It's hardly uncommon to go from being employed by Indiana's government to lobbying it, but an increasing number are making the jump without sitting out the customary one-year "cooling-off" period.
A powerful Indiana House Republican on Monday defended his decision to support a Utah company his daughter represents as a Statehouse lobbyist, one week after Gov. Mike Pence placed a hold on state aid to a company run by the lawmaker's son.
Local governments and road builders are optimistic that the Indiana Senate’s version of the state budget, set to debut Thursday, will mirror the House’s $500 million increase for road building.
Purdue University is planning to trim its federal lobbying costs and downsize its Washington, D.C., office by cutting ties with an outside lobbying firm.
The gambling industry spent more than $19 million lobbying at the Indiana Statehouse from 2000-2012, according to reports filed online by the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission.
Purdue University President Mitch Daniels says he won't be lobbying state lawmakers on Purdue's behalf this session because it's too soon after his departure from the governor's office.
Indiana Gov.-elect Mike Pence has tapped Jeff Espich, a retired lawmaker with four decades of legislative experience, to guide his agenda through the Statehouse.
Economic development typically tops the chamber’s agenda, and for the upcoming session the pro-business organization is backing Gov.-elect Mike Pence’s idea for a new state-sponsored research institute.
Election Day brought 24 new members to the House of Representatives. That huge freshman wave, plus the return of 18 reps who were newly elected in 2010, means 42 percent of the House will begin the 2013 session with two years of experience or less.
The $1.3 billion transit plan for Hamilton and Marion counties is one of a few lingering issues — along with Sunday alcohol sales and a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage — likely to appear before lawmakers in 2013.
Sam Odle, who retired from Indiana University Health in July as chief operating officer, is joining the local lobbying firm as a senior policy adviser, representing clients in the health care and life sciences sectors.
Questions remain whether Indiana’s governor will be covered by the state’s “revolving door” law when he becomes president of Purdue University. State ethics rules require a one year cool-down period for public officials after leaving office, preventing them from working as lobbyists.
The loss of hundreds of years of experience in the House, including the top Republican and Democratic budget writers, has some worried that paid lobbyists could gain an even heftier role within the General Assembly.
The new hires could be important following last year’s legislative session, in which state lawmakers passed a law to cut off Medicaid funding to groups that offer abortions.
Eli Lilly and Co. spent $1.9 million lobbying the federal government in the first quarter, focusing on the health care overhaul and overseas pricing reform, among many other issues.
WellPoint lobbied on issues tied to the overhaul's implementation and regulations for accountable care organizations, which are networks of hospitals, doctors, rehabilitation centers and other providers that coordinate a patient's care.
Education reformers dramatically outspent opponents on lobbying, advertising and grass-roots campaigning during the past legislative session.
Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. raised its spending 8 percent from the $2.3 million that it spent in the first quarter of last year. The drugmaker also spent 70 percent more than the $1.5 million recorded in the final quarter of 2010, according to lobbying reports filed with the House of Representatives.
WellPoint Inc., the nation's largest health insurer based on membership, spent about $1.5 million lobbying the federal government in the first quarter, as the health care overhaul debuted a new restriction that concerned managed care companies.
After years of advocating pro-business positions, many chambers are taking the next step and issuing endorsements in hopes of ensuring business-friendly mayors get elected.
