UPDATE: Panel OKs fines for state open-records violations
Legislation to allow fines against government workers who blatantly violate the state’s public access laws is approved 7-0
by an Indiana House committee.
Legislature
Articles
Bill: Neighborhood associations must allow political signs
A proposal in the Indiana Statehouse would stop homeowners’ associations from banning political signs in members’ yards and
windows near elections.
Indiana House OKs tax caps; measure moves to Senate
The Indiana House approved legislation aimed at putting caps on property tax bills into the state constitution and also a bill that would tighten lobbying and ethics rules.
Immigration redux at the Statehouse
Are Republicans shooting themselves in the foot with another bill targeting illegals?
Bill would check citizenship of Indiana government workers
Sen. Mike Delph of Carmel says his proposal would require state agencies to check the citizenship of new employees and residents
applying for unemployment benefits using an online verification system.
House vote expected on property tax caps
The Indiana House is expected to vote Monday on legislation aimed at amending limits on property tax bills into the state
constitution.
Lawmakers consider changes to alcohol laws
The General Assembly plans to consider changes to Indiana’s alcohol laws this session, including proposals that would allow
microbreweries to sell takeout beer on Sundays and permit alcohol sales during voting hours on Election Day.
Bill would allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail
Proposed legislation that would allow Indiana voters to cast absentee ballots by mail without having an excuse such as being
out of town on Election Day cleared the Democrat-controlled House elections committee, but it could face hurdles in the Republican-led
Senate.
Indiana House advances property-tax cap legislation
A final vote on the legislation is expected Monday. If the House and Senate pass the same resolution this session, voters
would decide in November whether to put the tax limits into the constitution.
Bill could pave way for Indiana nuclear power plants
The word “nuclear” isn’t even mentioned, but Senate Bill 69 is a virtual launch code for reviving attempts
at commercial nuclear power in Indiana.
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.
Doctors resume battle with Anthem, health insurers
Doctors are pushing again to strengthen their hands in contract negotiations with health insurers, especially market leader
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Indiana House expected to consider property tax bill
The House could also advance a bill Thursday that would tighten lobbying and ethics rules in the General Assembly.
Bauer noncommittal on property tax caps
Indiana Democratic House Speaker Patrick Bauer isn’t predicting the fate of legislation that could lead to caps on property
tax bills being amended into the constitution.
Indiana lawmakers start session with bipartisan talk
Indiana General Assembly begins 2010 session with the usual pledges, but election-year politics and redistricting are likely
to complicate matters.
Again, on government reform
Assessing the odds for government reform in the General Assembly.
Indiana lawmakers set to get back to work
Property-tax caps, unemployment insurance, ethics top list of issues awaiting General Assembly.
Indiana lawmakers looking for cheap ways to impress
In an election year with a big reward—the potential to redraw political maps for the next decade—lawmakers are looking to impress voters.
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.
Renewable power focus of utility reform in 2010 Legislature
The Hoosier Environmental Council and Citizens Action Coalition see an expansion of the state’s
“net metering” policy as achievable during the short legislative session that starts Jan.
5.