Payroll tax hike looming
Shoring up the state’s jobless-fund shortfall likely will cost employers and employees more.
Legislature
Articles
Trickiest legislative issues remain far from resolution
Positive action, action for the sake of action, and inaction were all on tap in the General Assembly in recent days as lawmakers
prepared to wrap up the first half of the session.
Activity at Statehouse picks up, but how much is getting done?
After a surprisingly slow month of January, the pace of legislative action picked up considerably during the first two weeks
of February.
Health care interests wary of state’s cost-cutting idea for Medicaid
Indiana Medicaid officials want to take over management of all its patients’ prescription drugs because they say it could save the state as much as $40 million a year.
From politics to basic training, state official excels
Danielle Chrysler hasn’t met a challenge yet that she hasn’t embraced–and conquered.
Stimulus talk creates uncertainty at Statehouse
Stimulus talk continues to dominate discussion at the Indiana Statehouse, creating indecision for lawmakers who were supposed to be devoting their full attention to assembling a two-year budget under difficult economic circumstances.
Cash-strapped gambling firm pushing bill in Legislature; Centaur trying to recover from Pennsylvania setback
Centaur is lobbying the Indiana General Assembly to let it transfer 500 slots from its Hoosier Park horse track in Anderson
to the Fort Wayne area.
Latest jobs numbers may change state’s priorities
Jobs themselves may become “Job One” for our elected officials.
Government reform effort long overdue
Critics were lined up to oppose Gov. Mitch Daniels’ plan to streamline
local government almost before he left the podium Dec. 19. Big surprise.
Tax caps thrill homeowners, assessments chill businesses
Soaring property taxes were arguably Indiana’s biggest problem in 2007. In 2008, the Legislature approved property tax caps
as a solution. But because the caps haven’t been implemented, debate is still raging over the consequences the caps will have
for local governments and whether they should be made permanent.
Recession, budget shortfalls will have major impact on everything legislators debate
Now expecting $935 million less in annual revenue than they did a year ago, legislators will spend the next four months arguing
over budget cuts.
Tax-cap bill, jobless fund among top business issues during legislative session
Several major issues with business implications are expected to receive ample attention when legislators convene next month,
particularly the continuing saga of property-tax relief and the state’s ability to pay jobless benefits.
Charter school study likely to stoke legislative debate
A state-funded study of Indiana’s charter schools has found that “no practical difference” exists between the alternative
schools and traditional public schools.
State technology interests don’t want economy to stifle progress
Indiana legislators are signaling that everyone who receives funding from state government must tighten their belts as tax
collections fall short of projections. That could cause pressure for cuts to key technology incentives.
Transit isn’t just an expense; it’s an investment
The Metropolitan Development Commission gave Indianapolis area transportation planners the green light Nov. 12 to do an expedited
study that would show locations, cost and potential ridership for mass transit routes region-wide.
Study examines regional commuter rail types and their expense
The Metropolitan Development Commission has given city planners the green light to seek an expedited study that would provide
a clearer picture of what a comprehensive regional transit system could look like and how much it would cost.
Kenley to lead GOP budget negotiations
In the wake of the 2008 election, State Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, has been promoted. to chairman of the powerful Senate
Appropriations Committee, which oversees the state budget.
Election of president, governor signals Hoosiers desire changes
Indiana’s blue vote for president-elect Barack Obama on Election Day was a sign that Hoosiers are ready for change. So was
the state’s red vote to keep incumbent Gov. Mitch Daniels in office. In this case, the status quo means more change. Daniels
has been making gutsy and sometimes unpopular moves since taking office four years ago. He ran on a promise to keep shaking
things up.
Key races will decide who controls Indiana House of Representatives
Most of Indiana’s 100 House districts are strongly Democratic or strongly Republican. That means control of the House of
Representatives will come down to a handful of battleground districts–probably fewer than a dozen, political experts say.
Property-tax reform may force cutbacks in urban school districts
Many Indiana school districts say they have no choice but to brace for cutbacks in areas like school repairs, computers and
transportation thanks to the property tax reform measure approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov.Mitch Daniels.