Photos by Chris Meyer Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels spoke to job seekers March 3 at a career fair on the IU Bloomington campus. The fair, a collaborative effort of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Kelley School of Business, the School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the School of Informatics, attracted Indiana companies seeking to hire students for both internships and full-time positions. Daniels also hoped to encourage IU students pursuing careers in public service. Sen. Vi Simpson (D-Ellettsville) was the featured speaker at a Feb. 25 discussion forum on health insurance expenses. The forum was held at IU Bloomington’s Wylie Hall.

• Simpson was the featured speaker at a discussion forum on health insurance expenses. Simpson has introduced legislation that will require Indiana state colleges and universities to analyze cost-savings opportunities and benefits of combining insurance plans or joint buying negotiations. The bill may lead to a shared insurance plan.

“Universities have 30 different plans,” said Simpson during her Feb. 28 visit as she shared findings from a state budget study. “Some (universities) have different plans per campus. Some universities have one plan. And then some, like Ivy Tech, buy it region by region. From my experience, this is least effective. No Indiana schools work together to keep costs down, manage outcomes and work toward healthier populations.”

Simpson said she hoped to clarify the proposed legislation (Senate Bill 474) and stated that the bill does not force universities into a statewide health-care plan. Simpson said finding lower cost health insurance options will benefit not only university employees, but also state funding for higher education. The bill is meant to get universities to “realize we are all in this together,” she said.

To track Senate and House legislation, visit:

http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch

• The governor addressed students and employers at the Indiana Employer Job Fair. Daniels told attendees he hoped to attract Indiana students to careers in public service.

“I’m here as an exhibitor…hoping to interest some of the job seekers here today to consider public service as part of the great career I know awaits you,” Daniels said during his March 3 visit.

Daniels said IU’s greatest economic asset was its students, adding that his goal was to attract as many as possible to pursue their careers within the state of Indiana. “I am so excited about the possibility of building an Indiana where every young person…who wants a life in Indiana, knows with confidence that they can have a great one,” said Daniels.

After his short talk, which was interrupted briefly by two I-69 highway protesters, the governor seated himself at the State of Indiana booth, meeting with students attending the job fair. The job fair was organized to assist employers that hire within the state to connect with student job-seekers. The event was in Alumni Hall at the Indiana Memorial Union.

The governor’s official state Web site is:

http://www.in.gov/gov/