Sue Errington offers traditional education, jobs agenda

Eliminating voter polls at schools also on the list

By Rick Yencer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -  Looking to promote jobs and education, Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, also wants to eliminate polling places from public schools with her agenda before the Indiana General Assembly.

 Errington expressed confidence this week that she could work with the new Republican super majorities in the House and Senate along with Republican Gov.-elect Mike Pence when he named Muncie businessman Victor Smith as the new Indiana Department of Commerce.

 The bottom line for Errington along with other Democrats in the Legislature will be to get Republican sponsors for their bills. 

 The former state senator should not have any problem with local Republican lawmakers supporting a bill to add more tax incentives to develop and occupy the former Borg Warner Automotive plant on Kilgore Avenue in Muncie.

 "This bill is about job creation," said Errington.

 Lawmakers got a similar incentive package passed for the old Westinghouse transformer plant that recently was occupied by Progress Rail that  builds locomotive engines there.

Terry Murphy, vice president of economic development for the Muncie-Delaware Economic Development Alliance, said recently there were inquiries about the building but no pending deal.

 Errington also wants to give people a chance to extend their education by establishing the Indiana Lifelong Learning Incentive for Excellence Scholarship for post secondary education. The scholarship is available to residents with a high school diploma or GED.

 The extra education could help people with low paying jobs get better ones with more training and education.

 Errington is working with Rep. Shelli VanDenBurgh, D-Crown Point, to eliminate schools as a polling site for safety of students. She serves on the House education and public policy committees.

 Muncie Community Schools recently discussed having polling places in schools in the wake of more school shootings. One idea was take an in service day on the election.

 Some Republican lawmakers object to any restrictions for polling places. The law now requires schools to open their doors if a voting poll is requested.