Election spending to exceed $6B thanks to Indiana lawyer
Indiana attorney James Bopp Jr. has spent 30 years fighting limits on campaign spending, and next year’s political landscape could be transformed by his labor.
Legislation
Articles
Sweeping reform to patent system signed into law
The first significant change in patent law since 1952 is designed to ease the way for inventors to bring products to market and help whittle down a massive backlog of applications.
Education battle unleashed torrents of money in Indiana
Education reformers dramatically outspent opponents on lobbying, advertising and grass-roots campaigning during the past legislative session.
‘Buy local’ law could make projects costlier
A new state law that alters the public bidding process could add complication and possibly millions of dollars to a soon-to-be-bid segment of a massive Indianapolis sewer project.
Most Indiana lawmakers vote against raising debt ceiling
A majority of Indiana's congressional delegation bucked the trend and voted against emergency legislation to raise the nation's debt ceiling, drawing praise from a tea party official.
Debt deal gaining steam in Washington, D.C.
A crisis-conquering deficit-reduction agreement struck by the White House and congressional leaders after months of partisan rancor picked up momentum Monday.
Experts tell state panel marijuana prohibition has failed
A state panel heard from a parade of experts Thursday as it began studying whether to legalize marijuana in Indiana or reduce criminal penalties on small amounts of the drug.
State commerce chief backs right-to-work law
Indiana's chief economic development officer told state lawmakers Tuesday that Indiana has lost deals to attract businesses because it lacks a right-to-work law.
State limits on jobless benefits take effect Friday
Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Mark Everson says the changes will help ensure that only the truly unemployed receive benefits.
Planned Parenthood stops seeing Medicaid patients
Planned Parenthood of Indiana is no longer seeing Medicaid patients because a federal judge hasn't ruled yet on its attempt to block a new Indiana law cutting funding for certain abortion providers, officials said Monday.
Judge grills attorney for state over immigration law
A federal judge grilled an attorney for the state of Indiana on Monday about the state's new immigration law, questioning how police would enforce the law and saying one of its provisions conflicts with federal law.
Error removes limits from Indiana project wage law
A mistake in a bill that legislators meant to loosen wage requirements on government construction projects in Indiana will put all such projects — regardless of cost — under the regulations.
Abortion showdown looms for Indiana
The willingness of Indiana to challenge the federal government and risk a huge financial penalty could take the issue into uncharted legal and political territory.
Common sense might not keep you from being carded
The revised law that takes effect July 1 requires that only those who appear to be younger than 40 show ID when buying alcohol. But some retailers who embraced the stricter provisions say they're not ready to give customers the benefit of the doubt.
New laws affect commercial property owners
Three bills with implications for owners of commercial real estate were approved by the General Assembly and have been signed by Gov. Mitch Daniels.
Governor vetoes forfeiture legislation
Gov. Mitch Daniels has vetoed legislation that would have sent the bulk of funds seized from criminals to prosecutors and police, rather than the Indiana Common School Fund.
Daniels signs measure changing Indiana alcohol ID law
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed several more bills into law, including one that will no longer require everyone buying carryout alcohol to show identification regardless of age.
UPDATE: Judge allows state to cut Planned Parenthood funds
Indiana won a key victory in its fight to cut off public funding for Planned Parenthood on Wednesday when a federal judge refused to block a tough new abortion law from taking effect.
Daniels signs 80 bills into law, including budget
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed 80 bills into law Tuesday, including a new $28 billion state budget and redrawn political maps that will help shape elections for the next decade.
Lawmakers fall short in efforts to curtail private-sector unions
Of the 14 states where "right-to-work" bills barring mandatory union fees were considered, only New Hampshire has passed the legislation, and it is uncertain whether Republican lawmakers can overcome an expected veto by the Democratic governor.