A look at news and events in the Daniels Administration

December 4, 2008– Governor Mitch Daniels announced that Indiana will receive an additional $95 million in federal funding to help with long-term disaster recovery efforts for damage caused by federally declared natural disasters in 2008.   

“Though we’ve had more than our fair share of severe weather and flooding over the past year, we will not let up in our efforts to help Indiana communities get back on track,” said Daniels. “Indiana has always been a state where neighbors help neighbors, but if we can help supplement that assistance with some additional federal dollars, we’ll absolutely do that.”   

The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and represents a portion of the supplemental funding Congress appropriated in September for emergency disaster assistance in states affected by severe storms and flooding in 2008. The new funding can be used by the state for long-term recovery efforts for damage caused by any previous natural disaster which received a federal declaration this year.  It is in addition to the $67 million the state was allocated in September that can be used exclusively for recovery efforts from damage caused by June storms and flooding. 

The funds will be distributed through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).  A specific plan for use of the $95 million will be outlined by OCRA in the coming weeks and will likely focus on unmet housing needs, including home buy-outs and aiding in low cost housing development as well as infrastructure revitalization projects not covered by other federal funds. 

Per HUD’s protocol for distributing funds, a final plan outlining proposed state use of the first $67 million the state was allocated in September will be issued for public comment tomorrow and then submitted to HUD for final approval.  Once the plan is approved, communities and other qualifying organizations may apply for funding through OCRA and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.  The plan will focus on offsetting the local match requirements for communities participating in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance program and supplementing the funding available for communities to purchase homes through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Program. 

Information on how communities and qualifying organizations can apply for funding will be released when details are finalized.

The HUD news release can be found here: www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr08-179.cfm.

Here is a link to the Disaster Action Plan for the first $67 million in long-term recovery funds: www.in.gov/ocra/2369.htm

December 3, 2008– Governor Mitch Daniels attended the fourth annual Indiana Inspector General' Integrity Summit thank auditors and investigators from across state government for their success in helping eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in state government.   

“There is nothing more important to me, and especially to the taxpayer, than the work that you do to help us make sure that every tax dollar is spent appropriately and never taken for any illicit purpose,” Daniels told attendees at the fourth annual Indiana Inspector General's Integrity Summit.

The summit was initiated by Daniels and Inspector General Dave Thomas in 2005 to bring together state auditors, investigators and law enforcement representatives to review accomplishments of the past year and to set goals for the next year. In 2008, state auditor and investigator efforts led to the arrest and/or conviction of 60 individuals and assisted in the recovery of more than $29 million. A few of the accomplishments include:

·         The Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Unit assisted in the recovery of more than $18 million in fraudulent claims from Medicaid providers.

·         Investigators within the Department of Insurance Consumer Protection Unit assisted in the recovery of $10 million on behalf of consumers that have experienced a problem with an insurance company, agent, or unauthorized insurer.

·         Auditors at the State Board of Accounts identified more than $2.4 million in fraudulent expenses with $316,000 already recovered by the state.

·         More than 30,000 state employees have completed ethics training administered by the Office of the Inspector General.

Daniels also presented awards to two individuals for individual accomplishment.  Sylvia Stincic-Ferry, an investigator from the Family and Social Service Administration’s Compliance Division in Lake County, was recognized for leading an investigation into false mileage reports of a state employee that led to a criminal conviction.  Walter Hocker, of Beech Grove, an auditor at the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR), was recognized for reporting suspicious activity by several DOR employees that resulted in four employees being charged with theft for embezzling taxpayer dollars.

The governor also honored all 90 Indiana prosecutors for their work in prosecuting cases submitted by state government and for seeking restitution of state tax dollars.  Steve Johnson, executive director of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council (IPAC), accepted the award on behalf of the prosecutors. 

A summary of other accomplishments discussed at the summit is available here: www.in.gov/ig/images/SummitStats_detailed.pdf

Audio from the governor’s comments can be found here: www.in.gov/gov/files/Audio/120308_inspector_general_integrity_summit.mp3

Daniels upbeat about governors' meeting with President-elect Obama

December 2, 2008– Governor Mitch Daniels has said he is generally supportive of federal financial incentives that could be used to put more people to work in Indiana. Daniels was among the nation’s governors who met with President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden today in Philadelphia to talk about how national economic trends are affecting states.

“I think we ought to have our eyes open—that these steps come with a cost and therefore let’s try to make certain that they are well conceived, that they are really aimed not at bailing out excesses in states that should have known better, but aimed at putting people to work,” said Daniels, upon returning to Indianapolis this afternoon.  “I’m supportive of people in politics who campaign on programs and who are serious about their enactment. I think there are some ideas that can help the economy. I simply hope that will be the sole objective of the package, to strengthen the economy and put people to work for a long time, to create assets that continue to put people to work, as we have done in Indiana. In general, that’s what I think I heard today that the administration hopes to do,” said the governor.

Daniels said much of the conversation during the one and a half hour meeting was about infrastructure and its importance to the economy.

“The heart of this legislation will be investment in infrastructure, and Indiana may be better fixed than any other state, but we have plenty of other projects, and we can put it to good use in Indiana,” said Daniels. “Even though we are in much stronger shape, even though we had the Major Moves success, there is still more to do and we could put it to work very quickly.  If it comes with fewer strings we’ll put it to work even more quickly and get more miles and bridges out of it.”

Overall, Daniels said the meeting was a very positive sign of President-elect Obama’s willingness to work with states.

“I want the administration to succeed. I want their plan to work,” said Daniels. “President-elect Obama is a very smart guy and he’s very thoughtful.  I had the impression that he really was paying attention.”

Complete audio of the governor’s comments at today’s media availability can be found at this link: http://www.in.gov/gov/files/Audio/120208_mtcomfort.MP3.

November 25, 2008– The number of Hoosiers matched with programs providing prescription drug assistance through the Rx for Indiana program has reached a major milestone.  Since the program’s inception, more than 250,000 Hoosiers have been initially matched to programs offering free or reduced price medications.

Governor Mitch Daniels, who initiated the program in March 2005, acknowledged the program’s achievement and the many volunteers and partners who have been instrumental in Rx for Indiana’s progress.

“A hearty thanks to those who have logged countless hours to ensure this program’s success,” said Daniels. “Thousands of Hoosiers have benefited from Rx for Indiana, and with your continued support, we can help even more through this important outreach.”

In fact, two Rx for Indiana outreach events will take place this week in Indianapolis at community Thanksgiving meals events: the Calvary Temple Church’s The Caring Place at 21st Street and College Avenue, and at various satellite locations of the Mozel Sanders Foundation including Butler University and Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church.   Rx for Indiana information will be distributed along with the Thanksgiving meals.

Rx for Indiana provides a one-stop shop for patients, health care providers and caregivers to obtain information about medications available free or at a significantly reduced price through programs offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers, the government and other organizations.

Rx for Indiana partners with 72 member organizations and has 125 volunteers committed to educating Hoosiers about prescription assistance programs. Through its Web site and toll-free number, more than 288,000 people have been reached since the program was launched. Of those, over 250,000 – about 87 percent – were initially matched to a program.  Within the first year of the program, more than 100,000 were matched to low-cost or free prescription help. On average, 109 people are matched each day.

So far this year, there have been more than 100 outreach events including health fairs, church events and conferences, and the program has reached all 92 Indiana counties.

Visit http://www.rxforindiana.org/ or call toll-free 1-877-793-0765 for more information.