FEIGENBAUM: Will Democrats hold out until some warm April day?
Indiana House Democrats largely remain bunkered en masse in Urbana, Ill., save occasional individual appearances back at town hall events in their respective districts.
Ed Feigenbaum
Articles
FEIGENBAUM: Prepare for a history-making budget process
Hoosier Democrats may find that their solon sojourn in Illinois invokes Newton’s law of political physics: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
FEIGENBAUM: Freshmen legislators’ green is showing
The “new kids in the bloc” failed to heed their elders, and got a bit greedy too quickly, goading Democrats into the only recourse open to them.
FEIGENBAUM: Gambling and guns create legislative fireworks
At least one Indianapolis legislator has quietly investigated allowing casinos to collaborate on a temporary downtown facility, and Republican Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has publicly not ruled it out.
FEIGENBAUM: Governor focuses on the big issues, just as Reagan did
That “think big” attitude seems to be carrying over to lawmakers, who this month focused on major issues.
FEIGENBAUM: Unemployment insurance bill’s path surprisingly smooth
Once in a legislative blue moon, a bill will zip through the labyrinthine process with alacrity.
FEIGENBAUM: Lawmakers wrestle with when and how to regulate
What may be appropriate regulatory reform to one person or industry may be anathema to another.
FEIGENBAUM: Daniels experiences pushback even from Republicans
Assorted issues advanced by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels are confronting political pushback—from his Republican legislative majority.
FEIGENBAUM: Right-to-work debate could create sparks in Legislature
The bulk of legislative Democrats, allied with organized labor, are vehemently opposed to having Indiana join almost two dozen other states with right-to-work laws, labeling them as discriminatory against minorities and women, and contending that such laws will do little more than reduce wages and lower the living standards of many Hoosiers.
FEIGENBAUM: Here’s what to expect from State of the State Address
State of the State Address can help outline priorities for a given session, and governors have used them to dramatically draw a line in the proverbial sand, directly delivering a message to the individual members and leaders of the legislative branch—and over their heads to the voters—as to what they expect, will tolerate, and hope for.
FEIGENBAUM: Session to test lawmakers’ views on small government
Many new House and Senate members won election in part on platforms of reducing government regulation and minimizing government in the lives of Hoosiers.
FEIGENBAUM: ‘There is no money’ takes on new meaning
Tight tax revenue will force hard choices on the General Assembly.
FEIGENBAUM: Short session succeeded in doing no harm
The 2010 legislative session ended strangely: ahead of deadline, yet a week beyond the expected schedule, and the last full
day saw more mood swings among lawmakers than Indianapolis Colts fans experienced during the Super Bowl.
FEIGENBAUM: Legislature heads toward bumpy conclusion
OK, I admit that I’m still wincing about last week’s column about a peaceful, easy feeling in the General Assembly
as it approached the leadership-targeted early-adjournment date.
FEIGENBAUM: Session heads toward early, quiet completion
The buzz as the days ran out suggested that nothing on the agenda was “must-pass” legislation, leaving Democrats
and Republicans, the House and the Senate, and the governor and the General Assembly with little leverage to exert.
FEIGENBAUM: Don’t expect fireworks in session’s grand finale
Lawmakers head into one
of their briefest periods of conference committee deliberations in recent years with just a handful of major issues needing
resolution.
FEIGENBAUM: Sen. Bayh’s call for civility reverberates at Statehouse
In the most significant retirement decision announced in Indiana since Reggie Miller hung up his sneakers, Democratic U.S.
Sen. Evan Bayh said Dec. 15 he would not seek a third U.S. Senate term. That decision also sent shock waves through
the ranks of Democratic lawmakers in Indianapolis, none of whom had any advance word.
FEIGENBAUM: Remainder of legislative session will be all about jobs
House Democrats now have their opportunity to tinker with legislation sent to them by the Senate, and they will look for
every opportunity to use these miscellaneous bills to preserve and create jobs. Similarly, Senate Republicans will analyze
each piece of legislation that crossed the Statehouse Rotunda from the House to determine whether it is a “job-killer.”
FEIGENBAUM: Legislature’s second half will have its share of drama
Perhaps it was serendipity that the midpoint of the 2009 legislative session fell just ahead of the Indianapolis Colts’
Super Bowl appearance.
FEIGENBAUM: Debate rages over the right to bear arms
House Bill 1065 would bar business owners
from prohibiting an employee from keeping a legally owned firearm in his or her locked vehicle at work.