Just when I think I’ve seen it all, something comes along that takes me completely by surprise and after I spend some time thinking about it, I remember I really shouldn’t. In case you’re wondering, I am referring the $15 million screw job Marion County House Democrats (MCHDs) put to fellow Democrat, Indianapolis Mayor Bart […]

Unless something changes in the next 24 hours, Mayor Bart Peterson’s third attempt at government consolidation has failed. House Democrats and Senate Republicans are deadlocked over whether township trustees should be included in the latest merger proposal. Republican State Senator Jim Merritt wanted wanted the Trustees to be included in the consolidation package while Democrat […]

I’ve spent most of my day over at the Indiana General Assembly. Listed below is a timeline of events starting from this morning until now. 11:30 A.M. BUDGET DEAL? Some more details are now available about the budget. It has tax caps as well as tax increases. Senator Luke Kenley tells me there would be […]

Things are so slow at the Legislature that I have time to go back to my downtown apartment, shower and change for a birthday party tonight (and getting pretty takes a while to do it right) and write this. It looks like there’s an agreement with the majority parties in the House and Senate on […]

Indiana House Democrats may find themselves short on votes to pass a state budget. In today’s Washington Herald Times, State Representative David Crooks says he will not vote for the current budget because it short changes small schools in his district. “The Senate version does not include reduced lunches in the formula,” Crooks said. “The […]

As Indiana lawmakers get closer to finishing up, I like to post the gossip, rumor, blatant innuendo and wild speculation that circles the hallways. I call it “The Word on the Street.” Take it for what’s it’s worth if you decide to spread it around. Here’s tonight’s entry… Things aren’t looking good in those closed-door […]

I just spent part of my afternoon and evening over at the Indiana General Assembly. Not much is taking place, which is surprising because these guys have until Sunday to get their work done. One issue I’m following closely is Indy Works, part III. And what’s funny about this is how in the last days […]

Although all of Indiana is focusing on the prison riot at New Castle, I found out this little tid bit today about a matter close to Indianapolis. Last month, Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson gave Crime Stoppers $100,000 to help get illegal guns off the street. The way the program works if you report an […]

Like everyone else this afternoon, I was paying attention to the riot at New Castle prison, albeit from the perspective of a journalist/news commentator, but paying attention nonetheless. I was shocked and surprised about a riot at an Indiana Correction center, even though these things happen in prisons all the time. However, I have to […]

You know by now the ACLU of Indiana has sued the state over the “In God We Trust” license plate. The arguments for and against are pretty standard so there’s no point in rehashing them, but I do have a suggestion. State Rep. Woody Burton says the plate doesn’t cost the state more money than […]