With 12 hours left to go, here’s what I know so far. Governor Mitch Daniels is saying he will veto the current budget unless lawmakers can find $100 million in cuts.  House Speaker Pat Bauer says the Governor is moving the target because they are meeting his goal of having more than $1 billion in […]

The House was supposed to convene nearly an hour ago, but nothing has happened and lawmakers are still milling around on the floor.  Senate Republicans are still in caucus. I am hearing however that the Black Legislative Caucus may not sign onto the budget if the Capital Improvement Board and some Gary economic development matters […]

I’ll be filing these updates over the course of the day as little tidbits of information come in.  Please note everything is fluid and could change at a moments notice so take the information for what it is worth. I am hearing that the votes are not there in the House of Representatives to pass […]

We are now at what hopefully will be the last day of the Indiana General Assembly.   Here are my thoughts on the three big remaining issues… The Budget Lawmakers are spending about the same amount of money and leaving about $1.3 billion in reserves.  The big issue is a $100 million difference in education spending.  […]

In case you care, here are copies of both the House and Senate versions of the budget plans. Senate Version of 1001 House Bill 1001  

With about 30 hours to go before lawmakers adjourn (maybe), House Speaker Pat Bauer and Republican Brian Bosma both offered their thoughts on the final hours.  Here they are.  Draw your own conclusions. House Speaker Pat Bauer Republican Brian Bosma

With 48 hours to go here’s your latest statehouse update, more to follow later today so check back regularly. 4:35 p.m. The House has adjourned for the day.  There is still no budget (although Speaker Bauer told me they are not that far apart), no UI bill passed nor a CIB plan.  They have about […]

As Indiana lawmakers continue to work out a deal on solving the Capital Improvement Board $47 million operational shortfall, I thought I would take a few minutes to talk about Jim Irsay’s perpetual argument that he pays $250,000 in rent for Lucas Oil.    Once again, a factually accurate statement , but not the whole […]

I’m at the Statehouse and will try to blog regularly throughout the day on what’s going on here. 1:30 p.m. I spoke the Speaker right before lawmakers went to lunch to get his thoughts on the final 72 hours of session (i.e. the Budget, Unemployment Insurance and the Caapital Improvement Board).  You can hear his […]

I just had another idea. Since the Indianapolis Colts are balking at contributing to close the Capital Improvement Board $47 million shortfall, I have another idea and Jim Irsay is the one who provided it. In an interview this weekend with the Indianapolis Star, Irsay said a deal was deal and he has no desire […]