Five Questions with Susan Fuldauer

Susan Fuldauer has dedicated most of her life to improving the lives of others. She began her career in education in Iowa and later after she moved to Indiana she's taken up the causes of violence against women, pay equity, accessible, patient-driven health care, equity and diversity.

This past February, Susan embarked on her toughest challenge yet, taking on the Indiana House Speaker, Brian Bosma. First elected to the Indiana House in 1986, Bosma was elected Speaker of the House in 2004 when the Republicans took over the General Assembly. Bosma gained notoriety in Indiana when he lost a lawsuit over Christian prayers on the House floor. Bosma pledged to appeal that decision and since then has spent over $100,000 of tax payer money trying to get that decision overturned.

Susan has been working very against Speaker Bosma. If you can help out in anyway, I know she'd appreciate it.

Susan was scheduled to attend the Blogger candidate forum last month but was called away at the last minute. In return she gladly answered my Five Questions...

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1> What prompted you to take on Brian Bosma? What was it that made you think that he needed to be voted out?

I am challenging Rep. Bosma because I am tired of the arrogance and lack of focus the leadership has provided on the issues facing Hoosiers both in House District 88 and across Indiana. As Speaker of the House and leader of the right wing of the Indiana Republican Party, Rep. Bosma has let us all down by focusing on the issues important to maintaining his personal and political agendas. I have maintained an aggressive, yet positive, campaign and plan on campaigning up to Election Day.

2> What do you think are the biggest issues facing Hoosiers in the 88th House District and how do you think you can best serve them?

Education and property taxes are definitely on the minds of families in House District 88. Funding our public schools must be at the top of the list, but it is important to stay focused on the property tax issues because both issues are connected. Both issues must be dealt with in a bipartisan manner, and the future of public education must be addressed. These issues have not been adequately adressed and will not be so addressed as long as Rep. Bosma remains in office. The political infighting and focus on issues pertaining to our Hoosiers' personal and private lives have taken center stage and the cost of this poor leadership wil be the decline of public education and the livlihood of everyone.

3> What do you think is most important in attracting high-paying, skilled jobs to Indiana?

Obviously, we want to have a high road, high wage economy flow into Indiana and, also, to be created by Hoosiers. Driving wages up instead of down and out is essential to continuing the vitality of a community and the ability to partake in the "American Dream". Good wages add to the viability of the schools, the infrastructure of the community, better health, lowering of crime rates, etc.

4> How can we refocus our attention on the important matters that should be in front of the General Assembly rather than these wedge issues that have been forced upon us?

We refocus our attention to the real issues facing communities by electing fair-minded, concensus-building citizens that are not afraid to work toward real solutions regardless of party politics.

5> What can we do to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots in education?

Education is the backbone of our democracy and should be the one level playing field for all children. We bridge the gap by bringing solid early education to Indiana's children. We mandate kindergarten and then fund full day kindergarten. This begins the early process of bringing children into the culture of learning and will, udoubtedly, lead to students staying in school longer, thereby becoming more successful citizens.