Foreclosed-property care sparks fight over who’s responsible
Lawmakers might address in the upcoming legislative session the controversy over who is responsible for upkeep on foreclosed properties.
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State lawmakers face tough choices over prison costs
Indiana lawmakers will swim rough political waters next year when deciding whether to spend millions more on overcrowded prisons or reducing prison sentences and being seen as soft on crime.
Election gives GOP upper hand in dealing with unions
The goals of Gov. Mitch Daniels and his fellow Republicans could chisel away further at the clout that has dwindled among the state’s labor unions.
Indiana Legislature to broadcast all meetings online
All Indiana General Assembly committee meetings will be shown live online in the 2011 session for the first time.
Indiana House speaker offers two Democrats committee chairs
New Republican Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma says he’s serious about seeking bipartisan support in the upcoming legislative session.
Legislator: Statewide smoking ban could pass in 2011
A statewide ban on smoking in all public places may have the momentum it needs to finally pass the Indiana General Assembly in 2011 after four unsuccessful attempts.
Expanding tax breaks could be a tough sell in Marion County
Republicans who now control the Indiana House are poised to push reforms next year that would strengthen local governments’ ability to offer businesses tax abatements. But the changes might be met with caution in Marion County.
Democrats pick up pieces after Tuesday’s bloodbath
Democrats lost 12 House seats, two congressmen and a U.S. senator, and the party failed to win any of three state offices.
Daniels wants changes in education, unemployment
Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels’ 2011 legislative agenda includes expanding charter schools, establishing merit pay for teachers, cutting unemployment benefits and raising unemployment insurance taxes on businesses.
Daniels to outline 2011 legislative agenda
Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels will outline his 2011 legislative priorities Thursday, and his agenda could be a bit bigger now that the GOP has a firm grip on the Indiana House and Senate.
New GOP-led House will focus on private-sector job creation
With new control of the Indiana House, Republican lawmakers plan to pursue an agenda focused on encouraging the private sector to create jobs and passing a budget without tax increases.
Tax-cap amendment means change for local government
Cuts in services, higher fees and consolidation of government units are possibilities, but advocates for the constitutional amendment say long-term certainty about property tax rates could benefit the economy.
GOP could gain quorum in state Senate election
Indiana Senate Democrats, long considered the last bastion of liberal thought in state government, are in danger of becoming politically irrelevant after the Nov. 2 election—something they say would disenfranchise nearly 2 million Hoosiers who live in their districts.
Daniels hoping GOP victory will pave way for education reform
Gov. Mitch Daniels and public schools chief Tony Bennett have major legislative changes they want to make to implement their education reform ideas—but to do it they need their Republican Party to regain control of the Indiana House of Representatives.
Election could give GOP control of state policy decisions
With a Republican tide predicted to wash over the country in next month’s election, there is a very real chance that the Indiana House will be dominated by the GOP for the first time since 2005-06, putting virtually all policy-setting responsibilities in Indiana in one party’s hands.
State legislators ready to redo alcohol ID law
Legislators and liquor store workers say they've received many complaints from people about a state law that took effect this summer requiring anyone buying carryout alcohol in Indiana to show a photo ID.
Indiana lawmakers push for Internet taxes
A bipartisan duo of state lawmakers wants Congress to allow states to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases, a move they say could bring hundreds of millions of dollars to cash-strapped Indiana.
Control of House key issue as election season revs up
One hundred Indiana House seats are on the ballot—though many fewer are competitive—but their outcomes may affect the state well beyond the two-year terms that the candidates seek.
Heat wave could renew push for later school start
A mid-August heat wave that has left some students sweltering in classrooms without air conditioning could renew the push
for an Indiana law preventing schools from starting classes before Labor Day.
Big budget cuts will make for bitter state politics
As Indiana’s reserves dwindle toward zero and federal stimulus money disappears, trying to keep political debate friendly
and the budget in the black will be quite a challenge. Half a year before they must craft the next state budget, Democrats
and Republicans already are squabbling.