Below Abdul notes that the Indiana GOP is calling for the elimination of township assessors, trustees and consolidating township departments. Within Marion this may serve as an interesting juxtaposition for the recent GOP opposition to Bart Peterson’s consolidation efforts. But in the context of the wider state this move makes sense. After all, it was […]

In his quest to consolidate local government, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson may have found an ally in the most unlikely of places, the Indiana Republican Party. I am not making this up. I was checking the state GOP website this morning and under Indiana Watch (Jan 10, 2006 edition), the GOP calls for the elimination […]

Just how far is government willing to go to reach openness? Taking Down Words points to how one Florida city started dealing with employee e-mail in December 2004: “The public and the media may read e-mails sent and received by City of Sarasota employees, including the city manager, city commissioners, and all department heads. “Effectively […]

As someone who covers the Indianapolis City-County Council allow me to offer a thought or two about the presidential election in the largest county in Indiana… The facts, on their face, are simple. Current City-County Council President Steve Talley decides his personal commitments are too much for him, so to focus on family and other […]

The House Judiciary committee today passed by a vote of 10-0 HB 1010, which puts serious restrictions on the government’s ability to take private property for public use. The bill is also retroactive to Nov 23 of last year, which impacts the NK Hurst/Stadium Building Authority conflict. The unanimous vote sends a strong warning to […]

There’s a highly disturbing story in CNET titled, “Create an e-annoyance, go to jail.” It begins: Annoying someone via the Internet is now a federal crime. It’s no joke. Last Thursday, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity. Sen. Arlen […]

Eminent domain hearings began today at the statehouse. Not only do Indiana lawmakers want to make it tougher for local governments to take private property, they also want to make it retroactive. If passed and signed by the Governor, HB 1010 would be effective as of November 23 of last year. That would of course […]

Thanks to Josh Whicker for tipping me off to an article in the Courier Journal titled, “Daniels stuck to promises he made in campaign.” The blunt talk and willingness to go where other dared not has ruffled a few feathers, but in the end “the overhaul of state government saved money and improved services.”

An AP story in the South Bend Tribune suggests that South Bend might host some Olympic events if Chicago was chosen to host the 2016 Summer Games. South Bend’s East Race Waterway makes it a an easy choice for the whitewater paddling events. Notre Dame Stadium, which seats more than 80,000, could be another attractive […]

Although Democrats have a majority on the Indianapolis City-County Council a Republican could end up as President come Monday night. Sources tell me, in addition to Steve Talley running for President, two other Democrats are bucking for the job; Majority Leader Monroe Gray and former Council President Roselle Boyd are possible candidates. So how does […]