Gambling habit puts state at risk
The state’s overreliance on gambling, what once seemed like easy money, is becoming a major concern to taxpayers.
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April 17 revenue forecast to drive final days of General Assembly session
Most of the critical work of this state legislative session will occur after April 20, because only then will the General
Assembly have a revenue projection for the next biennium.
Clawback provisions won’t hurt biz attraction
House Bill 1338 introduces a change to many (but not all) of our state’s tax incentives, adding what is known as a “clawback” provision, offering a reasonable and fair adjustment to our current tax incentives.
Education, health still key issues
The people of Indiana need to work to improve education, the overall health of our work force, and productivity and innovation.
Horse trading key to solving unemployment deficit
In the past, lawmakers ignored the need to fix financing for the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, and now they must come
up with solutions that will be difficult for both Democrats and Republicans to accept.
Worsening economy exacerbating legislature’s challenges
Brace yourself, because things in this legislative session are destined to get messy: the politics, the process, the personalities,
the context, and the issues and their substance, all at once.
A few key Senators will mold most-crucial legislation
The key legislative item at this point remains House Bill 1001, the budget bill.
Struggling contractors hope for sale of factory
Contractors struggling under the weight of an unfinished factory in Tipton are hoping for a quick sale to recover at least
some of the $44 million they say they’re owed by Getrag Transmission Manufacturing.
State offices could use some fixing, too
Although the Kernan-Shepard report focused on local government efficiencies, it is also clear that the management of Indiana’s
public resources and assets at the regional and state level has not kept pace with the technological and socioeconomic advances
of the last century.
These are leaders?
Whether it’s structuring local government to fit the 21st century, financing sports stadiums, achieving property tax reform or putting the state’s unemployment fund on sound footing, our leaders consistently show their failure to lead.
Pension merger raises questions
We’re generally supportive of a plan to merge the state’s two largest public pensions in an effort to save money, but it’s
hard to know exactly what to think considering the lack of detailed information available about the performance of the funds.
PERF confusion
I am not at all sure that a merger of two public pension plans is not a good idea, possibly just not under current investment management auspices.
Consultants for PERF, TRF announce plan to merge
Whether or not the Indiana Public Employees’ Retirement Fund and the Indiana State Teachers’ Retirement Fund consolidate,
their primary financial consultants are merging.
Wells leaves as Medicaid chief with cost-cutting plan in limbo
Dr. Jeff Wells is moving on from the Indiana Medicaid program even as a $40 million cost-savings plan he spearheaded faces
a threat in the Legislature.
Indiana Public worker, teacher funds have lost $8B in 15 months
The state’s two biggest pension funds are poised to combine into one Indiana Public Retirement System, with a single executive
director and board.
Legislators struggling with economic imperatives
The Indiana state budget will continue to be a work in progress for many more weeks.
CAFE standards not as effective as gasoline tax
The Obama administration recently reversed a Bush-era policy that prevented states from imposing some of their own environmental policies with respect to corporate average fuel efficiency, or CAFE, standards.
Payroll tax hike looming
Shoring up the state’s jobless-fund shortfall likely will cost employers and employees more.
Trickiest legislative issues remain far from resolution
Positive action, action for the sake of action, and inaction were all on tap in the General Assembly in recent days as lawmakers
prepared to wrap up the first half of the session.
Activity at Statehouse picks up, but how much is getting done?
After a surprisingly slow month of January, the pace of legislative action picked up considerably during the first two weeks
of February.