Job Creation -My number one Priority

As the state transitions from traditional manufacturing economy to one that's more diversified, we can leverage  the power of our universities, our workers, and our existing infrastructure to become leaders in new industries such as biotechnology and renewable energy.
      In 2012 Senate Democrats will push for redirection of resources from ineffective programs to those who better serve Indiana's employers and workers, providing new incentives without new taxes. The proposals include:

-Providing new hire tax credits for smaller employers.
-Redirecting job creation funds to successful initiatives.
-Providing preference in state contracts to companies that use Indiana labor.
-Beginning work on state infrastructure and university construction projects immediately.
-Requiring the collection of online sales tax to level the playing field for brick-and-mortar retailers
-Providing work-share programs to assist employers in retaining their skilled workers during times of economic uncertainty.
-Creating incentives for hiring Indiana workers and encouraging business growth
-Ensuring that state economic development tax incentives are effectively used by recouping incentives from business that do not meet their commitments to the state or local community.
-Promoting small business development and entrepreneurship.
-Promoting jobs in green industries.
-Finding new ways to support and expand Indiana's agricultural industry.
-Rewarding Indiana companies that do business with other Indiana companies.
-Linking colleges and universities to Indiana businesses for technical assistance and research partnerships.

In addition, Infrastructure investment is tried and true job creator. Every dollar invested nets $1.59 in additional economic growth and every 10 million invested creates 570 jobs and as much as $32 million in sales for Indiana businesses we can give cities and towns the tools we need in a way that will sustain our roads and bridges for years to come.  

Hershman's Legacy

Brandt Hershman took office in 2000. At that time Indiana was ranked 23rd in per median income. In 2010 Indiana was ranked 36th . Indiana dropped 13.6% in income loss. That gave us the dubious distinction of the 2nd largest loss in income of all states http://www.stats.indiana.edu/sip/inc/inc1_18.html.
 In the year 2000 when Hershman took office the poverty rate among Hoosiers was 7.7 % . In the year 2010 it skyrocketed to 16.2 %. 1,035,000 Hoosiers live in poverty !! http://www.incap.org/documents/iiwf/2011/CPS%20Data%20Release%209-13-11.pdf
But for Indiana children the poverty rate is an unbelievable 26.3%. . 1/4 of Hoosier children live in poverty! Think about how many Indiana children will go to bed hungry tonight. http://www.theindychannel.com/money/29169627/detail.html.
Brandt Hershman and his out of state interests are destroying the middle class of Indiana. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians
 Voters of the 7th district haven't we had about enough of this kind of leadership? Isn't it time to send a new set of eyes and a far different perspective to the Statehouse. Please lets change the status quo and send one of our own to represent the working class. Get mad and take the Statehouse back. Vote this career politician out! Vote Thompson to save the middle class !!

Infrastructure improvements

Thompson: Doubling down on Indiana’s infrastructure will creates jobs, attracts businesses

INDIANAPOLIS – Candidate for State Senate Brad Thompson outlined his approach to rebuilding Indiana’s crumbling infrastructure and fueling job creation. Thompson’s proposal centered on providing the resources needed to develop an efficient network of infrastructure that drives down costs for Hoosier businesses and puts money back in working families’ wallets.

“It’s time to invest in Indiana’s future and rebuild our aging infrastructure,” said Thompson. “We’ve got an opportunity to cut costs for businesses and put Hoosiers back to work earning wages you can raise a family on.”

Thompson’s initiatives include leveraging capital from the state’s $2 billion in reserves in the form of low interest loans to local governments to fund needed repair to roads, bridges, sewers and other vital infrastructure. Interest on the loans will be reinvested back into the fund.

“Infrastructure investment is a tried and true jobs creator. Every dollar invested nets $1.59 in additional economic growth and every $10 million invested creates as many as 570 jobs and as much as $32 million in sales for Indiana businesses,” said Thompson. “Let’s give cities and towns the tools they need in a way that will sustain our roads and bridges for years to come.”

Relocating businesses regularly cite robust infrastructure and a highly educated workforce as key criteria when selecting a new location. Hoosier businesses are saddled with extra costs from delays and damage caused by inefficient and inferior infrastructure.

“The General Assembly is costing local businesses money by not addressing the state’s infrastructure needs. That’s revenue that could be used to expand and hire new employees.” Thompson said. “I’m invested in providing the resources local businesses need to hire more workers and get our economy back on track.”

Thompson: Shift priority toward funding local infrastructure projects

INDIANAPOLIS- July 23rd candidate for State Senate Thompson released a package of legislation initiatives addressing Indiana’s sagging infrastructure. The proposal aims to refocus infrastructure funding toward local roads, bridges and other infrastructure, develop a sustainable funding sources that does not jeopardize future generations and create a robust network of infrastructure that allows businesses to locate and grow in Indiana.

“As many as 25 percent of Indiana’s bridges are rated either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, once paved local roads are being turned back to gravel. Indiana needs real leadership on infrastructure now,” said Thompson. “For too long legislators have relied on budgeting gimmicks and shortcuts to maintain Indiana’s roads and the results are clear.”

To address local infrastructure Thompson proposes restructuring the gasoline sales tax formula to divert additional funding to local governments.

“It’s clear that local governments need resources to repave city streets and maintain local bridges,” Thompson noted. “I will insure the General Assembly acts to restore balance and redirect funding to where it’s needed most, in our neighborhoods.”

The legislature has not only failed to act in recent year to provide adequate funding to infrastructure repair but they have also knowingly employed questionable accounting practices to divert funding from needed projects.

“Lawmakers looted the Motor Highway Vehicle Fund for $127 million to fill budget shortfalls in other state agencies,” Thompson said. “I would carry legislation ensuring the taxpayers that funding intended for infrastructure repair is used for just that. It’s about prioritizing our future. 

Democrats name candidate for state senate

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Krista Henery

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Come November, a Republican state senator will have a Democratic challenger.
Area Democrats held a caucus Saturday afternoon to choose a Democrat to take on Brandt Hershman in the race for state senate district 7.
Democrats voted on Brad Thompson of Carrol County to fill the vacancy.
Thompson has been a union president at Tate and Lyle for the 12 years.
He said two major issues he wants to work on if he is elected in November would be jobs and education.
"We want good paying jobs in the state and public education. They've practically gutted public education and have cut funds and I believe we need to re-store funding and take care of our children," Democrat Candidate for State Senate, District 7,
Brad Thompson said.
Since redistricting last year, District 7 is made up of parts of Jasper, White, Carroll, Tippecanoe, Clinton, and Boone Counties.

Why I'm qualified to be your State Senator

Why do I know I'm qualified to be your 7th district State Senator? First, I'm a born and raised in Indiana native, so I have deep roots in this state which translates to a love for everything Hoosier. I understand Hoosier values and expectations.

What we have been experiencing since we elected an outsider Mitch Daniels is a loss of Hoosier values and expectations. Mitch came to Indiana and apparently didn't approve of our time zone, our public education, or our place in the industrial rust belt that was home to good paying union jobs. He seemed to want us to be more in line with impoverish states like Mississippi and Alabama, where poor education and low paying jobs are the accepted norm.

My opponent Brandt Hershman must have agreed because along with fellow Republicans have went out of their way to eliminate the middle class in Indiana. (See my  blog  post Brandt Hershman: Politics that hurt). The problem is that Mitch Daniels and his Republican party are being led by the money thrown at them by out of state interest that have no concern about the well being of Indiana citizens..http://alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed

After making several trips to Indianapolis over the A.L.E.C. led Right to Work Law and meeting some of our elected officials I came away with a clear picture that the Statehouse was full of arrogant , self serving Representatives that had no concern over the real problems facing Indiana.
 After talking with several knowledgeable people, I decided that I would run for state wide office  to help bring the concept of a citizen Legislature back to Indiana and rid ourselves of career self serving politicians like Brandt Hershman .

I am a 54 year old life long Indiana native.I have worked in the agriculture field most of my life starting out employed by a farmer building grain bins and working his farm. I also spent 16 years working for Ralston Purina and Cargill. At Cargill, I was elected president of the Federation of Grain Millers local union 702.
I then went to work at A.E. Staleys now called Tate & Lyle where I have been president on the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1070 http://teamsters1070.org/ for 15 of the last 17 years . I believe this experience of leading two Unions and successfully  representing workers interests and dealing with 2 multi- billion dollar corporations will help me represent the citizens of the 7th district as their Senator.

My ability to work with the Company and provide a safe profitable working environment for both Company and union members will go a long way in the hostile Indiana Legislature where only the strong survive. Regardless of ideology, both parties have to work together for the  good of all citizens. As with the union and company, sometimes it takes someone to pull sides together to get goals accomplished but also be strong willed enough to not cave into the special interests and money.

My belief is Brandt Hershman is a follower who is not representing Indiana 7th district residents but is following directives from Republican leaders who in turn are representing out of state interests that do not have the best interests of Indiana at heart.  http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians 
This is why I know I'm qualified to be Indiana  7th district State Senator because I will look out for the best interest of the citizens. I am the one and only working class candidate.

Thank You,

ELECT BRAD THOMPSON
FOR 7th DISTRICT STATE SENATE

Unbelievable !!!!!!!!!!!!

What was your first thought when you heard that Education funding had been cut by over 320 million dollars? My thoughts were this is the worst thing that could happen to the children of Indiana. My second thought was how can this be justified? The Republican Legislature would have had to weigh every possible option before hurting our children. After all,  education is the key to our children' s success. Every possible stone had to have been turned over to do this!

Well I was wrong!! Amazingly our State came up with $320 plus million they had misplaced. How could this be possible? Only an inept poorly lead government could lose $320 plus million especially after cutting the same amount in Education funding for our children. Now you would think coincidentally that with such a happening the Republican lead Legislature would have immediately restored these devastating cuts. Wrong again. Apparently our Republican lead leaders don't find our children's education as important as you and I.

So, right when we as taxpayers and voters in Indiana had thought they had heard it all, our Republican Government found another $200 plus million laying around. Of course,  this was owed to different counties and will be released  to them. So, in total, our inept, poorly managed Republican government misplaced over 500 million dollars. Another way to say that is they misplaced a half  Billion dollars!! While our public education and children suffered. I can only describe this as ...what word am I looking for... oh yeah UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Please elect Brad Thompson to look out for the best interest of our children. Brandt Hershman has failed them.

Brandt Hershman; Politics that hurt

  Senator Hershman voted for Mitch Daniels across the board budget that cut public education funding by $300 plus million. Increased classroom sizes and lack of teaching tools make it harder for our children to get a quality education. Quality education is fundamental for the success of our children.

Senator Hershman voted for the Right to Work Law driving down wages and benefits for all workers,union and non-union. RTW won't create jobs it hasn't in other states. Indiana was one of the top states in creating jobs before the RTW Law.http://www.badforindiana.org/

Brandt Hershman voted to do away with federal funding of medicaid and medicare. Supposedly,  Indiana taxpayers will take on the burden of providing their citizens with these programs. The Republicans call this State compact.  I call it a disaster for both recipients and taxpayers.
 So,  to summarize Brandt Hershman's voting record it has hurt the children, the elderly, the working middle class, the poor, minorities and practicably all citizens of Indiana.

Can we the citizens of the 7th district survive another Brandt Hershman term?