes two years after the company initially announced plans to site its $359 million Nestlé Nesquik Ready-to-Drink and Nestlé Coffee-mate Liquid manufacturing and distribution center in the Indiana city. As part of the latest expansion, the company will hire engineering staff, technical support specialists, production associates and warehouse staff.

"We're very excited to be expanding in Anderson," said Michael Strong, factory and facility manager, Nestlé Anderson. "We are deeply appreciative to the State of Indiana and the City of Anderson for working with us during the evaluation period and making this announcement possible."

The Anderson, Ind. facility is one of 51 manufacturing operations and six distribution centers the company operates in the United States. A subsidiary of Vevey, Switzerland-based Nestlé S.A., Nestlé USA employs more than 14,000 across the country.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Nestlé USA up to $1.325 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants based upon the company's job creation plans. The state will also fund improvements to roads serving the expanded facility, including the nearby I-69 interchange. The city of Anderson will provide the company with property tax abatement, construct two water towers to accommodate the increased demand from the facility and assist the company in recruiting new employees.

"The community is using its utility capacity and skilled workforce to fill the needs of today's high growth companies. We are thrilled with Nestlé's expansion and the jobs and investment it represents," said Anderson Mayor Kris Ockomon.

Nestle's decision to expand its beverage-making operation in central Indiana is the fourth major investment in the state by the company since July 2006. In August 2007, Nestle Waters North America announced plans to locate a new Nestle Pure Life brand water bottling operation in the central Indiana city of Greenwood, creating more than 60 new jobs. That announcement followed a June 2007 decision by the company to invest more than $30 million in its Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream® facility in Fort Wayne, creating 68 new jobs. In July 2006, Nestlé® announced its plans to build a combined production and distribution facility in Anderson for its Nestlé® Nesquik® Ready-to-Drink and Nestle® Coffee-Mate® products.

Source: Governor's Office Press Release

Audio from Governor Daniels' media availability

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 6 Mar 2008 13:45:42 -0800

Audio from Governor Daniels' media availability today has been posted. The topic was a House and Senate Republican property tax proposal released earlier today:

Chesterfield Eliminates Sewer Overflows, Saves $2 Million Through SRF

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:47:08 -0800

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Town of Chesterfield closed a $7.1 million loan Friday, December 21, 2007, through the Wastewater State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program to construct a new sewer system. By using the SRF Program instead of a traditional loan, the town will save customers more than $2 million in interest over the 20-year life of the loan.

"The project should, in the long run, limit our flow into Anderson's sewage plant," said Town Council President Jack Taylor. "We were treating rainwater with the sewage water, and we are eager to get the overflows eliminated. We tried our best to limit the increase to our customers' bills."

The project will construct an entirely new sanitary sewer west of Water Street and disconnect residences from the current combined sewer system. The existing combined sewers will be converted to storm sewers, which will change the two Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) outfalls to storm water outfalls.

CSOs occur when aging systems that combine storm water and wastewater overflow to a local waterway during rain events.

"This project is important to the infrastructure and public health in Chesterfield," Senator Tim Lanane said. "By taking advantage the state's funding program, the town has done a tremendous job of saving taxpayer money."

"The SRF Programs provide Indiana communities with a unique opportunity to save money while addressing much-needed wastewater and drinking water improvements," said Jennifer Alvey, Public Finance Director of the State of Indiana . "Governor Daniels is very focused on the health of Hoosiers. We are pleased to provide an economical way for communities to offer a cleaner environment and excellent quality of life for current and future residents of our State."

"We are very fortunate to have programs like SRF so that communities like Chesterfield can embark on improvement projects that will benefit future economic and residential development without incurring heavy financial burdens," said Representative Scott Reske.

Governor Mitch Daniels created the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) in 2005 to more effectively manage State-related financial programs such as the Wastewater and Drinking Water SRF Programs under one entity. Since the inception of the IFA, the SRF Programs have loaned more than $492 million to local communities at below-market interest rates, saving utility customers more than $82 million in interest.

Communities can learn more information about obtaining a State Revolving Fund loan by contacting Bill Harkins at (317) 234-4862, wharkins@ifa.in.gov or by visiting http://www.srf.in.gov/.

Source: Indiana Finance Authority Press Release

Indiana to Launch Teacher Preparation and Recruitment Program

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:44:35 -0800

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Governor Mitch Daniels today joined state and national education leaders to announce that Indiana will be the first state to launch the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship, a program that will encourage the nation's top talents to seek long-term teaching careers in Indiana's high-need classrooms.

"We're talking about the Rhodes Scholarships of teaching with Indiana as the first state to award them and the first state whose young people will benefit. Nothing gives a child a better chance in life than an excellent teacher. The reverse is also true. Anything we can do to increase the quality of teaching in Hoosier classrooms will pay off enormously in brighter futures for our kids," said Daniels, visiting Arsenal Technical High School to make the announcement.

The Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship will provide fellows with a $30,000 stipend to complete a year-long master's program at Ball State University, Purdue University, the University of Indianapolis or Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. The program is open to college seniors, recent graduates and career-changers with outstanding undergraduate records and majors in math or science who are willing to teach in high-need schools in Indiana for three years. The Indiana fellowship program will prepare 80 new math and science teachers for the state each year and will be supported by a grant from the Lilly Endowment.

"The time is right for this effort, and the need is great," said Sara B. Cobb, vice president for education at Lilly Endowment. "We are pleased that four of Indiana's top schools of education are committed to work with the Woodrow Wilson Foundation to recruit excellent candidates and enhance their educational programs so that they focus more on student learning. We look forward to seeing the eventual impact of the new approaches on the students they teach."

"Indiana was selected as the lead state for launching this fellowship because of the commitment to education shown by the governor and other state leaders, strong support for the program within the state's philanthropic and business communities, and the willingness of leading universities, as well as local school superintendents, to advance exemplary approaches to teacher preparation," said Arthur Levine, the president of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, who led a multi-year study on needed improvements in teacher education.

The participating universities will introduce new curriculum and outcome measures anchored by supervised clinical experience and ongoing mentoring in schools. The universities will receive 20 fellows each year and work with schools to support their graduates and track their effectiveness over time. These universities will break new ground in teacher education, reworking their programs to center on an outcomes-based, clinical approach to teacher preparation that includes three years of mentoring, as well as residencies for teachers on campus and for professors in the schools. The host institutions also will lodge responsibility for the teaching fellowship in the provost's office and promote close partnerships between their teacher education programs and their colleges of arts and sciences.

Fellows are expected to be placed in high-need classrooms in both rural and urban school districts, including Indianapolis Public Schools.

Applications for the first Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowships will be available in fall 2008, with fellows to be named in spring 2009, begin master's work later that academic year, and start classroom teaching in 2010. In the interim, the selected universities will enhance their teacher education programs to meet Woodrow Wilson's standards for fellows' preparation.

"Schools are only as good as the teachers who serve in them," said David Haselkorn, senior fellow at Woodrow Wilson, who directs the Foundation's teaching fellowships. "This is a new strategy to ensure excellence in teaching, the profession that shapes America's future."

For more information on the Fellowship program, please visit the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation's Web site: http://www.woodrow.org/

Source: Governor Mitch Daniels' Press Release