Defensive moves blocked most anti-business legislation, commerce leaders say
Business leaders say they had to play defense with the GOP-dominated state Legislature for most of this year’s legislative session but emerged mostly successful.
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Senate gives final approval to Ukraine aid, huge budget bill
The Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., to strip earmarks from the legislation. Braun said they encompassed 367 pages that weighed five pounds and showed “the swamp is rising again.”
Amendment aimed at Indy Democratic chair stripped out of bill
State lawmakers approved an election bill this week after rejecting an amendment targeting Marion County Democratic Party Chair Kate Sweeney Bell, which would’ve required her to choose between her role as chairwoman and elected position as county recorder.
Holcomb visits White House to urge Congress to pass innovation bill
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb joined President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday to urge Congress to pass funding provisions to legislation designed to boost economic competition and semiconductor chip production in the United States.
U.S. House OKs $13.6B for Ukraine in huge spending bill
Passage of the Ukraine aid and the $1.5 trillion government-wide legislation that carried it let both parties lay claim to election-year victories for their priorities.
Indiana lawmakers seek possible special session on abortion
The vast majority of Indiana’s Republican state legislators have signed a letter asking the governor to call them back into special session later this year if the U.S. Supreme Court rolls back the limits states can place on abortion.
Biden’s inflation plan upends thinking on jobs sent overseas
Critics see this new Biden effort as largely an attempt at political damage control, rather than a data-driven approach to reducing inflation.
Legislature ends session by cutting income taxes, not business personal property tax
The plan would cut the income tax rate to 3.15% from 3.23% for 2023, which would amount to a $40 savings for those with $50,000 in taxable income. The tax rate would be cut further in 2025, 2027 and 2029, but only if state tax revenue grows by at least 2% in the previous budget year.
State legislators approve repealing gun permit requirement
The bill’s provisions would allow anyone age 18 or older to carry a handgun in public except for reasons such as having a felony conviction, facing a restraining order from a court or having a dangerous mental illness.
Indiana lawmakers give final OK to economic development updates
The measure heads to Gov. Eric Holcomb, who made modernizing the state’s economic development toolkit a top legislative priority and is expected to sign the bill into law in an effort to help the state be more nimble when recruiting new business.
Congress passes bill to shore up Postal Service, delivery
Congress mustered rare bipartisan support for the Postal Service package, dropping some of the more controversial proposals to settle on core ways to save the service and ensure its future operations.
Indiana lawmakers near deal on multiyear income tax cut
The tax cut package was a major remaining issue as the Republican-dominated Legislature looked to possibly finish this year’s session on Tuesday.
Indiana lawmakers discuss ‘trigger’ for income tax cuts
The leader of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee said Monday that talks with senators included possibly linking tax rate cuts to whether state tax collections remain strong.
Wind and solar standards bill heads to governor without local incentives
Legislation setting voluntary statewide standards for large wind and solar projects is on its way to the governor, but without a key provision to entice local governments to adopt the standards.
Indiana school ‘transparency’ legislation likely dead this session
Republican House Speaker Todd Huston said Thursday that even if language from House Bill 1134 is brought back in another proposal, it’s “highly unlikely” that House Republicans would be on board.
UPDATE: Holcomb signs bill to end health emergency, limit vaccine mandates
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a new order Thursday, effectively ending the health emergency. It had been renewed on a monthly basis for nearly two years.
Holcomb makes stronger call for state lawmakers to pass tax cuts
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, in an opinion piece distributed to media outlets on Thursday, solidified his support for legislation that would provide state tax cuts—and went a step further by asking for an even deeper reduction in income taxes than proposed by House Republicans.
White House unveils new COVID plan, says shutdowns, school closures unnecessary
The 96-page road map is part of a broader White House strategy to move the country from crisis footing and convince Americans that their lives can return to normal amid the president’s tanking approval ratings.
Republicans revive bid for Indiana handgun permit repeal
The provisions would allow anyone age 18 or older to carry a handgun in public except for reasons such as having a felony conviction, facing a restraining order from a court or having a dangerous mental illness.
Biden pledges to make inflation battle his ‘top priority’
The president acknowledged that millions of Americans still face financial hardships, particularly as the cost of groceries, gasoline, cars and rents have skyrocketed in what has become the fastest period of inflation in four decades.