Pete Yonkman: Core business resources can drive community change
Government and policymakers have a large role to play in addressing the state’s economic challenges. But they can’t do it alone. Nor should we expect them to.
Viewpoint
Articles
Brad Chambers: Indiana is in a ‘state of continuous improvement’
While discussions about opportunities for improvement are important, they should also be framed in context of relative strengths. Indiana is strong and getting stronger.
Kyle Bach: Affordable housing could make impact on education
According to 2021 Prosperity Indiana data, there are only 37 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 households with extremely low incomes (those with incomes at or below the poverty level or 30% of their area median income), tied for the second-lowest rate among 12 Midwest states.
Katie Culp: Approach new innovation districts with optimism
Under this new system, the state, a county, a city, or a town, is empowered to create districts which capture new property taxes, including TIF, but also capture incremental sales and income taxes. This ability creates the potential to generate the most lucrative economic value of any state or local incentive program in Indiana.
Chris Watts: State and local budgets aren’t immune from inflation
Our healthy state budget surplus provides some insulation against inflation, at least for the near term. Local governments are more vulnerable to elevated costs lingering into next year.
Marty Wood: Hospitals should provide more transparency in pricing
Health insurers must publicly file rates with the Indiana Department of Insurance and those filings must outline all aspects of what goes into the rates, including profit. Nowhere can that same information be found for hospitals because they are unregulated.
Erica Comerford: The real cost of denying religious exemptions
Employers should weigh the risk of lawsuits against the actual financial or administrative hardship of approving religious exemptions.
Tammy Butler Robinson: Building a legacy by inviting others to the table
Women of color do not have to be the last choice after all the other options have failed.
Eric Holcomb: Indiana must—and has—stepped up to support Ukraine
Our efforts alone won’t be enough, but we will contribute. Indeed, the world must be clear in words and even more so in actions.
Carolyn Andretti: Law will place burden on small businesses, but when?
The burdens the law places on these small businesses—and the loss of privacy of its owners—begs the question of whether it is worth the intended benefit.
Viewpoint: Indiana’s hospital systems stand committed to affordability
Without shedding an equal amount of light on every corner of the industries that play a role in health care costs, Hoosiers will always fall victim to cost shifting as the proverbial balloon gets squeezed. Giving businesses insight into how their premiums are set by insurance companies or how drug prices are set by pharmacy benefit managers is vital to building upon the momentum Indiana has created by being a leader in transparency.
Claire Fiddian-Green & Pat Creech: Addressing gaps in academic outcomes should start early
Indiana released a new set of reports late last month that represent a critical step toward helping close gaps in education outcomes.
Angela Thompson: Here’s one COVID-era change Indiana should continue
As we look forward to better days ahead, we urge our policymakers to permanently grant patients direct access to the high-quality care APRNs deliver. It’s a no-cost, no-delay solution to ensure Hoosiers affordable, accessible health care everywhere.
Juli Metzger: First Amendment is about more than journalism
Our rights, including the right to free speech, don’t exist if they’re not defended. And defending basic freedoms—even when a group besides our own is in the crosshairs—benefits everyone by making sure the protections of our basic rights remain strong.
David Audretsch: Mom-and-pop retail is now diverse, exciting, successful
It seems that, while shoppers and sellers have wholeheartedly embraced digital commerce, the demise of brick-and-mortar retail—to paraphrase Mark Twain—is highly exaggerated.
Michael McRobbie: Paper is key to safeguarding Indiana’s elections
In the end, nothing beat paper. The accuracy of paper ballots can be verified by voters. They cannot be manipulated by faulty software or hardware.
Dennis Trinkle: Indiana has what it takes to win talent race, but will it?
Hitting our marks will also require greater focus on inviting and supporting more women and people of color into the sector.
Sen. Todd Young: Record high inflation is hurting Hoosier families
A quick trip to the grocery store induces sticker shock. Filling up the car breaks the bank. With supply low and costs high, it is difficult to buy a home or even rent an apartment. Heating either one is more expensive than ever, too.
Michael Bryant: State should nix managed Medicaid for long-term care
This simply should not happen, for the sake of the more than 50,000 Hoosiers who rely on Indiana’s Medicaid program for long-term services and supports.
Jim Merritt: Fighting crime is boring and complex … read on
About all anyone can agree on is, we have a “broken system” that is failing Hoosiers. Some don’t trust it to keep violent criminals off the streets; others don’t trust it to treat people fairly if they are arrested.