Top Dem sees tough pathway for $3.5T social, climate plans
The real test will be when Democrats write and vote on subsequent legislation actually enacting the party’s priorities into specific spending and tax policies.
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Indiana lawmakers poised for final stop on redistricting listening tour
State lawmakers will convene at the Statehouse on Wednesday for a final hearing before drawing the new district maps.
Indianapolis hoping to boost rental assistance funding by nearly $100M
The city’s IndyRent program—which launched last July with $15 million in funding and eventually grew to $96 million—has so far pushed out $53 million in rent payments to landlords of those seeking rental assistance.
City on firm financial footing with $1.3B budget proposal, Hogsett administration says
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration introduced a $1.35 billion budget proposal to the City-County-Council on Monday evening, with more than half allotted to public safety and criminal justice.
Mayor unveils $166M anti-violence plan as part of city financial proposal
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s plan, funded largely with federal coronavirus relief, gives $33 million to traditional law enforcement efforts, $82 million toward community-led programming and $51.5 million toward “root cause” services like mental health care, hunger relief and workforce development.
Senate Dems unveil $3.5T budget for social, climate efforts
The measure lays the groundwork for separate legislation later this year that over a decade would pour mountains of federal resources into Democrats’ top priorities, with much of it paid for with tax increases on the rich and corporations.
Indiana construction projects boom thanks to new budget plan
The new state budget adopted in April by the Republican-controlled General Assembly is awash in federal coronavirus relief money, allowing the state to give sizeable funding to projects that had for years been shelved and left out of spending plans.
Budget office: Infrastructure bill adds $256B to deficits
Nearing decision time, senators are wrapping up work on the bipartisan infrastructure plan, and talks were under way late Thursday to expedite consideration and voting on the nearly $1 trillion proposal.
Real estate, landlord groups file legal salvo to stop new eviction moratorium
Only one day after the Biden administration issued a new policy protecting renters from eviction, a series of real estate and landlord groups is trying to invalidate it.
Senators unveil $1T infrastructure bill with 2,700 pages
The bipartisan bill calls for $550 billion in new spending over five years above projected federal levels, in what could be one of the more substantial expenditures on the nation’s roads, bridges, waterworks, broadband and the electric grid in years.
Indiana drivers holding cellphones now face stiffer penalties
Violations will now result in four points against a driver’s license, BMV officials said.
Schumer: Vote on infrastructure bill could come within days
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was prepared to keep lawmakers in Washington for as long as it took to complete votes on both the bipartisan infrastructure plan and a budget blueprint.
State: Decisions about vaccines, masks are up to school districts, businesses
State health officials say they have no authority to require anyone to get a vaccine, including state employees.
Biden orders tough new vaccination rules for federal workers
The federal government directly employs about 4 million people (including about 38,900 in Indiana), but Biden’s action could affect many more when federal contractors are factored in.
Here’s how the bipartisan infrastructure deal would invest $280 billion in transportation
The money would be split between existing programs that fund highways, transit agencies and airports, and other initiatives designed to tackle goals such as repairing aging bridges and improving the accessibility of buses.
Hampton to vacate Noblesville council seat for new job in Florida
Former TV sportscaster Wil Hampton has represented the city’s District 4 since he was first elected in 2015. He has accepted a job as associate director of athletics for a Florida university.
Infrastructure talks in political jeopardy as infighting spills into the open
For weeks, the 10 Republicans and Democrats hashing out a roughly $1 trillion package to revitalize the nation’s roads, bridges, pipes, ports and internet connections have insisted that the group was close to finalizing a deal with the White House.
Senators race to overcome snag over mass transit in infrastructure deal
As discussions continued through the weekend, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman said both sides were “about 90% of the way there” on an agreement.
As coronavirus surges, GOP lawmakers are moving to limit public health powers
In Indiana and other states, anger at perceived overreach by health officials has prompted legislative attempts to limit their authority, including new state laws that prevent the closure of businesses or allow lawmakers to rescind mask mandates.
Weinzapfel picked as interim leader of United Way group
The group said Jonathan Weinzapfel would serve as interim president and chief executive officer through the end of 2021.