INDIANAPOLIS – In a fight for re-election, Governor Mike Pence has tried to paint Indiana’s economy as brilliant, claiming that it is better than ever before. But, with Hoosiers earning just 86 cents on the dollar compared to the average American, per capita incoming dropping from 34th to 38th in the nation since the governor’s election, and with the state being ranked dead LAST in economic growth in the Midwest for 2014, Hoosier workers aren’t buying it.
In response, the Indiana Democratic Party today launched the #MyJobsStory social media campaign asking Hoosiers to share their stories with Governor Pence about how his rosy view of Indiana’s economy doesn’t match up with the reality of their daily lives. Through Facebook and Twitter, the IDP will encourage all Hoosiers to use the hashtag #MyJobsStory while sharing their stories of working harder for less and simply doing all they can to make ends meet for their families.
“While Mike Pence likes to tout various ranks and ratings, the only numbers Hoosier workers care about are their wages – and under Mike Pence’s leadership they continue to fall. The job of a governor should be to create good paying jobs, not scare them away as Mike Pence has done repeatedly with his focus on social issues. He’s made the problem worse,” said John Zody, Chairman. “The IDP is launching #MyJobsStory by asking all Hoosiers to share how under Mike Pence, they are falling further behind. How they must now work two or three lower paying jobs to replace the one good paying job they lost. Mike Pence is out of touch and is simply not getting the job done – and we hope this campaign wakes him up to the reality most Hoosiers are facing each day.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: INDIANA IS FALLING BEHIND THE REST OF THE NATION
Overall State Economy
- Indiana’s economy grew at a sluggish .4% rate in 2014. – [NWI Times, 6.10.15]
- Indiana’s economy grew .5% or less three of last four years. – [NWI Times, 6.10.15]
- Indiana ranks LAST in economic growth in the Midwest. – [NWI Times, 6.10.15]
- Per Capita Income: Indiana ranks 38th in per capita income, down from 33rd in 2004. – [NWI Times, 03.26.16]
- Median Incomes: Wages have dropped from $53,500 in 2000 to $46,900 in 2013. – [U.S. Census]
- Hoosiers make 86 cents for every one American dollar earned. – [Indianapolis Star, 6.1.15]
- Indiana ranks 46th in quality of life, 42nd in workforce. – [CNBC]
- About two thirds of minimum wage workers in Indiana are women. – [Forbes, 7, 2015]
- Hoosier women make 75 cents for every dollar a man makes. – [AAUW, 2015]
- African American households earn on average $21,000 less than white households. – [Indianapolis Star, 4.11.15]
- Hispanic households make $15,000 less than white households. – [Indianapolis Star, 4.11.15]
Mike Pence’s RFRA
- Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in a closed door ceremony [FOX 59, 3.26.15], throwing Indiana into a $250 million economic panic. – [The Advocate, 7.10.15]
Pence Repeals Common Construction Wage Law
- Mike Pence and Statehouse Republicans repealed the common construction wage laws, allowing union worker wages to go down and the expanding wage gap continues to grow in our state. – [NWI Times, 5.6.15]
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