As Indiana lawmakers look for ways to solve the state’s unemployment trust fund shortfall, I have a thought I’d like to share with them.  Maybe the state should get out of the unemployment benefit business altogether.  Before you call me crazy there are some benefits to such a move.  The state gets a billion dollar […]

The word on the street is that State Senator Theresa Lubbers will step down if she is appointed the State’s new Higher Education Commissioner. Should she step down the two front runners for her job, based on my numerous conversations at a legislative cookout at the State Fairgrounds tonight, are Ann Shane and City-County Councilor […]

There must be something about a deadline that brings people together because there was a lot of bi-partisanship around the statehouse and city hall Monday. Lawmakers unveiled a starting plan to shore up Indiana’s unemployment insurance shortfall.  The plan includes more contributions from employers, but it also gives them more ways to challenge benefits for […]

We are now in the last full week of the Indiana General Assembly.    This is where life gets interesting.  This is where lawmakers (Senate Republicans and House Democrats) get together in a room and try to negotiate differences in legislation that has passed out of both chambers.  And hanging over their heads is the spectre […]

I’ve been waiting all weekend to use that one.   Once again, things are never as simple as they appear.  Although there are numerous plans at the Statehouse to solve the Capitol Improvement Board operational shortfall, and whatever comes out of session will likely be a hybrid of them all, the news out of the Indianapolis […]

Ross Douthat of The Atlantic penned this really interesting article about this past week’s tea parties and how they resemble the Iraq War protests of a few years ago.  It’s amazing how the more things change, the more they stay the same.  Give it a read. They resemble nothing so much as the anti-war protests […]

Now this is interesting.  The rumor mill in Marion County Democratic circles is that former Attorney General candidate Linda Pence is planning a run for Marion County Prosecutor next year. The story, which has apparently been circulating for weeks, is that Pence won’t be getting appointed to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District.  The way […]

House Speaker Pat Bauer says the Indianapolis Colts and Pacers need to contribute to reducing the operational shortfall at the Capital Improvement Board.  He didn’t say there would be consequences if they didn’t, but he also did not totally rule it out altogether. Click below to hear the Speaker’s comments from today’s media availability. Pat Bauer […]

Here is some audio from today’s rally.  It speaks for itself. Rally Audio  

There are always those moments in the Indiana General Assembly that make you wonder what the (fill in the blank)  was that?  Monday night was one of those moments. An amendment was offered to SB 173`which would have consolidated the Marion County Township Fire Departments with IFD.  At first it passed 51-45, with 14 Democrats […]