|
IU ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN COMMAND CENTER
2009 General Assembly Campaign
The 117th General Assembly Session will begin in January, 2009 and it promises to be one of the most important sessions in recent history. It will be a "long session," concluding in mid April, and will set the course for IU's biennial budget. Landmark tax reform legislation that was passed in this year's short session will portend an unknown impact on future tax revenues and appropriations.
Expansion of state funding for "mandatory" services will likely limit state discretionary spending for higher education and other similar state needs. If you characterize state spending on k-12 education, Medicaid and other social service programs as mandatory, nearly 80% of the state budget falls in this category. The remaining 20% of funding can be considered discretionary, including higher education, economic development and other statewide demands.
The state is also more reliant on new tax revenues stemming from increased sales taxes, which tend to be more vulnerable to economic downturns. These trends are worrisome for those interested in state investment in higher education, economic development and other critical needs.
IU President Michael McRobbie has articulated a bold and far reaching agenda for our institution. Many of these initiatives will require broad support from our political leaders in order to ignite Indiana's 21st century economy. These initiatives will be an important component of our 2010-2012 budget request from the legislature.
Your advocacy efforts have never been more important--not only at the Statehouse but in your hometown, your workplace and within your network of family and friends. Please share the great stories of this great university. You will find current Key Messages and Points of IU Pride throughout our website.
The Indiana Life Sciences Initiative
IU has a plan to achieve the following by 2019:
• Bring $2.4 billion to the Hoosier economy that Indiana wouldn't otherwise get in new federal and private research dollars
• Create 2,500 new life sciences research and development jobs at IU and stimulate an additional 11,500 new Hoosier jobs throughout Indiana, for a total of 14,000 jobs
• Attract or create at least 100 Indiana-based life sciences companies
• Generate new intellectual property
• Produce new medical treatments that will improve Hoosier's health and reduce health care costs
IU will do this by:
• Aligning the 8 regional medical education centers to prevent a doctor shortage and strengthen regional life sciences industries
• Partnering with Indiana communities to develop life sciences economic and workforce development agendas
• Increasing technology transfer and spin offs from faculty research
• Expanding work with researchers at Purdue and Notre Dame
IU will continue to move forward with bold funding support for the Life Sciences Intiative:
• IU will attract nearly $2.25 for every state tax dollar it gets from the legislature for this initiative.
• IU will match state operating funding by over $46 million
• The funding will be a special state appropriation and targeted for the life sciences. IU will provide regular progress reports and be able to demonstrate the return on the state's investment.
Download the Life Sciences Talking Points
The Indiana Life Sciences Initiative
Click here to read more about Indiana's Life Sciences Initiative. You may download and print this copy.
Indiana Life Sciences Fund & Hoosier Hope Scholarships
Click here for an overview of the Senate's 2007 lottery transaction proposal. We anticipate that similar legislation will be carried in the 2009 session in order to support programs, including higher education, that may be impacted by 2008 tax reforms.
IU Key Messages
Click here for the messages we hope you will share with your legislators and public officials as you advocate for IU.
IU Budget Request
View the complete IU biennium budget for 2007-09 passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed by Governor Daniels.
Contact Your Legislator
Click here to identify your elected officials. You will also find information helpful for constructing your message and tips for contacting your legislators.
Subscribe to the Weekly Statehouse Report
Click here to subscribe to a series of updates on Indiana public policy and legislative affairs impacting Indiana University .
Statehouse Visit Resource Center
Click here for logistics and policy notes, in preparation for a visit to the Indiana Statehouse.
|
