House committee moves vaccine mandates bill forward
The vaccine-mandate provisions of the bill would effectively force employers to accept any medical or religious reason to exempt employees from getting a vaccine, without question.
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House, Senate differ on handling vaccine mandates, health emergency
Indiana House and Senate Republican leaders appear to be at odds on how to handle legislation to address employer vaccine mandates and end the state’s public health emergency.
House Republicans unveil $1B tax cut plan; other GOP leaders are more reluctant
The plan proposes lowering or eliminating four separate taxes on sales, business personal property, individual income and utility receipts.
Indiana legislative leaders take aim at ‘out-of-control’ health care prices
House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Rodric Bray sent a joint letter Tuesday to 20 hospital and insurance executives, telling them to submit a plan by April 1 that would lower Indiana’s hospital prices to the national average or lower by 2025.
COVID-19 surge not deterring push to end Indiana health emergency
A House committee is set to vote Thursday on a bill that includes administrative actions sought by Holcomb, along with provisions that would force businesses to grant broad exemptions to any workplace COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
Indiana’s GOP governor, lawmakers differing on top issues
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb proposed a tax cut for some businesses Monday that is decidedly less ambitious than what many of his fellow Republicans want to seek during the new legislative session.
Business tax cuts top Holcomb’s 2022 agenda
Reducing the business tax on equipment and modernizing tax incentives to attract more businesses to Indiana are among the top items on Gov. Eric Holcomb’s 2022 “Next Level Agenda,” which he announced Monday afternoon.
Lilly resumes political contributions to Republicans who voted against certifying election
The pharmaceutical giant has quietly returned to making political contributions to 14 Republican lawmakers who voted against certifying the 2020 election results, according to a report issued Monday by watchdog group Accountable.US.
2021 Year in Review: GOP splinters over emergency powers law
A family feud broke out among Indiana Republicans this year when Gov. Eric Holcomb sued the Indiana General Assembly’s legislative leaders in his own party. He did so to challenge the constitutionality of a new law that weakens his emergency powers and was enacted by fellow Republicans over the governor’s veto.
Indiana lawmakers face debates on vaccine limits, pot, tax cuts
The Republican-dominated General Assembly is expected to begin the 2022 session Tuesday with action on a bill that would force businesses that require COVID-19 vaccinations to grant exemptions to workers claiming medical or religious objections.
Holcomb ‘stunned’ by Rokita’s suggestion that pandemic stats are inflated
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb slammed Attorney General Todd Rokita for comments he made in an interview this month suggesting the state is inflating its COVID-19 numbers.
NFIB names new Indiana state director
As state director, Robinson will be the primary advocate in the Indiana Legislature and guide member engagement and political involvement throughout the state.
Biden signs $768.2B defense spending bill into law
The National Defense Authorization Act authorizes a 5% increase in military spending, and is the product of intense negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over issues ranging from reforms of the military justice system to COVID-19 vaccine requirements for soldiers.
Indiana House Republican to file sweeping marijuana legalization bill
Rep. Cindy Ziemke, R-Batesville, acknowledges that it will be difficult to persuade reluctant Republican legislative leaders to give the bill a chance. However, some political observers believe Ziemke’s interest in the issue could at least open the conversation in the GOP-dominated Legislature.
AG Rokita sues Biden administration over preschool masks, vaccine mandates
Indiana and 23 other states filed the suit to stop rules that require students as young as 2 years old to wear masks if they attend a preschool program funded by Head Start.
Indianapolis-area state senators target criminal justice system with new bills
Republican legislators on Thursday introduced a spate of new bills targeting the criminal justice system in the Indianapolis area and across Indiana.
Poll backs lawmakers’ moves to restrict employer vaccine mandates
The survey of 576 adult Hoosiers by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University shows that while 30% support employer vaccine mandates, 40% want employers only to encourage vaccines. Another 28% don’t want employers to encourage or require the shots.
Explainer: Must employers follow Biden’s vaccine mandates?
Tens of millions of workers across the U.S. are in limbo as federal courts have put President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates affecting private companies largely on hold. Here’s where everything stands.
Indiana officials projecting big jump in budget surplus
The State Budget Committee on Thursday projected booming growth in Indiana’s budget surplus, setting up a debate during the upcoming legislative session over possible tax cuts.
Governor taps his former speech writer to lead White River State Park
Jake Oakman, who has a history in tourism and Republican state politics, has been appointed executive director for the White River State Park Development Commission by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.