FEIGENBAUM: Costly transportation projects may spawn taxpayer road rage
Even many lawmakers expected the Major Moves transportation fund would obviate the need to find large amounts of state dollars for critical projects.
Ed Feigenbaum
Articles
FEIGENBAUM: Fiscal issues to dominate waning days of the session
This year, with the right-to-work debate having sucked all the air out of the session—and largely all the fight out of House Democrats—before the Super Bowl, the final weeks of the session are less intriguing than usual.
FEIGENBAUM: Maneuvering already under way for 2013 session
It may seem the next few weeks will be devoid of major public policy debates you’re accustomed to expect as sessions wind down, but rest assured that activity below the surface is already paving the way for intriguing major action in 2013.
FEIGENBAUM: State not coming to grips with slide in gambling taxes
You might be surprised to learn that Indiana’s casinos have passed the $10 billion mark in wagering and admissions taxes paid to the state and their respective host cities.
FEIGENBAUM: Lots of bills still in play as session nears home stretch
Many issues that address daily commerce, business relationships, education policy, and the internal functions of state and local government remain to be addressed.
FEIGENBAUM: Right-to-work resolution opens floodgates for other bills
House Democrats and Republicans, who had been bickering like Patriots and Giants fans, suddenly seemed to drop all political pretenses, and returned to conducting the people’s business.
FEIGENBAUM: Democrats’ end game difficult to decipher
While the end game sought by House Democrats was elusive as they tried to halt the right-to-work bill advocated by all but a handful of House Republicans, the Jan. 25 passage of the legislation in the House doesn’t necessarily offer new certainty.
FEIGENBAUM: Constitutional question derails right-to-work dealmaking
Even before the first full month of the year has passed, every conceivable metaphor for the importance of the right-to-work issue in the 2012 legislative session has been (ab)used.
FEIGENBAUM: Democrats must assess strategy as right-to-work advances
On the evening of the New Hampshire presidential primary, Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels delivered his eighth and final State of the State address to the Indiana General Assembly and Hoosiers at home in the television audience.
FEIGENBAUM: Right-to-work just one of big stories brewing in ’12
Hoosiers may never have started a January with the likely litany of top 10 stories of the year lined up quite as transparently as they seem for 2012.
FEIGENBAUM: Chief justice’s retirement puts court at crossroads
You cannot overstate the positive impact Indiana’s longest-serving Supreme Court chief justice, Randall T. Shepard, has had on the state and local judiciary in Indiana (and nationally, where he is the longest-serving court leader).
FEIGENBAUM: Indiana General Assembly will be known for trading paint
Expect scores of Democratic amendments, particularly if right-to-work hits the House floor.
FEIGENBAUM: Passage of Daniels’ agenda will spawn sweeping change
You shouldn’t have much trouble discerning the immediate winners from the 2011 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
FEIGENBAUM: Lessons learned from an unconventional session
Hoosiers were on notice headed into the session that they would not see four months marked by a “business as usual” attitude.
FEIGENBAUM: Conference committees may offer fewer fireworks
Given the historical context, it would not be unexpected that there wouldn’t be much left to argue about as the 2011 legislative session approaches its scheduled April 29 conclusion.
FEIGENBAUM: New legislative maps matter over the long term
District lines largely will guide the partisan composition of the Indiana House of Representatives and the delegation we send to Congress for the next decade.
FEIGENBAUM: Wrangling over budget takes center stage in Legislature
Budget cuts became more painful in the past several years as the national recession drew the fiscal noose tighter on Indiana government income.
FEIGENBAUM: Fallout from Democrats’ walkout will affect fall elections
Following five weeks in a chain hotel in Illinois, House Democrats marched back into the Statehouse—literally—on March 28, escorted by union leaders along Capitol Street and up the east steps in an event made for media. So who wins?
FEIGENBAUM: Right-to-work issue still alive and kicking
Legislative observers wonder whether this session’s unique nature may convince Senate leaders to be a bit more flexible in ruling on germaneness.
FEIGENBAUM: Thoughts turn to truncated state budget process
As the legislative standoff continued, those who were concerned about policy turned their attention to the budget process.