Rebuilding and Renewing Indiana

March 27, 2009

As the U.S. House and Senate begin key work on President Obama’s budget request, AFSCME Indiana Council 62, working with state legislative leaders and two other groups, encouraged the Indiana congressional delegation to support President Obama's budget plan to rebuild and renew America this week.  "Without the president’s budget, we're concerned that our school systems … will collapse because they don’t have the money available and the state does not have the money available," said Lettie Oliver, associate director of AFSCME District 62, which is based in Indianapolis. "We're also looking to ensure that we have health care for everybody. … I'm more concerned about the price tag and the devastation of American citizens without the president's budget." Oliver was joined by state Rep. Bill Crawford, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee; Rep. Dennis Tyler, Vice Chair of the Labor and Employment Committee; Rep. John Bartlett, Chairman of the Government and Regulatory Reform Committee; LuCinda Hohmann of Environment America; and Jeremy Funk of Americans United for Change urged members of Congress to end the failed policies of the Bush era by supporting real commitments to health care, education and restarting our economy. Americans United for Change also unveiled a new ad airing this week in support of the President's budget plan on broadcast television in the Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, Terra Haute, and South Bend media markets.