|
[ Hillary Clinton ] [ Barack Obama ] [ Jill Long Thompson ] [ Brad Ellsworth ] [ Russ Stilwell ] [ Dennis Avery ] [ Gail Riecken ] [ Pete Rapp ] [ Warrick Judge ] [ Jennifer Collins Gober ] [ Connie Littlepage ] [ Shannon Weisheit ] [ Darrel Healy ] [ Todd Hudson ] [ Tim Mosbey ] [ Don Lee ] [ Tiger Williams ] [ Joseph E. Brown ] [ Kelly C. Mitchell ]
Governor
Jill Long Thompson
Riecken tailor-made to represent
Hoosier families
Candidate Bio
- About Jill
During her many years in public life, Jill Long Thompson has built
an impressive record as a fighter for working families and as an
advocate for responsive, responsible government. Inspired to politics as
a youth, Long Thompson served three terms in the U.S. House of
Representatives from Indiana's 4th Congressional District from 1989 to
1995. Long Thompson spent more than five years as U.S. Under Secretary
of Agriculture from 1995 to 2001.
In Congress, Long Thompson compiled a pragmatic voting record by
opposing all new tax increases while protecting investments in
education, Medicare, and Social Security. Long Thompson also served as
Vice Chair of the Democratic Leadership Council, a Democratic policy
organization.
Long Thompson's first election to Congress in 1989 made national
headlines because Indiana's 4th Congressional District was considered a
"safe" Republican seat once held by then Vice President Dan Quayle. Long
Thompson, then known as Jill Long, easily won re-election in 1990 and
1992 despite being a top Republican target for defeat.
As Under Secretary of Agriculture for rural development, Long Thompson
managed 7,000 employees and a $10 billion budget, which funded rural
housing, cooperative, water/waste, and business programs. Among her
accomplishments as Under Secretary were reforming the single-family loan
program, helping create thousands of jobs in economically challenged
communities, and improving the efficiency of the Department.
Jill Long Thompson, 54, grew up on the family farm outside of Larwill in
Whitley County. She lives with her husband Don Thompson, a commercial
airline pilot, in Marshall County on a farm near Argos. Most recently,
Long Thompson served as CEO and Senior Fellow at the National Center for
Food and Agricultural Policy.
Jill Long Thompson was the first in her family to graduate from college.
She earned an M.B.A. (1978) and Ph.D (1984) in Business from Indiana
University, and a B.S. in Business from Valparaiso University (1974).
After leaving Congress in early 1995 and before becoming Under Secretary
of Agriculture, Long Thompson served as a Fellow at the Institute of
Politics in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University. Prior to her election to Congress, Long Thompson was an
Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Valparaiso University,
an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University/Purdue University-Fort Wayne,
and a lecturer at Indiana University in Bloomington.
She also served as the Mark E. Johnston Chair of Entrepreneurship at
Manchester College and as Adjunct Professor in the School of Public and
Environmental Affairs at Indiana University South Bend.
Goals
- A New Strategy for Economic Growth
Looking across Indiana, you see factories closing, families
struggling to pay their mortgages, pay their taxes and keep up with the
rising costs of healthcare. Once-thriving communities are slowly dying
as people and businesses move away. And our current Governor doesn't
seem to have the solutions or seem to care.
Hoosiers make ninety cents on the dollar relative to workers in the rest
of the country; Indiana has one of the highest home mortgage foreclosure
rates; almost one third of our high school freshmen will not graduate
from high school; and healthcare costs in Indiana are higher than the
national average. That is unacceptable and the Governor's lack of action
to these issues is unforgivable.
The Daniels' approach to economic development simply isn't working. His
'one business at a time' strategy ignores how broad policy affects
growth and ignores existing business. This shortsighted policy is
leaving too many communities and too many people behind, and that's
especially true the further you are from the central part of the state.
It is extremely important to bring new businesses to Indiana, but it's
also important to put policies in place that keeps existing businesses
here and helps them grow.
As Governor, I will focus on the impact of our state's broad policies on
growth as opposed to one-time giveaways aimed at luring any job - no
matter the wage level - to Indiana. The real barriers to growth in
Indiana include an outdated tax structure and a lack of any real policy
to make healthcare affordable and accessible to every Hoosier. They
include a failure to bring modern infrastructure like broadband to all
Hoosier communities and an education policy that doesn't adequately
prepare our workforce for the job market. Too often Governor Daniels'
solutions are narrowly-focused program ideas that only affect a small
portion of the state's economy. Education policy, tax policy, and
healthcare policy, are as important to economic growth as are
infrastructure and economic development programs.
I will make them all priorities in my administration.
I see several areas in need of immediate attention that could positively
impact the state's economic future. They include:
--Changing
Indiana's tax policy by expanding tax incentives to both employees and
businesses and writing them into the tax code. Specifically, I would
offer incentives to businesses that provide healthcare, acquire new
technology, improve productivity and reduce their impact on the
environment. I would also create permanent tax deductions for
individuals to help offset their share of healthcare and continuing
education costs.
This code-based incentive approach would be part of a comprehensive
overhaul of Indiana's entire tax structure, not just moving the burden
from one revenue source to another as the Governor's current plan does.
The overhaul would be part of a comprehensive, regional based economic
development assessment that examines the effects of tax policy,
education policy, healthcare policy and infrastructure have on regional
economic development.
--Transforming
healthcare policy in Indiana by changing state law to encourage
businesses and individuals to pool to buy health insurance, vastly
reducing its costs for individuals and smaller sized businesses. This
proposal would expand coverage for uninsured or underinsured Hoosiers.
It would also positively impact business by reducing overall costs - not
only by lowering prices by "bulk purchasing" health insurance, but also
by reducing the number of uninsured in Indiana. This will also make
Indiana a more attractive state for new business.
One of the biggest impediments to job growth today is the cost of
healthcare. Many employers - big and small-won't hire more people
because they simply can't afford the cost of insurance. And health
insurance costs more in Indiana than most other states because of the
high number of uninsured.
With pooling, we can create an easy fix to one of the biggest issues
confronting our state. Pooling will allow businesses to grow,
individuals to get insurance they previously could not afford and can
help Indiana lure business investment. And, as increasing healthcare
costs take away any hope of wage increases for Hoosier workers, a
pooling option can help healthcare costs become more manageable for
employers so they can pass along much needed pay increases to their
employees.
--Reforming
education policy by re-emphasizing vocational education in Indiana's
high schools and providing incentives for students to complete their
education.
As Indiana's education policy moves further towards teaching to
standardized tests and fewer Hoosiers complete their degree
requirements, Indiana faces a crisis by not having the educated and
trained workforce that new businesses desire when looking for places to
locate. Additionally, as Hoosier Baby Boomers retire, the existing
manufacturing sector will struggle to replace them with trained Hoosiers
of the next generation.
In order to grow Indiana's economy and keep businesses here, I feels it
is crucial that Indiana reforms its education policy to better equip the
workforce for the coming years. By teaching real skills and providing
more opportunities at the high school level to learn a trade, more
Hoosier high school graduates can be workforce ready upon graduation.
Also, by creating incentives to achieve an associate's degree at the
community college level and expanding the number of course credits that
are transferable to any Indiana four-year institution, the current
community college system in Indiana can be transformed into a true
education and economic engine. Changes in education policy should also
include state-led reform of 'No Child Left Behind' that provides
teachers and administrators with more flexibility in the classroom.
According to a recent study released by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce,
we have nearly one million Hoosiers who are under-educated and don't
have the necessary skills to compete for a job. We can and should do
everything we can to encourage these workers, many of whom are older, to
get additional training.
The best way we can do that is by making it easier to access high
quality training - and that's what my program does.
--Updating
Indiana's infrastructure to bring broadband and high-speed internet
connectivity to every county - an important factor in jump starting
growth in Indiana's smaller communities. Like everywhere in America,
there is a digital divide when it comes to broadband access and
subscription - suburban communities and affluent households subscribe to
broadband at a significantly higher rate than urban and rural households
and those making under $30,000 a year. Where subscribers exist, so does
service - a phenomenon that affects local governments, hospitals,
businesses, schools and first responders. I believe that, with the right
leadership, Indiana can make serious inroads in economic development by
bridging this divide and making broadband access available to all
communities and income levels.
In the name of economic development, government efficiency and public
safety, I feel it is imperative that broadband and high-speed internet
connectivity is brought to every community in Indiana. By creating local
incentives to encourage telecommunications companies to expand and
requiring those businesses that reaped the benefits of the 2006 reform
of Indiana telecommunications laws to participate in exploring new
alternatives to expand access, Indiana can have statewide broadband in
the immediate future.
We need a leader who understands that the quality of jobs we attract and
retain is as important as the quantity of them. As Governor, I will move
away from the Daniels administration's reactive approach to economic
development that rewards companies for bringing in low-paying, dead-end
jobs that don't offer benefits.
Reinvesting in Indiana’s Schools
Many Indiana public schools desperately need our help. How can we
tell? One telltale sign is that over 25 percent of Indiana high school
students drop out before graduation. That is tragic for them and their
future. They will not be able to compete in the new high-skill economy
and likely are dooming themselves and their families to a future of
economic hardship. And, it is just as disastrous for our state which
after they leave school is often called to direct resources to help them
out.
Other Indiana students, in both elementary and high school, are working
at unacceptably low levels. Indiana's long-term economic growth is
absolutely tied to the success of our students. They must reach skill
levels higher than at any time in the past. They must master skills that
let them compete in the new high-skill, global economy that is changing
the economic face of Indiana. If they do not learn these skills,
starting with proficiency in reading, math, and science, they are more
likely to fail in the job market. And Indiana is less likely to
experience the economic growth we all rely upon to improve our quality
of life and to keep our taxes low.
That is why nothing is more critical for the future of our state and our
people than building the very best public education system we can, from
kindergarten through college. As Indiana's next Governor, I would be
committed to making that a top priority of my administration.
We can make our schools better; our children can learn much more than
they do today, and much more quickly and creatively. There is absolutely
no reason why Indiana schools are not among the best in the nation, and
indeed, best in the world. We have spent millions over the past decades.
And we will budget millions more if our schools need it. But in return,
we must make sure our schools produce results. We must make sure we do
not fail our children. We must make sure our children do not fail
themselves.
I will make sure that all Indiana elementary and secondary students and
schools get the resources they need to strive for educational excellence
and to make whatever change is needed to upgrade our educational
standards and student performance, to succeed. I will fight to make it
possible for every high performing high school student to attend a
state-supported college, university or two-year institution. If Indiana
makes the education of our children an essential priority, our state
will reap the long-term benefits in more inventors, more entrepreneurs,
and more highly-qualified employees who can attract new business in the
global marketplace in Indiana.
Of course, a Governor cannot do this alone. But a governor can lead the
charge. I will make "Reinvesting in Indiana Schools" a popular statewide
campaign and will visit schools around the state. I will workwith the
State Superintendent of Public Instruction to coordinate our strategies.
I will work with local superintendents and principals. I will work with
teachers at every level to promote a new statewide commitment to
education in every sense of the work.
I will launch my "Reinvesting in Indiana Schools" campaign by making an
annual "First Day of School" address to all of our students in all
grades that can be downloaded by schools across the state and played to
their students when they return in August.
As their Governor, I will emphasize to our students just how important
it is for them to give their all to their studies, to learn to read, to
learn to use math, and to think scientifically. I will be honest about
howmuch their success in school is tied to their future success in life,
and how important they are to Indiana's future.
But I will also tell them that the state is committed to helping them
all the way through college if they achieve the higher standards we are
setting for them.
I will recruit state sports stars and public personalities to join me in
the "Reinvesting in Indiana Schools" campaign. I will give Governor's
Awards each year to schools across the state that both make the most
progress, and that achieve the highest student test results. I will give
individual students recognition each month through out the rest of the
school year and find ways to promote education and high achieving
students and teachers and principals. I will press to make our schools
more creative and more creative. I will work with civic leaders in
cities and towns and rural districts to find ways that our communities
can work to reinforce the job of learning that we pass onto our schools.
Unfortunately, our incumbent governor has failed to support public
schools. He has ridiculed our teachers and belittled their efforts. He
comes from a Bush administration that is more interested in private
vouchers that make a profit for shareholders than the reality of
supporting public education for the good of all where most of our
students learn..
But let's be clear. For more than 200 years, public education has driven
the American economic miracle by graduating literate and innovate
workers and entrepreneurs. A free and quality education is one of the
greatest gifts our communities, states, and nation give to our children.
For decades, our education system was the envy of the world. But in
today's global economy, it is not enough to rest on our past
achievements. More than ever, education is the predictor of personal and
public well-being. We must not neglect it like the current
administration ahs done.
We must create the 21st century model of public education to see to it
that our kids win.
We must "Reinvest in Indiana's Education."
And we have to get beyond blaming educators for past problems and start
teaming up with teachers, students, parents, and communities to make the
real changes needed to get results.
High expectations for our students; high accountability for our schools;
high achievement from our students. We can do it if we try. But we will
never do it by disparaging public education, by undermining our
teachers, by mocking our students.
I solemnly pledge to the People of Indiana, that if they elect me their
next Governor, our schools will get what they need to succeed, and that
our students will shoot for the stars, and that many more will graduate
with the skills to shape our common future.
Mayors endorsing Jill Long Thompson
are:
Mayor Dick Hickman, Angola
Mayor Richard Fledderman, Batesville
Mayor John Minch, Berne
Mayor John Flickinger, Bicknell
Mayor Mark Kruzan, Bloomington
Mayor Ted Ellis, Bluffton
Mayor Pam Hendrickson, Boonville
Mayor A. Ann Bradshaw, Brazil
Mayor Morris Graves, Cannelton
Mayor Jerry Hawkins, Clinton
Mayor Jim Fleck, Columbia City
Mayor John Schultz, Decatur
Mayor Randy Strasser, Delphi
Mayor Doug Hedrick, Greendale
Mayor Dennis Whitesell, Hartford City
Mayor Marvin Belcher, Huntingburg
Mayor Roy Terrell, Jasonville
Mayor Bill Cunningham, Lawrenceburg
Mayor Mike Fincher, Logansport
Mayor Chuck Oberlie, Michigan City
Mayor Scott Biddle, Sullivan
To email Jill:
info@hoosiersforjill.com
|
