Unless something happens in the next 90 minutes, legislaion that would have help bailout the Capital Improvement Board is dead.  House-Senate Conference Chair Phil GiaQuinta said the legislation could not get the four signatures it needed to move forward.  The latest version would have raised hotel, ticket and car rental taxes as well as added […]

Indiana House members followed the lead of the Senate and passed an unemployment insurance bill.  The vote was 52-47, along party lines.  Democrats chided Republicans on their claim it would raise taxes, saying businesses that don’t use the system as much would enjoy a lower tax rate.   Republicans said the tax increases would just result in more unemployment. […]

The State Senate passed what some lawmakers called sweeping reform to solve the state’s unemployment insurance problem.  The bill passed 46-3.  It increases taxes on employers but over a longer period of time than earlier versions.  It also provides more administrative tools for employers to challenge workers who file for unemployment.  The House still has […]

I’m back from the Club, only one martini though. The Democrats just got out of caucus.   I hear everything is still up in the air so the next posts you get from me will be either the bills that passed or an analysis of what happened.  I will say this, both the Speaker and Legislative Black Caucus  […]

The House is on a dinner break.  The Senate is still in caucus.  I’m going to the Columbia Club for a martini.  Back at 7ish.  

The House is still working through bills.  The Senate is still out.  I’m going to go see if I can find a copy of the new budget. There are 6 hours and 15 minutes left until adjournment.

The House is in session.  They are going through committee reports.  I am still waiting to get my hand on a copy of the budget lawmakers will work with tonight. I do feel a sense that they might actually get out of here on time, mainly because they don’t have a choice and either way the […]

Indiana State Senators are waiting on a copy of the budget so they can vote. The House is still not in session Meanwhile, a new version of the unemployment insurance bill has been unveiled.  The bill still raises taxes on employers, but the increases are phased in over a longer period.  It also gives employers more means […]

I spoke with House Ways & Means Chairman Bill Crawford this afternoon and got his reaction to the anticipated additional $200 million budget shortfall. Crawford says he doesn’t trust those numbers and thinks someone has been “cooking the books.”  He says two weeks ago the projected shortfall was about $800 million and he says he […]

I’m not totally sure what impact this little bit of news will have on today’s events at the Statehouse, but it can’t be a good one. I just got confirmed from the Governor’s office that Indiana’s actual revenue intake will fall in the ballpark of $200 million below the last forecast.  The last revenue forecast […]