Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute leader steps down after 8 years
John Ketzenberger, a longtime local journalist who has been credited for stabilizing the institute’s finances, is mum so far on his plans after leaving the post.
State Budget
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State sues to defend new law requiring out-of-state retailers to pay sales tax
The state of Indiana has been clamoring to collect sales tax from out-of-state retailers. The only problem is a U.S. Supreme Court decision that says it can’t.
Mishler named to replace Kenley as Senate Appropriations chairman
Sen. Luke Kenley plans to retire later this year after serving since 1992 in the Indiana Senate and leading the budget-writing panel since 2009.
First candidate emerges to replace retiring Kenley, while former foe mulls options
The president of the Noblesville Common Council is seeking the nod for Luke Kenley’s state senate seat from a Republican caucus. The businessman who lost to Kenley in 2016 is considering running as well.
Worry rises over future of HIP 2.0 insurance program
Indiana hospitals are bracing for congressional action that could mean deep cuts in Medicaid, which funds the state’s popular health insurance program for low-income adults.
Biz interests mostly pleased with legislative session
Although lawmakers OK’d less than half the $50 million annual pledge business leaders wanted for expanding state-funded preschool, they passed a major infrastructure bill that businesses favored.
Purdue’s decision to acquire Kaplan a ‘high-risk, high-reward’ move
Observers say the deal is unprecedented for a public research university and leaves unanswered questions about how others in the sector will respond.
Lawmakers pass budget with investments in education, entrepreneurism
The final version of the bill eschews a proposed $1 per pack cigarette tax increase. But it includes many of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s priorities.
Budget bill includes $22M annually for state pre-K program
The budget allots $22 million annually for the state’s fledgling pre-kindergarten pilot program—$9 million more than the Senate version of the bill proposed, and more than double the $10 million the program gets now.
State budget forecast slightly sunnier with another $200M in revenue expected
Indiana lawmakers in final negotiations over the next two-year state budget got some good news Wednesday about revenue projections for 2018 and 2019.
Senate passes $32.1B budget that avoids cigarette tax hike
Now the House and Senate will take the next two weeks to hash out their differences on the state spending plan.
Senate’s $32.1B budget eschews cigarette tax hike
An Indiana Senate panel on Thursday advanced a two-year state budget plan with significant differences in funding for roads, entrepreneurship and education from the House’s plan.
Wise investment? Voucher system’s effectiveness tough to judge
Over six years, the state has spent more than a half billion dollars on vouchers. During that time, Indiana’s program has expanded, giving more students access to vouchers than in any other state—despite mixed evidence from researchers that vouchers help students achieve.
Senate panel guts House proposal on preschool education
A House bill that would increase state funding to send low-income children to preschool was gutted in an Indiana Senate committee, setting up a potential clash between the two chambers.
House passes $31.4B budget with cigarette tax hike
House Ways and Means Chairman Tim Brown called the $31.4 billion budget an “honest appraisal of the money we have and the spending priorities we have going forward.”
Funding for state archives building may have to wait until 2019
Advocates of constructing a new archives building say the current location, on East 30th Street, is falling into disrepair and that the situation is getting dire.
UPDATE: House GOP budget raises cigarette tax while funding some of Holcomb’s wish list
Raising the cigarette tax by $1 per pack would help pay for Medicaid spending and tobacco-cessation programs—and would help patch the $300 million annual hole in the budget created by the House’s road-funding plan.
State lawmakers seek to press forward with balanced budget amendment
Republican legislators are considering taking the next step toward adding a balanced budget amendment to the Indiana Constitution, despite claims it’s unnecessary.
Holcomb seeks $10M to attract more nonstop flights
Gov. Eric Holcomb is pushing a plan aimed at attracting new nonstop and direct flights to and from the Indianapolis International Airport.
Holcomb seeks $2 million per year to provide free training for high-demand jobs
The plan to skill up Indiana’s adult workforce could help prepare the state to fill an estimated 1 million jobs by 2025, most of which will be openings created by the impending retirements of baby boomers.