Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Thursday said the state has received 22,500 unemployment claims in a three-day period this week compared with only 3,100 during the same week a year ago.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed 84 bills on Wednesday, but has not made decisions yet on several pieces of controversial legislation.
A former Senate budget writer said the hit to the state budget could be bigger than during the Great Recession, when state revenue dropped 15% over two years.
The growing number of people filing for unemployment checks raises fresh questions about whether states have stockpiled enough money since the last recession to tide over idled workers until the crisis ends.
Under the hot glare of television lights, before dozens of reporters and spectators at the Indiana Statehouse on Monday afternoon, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb began talking of war, combat and a long, hard, struggle ahead.
More than 200 of Indiana’s nearly 300 districts have closed after consultations with local health officials. But, in at least 21 states, officials have ordered closures to try to stop spread of COVID-19.
It was a fortuitous decision by legislative leaders heading into January to seek adjournment sine die by March 11 or 12.
Holcomb signed an executive order meant to speed up deliveries to retailers, which are running short of supplies, by lifting regulations on the number of hours that commercial drivers can work.
The party leaders did not suggest any delay in the May 5 primary itself.
State Health Commissioner Kristina Box said Indiana has more coronavirus cases than the 12 that have been confirmed, but she doesn’t believe the virus has become a widespread problem yet because hospital systems aren’t overwhelmed with cases.
“This is a time when we must do all we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19, protect our most vulnerable populations and reduce their potential to acquire or spread this virus,” Holcomb said in a statement. “While some actions are drastic, now, not later, is the time to act.”
Top Democratic lawmakers want Gov. Eric Holcomb to provide more information on what the state is doing to respond to the coronavirus threat, but Republican leaders say they trust the governor to handle the situation appropriately.
Despite lengthy debates on reducing health care costs this year, Indiana lawmakers completely eliminated the provision that business leaders said was likely to have the most impact.
Despite a push from Indiana House lawmakers to clarify in state code whether Attorney General Curtis Hill could remain in office if his law license is suspended, state legislators failed to pass a bill before adjourning this year’s session Wednesday night.
After the Indiana Senate passed a compromise on the IndyGo funding feud Wednesday night, the Indiana House killed the measure by not voting on it before adjourning for the year.
The House and Senate on Wednesday both passed Senate Bill 1, which increases the legal tobacco age and doubles the fines stores could face for selling smoking or vaping products to anyone younger than 21.
The provision emerged at the Statehouse last month as a last-minute attempt to block the Indianapolis City-County Council from implementing two ordinances designed to protect tenants from predatory landlords.
The Indiana House and Senate both passed a measure Tuesday night that would make panhandling illegal within 50 feet of any ATM; entrance or exit of a bank, business or restaurant; public monument; or place where any “financial transaction” occurs.
Legislation that bans drivers from holding or using cell phones while operating a motor vehicle passed the Indiana House and Senate on Tuesday and awaits Gov. Eric Holcomb’s signature.
The Maryland-based company, which is the nation’s largest liquor retailer, claims Indiana’s residency requirement is unconstitutional and amounts to economic protectionism.
