This past week marked Ivy Tech’s 50th anniversary and my 9th year of being on the faculty. So in honor of both, I figured this would be appropriate.

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Fifty years ago, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his historic “I Have a Dream” speech at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. As he referenced the Emancipation Proclamation, he spoke of the “beacon of hope” promised in Lincoln’s words—and the need for our nation to make good on that promise.

The same year that Dr. King spoke in Washington—1963—a new institution was founded here in Indiana: Indiana Vocational Technical College. While it was launched with a multifaceted mission, the college was chartered in no small part to make higher education accessible to all of our state’s citizens.

Today, in 2013, not only do we  celebrate the golden anniversary of both Dr. King’s speech, but also what is now known as Ivy Tech Community College. And while it is clear that progress must still be made, we have come a long way toward realizing the dream of equality in America. It is equally clear that Ivy Tech and the American community college at large have played a significant role in delivering on that dream.

It is well understood that in our nation, a college education provides the single best opportunity for improved employability, earnings, and quality of life. As tuition costs have skyrocketed, however, many colleges have moved beyond the reach of the average American family and beyond reality for lower-income households. The one option that remains feasible is the community college. Here in Indiana, for example, Ivy Tech’s annual tuition cost for a full-time student is $3,560 per year. At other Indiana colleges, a conservative average is $13,000 per year. Because it provides the most affordable option by far, especially for those looking to avoid crushing student loan debt burdens, Ivy Tech has become the largest college in Indiana, serving approximately 200,000 Hoosiers annually. This reflects trends nationally, as community colleges have become the first choice of a growing number of students, serving 45 percent of all U.S. undergraduates.

What makes the community college reflective of Dr. King’s dream is its unmatched ability to democratize higher education. Consider the community college’s impact on these populations as compared to the undergraduate population as a whole:

§  48 percent of America’s community college students are minorities, compared to just 31 percent of all American undergraduates.

§  Among America’s undergraduates, 42 percent of African Americans, 56 percent of Native Americans, 49 percent of Hispanics, and 44 percent of Asians/Pacific Islanders attend community colleges—amazing numbers, highly disproportionate to the relative populations at large.

§  To put these numbers into perspective locally, nearly 60 percent of all Indiana residents attending institutions of higher education are enrolled at Ivy Tech.

§  59 percent of community college students attend part time, allowing them to maintain family or work responsibilities while in school. In comparison, less than 39 percent of all undergraduates attend part time.

In short, the face of the community college student is very different than the face of the U.S. undergraduate at large. As such, the opportunities that come with a college degree remain within the grasp of a more diverse population. This benefits not just those students themselves, but also their communities, which will have a more robust workforce, higher income levels, and a stronger tax base as college attainment improves.

It is certain that if Dr. King were alive today, he would not be fully satisfied with the state of equality in America. However, if he were to look to the community college, there is a good chance he would see it as a “beacon of hope.” Let’s celebrate Ivy Tech and the American community college as a whole, then, as a reminder of Dr. King’s legacy. Thanks to the community college, his dream lives on—and, therefore, so does the American dream.

With tomorrow being my 4th wedding anniversary, I felt it only fitting to print this column that ran this week at the Statehouse File.Com.  Happy reading!!!

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Back in June I penned a column on same-sex marriage and how I couldn’t understand the arguments against it, since none of them were rooted in logic and reason, only silliness and an irrational fear of two consenting adults living their lives and not reaching into my pocket nor encroaching on my property.

Well, with this week being my fourth wedding anniversary, I figured it was time to give the supporters of the proposed marriage amendment a gift, a wake up call wrapped in reality and tied with a bow of brutal honesty.  Same-sex marriage is inevitable and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

As I wrote earlier this summer, attitudes on the subject have already changed. I’ve told you that according to Gallup, back in 1996 nearly 70 percent of the public opposed same-sex marriage. In the most recent national polling, that number has dropped considerably.

Remember the three public polls I told you about taken in the last few years regarding the marriage equality issue in Indiana? A Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research poll taken in March 2011 showed 43 percent of the public favoring an amendment banning same-sex marriage, while 47 percent opposed it. Seven percent were undecided.

A poll by political writer Brian Howey and DePauw University had 48 percent of voters supporting the amendment and 45 percent opposing, with 7 percent undecided. And the most recent poll, conducted by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University, showed only 38 percent of the public supporting the measure and 54 percent opposing it.

Of course you remember that.

Well what’s happened since then? Most importantly a ruling by the Internal Revenue Service that will allow same-sex couples the same tax status as traditional married couples. Now while the anti-tax guy in me says all that means is that they can enjoy the same marriage penalty as the rest of us, really what it means is that state’s that don’t recognize same-sex marriage are about to find their tax codes have gotten a lot more complicated. Indiana does not recognize same-sex marriages, but Indiana’s Department of Revenue does recognize the federal tax code and much of Indiana’s code is based on what the federal government allows. So this means there is going to be a lot of scrambling over at state revenue to try and figure out how to make all this work.

And here’s something else to chew on while we’re at it: Opponents of the proposed marriage amendment are not only organized, but they will have a lot of cash at their disposal to fight the amendment should it get on the ballot in 2014 (which I am still not fully convinced it will for reasons I will explain in a few sentences). When Indiana’s major employers come out and tell you something is so bad for business that they’ve formed a coalition to put a stop to it, that should say something. Also the fact that a good chunk of the anti-marriage amendment crowd are young Republicans under 40 who have a libertarian streak in them when it comes to social issues should tell you quite a bit.

And now: Why I think the amendment has a good chance of being pushed back.

I am hearing there is still uncertainty about what the second portion of the language in the amendment means. Part one says, “Only a marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana.” I get that.

Part two says, “A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.” I have no idea what that means and neither do a lot of other people; most of them members of the Indiana General Assembly. And that’s the joy of the law of unintended consequences: A certain amount of legal uncertainty will only make my fellow lawyers rich.

Speaking of which, time to go get my wife’s anniversary present. I hope you enjoyed the one I just gave you.

Indiana lawmakers announced this afternoon they have agreed on the makeup of the panel that will make recommendations to the State Board of Education regarding the new A-F grading system.

Under the agreement, the new grading system will use growth and individual academic performance and try to avoid student comparison based on their peers.

The A-F grading system has come under scrutiny due to a controversy involving the former Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Tony Bennett.

The new system  will include a wide range of data as well as look at other state models for performance.  It will also ensure fairness of the system and make a recommendation by November 1.

The panel will consist of recommendations by the Governor, House and Senate as well the Department of Education.  Each group will appoint a teacher, superintendent,  principal and technical adviser

A copy of the memo can be found here. .

The experiment begins!  On Sunday I went to an area Meijer’s and purchased $38.77 worth of food to get me through the week.

As you may be aware, I wrote a blog post  last week taking somewhat of an issue with my fellow Indy Star columnist Erika Smith on her argument that part of the reason people are going hungry in Central Indiana because they can’t live off the average allotment of food stamps.

I decided take the “food stamp” challenge and my editors at the Star and I agreed on an allotment of $40.  (A single person living in poverty can get up to $200 a month in Indianapolis, thus the basis for my $40.) And the point of my exercise is that with smart shopping and knowing how to cook, your dollars can stretch a lot further.  You won’t be eating a Ruth’s Chris’, but you also won’t be on the Ethiopian diet.  Sorry about the 80s reference.

So here is what I walked away with after spending about an hour or so in the store…

• Bananas (2 lbs) –  $1.16
• Head of lettuce –    $0.99
• Red Onion –       $0.88
• Green Beans (0.63 of a 1 lb) -$1.13
• Unpopped popcorn – $1.79
• Yogurt- $2.69
• Whole Pineapple – $3.49
• Two cuts Steak – $4.36
• Eggplant – $0.97
• Green Pepper – $0.48
• Spaghetti – $0.99
• Rotini – $0.99
• Potatoes (5 lbs) – $2.50
• Organic 2% Milk (½ gal) – $3.49
• Froot Loops – $2.50
• Alfredo Pasta Sauce – $1.67
• Bag of Chicken Breasts – $5.69
• Bread –   $3.00

The original bill was  My total bill was $46.06 but since I bought many of the items on sale, I saved $7.29.

A couple items of note, if my shopping list looks odd to you it is because like everyone else, I shop based on my eating habits.  So I am not above having leftovers for breakfast, for example.  In addition, my schedule doesn’t really allow for regularly scheduled meals, so I plan accordingly and make sure that even if I have to cook when my day ends, it doesn’t take more than 30 minutes. I also don’t eat breakfast everyday, depending on the schedule.

I also don’t do the “average meal” cost.  That is not a true indicator, per se, of how much food will cost you.  My bag of 10 chicken breasts cost $5.69 but I am not going to eat 10 chicken breasts in one sitting.  The same with my box of Rotini, although is was $0.99, I will likely get three servings out of it.

And for those of you who are wondering if I will be dining out this week, I have already checked my scheduled, the only thing on there are coffee appointments with clients and sources.

And the only thing I bought that was frozen was the chicken.

I will report back in the week and let you know how the food prep is going.

Bon Appetit!

You can follow my “cooking” on Twitter @AttyAbdul or @indypolitics

Today from 1-3 p.m. on the “Amos & Abdul” show,  my sparring partner and I take up Mayor Greg Ballard’s proposed budget and duke it out over Indianapolis’ financial future. You can hear it by tuning in to AM 1310, The Light or stream at PraiseIndy.Com.

That won’t be the only place to find yours truly this weekend.

“Indiana Issues”

• IndianaTalks.Com, Friday, 7 p.m.
• XRB Radio, 1610 AM, Brownsburg, Saturday, 9 a.m.
• WBAT, 1400 AM, Marion, Saturday 11 a.m. & 7 p.m., Sunday at 7 p.m.
• WITT, 91.9 FM, Indianapolis, Saturday, 1 p.m.
• WGCL, 1370 AM & 95.9 FM, Bloomington, Sunday, 8 a.m.

“Abdul at Large”

• WIBC-FM, Friday – 4 – 6 p.m.
• WIBC-FM, Saturday –  2 p.m.

Photo: Indianapolis Recorder

When I read my fellow Indy Star colleague Erika Smith’s August 17 column, “Living Off Food Stamps Leaves Children, Adults Hungry. Trust Me, I Know” I had to take issue with the basic premise of her words.

I took so much of an issue with it that I decided to do a little “grocery shopping” myself, using her model as a basis for my adventure in “food stamp” shopping.  I made a few adjustments around the edges, but I did eventually prove my initial theory;  you can buy substantive, healthy food provided you know how to do two things: shop smart and cook.  Luckily, I can do both and have been able to do so for a long time.

Whereas Erika chose Wal-Mart for her experiment, I used the Meijer at 38th and Moeller Road. It is a major store and on a bus line.  I was given grief for using my own car to get to the store instead of public transportation, however, not everyone who uses food stamps takes the bus.  I was also given grief for not having children.  Newsflash, not everyone on food stamps has kids.  I decided to use $160 as monthly budget.  I chose $160 because while the average person, as Erika pointed out,  may get $132 in benefits, a single person at the poverty level can get up to $200 a month.  So my $160 split the difference.  To be honest, the $160 figure didn’t really matter because I never got that far because I know how to do two things, shop and cook.

I managed to pick up, for me, the equivalent of at least three weeks worth of food for about $90.  How did I do it?  Like this.  For my meat I got four sirloin steaks (on sale) for $16 and ten chicken breasts (on sale) for $12.  That is 16 pieces of meat and chicken for $28.  I don’t eat meat everyday so that was enough to get me through the month.  I also got lettuce, broccoli, celery, five pounds of potatoes, four ears of corn, and a pound of green beans for a total of $10.65.  I got them all fresh, no frozen or canned foods.  And for those of you who say it won’t keep,  you will be amazed at what you can do when you clean your vegetables and put them in the freezer.  I also picked up some ground beef and tomato sauce, $6, which would get me a couple of meals.  And I also bought spaghetti, Farfalle, the bow-tie spaghetti and pasta penne, $4.72; add the two jars of Alfredo sauce which I got two for $4 and parmesan cheese, $3.39.

Breakfast was easy, two boxes of Frosted mini-wheats for $5 and two loaves of Brownberry bread for $6.  Lunch was a little more difficult, the turkey and roast beef for sandwiches, a half-pound each ran me about $7 and two 2-Liters of Diet Pepsi was $2.  I also got popcorn (unpopped and the non-microwave kind) for $3.99  And I did five lean cuisine meals for $10.  My total food bill at that point was $90.75.  Now because I had a Meijer’s coupon I got five percent off so it was actually closer to $86.  Which meant I still had $73 leftover and a another week’s worth of food I could purchase.  And please note, I haven’t even broken out my coupons.

Unfortunately, my wife told me I was not allowed to bring any of this stuff back to the house because there was no room in the refrigerator for me to prove a point. But I did.  If you don’t know how to shop or cook and all you get are unhealthy processed foods, your “food stamp” budget won’t last long.  But if you are a responsible consumer, and are willing to pick up a culinary skill or two, you will be amazed at how far those dollars can go.  Maybe that is where we should focus our energy and attention providing folks with more skills as opposed to more dollars on their EBT cards.

*After writing this column my editor at the Star suggested I put my mouth where my words were and actually live off this budget to do a true comparison.  After some e-mail exchanges we agreed I would live off $40 of food next week.  That experience will run in my next Indy Star column.

In an effort to assist Indianapolis residents figure out how the Ballard administration’s proposed elimination of the local Homestead property tax credit would impact their pocketbooks, Indiana Barrister  is providing a link to the city’s webpage that can show you how your tax bill would change.  Just click on the link and enter your parcel number.   I did it for my wife’s home, it would add an extra $25 to her annual property tax bill, or to translate it in the Abdul universe one martini and decent cigar.

Click here and enter your parcel number.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard will introduce a budget Monday night that closes the city’s $55 million shortfall without raising income taxes, but it does expand the city’s tax base while holding the line on spending and adding new police officers.

Due to the national economy and declining income tax revenues Indianapolis was facing a $55 million shortfall for the 2014 budget.  City officials say they managed to close that gap while keeping most city services unchanged, but they used virtually every financial tool in their kit to do it.

Flatlining Spending

• Although the city budget is about $1 billion, in fact only about $592 million is used for the operations of city-county government, the rest are dedicated funds that can only be used for certain purposes, like roads and sewers.  While most city-county budgets will stay flat, the Marion County Sheriff’s budget is taking a $5.4 million hit.  Ballard administration officials say every other County office has stayed within its budget with the exception of the Sheriff.  There is an increase in the Clerk’s office to cover the costs of the 2014 Elections.  The parks budget stays the same and the city maintains crime prevention grant funding.   The budget does not dip into any TIF, Rebuild Indy or Fiscal Stability Funds to cover operating expenditures.  In addition there is no additional funding for raises, departments will have to use their existing budgets to cover those costs and health care costs remain flat; in the past they have increased five to seven percent annually.

Finding New Revenues

• The Ballard administration is not raising income taxes to balance the budget, but it is expanding the tax base, somewhat.   The city proposes to expand IMPD’s taxing district to the entire county, right now its taxing authority is limited to the old IPD district which is basically the old city limits..   By expanding the tax base officials say that will generate an additional $1.3 million for city coffers.  In addition, the Ballard administration is also shooting for another elimination of the local homestead tax credit which would generate about $11.5 million.  There is also a fuel surcharge on IMPD and IFD take home vehicles which would add $1.4 million to the city budget.   In addition, the administration also makes adjustments to agency budgets and makes some adjustments to its debt service.

Expand IMPD’s Tax Base

• The most controversial portions of the administration’s budget plans are likely to be the expansion of IMPD’s taxing District and the elimination of the Homestead Exemption.   With regards to expanding IMPD’s taxing authority, officials say the original district was not expanded when the merger took place back in 2006.  That means if you are are homeowner inside the old city limits you are paying both property taxes for IMPD as well as County Option Income taxes.  If you live outside the old city limits, then you are just paying the COIT.  By expanding the tax base, city budget planners say more money can be collected for public safety, while lowering IMPD’s property tax rate by 70%.  Under the current system a $100,000 home in the old city limits pays $365 annually, under the new district that tax bill would be $114; Lawrence, Speedway Southport and Beech Grove would not be included.  Expanding the tax district would generate about $3 million for IMPD.

Homestead Credit Elimination

• The Council failed to pass the original local homestead credit elimination, however the Ballard Administration is taking another bite at the apple.  Officials say it would generate $11.5 million for IMPD, it would not impact homes that are already at the one percent tax cap and have an average impact of less than $2 per month on a home not at the one percent cap.  It is also important to note that elimination of the local homestead has no impact on the standard $45,000 exemption which is provided by the state.

Administrative Challenges

• Like all budgets, it’s part policy and part politics and balancing the various political interests at the City-County building will be just as tricky as balancing the city’s books.  There is of course the Democratic-controlled Council that does not want to give Ballard a victory, but at the same time has to show leadership in offering alternatives.  At the same time Republicans, although Mayoral allies, are wary of anything that even looks like a tax increase.  And that is what this will boil down to, is the elimination of the local homestead credit and expanding IMPD’s tax base a tax increase?  And if so, is it one the citizens of Marion County will swallow, even though by some estimates it only amounts to about $10-$13 a month for a home inside Marion County but outside of the city limits?  And if the Council says “no” to the revenue enhancements, then where does it go to find the other $13 million when the Mayor is adamant about not dipping into fund balances?   Those  will be the big questions and luckily we’ve got until October to get an answer.

Monday’s announcement of a $14 million settlement between the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA), the National Education Association (NEA) and the Secretary of State’s Office is raising some questions that I think the current Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, needs to answer and do it soon.

ISTA and the NEA were accused of engaging in a “Ponzi-like” scheme where they would sell health insurance plans to teachers and school districts and then use the proceeds to fund its disability program while misleading schools and educators about how much they had in their accounts.

Ritz served on the Board of ISTA during the time as well as being the head of the Washington Township Educators Union in Indianapolis.  In those capacities as a Board member and union head, Ritz would have had a fiduciary duty to look out for the best interests of her members.  Which in turns raises several questions…

1. Did Ritz have any knowledge that ISTA and the NEA were engaging in what the Secretary of State’s office called a “Ponzi-like” scheme?
2. If so, when did Ritz first become aware of the scheme and what was her reaction?
3. Was she involved in any active or passing selling/promoting of the ISTA-NEA health insurance plan to her bargaining unit in Washington Township schools?
4. Did Ritz herself purchase any of the health insurance plan that that was pushed by ISTA?
5. Once the scheme was discovered, did she speak out against it, either as an ISTA Board member or Union President?
6. Will Ritz demand that ISTA and the NEA fully refund all teachers and school districts for the original $28 million that was lost in the scheme, as opposed to the $14 million that both sides have initially agreed to settle?
7. Are there any other ticking time bombs out there regarding ISTA that teachers, school districts and the taxpayers should know?
8. Will Ritz make public any and all correspondence (memos, emails, etc), electronic and otherwise, regarding the ISTA-NEA alleged “Ponzi-scheme”?
9. Does Ritz think teachers and the public can trust ISTA and the NEA?
10. Will the answers to any of these questions ever see the light of day?

Of course critics will try to dismiss these questions as the rantings and sour grapes of a Tony Bennett supporter, but that does not change the fact that millions of dollars were funneled away from school districts and teachers and used in a scheme that at best was irresponsible and worst, securities fraud.

The current Superintendent of Public Instruction has a responsibility to disclose to the public and her fellow teachers what she knew and when she became aware of it.

It is the least she can do.  Hopefully, she will do it soon.