Key House Democrat recommends summer study for a Gov. Daniels legislative priority: consolidation of the $14.2 billion Indiana
Public Employees Retirement Fund and the $8.1 billion Indiana State Teachers Retirement Fund.
The most sweeping Indiana legislation in years to tighten ethics and lobbying rules cleared the state Senate 50-0 Thursday
and appeared headed soon to Gov. Mitch Daniels for his signature.
The Indiana House approved legislation Wednesday that would repeal an unemployment-insurance tax increase and approved a package
of tax credits and other incentives designed to create jobs.
Indiana lawmakers have taken another step in advancing legislation that supporters say will give a boost to Indiana's
renewable energy movement.
Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita is calling on House Democrats to act on a bill passed by the Senate that would
require that new legislative maps respect county and township lines, preserve traditional
neighborhoods and create compact districts.
The Indiana House and state Senate each passed bills to tighten ethics and lobbying rules, and the Senate Rules Committee
will take up the House bill on Monday.
Sen. Patricia Miller will put on hold a bill that would have have stripped the Indianapolis Historic Preservation
Commission
of much of its authority. The bill was
prompted by incidents including a dispute over St. John United Church of Christ.
The first half of a short session will close Wednesday, meaning bills must have passed out of either the House or Senate to
stay alive. Legislation regarding unemployment taxes and township-government reform easily met that deadline.
The added exemptions include bars, taverns, tobacco shops and fraternal clubs such as American Legion posts.
The Indiana House has passed a bill that would ban texting or sending e-mails while driving. The House voted 95-3 for the
bill Tuesday and sent it to the Senate for consideration.
The president’s budget offers tax cuts for businesses, including a $5,000 tax credit for hiring new workers this year, help
for the unemployed and $25 billion more for cash-strapped state governments. Job creation will take precedence over stemming
a surging deficit.
Democratic Rep. Charlie Brown of Gary says he will keep pursuing a bill that would ban smoking in most public places.
Members of the Indiana General Assembly face a key mid-session deadline this week. Wednesday is the deadline for bills to
pass their house of origin and be sent to the opposite chamber.
An Indiana House committee plans to consider a bill that would make it illegal to send text messages or e-mails while driving.
The bill, would ban smoking in public places statewide except casinos and pari-mutuel horse racing venues.
The House Natural Resources Committee voted 10-1 to advance the bill last week amid strong support from the National Rifle Association and opposition from business interests and domestic violence advocates.
The bill would limit the amount of Sunday carryout sales from Indiana microbreweries to about three cases per transaction.
A bill aimed at utility customers who install renewable power sources is seriously flawed and would hurt Indiana’s renewable
energy movement, advocates say.
Bill that would prohibit companies from banning guns in people’s locked cars at work is on its way to the Indiana House floor.
Governor acknowledges the economy has been taking a toll on state government and the lives of many Indiana residents.
