Bill to make IEDC more transparent moves to full senate
The Indiana Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee unanimously passed legislation Tuesday meant to makes the state’s job-creation efforts more open to the general public.
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Articles
State lawmakers unlikely to toughen smoking ban
It appears health advocates have little chance of seeing Indiana's smoking ban extended to include bars.
Judge dismisses Indiana right-to-work law challenge
U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon in Hammond ruled that none of the union's arguments against the law could succeed in federal court, although a challenge could still be made in state courts.
House speaker seeks jobs panel, preschool funding
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma plans to spearhead efforts to create a new statewide jobs council and give families scholarships so children can attend preschool as part of an agenda focused on fighting Indiana’s stubborn unemployment rate by closing the state’s “skills gap.”
Indiana House panel backs sentencing-laws overhaul
A sweeping plan to overhaul Indiana's criminal sentencing laws cleared its first hurdle in the Legislature on Wednesday with the support of law-enforcement groups that had scuttled similar efforts the past two years.
Senator’s bill would ease penalty for pot possession
Sen. Karen Tallian’s proposal would reduce the penalty for possession of less than 2 ounces of pot to an infraction punishable by a fine. But the amount has caught the attention of at least one antidrug advocate.
Bill could be hurdle for proposed $2.8B synthetic gas plant
Under the legislation, state utility regulators could order Indiana Gasification LLC to make refunds to gas customers every three years if the price of synthetic gas it produces from coal is greater than the market price of natural gas over the period.
Lawmaker seeks limit on Indiana specialty plates
A Republican state lawmaker is reviving the debate over specialty license plates one year after the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles suspended a gay youth group's plates.
Lawmakers plans to renew bill against same-sex marriage
A proposal to write Indiana's same-sex marriage ban into the state constitution may be on hold as Republican leaders ponder its fate this year, but the House and Senate sponsors are charging ahead anyway.
Michigan’s right-to-work law could change Indiana’s economic development pitch
As the controversial provision spreads to other states in the region, Indiana is likely to give more weight to its other selling points.
Ballard nixes new redistricting plan for Council
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on Friday vetoed a City-County Council redistricting plan, likely setting the stage for a lengthy court battle. He wants to stick with the lines drawn by Republicans in late 2011, before newly elected Democrats took control.
No deal in sight as deadline for fiscal cliff nears
Lawmakers are engaged in a playground game of "who goes first," daring each political party to let the year end without resolving a Jan. 1 confluence of higher taxes and deep spending cuts that could rattle a recovering, but-still-fragile economy.
Indiana senator seeks ‘truth in education’ law
Senate Education Committee chairman Dennis Kruse said he would not introduce a creationism measure again this year, choosing a lighter tack instead. His new proposal, he said, would encourage students to question a broad range of topics in the classroom.
Lawmaker seeks funding to tackle abandoned housing
State Rep. Ed Clere plans to introduce a bill that would give municipalities explicit powers to create land banks, which can sell surplus property for redevelopment. He also wants to include a revenue source to support land-bank operations and eliminate tax-foreclosure sales as a form of investor speculation.
State Chamber outlines priorities for legislative session
Economic development typically tops the chamber’s agenda, and for the upcoming session the pro-business organization is backing Gov.-elect Mike Pence’s idea for a new state-sponsored research institute.
Indiana taking closer look at loosening pot laws
Key Indiana legislators from both parties are looking at decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Mass-transit advocates make headway in new Legislature
The $1.3 billion transit plan for Hamilton and Marion counties is one of a few lingering issues — along with Sunday alcohol sales and a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage — likely to appear before lawmakers in 2013.
Judge: Anderson can lay off firefighters
Circuit Judge Dennis Carroll said in a 27-page ruling Tuesday said that Indiana law gives municipalities the right to lay off employees because of economic conditions.
LEADING QUESTIONS: GOP pillar reflects on party, mentors and Legislature
How deep are the roots in J. Murray Clark's political family tree? What still stings from the former state GOP chairman's tenure? How does he view the party today? What about fundraising tips? Clark has answers.
Indiana House GOP makes no guarantees on tax cuts
Tax cuts being pushed by gubernatorial candidates are hardly guaranteed a rubber stamp from lawmakers, and a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage could win quick approval next year, Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said Thursday.