FEIGENBAUM: Daniels’ agenda built on avoiding new taxes, programs
The State of the State address delivered by Gov. Mitch Daniels Jan. 19 contained no surprises at all, except, perhaps in
his optimism.
Ed Feigenbaum
Articles
FEIGENBAUM: Bills flying through Legislature at Castroneves’ pace
At a torrid pace, major pieces of legislation are flying
through the Indiana General Assembly, leaving lawmakers with an envious decision: Adjourn early and make Hoosier voters happy,
or stick around and devote attention to other major issues that deserve close scrutiny, but receive short shrift in sessions
bogged down by battles over high-profile partisan matters.
FEIGENBAUM: Democrats start to embrace constitutional amendment
What changed over the last year to make House Democrats so eager to allow Hoosier voters to amend the property-tax caps
into the Indiana Constitution? The calendar.
FEIGENBAUM: Early committee hearings were mostly theater
The December hearings by Indiana General Assembly committees focused on issues that legislative leaders designated as
key session priorities, but the committee work was largely unremarkable, with predictable testimony derived from the usual
suspects.
FEIGENBAUM: Expect uncertainty in the 2010 General Assembly
About the only certainty for the upcoming legislative session is that it will be over in March.
FEIGENBAUM: Historic milestone in gambling industry approaches
Indiana has made billions on gambling in nearly two decades, funding key programs, cutting excise and property taxes, and
avoiding tax hikes. The state has seen more than $2 billion in investment without any government incentives,
and more dollars committed in our history than by any industry outside of steel, power and autos.
FEIGENBAUM: Education money helped land key Democratic votes
As both House Speaker Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, and House Republican Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, see it, this is definitely a "Republican-flavored" budget. Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels laid the framework, and legislators from both sides of the aisle largely abided by his bottom lines of spending, state agency cuts and surplus.
FEIGENBAUM: History suggests legislators finally will settle on budget
The sniping over the state budget follows the time-honored script of partisan politics. Fear not: A timely climax and resolution
are all but guaranteed.
STATEHOUSE DISPATCH: Political posturing puts session on strange trajectory
Casual observers of the legislative process might be confused by the political posturing, lack of a sense of imperative, and seeming non sequiturs in this General Assembly special session. Rest assured that even many veteran legislative observers also share the sense of puzzlement about June’s events. However, there is some method to the madness, and […]
FEIGENBAUM: Problems pile up as legislators get back to work
Special session will be longer than all had hoped before because of multiple unresolved issues
FEIGENBAUM: Let the state budget bickering begin again
Lawmakers return to Indianapolis June 11 tanned, rested and presumably ready to agree upon a budget that, via gubernatorial assent or a veto override vote, will guide Indiana through fiscal 2010-2011.
Legislators, governor disagree about special session
Assigning responsibility for what stuck us with a special session is a political post-session must, but playing the blame
game usually isn’t a productive exercise.
STATEHOUSE DISPATCH
STATEHOUSE DISPATCH Legislators, governor disagree about special session Assigning responsibility for what stuck us with a special session is a political post-session must, but playing the blame game usually isn’t a productive exercise. This time, however, may be different, and what both of the principal sides in the dispute over the failure to enact a […]
Deal-making efforts unraveled in session’s last days
You wouldn’t have expected it going into the final week of the Indiana General Assembly, but we’re headed for a special legislative
session.
Lawmakers think ‘gloomy’ in spite of rosy forecast
Sometimes the news is just so good you can’t believe it, and that is just what happened with the state revenue forecast this
month.
Competing interests to collide in final days of session
The two principal matters that all agree must be resolved are the biennial budget and a plan to return the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to solvency.
Daniels strangely quiet as fiscal issues fester
The Indiana General Assembly session will end with a focus on what has dominated discussion since Organization Day back in November: fiscal issues.
CIB solution may be wrapped into state budget
The Legislature has been behaving as expected lately: little public sound and fury, but action beginning to stir behind the
scenes.
April 17 revenue forecast to drive final days of General Assembly session
Most of the critical work of this state legislative session will occur after April 20, because only then will the General
Assembly have a revenue projection for the next biennium.
Horse trading key to solving unemployment deficit
In the past, lawmakers ignored the need to fix financing for the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, and now they must come
up with solutions that will be difficult for both Democrats and Republicans to accept.