FEIGENBAUM: Legislative battles looming over religious expression
Republican leaders haven’t put religious expression measures on their agenda for the session, but they aren’t inclined to stand in the way.
Ed Feigenbaum
Articles
FEIGENBAUM: Education, energy, ag legislation gain momentum
The bill count topped 1,200 before the end of January, and that figure, of course, doesn’t include the scores of amendments you’ll see before the end of April.
FEIGENBAUM: Lawmakers weighing overwhelming stack of bills
Many of the new House and Senate members ran on limited, simplistic campaign platforms, and—because few had seriously contested general election campaigns—they had little opportunity to educate themselves on more than a handful of big-picture matters.
FEIGENBAUM: Pence’s speech kept things simple, but expect detours
The governor took on the federal government for overreaching on health care and environmental regulations, and he reiterates his priorities on education.
FEIGENBAUM: Expect more details of Pence agenda in coming days
The governor delivers his State of the State Address on Jan. 13. He will lay out his legislative agenda in greater detail than in December pronouncements that education would take precedence this session, in terms of both cash and policy.
FEIGENBAUM: Not-so-rosy revenue outlook mutes lawmaker expectations
This session will feature a battle of priorities, led by education spending. With no game-changing revenue enhancements on the horizon, the gap between perception and reality on the forecast can’t be bridged.
FEIGENBAUM: Crush of big issues await General Assembly
Republican supermajorities in 2013 and 2014 left a lot of unfinished business on the table, and that—as well as changes in technology and public expectations—portends an extremely active 2015 General Assembly session.
FEIGENBAUM: Big agenda awaits 2015 General Assembly
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. The fact that snow stopped falling, temperatures started climbing, and tulips tentatively inched up from the frozen Hoosier tundra just as lawmakers left town actually has no direct connection to the end of the 2014 legislative session.
FEIGENBAUM: Budget concerns push big ideas into next year
Amazing how deadlines—particularly pushing them forward—can ensure compromise in the General Assembly’s conference committee process.
FEIGENBAUM: Region has much at stake as session closes
Local governments have loudly fretted about the potential loss of tax dollars from a reduction or elimination of the business personal property tax, and raised concerns about forcing intrastate competitions for business relocations.
FEIGENBAUM: Big week ahead for unfinished Pence agenda
March 3 and 4, respectively, mark the final days for third reading of Senate bills in the House, and third reading of House bills in the Senate. Those deadlines are a significant milestone, because we’re now finished with hearings by standing committees.
FEIGENBAUM: Lawmakers press ahead on education issues
The business community has turned a keen collective eye to a passel of bills that seek to improve education, including measures that would authorize Indianapolis Public Schools to enter into an agreement with a school-management team to establish innovative network schools, allow charter school support to be distributed at the organizer level; and create a career and technical education diploma.
FEIGENBAUM: Revenue forecast, cold weather complicate budget
The gubernatorial legislative agenda came with a heavy price tag even as Mike Pence declared the $2 billion state surplus off limits.
Much of ambitious legislative agenda remains alive
Despite concerns that debating a constitutional amendment defining marriage would rip our state apart, that didn’t happen and the General Assembly has proven quite productive—as well as judicious in deciding what issues not to become entangled in during the “short” session.
Lawmakers begin to shift focus beyond HJR 3
Following the initial rounds of jockeying surrounding HJR 3, the definition of marriage constitutional amendment, lawmakers can redirect their attention to other matters of substance for a few weeks. This week marks the initial third reading deadline, the final stage for passage of legislation in its chamber of origin, and many important pieces of legislation […]
Bosma’s collaborative style put to huge test
The House speaker has done his utmost to downplay the importance of the proposed same-sex marriage amendment within the context of the Republican agenda this year.
Governor’s State of the State address avoids the nitty-gritty
Pence emphasized job creation, early childhood education, and quality of life, and used his speech to fit his proposals into those silos.
Legislative agenda unusually lengthy for a short session
An uncommonly ambitious gubernatorial want-list is paired with scores of items lawmakers are coveting during the 10-week gathering.
FEIGENBAUM: Pence’s ‘road map’ puts Legislature in driver’s seat
Each Hoosier governor brings his own style to his legislative agenda and relationship with the Indiana General Assembly.
FEIGENBAUM: Plenty of issues for Republicans to parse
Marriage, education and child care are just some of the hot potatoes likely to receive debate.