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.
Legislature
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General Assembly is shame of Indiana
When we read that all the Democrats in the House voted against all the Republicans in the House on a given issue, we know independence has been cruelly killed by the leadership of each party. The same applies to the Senate.
CIB’s deficit is a state problem, not a local one
Casting the CIB’s deficit as an Indianapolis problem is simplistic and inaccurate because it overlooks the millions of dollars in state tax revenue generated by those venues and an endless list of vendors that do business with them.
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.
Detroit reminds us not to squander what we have
My prevailing thoughts upon returning from Detroit were how fortunate Indianapolis is when it comes to hosting these kinds of events, and how a thriving downtown is essential to (A) success of the region and (B) national perception.
Colts, Pacers or Indians ticket stumbles would trip up Kenley plan
Sen. Luke Kenley’s CIB bailout plan counts on the Indianapolis Colts to keep up their sellout streak, and assumes the Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Indians will maintain at least their current popularity.
General Assembly pushes statewide trauma system
Indiana lawmakers are considering legislation to create a network that would coordinate hospital trauma programs and bring
the centers to underserved cities and rural areas.
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.
Clawback provisions won’t hurt biz attraction
House Bill 1338 introduces a change to many (but not all) of our state’s tax incentives, adding what is known as a “clawback” provision, offering a reasonable and fair adjustment to our current tax incentives.
Jobless-fund plan a good solution
Indiana lawmakers are stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place when it comes to fixing the state’s bankrupt unemployment insurance fund.
Study: Smoke-free policies aren’t an economic drag
A team of Indiana University health researchers has concluded that smoke-free-workplace laws do not have a negative economic impact.
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.
Things aren’t as bad as we think
Difficult economic conditions have been faced before and we have both the tools and will to overcome our problems.
Worsening economy exacerbating legislature’s challenges
Brace yourself, because things in this legislative session are destined to get messy: the politics, the process, the personalities,
the context, and the issues and their substance, all at once.
A few key Senators will mold most-crucial legislation
The key legislative item at this point remains House Bill 1001, the budget bill.
Wells leaves as Medicaid chief with cost-cutting plan in limbo
Dr. Jeff Wells is moving on from the Indiana Medicaid program even as a $40 million cost-savings plan he spearheaded faces
a threat in the Legislature.
Township offices have to go
Leaders on both sides of the aisle have called for streamlining township government, and it’s time to demand that our legislators
make those changes.
Property-tax bill would hurt seniors
Retired people living on a fixed income have no way to raise extra money to pay for property taxes.
Legislators struggling with economic imperatives
The Indiana state budget will continue to be a work in progress for many more weeks.