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Government
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS: Changing state's tax system would be tough to pull off
December 19, 2005
Patrick BarkeyWhen it comes to matters of tax policy, inertia reigns supreme. The federal government still collects the proceeds of an excise
tax on telephones that was borne as a temporary measure to help finance the Spanish-American War. The tolls on the Indiana
Toll Road have not changed in almost 20 years. And the granddaddy of them all, the property tax, has existed in one form or
another since the Middle Ages. So when the mayors of Indiana cities and towns...
MoreCompany makes payment related to price-fixing case:
December 12, 2005
Irving Materials Inc. in November deposited $2 million into an escrow account to provide funding toward any eventual settlement
it may make with the state of Indiana over price-fixing of ready-mixed concrete on state, local government and school projects.
In June, Greenfield-based IMI pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to fixing prices on ready-mixed concrete in central Indiana
between July 2000 and May 2004. IMI also has agreed that the four principals who pleaded guilty, Fred R. "Pete" Irving, Price...
MoreCity, police union prepare for cop contract negotiations: FOP seeks 5 percent wage increase for IPD officers
December 12, 2005
Peter SchnitzlerGet ready for another round in local government's most rancorous ongoing scuffle. The Indianapolis Police Department's contract
expires Dec. 31. The city and the police union are about to begin negotiations for a new agreement. Both sides sound optimistic
about the chances for a smooth process. But that could quickly change when they get into the nitty-gritty of wage proposals
and concessions. The parley over IPD's last contract took two years. At its nadir, the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed...
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: Security depends on flexibility, not stability
December 12, 2005
Morton MarcusIn one word, what do we want? I suggest that word is security, physical and financial security. We want to live without fear
for our lives or our livelihoods. The atrocities of 9/11 made Americans more fearful about their physical security than they
had been since the early days of World War II. Our economic condition feels insecure as jobs drift to other nations, as health
care costs soar, and as both public and private pension plans are threatened. To...
MoreWomen inventors pursue their creative dreams: From doggie car seats to valve-less hydraulic systems, these visionaries keep
creating practical products
December 12, 2005
Cynthia A.Windshield wipers, disposable cell phones, Scotchgardâ„¢, the first automatic dishwasher, disposable diapers, Barbie dolls,
nonreflective glass, brassieres, CPR mannequins and "whiteout." These items have one key feature in common-they were all invented
by women. Since the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office does not keep gender statistics, it is impossible to know exactly how
many patents women hold. One thing is certain: since 1809 when Mary Dixon Kies became the first woman to receive a patent
from the government, many other...
MoreNOTIONS: Lamenting the uncivil right to push me and mine
December 12, 2005
Bruce HetrickSeveral weeks ago, the Carmel City Council voted 4-3 to ban workplace smoking. Before casting their ayes and nays, some councilors
explained why they would vote a particular way. One councilor said he had smoked for years and finally quit. He said it was
a wise decision. He urged other smokers to quit, too. Then he issued another plea to smokers: He said that even if they wouldn't
quit, they should voluntarily stop smoking in places where their secondhand smoke...
MoreBEHIND THE NEWS: Another mark against Marsh: It has big pension shortfall
December 12, 2005
Greg AndrewsAs if Marsh Supermarkets Inc. didn't have enough problems, here's another whopper: The company has a drastically underfunded
employee pension plan-to the tune of $44 million. That figure is disclosed deep within a Securities and Exchange Commission
filing the company submitted in June. It shows the pension plan had assets of $39 million, less than half its $83 million
in projected obligations. It's a big shortfall, and one analysts say is sure to draw the attention of potential suitors. An...
MoreNOTIONS Bruce Hetrick: Here's how to avoid a difficult taxing situation
December 5, 2005
Bruce Hetrick is on vacation this week. In his absence, this column, which appeared on Dec. 10, 2001, is being reprinted.
If I were a betting man (and what entrepreneur isn't?), I'd bet that you bought something from an out-of-state firm for yourself
or your company this year. I'd bet that you logged onto the Internet and purchased new books, computers or pantyhose. I'd
bet that you shopped via catalog for your niece or nephew, and shipped that tutu or...
MoreClarian nabs UAC building: Hospital network wins bid for former corporate headquarters
December 5, 2005
Tom MurphyClarian Health Partners is polishing a deal to buy the former Union Acceptance Corp. headquarters on North Shadeland Avenue,
a move that plants a large footprint for the burgeoning hospital network squarely in a competitor's east-side back yard. Clarian
made the winning bid for the 126,000-square-foot building at a Nov. 15 auction, but the sale had not closed as of Nov. 30,
said Bob Getts of Colliers Turley Martin Tucker, which ran the auction. He referred all questions to Clarian....
MoreLegislators face election-year gamble: Legalized Cherry Masters could generate $300M annually
December 5, 2005
Peter SchnitzlerThe lure of easy gambling money is always an enormous temptation for cash-strapped legislators. But in 2006, the stakes will
be higher than ever. Bars and restaurants are organizing an attempt to legalize electronic poker machines, commonly known
as Cherry Masters. By one count, as many as 40,000 operate illegally around the state. Under government administration, Cherry
Masters could generate $300 million in annual tax revenue for state and local governments, advocates of legalization say.
That would fill a lot...
MoreBEHIND THE NEWS: ATA's new flight plan: Rely on military for bulk of revenue
December 5, 2005
Greg AndrewsATA Holdings Corp. has been so busy in recent months slashing scheduled service and reducing costs in other ways that its
comparatively problem-free militarycharter business has received almost no public attention. But new filings in bankruptcy
court show that business is expected to generate nearly 52 percent of ATA's revenue in 2006, providing stability and a steady
profit as the airline tries to regain its footing in scheduled service. The company, which sought Chapter 11 protection in
October 2004, hopes...
MoreProperty taxes could dominate session: Lawmakers face difficult chore of addressing flaws in market-assessment system
December 5, 2005
Peter SchnitzlerIndiana has been struggling for more than a decade to move its property tax system to a market value standard. Expect the
property tax reform debate to take center stage once again in the 2006 Indiana General Assembly. "The more things change,
the more they stay the same," said Karl Berron, vice president of the Indiana Association of Realtors. There are some who
would like to scrap the property tax system entirely and replace it with some other form of...
MoreHealth discount cards spark call for regulation: State insurance group leads registration push
December 5, 2005
Tom MurphySome health care discount programs that can leave patients stranded with large medical bills have put Indiana insurers in
the strange position of asking for more government regulation. The Indiana Association of Health Underwriters plans to lobby
in the upcoming legislative session for a bill that requires companies offering health care discounts to register with the
state. That would allow regulators to investigate complaints and pursue regulatory action if troubles arise with the discounts,
said Shawn Gibbons, a board member...
MoreECONOMIC ANALYSIS: Farming on decline, but ag still offers opportunity
December 5, 2005
Patrick BarkeyDrive less than 20 minutes from almost any crossroads in Indiana and you'll come across a feature of the Midwest landscape
we take for granted: farmland. The vast open space in abundance between our state's urban areas remains dominated by the industry
that once employed more people than any other: agriculture. And while the sights of barns, cropland and animals grazing in
pastures are familiar to us all, we should remember that looks can be deceiving. Plenty of changes are...
MoreRace against crime: As public safety becomes a business issue, much is riding on battle for prosecutor
November 28, 2005
Peter SchnitzlerThe dust has settled on Mayor Bart Peterson's failed police merger. Meanwhile, local crime is surging, up 11 percent from
2002 to 2004. The next bellwether on how to turn the tide will be the 2006 Marion County prosecutor's race. The contest, pitting
Melina Maniatis Kennedy against incumbent Carl Brizzi, already is drawing the attention of community and business leaders,
who say the stakes are huge: Rampant crime can cripple a local economy. "Where there's crime-scene tape, there are not...
MoreRETURN ON TECHNOLOGY: Lesson from Sony mess: Don't toy with consumers
November 28, 2005
Tim AltomYou know, I understand the need to protect one's intellectual property assets. I do. And I understand the frustration of those
companies in the entertainment business that put out a product electronically only to have it instantly copied and distributed.
But I think it's going a little far for a recording label to load a piece of software onto a user's computer that is supposedly
only for controlling and playing a protected music CD, but actually hijacks parts of the...
MoreCenter offers courses in global adjustment: Programs help companies learn cultural differences
November 28, 2005
Scott OlsonIn India, where cricket is the sport of choice, telling an employee he knocked the ball out of the park with his latest proposal
most likely would confuse him. The communications gap and other cultural contrasts between the United States and a country
such as India can be as vast as the 10-hour time difference. So, as local software developer Sigma Micro Corp. prepared to
launch operations at what it refers to as an off-shore development center in the city...
MoreIndustry races to promote itself: Statewide motorsports group hopes to thwart competition from other U.S. markets
November 28, 2005
Anthony SchoettleArea motorsports leaders are gearing up for another run at unifying the industry and assuring the region retains its status
as one of the world's leading motorsports markets. Organizers of the latest effort promise they won't spin their wheels this
time around. They're casting a wider net-going statewide with a motorsports association-to attract more members and build
more clout with the media, local and state lawmakers, and service providers, such as banks and insurance companies. The Indiana
Motorsports Association Inc....
MoreHealth care: big problem for small business: Wyoming lawmaker's proposed legislation could end 10-year Senate impasse on controversial
solution
November 28, 2005
Matthew KishMore than 45 million Americans lack health insurance. And more than half of them are employed or dependent on someone who
works for a small business, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. It's a big problem-especially in
Indiana. Between 2000 and 2004, 5.6 percent of Hoosier workers lost employer-provided health care, according to the Economic
Policy Institute. That's a higher percentage than any state except Wisconsin. Legislation just introduced in Congress by Wyoming
Sen. Michael Enzi, however, may...
MoreStates crimp Zyprexa access: Medicaid restrictions cutting into sales of Lilly's top drug
November 28, 2005
Tom MurphyEli Lilly and Co.'s top seller Zyprexa, pummeled in recent quarters by concerns over side effects, now faces a growing challenge
from some of its biggest customers: state Medicaid programs. Citing high costs, more than a half dozen states have moved Zyprexa
and other pricey anti-psychotics off preferred drug lists or made it harder for doctors to prescribe them for patients on
Medicaid, the state-federal program that provides health care coverage for the poor and disabled. Georgia, for instance, saved...
MoreNOTIONS: Putting human rights bill to the test
November 28, 2005
Bruce HetrickA few weeks ago, my son Zach was named a Student Rotarian by his high school in Fort Wayne. He was invited to be honored at
a downtown Rotary Club luncheon in that city, and asked me to attend. The Rotarians met on the second floor of the Summit
City's downtown Holiday Inn. Zach and I went through the buffet line and sat down at a round table with the superintendent
of his school system and four other Rotarians. The...
MoreHispanic market his target: Ponce Publicidad founder focuses on fast-growing demographic group
November 28, 2005
Anthony SchoettleThe Bank of Central America is moving into Florida and other parts of the southeast United States. While this development
might not seem significant for central Indiana business operators, Roberto Ponce thinks it's a sign. "The burgeoning Hispanic
market within the U.S. is becoming a major factor," said Ponce, president of Indianapolis-based Ponce Publicidad. "If domestic
businesses don't realize that and reach out to this segment, others from beyond our borders will." Ponce thinks his firm is
uniquely positioned to...
MoreVOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: What's protected in United States may not be elsewhere
November 28, 2005
Amie PeeleGlobalization It's a buzz word and opportunity; a blessing and a curse. The shrinking global marketplace can help jump start
companies that learn how to navigate the morass of regulations and potential pitfalls regarding the protection of intellectual
property and personal and business information outside of the United States. But compliance with U.S. laws regarding trademark,
patent, privacy and other areas does not necessarily equal compliance in other countries. Successful U.S. companies can find
themselves facing uphill battles if they...
MoreTechnology proposals get business focus: IEDC requests new 21st Century Fund applications
November 21, 2005
Peter SchnitzlerIt's been 18 months since state government requested new technology proposals from startups or academics. The days of waiting
are now finished. "We're in business," said the Indiana Economic Development Corp.'s new director of entrepreneurship, Bruce
Kidd. "The open sign is in the window. We want to start accepting applications again." On Nov. 16, the IEDC issued a request
for applications to its $75 million 21st Century Research and Technology Fund. Much has changed since March 2004, when the
state...
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: Should we save ailing manufacturers?
November 21, 2005
Morton MarcusToday, Delphi in Kokomo is the leading economic issue in Indiana. The resolution of its difficulties may foreshadow where
we go as a state. Delphi is a major manufacturer of electronics for automobiles. As a former component of General Motors Corp.,
Delphi still depends on that struggling company for a large portion of its revenue. In addition, Delphi has pension and health
care costs inherited from GM's relationship with the United Auto Workers. Despite the fact that Delphi has been...
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Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.
Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.
I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.
The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.
I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!