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.
Government
Articles
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.
Biden, Manchin said to be sharply divided over $2T Dem social bill
The rocky status of their talks, described only on condition of anonymity by a person familiar with the talks, was among several indications that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer faces a struggle to even begin debate on the massive measure before Christmas.
Evictions on the rise months after federal moratorium ends
Eviction filings in Indianapolis were 49% below average in August but just 7% below average in the first 11 days of December, according to Eviction Lab at Princeton University.
UPDATE: Indiana taxpayers to get $125 refunds as state gives back $545M in surplus
The size of the state surplus has triggered Indiana’s automatic tax-refund law, with an estimated $545 million being divided evenly among 4.3 million taxpayers.
Child tax credit ending just as inflation hits new highs
The last of six monthly payments, up to $300 per child, is scheduled to hit bank accounts on Wednesday.
Treasury awards $8.7B for lending in minority communities
The funds from the Emergency Capital Investment Program, which was created this year, will go to 186 community-based financial institutions.
Which communities will land $500M in regional grants? Answers come Tuesday
The 17 applications outline hundreds of projects in urban and rural communities, from mixed-use developments, affordable housing, local downtown renovations and workforce training programs to new parks, trails, sports complexes and concert venues.
IDEM chief of staff Rockensuess named new commissioner
Brian Rockensuess replaces Bruno Pigott, who stepped down Dec. 3 to become deputy assistant administrator in the office of water for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Holcomb to seek more funding for READI regional grants amid overwhelming interest
Gov. Eric Holcomb said interest in the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, or READI, has surpassed the state’s expectations—so much so that the allotted $500 million in funding will fall far short of meeting every region’s vision.
Lawmakers say they will try again to regulate airline fees
The legislation would require that fees be “reasonable and proportional” to the airline’s cost of providing the service. It will also require airlines to let children under 14 sit with family members at no extra charge.
Senate passes bill easing way for debt limit increase
Key to the agreement is that Democrats will have to vote on a specific amount by which the debt ceiling will be lifted. The amount has not yet been disclosed, but it is sure to be a staggering sum.
Michigan House OKs incentives to land major business deals
While proponents did not specify pending deals for which Michigan is vying, several told the House Government Operations Committee that Michigan must stay competitive in the auto industry.
Led by Braun, Senate votes to repeal key Biden vaccine and testing policy
In their most public, forceful protest to date, Republicans led by Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana muscled to passage a proposal that aims to repeal rules ordering large private businesses to require vaccination or implement comprehensive coronavirus testing for their workers.
Holcomb frustrated with ‘absurd’ vaccine-refusal reasons
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said the pandemic remains a real threat and is taking lives, but he maintains that the state’s role is to provide vaccines and other resources, not impose vaccine requirements or mask mandates.
Treasury proposes new disclosure rule to fight corruption
The proposed new rule would require companies to identify who owns and controls them, rather than the names of the people who formed the company.
Indiana should lift law requiring yellow buses, charter group says
The Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based charter advocacy group, highlighted in a new report how the yellow-bus requirement creates a costly burden for charter schools in particular.
Biden pledges savings on insulin, other drugs for Americans
The biggest policy change—a system for Medicare to negotiate prices for prescription drugs—won’t begin to deliver lower costs until 2025, and then only for a selected set of 10 medicines, as well as insulin products.
House GOP again tries to expedite bill to limit vaccine mandates, will hold hearing on Dec. 16
The controversial bill is scheduled for an unusual pre-session public hearing more than two weeks before the legislative session officially begins Jan. 4. The hearing will be the second attempt by House Republicans to expedite the legislation.
Todd Young joins group of GOP senators to address supply chain issues
U.S. Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican, is among six GOP senators on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation who filed the FREIGHT Act.