The state on Wednesday announced a five-part plan that also includes sending 2 million N-95 masks and 400,000 face shields to nursing homes, which have been particularly hard hit by the virus.
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb nearly quadrupled his Democratic opponent in fundraising during the third quarter, according to campaign finance figures released Thursday afternoon.
Podcast host Mason King talks with IBJ politics reporter Lindsey Erdody and Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Purdue University-Fort Wayne, about how the races are shaping up.
Granted, Holcomb and his campaign have nothing to gain politically by introducing creative policy proposals in the midst of a safe race. But how about January? He’ll have four years and little to lose by making bold proposals that can help those who are struggling, shore up our weaknesses and make Indiana more economically competitive than ever.
IBJ looked at 30 of the more measurable commitments the governor has made over the last four years to see whether he’s lived up to what he promised and what Hoosiers can expect if he wins a second term.
But the leader of the Indiana Senate doubles down on his statement that he can’t guarantee full funding for schools that don’t offer an in-person option for students.
Kernan was elected lieutenant governor in 1996 running on a ticket with Democrat Frank O’Bannon. They were reelected in 2000, but O’Bannon died suddenly after a stroke in 2003, and Kernan ascended to the Governor’s Office.
The Republican governor’s comments came a day after he announced the requirement, which is to take effect Monday, and less than a day after Attorney General Curtis Hill said the governor did not have the authority to enforce a mandate.
Democrat Woody Myers is the state’s first Black gubernatorial nominee from either major political party, but Black community leaders say his campaign is getting lost in the barrage of news about COVID-19 and protests over police brutality and racial inequity.
Tax revenues for fiscal year 2020 were already off by $1.2 billion by the end of May, an amount that is expected to grow to $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion before the fiscal year ends June 30.
The governor was criticized for violating two of the recommendations he’s made to Hoosiers, most recently in the “Back on Track” plan he released on Friday that is aimed at reopening Indiana economy in a phased approach through July 4.
A company official said it’s “preposterous” to think the company would reopen its malls, especially those in its home state, while stay-at-home orders are still in place.
State officials again refused to say how many ventilators or intensive-care unit beds hospitals have, citing confidentiality agreements with hospitals and vendors. Some hospitals expect their supplies to run short in coming weeks.
Cris Johnston, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said agencies have been told to look for places where they can eliminate spending. But he said there are no plans to cut funding for schools, even though it’s the state’s largest expenditure.
The governor’s decision to block the bill from becoming law allows tenant protections the city of Indianapolis recently put in place to remain in force.
His decision—announced in a Statehouse address streamed online—follows in the footsteps of a handful of other governors across the country, including three of Indiana’s neighboring states: Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.
The governor also signed legislation that will eventually put more money into the state’s unemployment trust fund, a move that comes as the coronavirus outbreak has led to a jump in unemployment claims.
More than 200 of Indiana’s nearly 300 districts have closed after consultations with local health officials. But, in at least 21 states, officials have ordered closures to try to stop spread of COVID-19.
Holcomb signed an executive order meant to speed up deliveries to retailers, which are running short of supplies, by lifting regulations on the number of hours that commercial drivers can work.
Owens told IBJ on Tuesday that he left his job as CEO of local tech firm SupplyKick in early January in part to focus on his run for governor. Now that he’s not running for governor, he said he hasn’t decided what his next move is.
