While Gov. Mitch Daniels has said he is using tonight's State of the State address to update Hoosiers about Indiana's budget, questions about creating jobs and the decision to slash state education budgets still remain in the eyes of many in the Ball State University community.
Senior elementary education major Jessica Dishon is worried about both.
'There are no jobs in this state,' Dishon said. 'When teachers have to pay money out of their own pockets, why would they want to stay here anyway?'
Historically, the purpose of the annual January speech is two-fold: to inform the General Assembly of the previous year's improvements and shortfalls and step onto a widely visible stage to announce new policy initiatives that will need both political and monetary support in the upcoming months.
Here are a few points to watch for when Daniels steps up to the podium at 7 p.m.:
Will he make his case for cutting education funding?
When Daniels made the announcement that he was cutting $150 million from Indiana's public colleges and universities in December, university presidents said they would work with him to make the cuts and do whatever is necessary.
Since then, the announcement of a 3.5 percent budget cut to K-12 schools that would total $297 million hasn't been an easy sell. He made the argument that the cuts were necessary and Indiana didn't have a choice. But, teachers are questioning the priority of education in the state and if other cuts could have been made.
'I have no faith in where this state is going with education and either to my friends,' Dishon said.
During a presentation to the State Budget Committee on Dec. 15, Daniels said the current $1.8 billion budget shortfall showed it was time to cut into the K-12 education spending budget.
'We have already cut state agencies by 20 percent and higher education by 6 percent,' he told the committee. 'We are now forced to our last resort. K-12 spending is half the entire state budget, and it will have to contribute something to keeping us in the black.'
What about jobs?
Daniels told reporters last week he is making jobs and the economy a focus of his speech, but he doesn't have a specific job plan to announce beyond keeping the state competitive by paying its bills and not raising taxes.
These statements came after House Speaker Pat Bauer (D-South Bend) said he hopes Daniels talks about jobs, stating his caucus already has passed legislation that creates public service jobs for out-of-work Hoosiers.
Pockets of jobs have been opening up in some parts of the state. A business group announced its plans yesterday for bringing an indoor entertainment and leisure park with 500 jobs to Elkhart County, the area known for its high unemployment rate and President Barack Obama's visits.
Indiana's unemployment rate was 9.3 percent in November, the most recent data available, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national unemployment rate in November was 9.7 percent.
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