Indiana’s special legislative session cost $240K
Lawmakers receive about $183 in per diem costs for each day the legislature is in session to cover meals and lodging, although they are not required to use the money for those purposes.
Politics & Government
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Indiana panel to consider driving cards for undocumented immigrants
For the roughly 100,000 undocumented immigrants living in Indiana, getting a driver’s license isn’t possible. Some Hoosier lawmakers are looking to change that.
Biden’s student-loan action ignites instant political battle
Fissures opened instantly within the Democratic Party, as moderates said Biden was doing too much and liberals demanded he do more, while Republicans lined up in adamant opposition to the debt-forgiveness plan.
Hogsett names DPW head Dan Parker new chief of staff
Parker, a longtime political consultant before taking over the Department of Public Works, will succeed Taylor Schaffer in the mayor’s office starting Monday.
Biden announces long-awaited student debt-forgiveness plan
The plan calls for $10,000 or more in federal loan forgiveness for millions of Americans. Democrats are betting that President Joe Biden, who has seen his public approval tumble over the past year, can help motivate younger voters to the polls with the announcement.
Biden set to announce delayed plan for student-loan relief
The plan, expected to be revaled Wednesday, would likely eliminate student debt entirely for millions of Americans and wipe away at least half for millions more.
Indiana Dems confirm candidate for 2nd District race
Democrat Paul Steury has been confirmed as the party’s candidate for the special election that will determine who will complete the congressional term of Republican U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski following her death in a northern Indiana highway crash.
AstraZeneca CEO warns U.S. pricing rules will delay new drugs
U.S. legislation requiring price negotiation for top-selling medicines will delay the launch of new drugs, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot warned.
Analysis: Student loan relief to cost as much as $980B, favor top earners
The group estimated that between 69% and 73% of any debt forgiven would accrue to households that rank in the top 60% of the U.S.’s income distribution.
Holcomb leads Indiana delegation to Taiwan, South Korea in search of high-tech investments
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s visit will tout the Hoosier state as a key place for Asian companies to invest and manufacture computer chips and electric vehicle batteries.
Rudy Yakym gets GOP nod to replace late U.S. Rep. Walorski
Rudy Yakym, who was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski’s widower, overcame a field of a dozen candidates, derailing a political comeback bid by former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill.
How will Hogsett’s clinician-led emergency response team deal with danger?
Mayor Joe Hogsett is proposing $2 million to launch a clinician-led response team to deal with mental health emergencies, but some are concerned about having mental health professionals respond to emergencies without police in tow.
Holcomb defends abortion ban signing, rebuffs talent-attraction fears
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday brushed off fears of business and talent attraction consequences in the wake of signing a near-total abortion ban.
Ex-AG Curtis Hill brushes off groping case in House bid
Hill is the most prominent of the dozen candidates who met Wednesday’s deadline to enter the Republican caucus vote to replace U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski following her death in a highway crash.
Indiana GOP announces major change in Senate majority leadership
Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, named Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, as the new majority floor leader of the Senate’s majority caucus, replacing Sen. Mark Messmer, R-Jasper.
UPDATE: Ex-Indiana lawmaker, casino exec sentenced in money scheme
Brent Waltz, 48, of Greenwood, pleaded guilty in April to helping route about $40,000 in illegal contributions to his campaign and making false statements to the FBI.
Pence tells GOP to stop lashing out at FBI over Trump search
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is considering a 2024 presidential bid, said he has been troubled by what he called the politicization of the FBI.
Former staffers push Mitch Daniels to seek governor’s office
Staffers who worked under former governor Mitch Daniels filed with the Indiana Secretary of State’s office last week to create a political action committee urging Daniels to run for governor in 2024.
Curtis Hill, 4 other Republicans seek Walorski’s old Congressional seat
The GOP must nominate someone for the remainder of Walorski’s term, which ends Jan. 3, as well as someone for the next two-year term, which starts the same day.
Illinois officials eye Hoosier companies unhappy with Indiana’s near-total abortion ban
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he’s reaching out to Indiana corporate stalwarts such as Eli Lilly and Co. and Cummins Inc., which have expressed displeasure with Indiana’s new abortion law.