UPDATE: Holcomb signs bill to end health emergency, limit vaccine mandates
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a new order Thursday, effectively ending the health emergency. It had been renewed on a monthly basis for nearly two years.
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Holcomb makes stronger call for state lawmakers to pass tax cuts
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, in an opinion piece distributed to media outlets on Thursday, solidified his support for legislation that would provide state tax cuts—and went a step further by asking for an even deeper reduction in income taxes than proposed by House Republicans.
White House unveils new COVID plan, says shutdowns, school closures unnecessary
The 96-page road map is part of a broader White House strategy to move the country from crisis footing and convince Americans that their lives can return to normal amid the president’s tanking approval ratings.
Republicans revive bid for Indiana handgun permit repeal
The provisions would allow anyone age 18 or older to carry a handgun in public except for reasons such as having a felony conviction, facing a restraining order from a court or having a dangerous mental illness.
Biden pledges to make inflation battle his ‘top priority’
The president acknowledged that millions of Americans still face financial hardships, particularly as the cost of groceries, gasoline, cars and rents have skyrocketed in what has become the fastest period of inflation in four decades.
Indiana lawmakers send trans girls sports ban to governor
Indiana lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a Republican-backed bill that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that match their gender identity.
Ukrainian American Rep. Spartz takes on leading role in GOP response to Russian invasion of her home country
On Tuesday night, she will be part of the group of lawmakers who will escort President Joe Biden into the House chamber for a State of the Union address that is expected to focus heavily on the conflict happening in her home country.
Watered-down vaccine mandate limits clear Senate, return to House for consideration
The Indiana Senate passed a watered-down version of the House Republicans’ bill to limit employer vaccine mandates, sending it back to the House where its future is cloudy.
UPDATE: Justices wrestle with EPA power to curb carbon emissions
The justices, in arguments Monday, are taking up an appeal from 19 mostly Republican-led states and coal companies over the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
Indiana House gives local officials more control in economic development bill
House Ways and Means Chairman Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville, said the reworked Senate Bill 361 now does a lot more to ensure the involvement of local stakeholders in decisions made by the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
Legislators vote to ban some officeholders from being Marion County party chair—but not themselves
A Democrat-authored amendment aimed at ousting Marion County Democratic Party Chair Kate Sweeney Bell made it a step further this week when the Indiana House approved the elections bill it’s tacked onto. And the bill leaves the door open for state legislators to pursue her job.
Prospects for Indiana tax cuts boosted by governor’s support
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday he now believes the state’s individual income tax rate could be cut while maintaining enough state revenue for additional spending needs in the next state budget to be adopted in 2023.
Holcomb signals some support for contentious education bills
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb told reporters that he was waiting to see the final versions of bills that would ban transgender girls from participating in K-12 girls school sports and place restrictions on teaching about racism and political issues.
‘Divisive concepts’ bill moves forward in the Indiana Senate
A bill to restrict teaching about race and racism has taken another step forward in the Indiana legislature after undergoing some changes.
Council committee OKs proposal tracking federal pandemic relief spending
Proposal 58 is a rare Republican-led initiative to gain traction in a legislative body with a 20-5 Democratic supermajority.
Indiana Senate panel backs bill without big tax-cut proposal
The Senate’s tax committee voted 12-1 to advance the bill to the full Senate, where Republican leaders have cited uncertainty about the economy in resisting tax cuts despite recent big growth in state tax collections.
State lawmakers table IndyGo Blue Line amendment
The House Ways and Means Committee on Monday tabled an amendment that would have conditioned the removal of some public transportation funding requirements on compliance with new lane minimums—which would’ve involved budget-busting redesign and land acquisition over several miles of the proposed 24-mile route.
Indiana lawmakers advance stripped-down college aid application bill
A bill that seeks to increase the number of Indiana students who complete the federal college financial aid application advanced to the Indiana House on Monday, but only after lawmakers removed an significant mandate from the measure.
Indiana officials reject ballot challenge to GOP Rep. Banks
A long-shot Democratic candidate for Rep. Jim Banks’ northeastern Indiana district argued the congressman should be kicked off the ballot because he violated the Constitution by allegedly supporting last year’s U.S. Capitol insurrection.
City-County Council announces last Indianapolis redistricting forum
The event will be remote. The Zoom meeting is set for Feb. 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and is open to any interested Marion County resident with registration online.