2007 Legislative Wrap-Up
In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, we were able to influence positive legislation for poor families and children:

• HB 1037—Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Making permanent the state sales tax exemption which we won in the last session. Passed.
• HB 1027—Increasing the state minimum wage. Passed the House 71-29 and amended in the Senate to make Indiana reflect the national minimum wage, which was just increased for the first time in ten years, from $5.15 per hour today to $7.25 by 2009.
• HB 1167—An Indiana state tax credit for child and dependent care. Currently, Indiana is one of only 14 states which do not have one. This bill would have provided $8.4 million to working families to help pay for child or dependent care that they need in order to enter or remain in the workforce. Passed the House but failed to get included in the final budget. We made tremendous progress and are hopeful for next session.
• HB 1074—Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This bill would make permanent the state EITC and increase it from 6% of the federal to 9%. This could provide about $28 million for working families. Passed the House but didn’t get into the budget. We will try again next year.
• Other successful legislative efforts we worked on included the Sudan Divestment Bill, the cigarette tax increase, and a security freeze bill to protect consumers from identity theft.

We continue to monitor the privatization of Indiana Family Social Services Administrative service. On a federal level, we have communicated with federal legislators about reauthorization of the Farm Bill. Most crucial to our clients is continuing and improving the Food Stamp program and continuing the government commodities, which provides thousands of pounds of food for the St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry.