The Indiana Senate has approved a bill to eliminate local township advisory boards, but not eliminate township government completely as Gov. Mitch Daniels had proposed. The bill that passed yesterday 28-22 would eliminate three-member township boards that adopt the annual township budget and act as the township’s fiscal and legislative body. Those duties would be […]
Republican state lawmakers were never keen on House Democrats’ idea to take $500 million from a trust fund and spend the cash on local road projects. But the GOP-controlled Senate made the message clear yesterday as it approved a proposal to protect the fund by putting it into the Indiana constitution. Sen. Mike Delph (R-Carmel) […]
The U.S. policy of shunning communist Cuba by imposing a strict trade embargo has failed to prod the island nation toward democracy and should be re-evaluated, according to the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “We must recognize the ineffectiveness of our current policy and deal with the Cuban regime in a way […]
President Barack Obama said today he would begin distributing $15 billion to the states within two days to help them with Medicaid payments to the poor. The money will begin reaching the states Wednesday from the newly passed $787 billion economic stimulus program, Obama told the nation’s governors during a meeting at the White House. […]
Partisan battles over drafting state budgets in Indiana always include arguments over how much taxpayer money to spend, where the dollars should go and how they should be doled out. But, for the first time in years, the budget debate this legislative session includes a new element, and a very heated one at that: Should […]
When it comes time to celebrate African-American History month, wouldn’t we be better served with profiles of young, living role models we can talk to—heroes who can talk to us? Let me submit for your consideration Mercy Obeime.
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association says it needs more sales and marketing firepower to fill an expanded convention
center and adjacent hotels. That means asking the city’s Capital Improvement Board—one of ICVA’s primary sources of funds—for
a budget increase of up to 50 percent at the worst possible time.
Facing anemic demand and slumping sales, manufacturers are increasingly attempting to tap the U.S. Department of Defense for contracting opportunities.
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association says it needs more sales and marketing firepower to fill an expanded convention center and adjacent hotels. That means asking the city’s Capital Improvement Board-one of ICVA’s primary sources of funds-for a budget increase of up to 50 percent at the worst possible time. ICVA says it needs an […]
I have bad news for Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts and Indianapolis Indians ticket buyers. By the time you buy tickets for next season’s games, you’ll likely be hit with a higher ticket tax….
A bill that would revoke the business licenses of companies that repeatedly hire illegal workers won unanimous support from a Senate committee yesterday. The committee took the unusual step of holding three separate meetings on the proposal – listening to supporters and opponents – before taking a vote. Sen. Mike Delph (R-Carmel) supports legislation to […]
Mokulele Airlines yesterday said it made a $300,000 loan payment, staving off seizure of its assets and operations by business partner Republic Airways Holdings Inc. Mokulele had defaulted on an $8 million loan, and Indianapolis-based Republic said it would come in and operate Mokulele if the Hawaii carrier failed to make the payment by the […]
A bill that would revoke the business licenses of companies that repeatedly hire illegal workers won unanimous support from a Senate committee yesterday. The committee took the unusual step of holding three separate meetings on the proposal – listening to supporters and opponents – before taking a vote. Sen. Mike Delph (R-Carmel) supports legislation to […]
Several local government reorganization proposals floundered at the Indiana Statehouse yesterday, as lawmakers resisted some of the vast changes proposed by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels. The Senate Local Government Committee gutted a bill to eliminate township governments, instead voting 9-2 for a more modest measure that would leave townships intact but add a review of […]
The Indiana Senate has passed a bill that could spur counties to revamp their local governments. The GOP-controlled Senate approved the proposal 30-19 yesterday, sending it to the Democrat-ruled House for consideration. Supporters of the bill say streamlining local government would make the system more efficient and responsive, but opponents don’t see a […]
President Barack Obama put his own indelible imprint on the nation’s distressed economy today, signing the huge recovery package into law, readying a $50 billion proposal to help homeowners fend off foreclosure and awaiting emergency restructuring plans from flailing automakers. Obama said the sprawling legislation, which congressional Democrats pushed to passage last week over near-unanimous […]
Real estate industry interests are concerned about a bill making its way through the Indiana General Assembly that would give tenants of residential and commercial property the right to terminate their leases without penalty if a property goes into foreclosure. Critics say Senate Bill 225, introduced by Republican Sen. Theresa Lubbers of Indianapolis, would make […]
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. yesterday reported lower revenue and profit for the fourth quarter of 2008, but the financial performance exceeded analysts’ expectations. The Indianapolis-based airline had revenue of $339.3 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31-3.6-percent less than the $351.8 million it reported for the same period of 2007. The company had profit of […]
Political fighting in the Indiana House has delayed at least temporarily a vote on a bill to help fix the state’s depleted unemployment insurance fund. The bill would raise taxes on employers to help balance the fund, which currently pays out millions of dollars more than it collects while relying on federal loans to issue […]
It may sound like a nice problem for states – figuring out how to spend the billions in infrastructure funding they’ll receive as part of President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan. But the task is more complicated than it seems, as state officials try to set priorities while managing competing pressures from communities, watchdog groups […]
