Legislative Lunchbox

Every Friday during State Legislative session, the “Hoosier Mom on Politics” packs a “Legislative Lunchbox” for two of Indiana’s State Legislators based on their support of Public Education and Indiana’s children. One legislator gets a good apple in their lunchbox; the other gets a bad apple in their lunchbox. Check back every Friday at lunchtime to see what the Hoosier Mom packs in the Legislator Lunchbox for the week!

For this first post of the “Legislative Lunchbox”, I chose to pack a lunch for Senator Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn) and for State Representative Robert Behning (R-Indianapolis).

Senator Dennis Kruse received a good apple in his lunchbox for his opening remarks in the Senate Education and Career Development Committee, which he chairs. Senator Kruse said, “We’re not going to hear any bills here in the Senate bills that reflect in any way against our new superintendent. She has been doing an excellent job so far and getting along with us very well, and I will continue to work with her the best I can” (courtesy of Eric Bradner of the Evansville Courier & Press, as posted on his blog ‘Capitol Journal’). Senator Kruse – this Hoosier mom could not agree more! Regular folks like me voted for Glenda Ritz because she was the best candidate for the job and we trust her to lead Indiana’s Public Schools. She has done an excellent job in her position so far and I am sure she will continue to do an excellent job for Indiana’s children. She and her staff have actively sought to build positive relationships with State Legislators and I ask you to continue to work with Superintendent Ritz’s professional approach to the support and improvement of Indiana’s Public Schools.

Representative Robert Behning received a bad apple in his lunchbox for his authoring and support of House Bill 1309 in the House Education Committee, which he chairs. This Bill calls for the dilution of the authority of the State Superintendent’s leadership position over the State Board of Education. It would require the board to elect a vice chairman with authority “to call meetings, set and amend agendas, arrange for witnesses and carry out other administrative functions related to the meetings of the state board.” It also makes the commissioner for higher education the third co-chairperson of the Education Roundtable, currently headed by the governor and state superintendent. The effectively establishes a 2-1 advantage for the governor and commissioner for higher education (appointed by a panel of 14 gubernatorial appointees). Representative Behning – if I were one of your constituents in Indianapolis, I would send you to “time-out” next election. Shame on you for your blatant political opportunism and for seeking to circumvent the wishes of the Indiana voters: that is neither responsible governance nor leadership. This Hoosier mom wants Superintendent Ritz to lead the State Board of Education; and if I did not want her to lead, I would vote for someone else. I ask you to follow Senator Kruse’s lead and seek to work with the duly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction – she will work with you!

The Hoosier Mom hopes all the readers will spread the word about the Legislative Lunchbox. Feel free to email me with suggestions for next week’s lunch: for whom should I pack lunch and why?