Indiana House sets $250 daily fines for boycotters
Most House Democrats skipped Thursday's floor sessions, extending their stay at an Urbana, Ill., hotel to a 10th day and preventing action on the bills because too few members are present.
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Bosma considers fines for boycotting Democrats
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma says fines are among the only options left to try and persuade boycotting Democrats to return to the Statehouse after a week spent in Illinois.
Key House Republican praises Obama housing plan
The Obama administration's plan to gradually dissolve ailing housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and to shrink the government's role in the mortgage market drew praise from House Republicans on Tuesday.
Republicans turn up public pressure on Dem holdouts
Republicans are trying to turn up the political heat on Indiana House Democrats who left the state to stall labor- and education-related bills they find objectionable.
Daniels signs jobless-fund bill that unions fought
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed into law Thursday a plan aimed at fixing Indiana’s debt-ridden unemployment fund that labor unions had opposed because it will reduce jobless benefits for some people while softening business tax increases.
Daniels: We will not be bullied out of GOP agenda
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says Republicans will not be "bullied or blackmailed" out of pursuing their agenda despite a boycott from House Democrats over contentious labor and education proposals.
Indiana Senate OKs contentious immigration bill
The Republican-ruled Senate voted 31-18 Tuesday for the bill, which contains penalties for businesses that hire illegal immigrants and allows police officers to ask someone for proof of immigration status if they have a reasonable suspicion the person is in the country illegally.
Democratic lawmakers leave Indiana, block labor bill
Indiana House Democrats took a page from the playbook of their counterparts in Wisconsin on Tuesday, refusing to show up and at least temporarily blocking a Republican-backed labor bill.
General Assembly approves fix for bankrupt jobless fund
The Indiana Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill to fix the state's bankrupt unemployment insurance fund. The measure now moves to Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels for his signature.
Senate OKs parts of Daniels’ education agenda
The Republican-led Indiana Senate approved several key pieces of GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels' aggressive education agenda Tuesday, including a bill to limit teachers' collective bargaining rights and a bill linking teacher pay to student performance.
House GOP budget spares bank insurance fund
Indiana bankers are relieved House Republicans decided to spare a bank insurance fund from being raided to plug holes elsewhere in the state’s finances, but they’re not done lobbying against the idea.
Democrats delay state House action amid union protests
Democratic legislators are staying away from the Indiana House chamber, blocking the Republican majority from conducting business while hundreds of union members crowd the adjourning hallways in protest of a contentious labor bill.
Immigration bill’s author won’t vote on own bill
Republican Sen. Mike Delph of Carmel, the author of a contentious Arizona-style bill to crack down on illegal immigration in Indiana, won't be present if the state Senate votes on the measure Tuesday.
Indiana panel OKs labor bill as unions protest
Union supporters shouted "lie" and "shame" at members of a Republican-led Indiana House committee who voted in favor of so-called right-to-work legislation, after impassioned arguments that it was aimed at weakening unions and would drive down wages.
Indiana activists oppose nuclear incentive bill
A bill that would offer Indiana's utilities incentives to build the state's first nuclear power plants is advancing in the Statehouse despite strong opposition from environmentalists, renewable energy boosters and industries that consume large amounts of electricity.
Lawmakers reach deadline week as key bills remain
Indiana lawmakers have a busy week ahead of them as they try to advance major bills before legislative deadlines arrive this week.
Senate OKs bill to ban texting while driving
Both chambers of the Indiana Legislature have now approved bills making it illegal for drivers to type, send or read text messages on mobile phones or other electronic devices.
GOP senators leery of Indiana immigration crackdown
A bill aimed at having an Arizona-style crackdown on illegal immigration in Indiana is on its way to the state Senate, but some Republican senators expressed concerns Thursday about the ramifications for law enforcement and taxpayers.
Union protests at Statehouse on GOP proposals
The future of the bill drawing the strongest ire of the union members remained uncertain as a Republican committee chairman said a decision had not been made on whether so-called right-to-work legislation would be considered this session.
Indiana House OKs amendment banning gay marriage
The Republican-controlled House voted 70-26 to advance the proposal, which must clear two separately-elected Legislatures to get on the ballot for a public vote.