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(05/06/11 7:35pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“It is good to be back in Indianapolis. Hello Hoosiers. Sorry about the Pacers,” President Barack Obama said to an applauding crowd of Allison Transmission employees who burst into laughter.Obama visited the Indianapolis transmission plant to encourage the production of alternative fuel sources — specifically hybrid technology. Guests included Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and U.S. Congressman André Carson, D-7th District.He insisted that the development hybrid technology could reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign oil, provide for a cleaner environment and create jobs in the midst of a recession.“This is where the jobs in the future are in,” Obama said. Despite the United States’ classification as a service economy, the president said America’s economy will always rely on manufacturing. “This is the kind of company that will make sure that America remains the most prosperous nation in the world,” Obama said. “I don’t want the new breakthrough technologies and new manufacturing to take place in China and India; I want all those new jobs right here in Indiana, right here in the United States of America.”After joking that the Secret Service doesn’t let him fill up his own gas tank, he insisted that new alternative fuel technologies will bring down demand for petroleum, and thus bring down the price of it the long run.Daskel Slone, a forklift driver who commutes to work at Allison Transmission from Muncie, Ind. said he believes the hybrid technology can save him money on gas. “I drive an hour and a half each way...that’s about hundred some dollars (in gas) a week,” Slone said.Obama stated a target of reducing the amount of imported oil by one third by the middle of the next decade. Discrediting proponents of domestic oil drilling, Obama said the United States has 2 to 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves, while using 25 percent of the world’s oil.“We can’t just drill our way out of the problem,” Obama said. “The real solution is advanced biofuels, natural gas, making our cars and trucks energy efficient.” He said his administration has doubled the amount of hybrids in the “federal fleet.”“You’re going to have customers in the United States Government,” Obama said to the Allison employees.Blair Ross, an assembly engineer at Allison Transmission, said the plant expects to produce a higher volume of the hybrid technology in the next few years.“There is nothing we cannot do so long as we put our mind to it...And I’m going to keep on working with you to make sure we do that so long as I am privileged of being President of the United States,” Obama said.
(04/28/11 2:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From IDS REPORTSHouse Bill 1210, legislation that would implement more stringent abortion regulations and cut government funding to entities that perform abortions, such as Planned Parenthood, passed the Indiana House of Representatives Wednesday.After emotional testimony from legislators, the House voted 66-32 in favor of adopting a motion to concur H.B. 1210, which is now on its way to Gov. Mitch Daniels’ desk to be signed or vetoed. If the bill is signed, the stipulations of the bill would take effect immediately.On April 19, the bill, sponsored by Rep. Eric Turner, R-Marion, passed the Senate Chamber with new amendments and made its way back to the House, where it remained for Wednesday’s vote. Had the House not voted in favor of adopting the motion, the bill would have been sent to a conference committee where provisions to the bill would have been made.House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, introduced Representative Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, before he took to the House Floor to declare his frustration with the bill. “We had a whole Tea Party movement explode and, perhaps, propel many of you into office,” Pierce told his colleagues. “What an ironic destination the Tea Party express has arrived at. The same people that decried this government intervention in our health care system now are here urging us to vote for a bill that tells doctors what to tell their patients.”H.B. 1210 requires physicians that perform abortions to inform their patient, orally and in writing, of the risks of the procedure, that human life begins when a human ovum is fertilized by a human sperm and that adoption services are one of many available options.- Vince Zito
(04/19/11 12:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana SenateIncome Tax Withholding Bill (Bill No. 13)Summary: Provides that, beginning in 2012, an individual may elect to have state income tax and local income tax withheld from unemployment compensation received by the individual.Author: Sen. Phil Boots, R-CrawfordsvilleCall Rep. Espich to comment on bill: 1-800-382-9841Workzone Safety Bill (Bill No. 338)Summary: Requires a worksite speed limit to be at least 10 miles per hour below the maximum established speed limit for the location on the road or highway on which the worksite is located. Provides that a driver engaging in the offense of aggressive driving in a highway work zone commits a Class B infraction.Author: Sen. Ron Grooms, R-JeffersonvilleCall Sen. Grooms to comment on bill: 317-232-9400School Bus Safety Bill (Bill No. 406)Summary: Requires the state school bus committee to have a regular meeting once each quarter. The committee must require a school bus driver to provide instruction to passengers about the proper fastening of safety belts. The driver must also conduct emergency evacuation drills at least once per semester.Author: Sen. Earline Rogers, D-GaryCall Rep. Behning to comment on bill: 1-800-382-9841
(04/15/11 3:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana Senate Elections Committee and House Elections and Apportionment Committee heard testimony Wednesday regarding the redistricting of Indiana’s House, Senate and congressional districts.Newly proposed district maps were unveiled in the Indiana Senate and House Chambers on Monday. Chairwoman of the Senate Elections Committee, Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake, began the senate committee hearing by explaining the responsibility of the state legislature to redraw districts. “Almost 47 years ago, Chief Justice Earl Warren identified the goal for any state legislature in drawing voting maps,” Landske said. “He said ‘Whatever the means of accomplishment, the overriding objective must be substantial equality of population among the various districts so that the vote of any citizen is approximately equal in weight to any other citizen in the state.”A number of 720,422 residents per each of Indiana’s nine congressional districts was determined to satisfy the population equality goal. Population equality, however, is not the only objective in redrawing districts. Former State Representative William Ruppel, who testified on behalf of the Wabash County Economic Development Corporation and the Citizens Redistricting Commission, explained voters’ redistricting concerns.“While I went around the state listening to different people talk, they said we wanted districts to be incumbent blind,” Ruppel said. “They wanted them to be as competitive as possible.”Public input was first considered in late March when legislators visited eight locations throughout the state as they listened to constituents.The first to testify Wednesday was a DePauw University student. His concern was with counting prisoners in the redistricting population.“I recommend that prisoners not be counted in the redistricting process because: one, prisoners are disenfranchised; two, their residency is non-voluntary; three, they are not participants in the local economy,” he said. A DePauw University professor, who said her students had worked on a redistricting project, suggested specific boundary movements to accommodate districts with a large prisoner population. “Congressional district number eight has four prisons in it,” she said. “It would be fairly easy to have district number eight go in slightly above Branchville (a sparsely populated area currently located in District 9) and move district number nine 10 miles further to the west.” Public testimony was also heard in front of the House Elections and Apportionment Committee earlier that day. Both the Senate and House proposals for Indiana’s nine congressional districts are identical.
(04/13/11 2:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On Monday, the Senate Election Committee and the House Elections and Apportionment Committee had public meetings at the Indiana Statehouse to unveil plans for new legislative and congressional districts.After every decennial census, state legislators are required to redraw state Senate and House districts as well as U.S. congressional districts because of population shifts, growth and decline. For this reason, the Indiana Senate is required to redraw the boundaries of Indiana’s existing 50 Senate districts and the House is required to redraw the boundaries of Indiana’s 100 House districts. Both chambers are also responsible for redrawing the boundaries of Indiana’s nine congressional districts.At 9:30 a.m. Monday, members of the Senate Election Committee, legislators and the public gathered in the Senate chamber for the disclosure of newly proposed state Senate boundaries and congressional district boundaries based on data from the 2010 U.S. Census. No public testimony was heard because of the lack of a physically drafted bill. The purpose of the hearing was solely for the unveiling of the newly proposed districts.Members of the committee, led by its chairwoman, Senator Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake, positioned poster boards on easels side-by-side to visually contrast the current and newly proposed boundaries of the legislative and congressional districts. According to data on display in the chamber, the committee aimed at a target population of 720,422 Hoosiers per each of Indiana’s nine U.S. congressional districts. Indiana’s District 5, which currently stretches from southern and eastern city lines of Indianapolis to the northern part of the state, saw a population growth of 88,685 — higher than any other district. For that reason, its proposed revision in the Senate called for an extreme reduction of its size, in which it would lose counties to adjacent congressional districts.Bloomington and a majority of Monroe County is situated in Indiana’s 9th Congressional District. In the proposals, the western part of Monroe County, currently located in District 4, will join Bloomington for an inclusion into the 9th District.Proposed Senate changes included a loss of counties in the southwestern part of the district and a loss of counties in the eastern part of the district. Other changes included the loss of Spencer, Dubois and Perry counties in the southwest to District 8 and the loss of Jennings, Jefferson and Switzerland counties in the east to District 6. Proposed House changes to Indiana’s nine districts mirrored those of the Senate.Today, the Senate Elections Committee will reconvene at 2:30 p.m. and the House Elections and Apportionment Committee will reconvene at 11:30 a.m to hear public testimony.
(04/08/11 1:29am)
As the April 29 deadline approaches, the Indiana General Assembly has three weeks to pass legislation that will redraw state legislative and congressional district boundaries.Separate pieces of legislation, which may eventually end up as one bill as the legislative process unfolds, will be authored by the Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana Senate simultaneously. The House will be responsible for redrawing Indiana House districts and the Senate will be responsible for redrawing Indiana Senate districts.Additionally, both chambers will redraw the boundaries for Indiana’s nine U.S. congressional districts.As of now, none of the pieces of redistricting legislation have come in front of the full House or full Senate chambers. Both remain in House and Senate committees.On Monday morning the Senate Elections Committee will hold a public committee hearing in the Senate Chamber to present the legislation, said Senate Elections Committee Chairwoman Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake.“There will be no vote and there will be no testimony ... because we do not have a printed version of the bill yet,” Landske said.Landske said there will be a printed version of the bill on Wednesday. Public testimony will be heard at that time.She said she hopes the Senate will pass the two bills — the Senate redistricting bill and congressional redistricting bill — by April 18.The two bills will then make their way to the House. Likewise, the House will eventually send its two redistricting bills to the Senate.Because of population shifts, which are determined by U.S. Census data, the state legislature bears the responsibility of redrawing the legislative and congressional districts every 10 years.Due to Indiana’s virtually unchanged population since the last census, the Hoosier State will not lose or gain any of its congressional districts, said Senate Elections Committee member Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Lafayette.However, the boundaries of the nine current districts will be subject to adjustment according to those population shifts.The House and Senate election committees are based on proportional representation of both parties in their respective chambers. Because of the Republicans’ majority in both the House and Senate, they are the dominating party in both election committees. For this reason, some believe Republicans can use this to their advantage in determining district boundaries that can favor them in the next election.“The difficulty from our end is that we have not seen any maps yet,” said Indiana House Democrats Media Relations Director John Schorg. “It would be great to say that they live up to the standards of being fair that they claim to achieve, but there have been concerns about the exact amount of public input in this process.”Besides census data, Landske and Hershman said the committees take into account public testimony and judicial decisions before authoring redistricting legislation.Last month the House and Senate election committees conducted eight public hearings during a two-day period throughout the state to gather Hoosiers’ opinions about the redistricting process.Landske said many of those who testified said they were concerned about districts being contiguous and keeping communities of interest together.“Our first and foremost goal is to draw districts that are fair,” Hershman said. “People want districts that are compact as possible, contiguous, maintain communities of interest and respect county lines ... If we take all those concerns into consideration, I am confident that we can draw maps that are fair and representative to the state as a whole.”But since no maps have been presented, skeptics remain.“We will adopt a wait-and-see approach to see if the result of their work matches their rhetoric to this point,” Schorg said.
(04/07/11 12:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Wednesday afternoon, Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan informed local media of his initiative to combat illegal gun ownership.Kruzan stood behind a makeshift podium at the Monroe County Democratic Headquarters when he announced he had recently joined the Mayors Action Against Illegal Guns coalition. The coalition is comprised of hundreds of mayors nationwide. Of the more than 500 mayors represented, Indiana has only six mayors in the coalition.Some include Mayor Fred Armstrong of Columbus, Ind., and Mayor Rudolph Clay of Gary.It shows the gun lobby is a powerful one, Kruzan said when asked why he believes Indiana is underrepresented in the alliance.According to their website, Mayors Action Against Illegal Guns stand for “protecting the rights of Americans to own guns, while fighting to keep criminals from possessing guns illegally.” Although each town may pursue its own means of diminishing illegal gun ownership, Kruzan outlined Bloomington’s specific goals for the future of gun control and regulation.Although Kruzan suggested Bloomington does not have a major gun problem, “if you have one problem, in any instance, it’s a problem,” he said. He reminded the press that under current law, only federally licensed firearm dealers are required to conduct background checks.“Forty percent of gun sales are made by people who are not licensed dealers and are not required to run background checks,” Kruzan said.Kruzan concluded by reflecting upon the recent elections in which Republicans gained sizeable majorities in many state legislatures and the U.S. Congress.Kruzan, who admitted to once getting a “D” rating by the National Rifle Association, said he believes conservative politicians can still maintain a high rating with the NRA while they help to slow the tide of illegally sold guns.John Hamilton, Kruzan's opponent in the May 3 primary, said this coalition, founded five years ago, isn't new. He said Kruzan should have responded to rising crime rates in Bloomington sooner."Over that period of time, the Mayor hasn’t led a single public discussion about what we can do here in Bloomington to reduce violence in our community," Hamilton said. “Election month press conferences don’t solve community problems.”
(04/05/11 12:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana SenateThe Public Intoxication Bill (Bill No. 208)Summary: Provides that, for purposes of the public intoxication statute, a person is not in a public place or place of public resort if the person is a passenger in a motor vehicle that is traveling on a highway. Author: Sen. Greg Taylor, D-IndianapolisHouse Sponsor: Rep. Tom Dermody, R-LaPorteCall Rep. Dermody to comment on bill: 1-800-382-9841The Military ID Bill (Bill No. 449)Summary: Provides that an identification document issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine or the National Guard that has no expiration date or an indefinite expiration date is acceptable proof of identification for voting.Author: Sen. Jean D. Breaux, D-IndianapolisCall Rep. Noe to comment on bill: 1-800-382-9841The Foreign Law Bill (Bill No. 520)Summary: Prohibits the enforcement of a foreign law if the enforcement would violate a right granted by the Indiana or U.S. Constitutions. Authors: Sen. John W. Waterman, R-Shelburn; Sen. Brent Steele, R-Bedford; and Sen. Travis Holdman, R-MarkleHouse Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Borders, R-Jasonville Call Rep. Borders to comment on bill: 1-800-382-9841
(03/30/11 1:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Monday’s return of the Indiana House Democrats from Illinois ended a five-week standstill at the General Assembly. Now, with a quorum to conduct business, legislators have until April 29 to consider countless bills and agendas proposed earlier in the session — including the passage of the 2011-2013 state budget.In his State of the State address in January, Gov. Mitch Daniels presented his budget guidelines as he addressed legislators, guests and the media in the House Chamber of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.Although Daniels said he would welcome amendments to his initial proposal, he set clear guidelines for those with wishes to make changes. They included no tax increases, a structural balance and a necessity to “stay in the black at all times.” Daniels also mentioned tax payer refunds.“When the day comes again when state reserves exceed 10 percent of annual needs, it will be time to stop collecting taxes and leave them with the people they belong to,” Daniels said. Daniels said the passage of the state budget was and still is one of the top priorities of the 117th Indiana General Assembly. Indiana’s legislative body has five weeks to demonstrate bipartisanship and get the Statehouse schedule back on track.“It (the November elections) was not an endorsement of a political party,” Daniels said. “By itself, it accomplished nothing, but it threw the door open to great accomplishment. Starting tonight, we must step through that door together,” Daniels said during the address. When the House Democrats fled to Urbana, Ill., the budget came to a screeching halt in the House, where it currently remains.“House Democrats took off and stopped process completely,” said Peg Leish, press secretary for the Indiana Senate Democrats. “Three hundred amendments have been offered so far and work on budget bill will begin tonight (Tuesday).”Friday’s Indiana Daily Student story will examine the legislative process of the budget bill (HB 1001) from the governor’s proposal to its approval from both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly.
(03/29/11 3:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Democratic members of the Indiana House of Representatives were scheduled to return to the Statehouse in Indianapolis on Monday following their five-week exile in a Comfort Suites hotel in Urbana, Ill. The House Democrats were scheduled to be in the House chamber by 5 p.m. — allowing a quorum to do business — something that has not been achieved since Feb. 21. According to a press release issued by the House Democrats, a compromise between House Speaker Brian Bosma and House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer was finally reached. “Today we can announce compromises that are great steps forward for working Hoosiers. The principled stand by House Democrats forced concessions by the House Republicans that reflected the concerns expressed by so many people who came to the Statehouse in recent weeks,” Bauer said in the release.Bauer further said although the compromises are not perfect, the House Democrats are optimistic about continuing to find common ground with Bosma and the House Republicans. While in exile, the House Democrats, in addition to not accepting their $152-a-day pay, were penalized with fines of $250 a day, which were then raised to $350 a day. Bosma said unlike previous walkouts, these fines are still on the table and as of now have not been waived. Despite their five-week absence, fines began occurring March 7.In 1991, House Democrats set a motion to fine House Republicans for walking out of session, and in 1995 House Republicans did the same to House Democrats.In both cases, neither party paid fines.THE COMPROMISERight-to-work legislation is off the table, preserving collective bargaining rights.The permanent ban on public employee bargaining is off the table in the House.Enabling legislation for private takeover of public schools is off the table in the House.Private school vouchers will be limited to 7,500 students in the first year and 15,000 in the second year, rather than the largest voucher program in the nation, which the Republicans originally wanted.Rather than an outright ban of Project Labor Agreements, PLAs still can be included with projects passed by public referendum.The threshold for applying the common construction wage to projects would be $250,000 for 2012 and $350,000 for 2013, rather than the $1 million threshold.
(03/29/11 2:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana SenateTraffic Control Signals Bill (Senate Bill No. 337)Summary: Provides that a driver entering an intersection while facing a pedestrian hybrid beacon — a highly visible crosswalk signal — may proceed without stopping if the beacon doesn’t display a walk signal. In that instance, the driver is not required to give the right-of-way to a pedestrian walking on the crosswalk. Provides that a driver may turn only after yielding to oncoming traffic when a yellow, flashing arrow of a traffic signal is illuminated.Authors: Sen. Ron Grooms, R-JeffersonvilleLatest Action: Third reading Feb. 14; passed in Senate 28-22; referred to House; Rep. Steve Stemler, D-Jeffersonville, and Rep. Steve Davisson, R-Salem, added as co-sponsorsCall Stemler to comment on the bill at 317-232-9600FIrearm Purchasing Bill (Senate Bill No. 94)Summary: Makes it a Class C felony for a person to knowingly or intentionally give false information on certain forms or offer false evidence of identity in purchasing or otherwise securing delivery of a firearm. Repeals a provision that states a resident of Indiana may purchase a rifle or shotgun in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan or Illinois and a resident of Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan or Illinois may purchase a rifle or shotgun in Indiana.Author: Sen. Travis Holdman, R-MarkleLatest Action: Third Reading Feb. 8; passed in Senate 48-1; referred to House; Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, and Rep. Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville, added as co-sponsors Call Lehman or Eberhart to comment on the bill at 800-382-9841Indiana House of RepresentativesIllegal Alien Tuition Bill (House Bill No. 1402)Summary: Provides that individuals who are not lawfully in the United States are ineligible to pay the resident tuition rate that has been determined by the state educational institution attended by the non-citizen person. Authors: Rep. Mike Karickhoff, R-KokomoLatest Action: Third Reading Feb. 14; passed in House 75-14; referred to Senate; Sen. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo, added as co-sponsorCall Buck to comment on the bill at 317-232-9400
(03/28/11 8:34pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Democratic members of the Indiana House of Representatives are scheduled to return to the Statehouse in Indianapolis today following their five week exile in a Comfort Suites hotel in Urbana, Ill.The Democrats are scheduled to be in the House Chamber by 5 p.m.—allowing a quorum to do business—something that has not been achieved since Feb. 21. According to a press release issued by the House Democrats, a compromise between House Speaker Brian Bosma and House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer was finally reached.“Today we can announce compromises that are great steps forward for working Hoosiers. The principled stand by House Democrats forced concessions by the House Republicans that reflected the concerns expressed by so many people who came to the Statehouse in recent weeks,” Bauer said in the release.Bauer further commented that although the compromises are not perfect, the House Democrats are optimistic about continuing to find common ground with Bosma and the House Republicans.While in exile, the House Democrats, in addition to not accepting their $152 a day pay, were penalized with fines of $250 a day, which were then raised to $350 a day. Bosma said unlike previous walkouts, these fines are still on the table and as of now have not been waived. Despite their five week absence, fines began to accrue since March 7.In 1991, House Democrats set a motion to fine House Republicans for walking out of session and in 1995 House Republicans did the same to House Democrats.In both cases, neither party paid fines.Provisions of the compromise— Right-to-work legislation is off the table, preserving collective bargaining rights.— The permanent ban on public employee bargaining is off the table in the House.— Enabling legislation for private takeover of public schools is off the table in the House.— Private school vouchers will be limited to 7,500 students in the first year and 15,000 in the second year, rather than the largest voucher program in the nation the Republicans originally wanted.— Rather than an outright ban of Project Labor Agreements, PLAs still can be included with projects passed by public referendum.— The threshold for applying the common construction wage to projects would be $250,000 for 2012 and $350,000 for 2013, rather than the $1 million threshold
(03/10/11 5:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Last Thursday, Indiana House Republicans made a motion to fine each member of the Indiana House Democrats who remains in exile in Urbana, Ill. “If they would have come back Monday there would have been no fine,” Republican Caucus Chairwoman Kathy Richardson said.The fine is set at $250 a day, but the House Democrats will not be fined for their absences prior to Monday. Richardson said a letter was delivered to the Democratic House members Friday to notify them of the motion.Indiana House Democrats Media Relations Director Jorn Schorg said the fines are a small price to pay for efforts to stop the House Republicans’ agenda.“Members understand the implications (of the fines) but understand the implications if a radical agenda becomes law,” Schorg said.All but several of the House Democratic members fled Indiana on Feb. 22 to prevent Speaker of the House Brian Bosma from conducting business because of denied quorum.Last week, House Minority Leader Pat Bauer returned from Urbana, Ill., to discuss party differences with Bosma — the most promising sign of the Democratic members’ return.Although there is still denied quorum because of the continued vacancy of the House Democrats, Richardson said a motion to compel attendance can still pass without all of the members present.“It’s the House rules that it only takes eight members to put this in motion — to enforce their not being here,” Richardson said. “It’s been in place for several years.” There is still a chance that the fines may be waived with the vote of the full House upon the Democratic members’ return, but Richardson said as of now it is unlikely that will occur.In 1991, House Democrats set a motion to fine House Republicans for walking out of session and in 1995 House Republicans did the same to House Democrats. In both cases, neither party paid fines in the end.“I have no idea what they are thinking,” Richardson said. “I will not be the judge on whether or not they are coming back.”
(03/04/11 2:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jeffrey Cox, a deputy attorney general employed by the state of Indiana, was fired last week for comments made on his Twitter account after they were published on the website of the nonprofit political magazine Mother Jones.According to Mother Jones’ website, the Saturday before Cox’s firing, Mother Jones staffers tweeted that riot police might escort protesters out of the Wisconsin Statehouse. Jeffrey Cox, who goes by the username @JCCENTCOM, sent out a response promoting the use of live ammunition against the protesters.“I usually support unions, but this crap with SEIU (Service Employees International Union), AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations), the WI (Wisconsin) teachers union is garbage,” Cox tweeted. “Against thugs physically threatening legally-elected legislators & governor? You’re damn right I advocate deadly force.”Bryan Corbin, spokesman for the Indiana Attorney General, sent an e-mail to Mother Jones magazine Feb. 23, confirming Cox had been fired.“We respect individuals’ First Amendment right to express their personal views on private online forums, but as public servants we are held by the public to a higher standard, and we should strive for civility,” the e-mail read. IU students Cody LaBean and Cole Rice said they agreed and said although people may speak their minds openly, consequences may follow suit — especially if those people are public figures.“I wouldn’t have a problem with an ordinary person expressing their opinion, but because he holds an important position, there’s a better chance it could turn into a reality,” LaBean said.Rice added more. “People must always remember that the Internet is not a place to voice opinions freely without facing repercussions for their words,” he said.IU freshman Billy Graddy said the use of deadly force should never be an option when dealing with a peaceful protest.“If the protestors are peaceful and not using any force then you should never use deadly force against them,” Graddy said. “His opinion is in the wrong. There are better ways to get protestors to stop, even if it’s through negotiating.”
(03/03/11 5:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>More than 100 protesters gathered in the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday holding signs that read “Stop the War on Workers,” while applauding House Minority Leader Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, who has been in exile in Illinois with his Democratic colleagues for the past week.Bauer’s Democratic colleagues remained in Urbana, Ill., to prevent Speaker of the House Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, from conducting business because of denied quorum. However, the minority leader was there to meet with Bosma to discuss party differences in pending legislation.“We need you. The nation needs us,” Bauer said. “Thank you for showing support for my members.” “We are the workers!” cried out one of the protesters. “Thank you, Pat!” yelled another. Once the crowd began to dissipate, Rep. Steve Stemler, D-Jeffersonville, one of the few House Democrats to stay behind in Indianapolis, shared his thoughts about his party in exile and the “right to work” legislation.On the evening of Feb. 21, Stemler said he met with Bauer and Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Dale Grubb, D-Covington. During the meeting, the three House members planned a 9 a.m. caucus meeting for the following day. When Stemler arrived for the meeting Tuesday, he said he was informed it was canceled and given no further instructions.“I started hearing rumors from people, reporters, that they (the House Democrats) went to Illinois,” Stemler said. “I didn’t know what they were talking about.” Stemler said he is uncertain as to whether or not his colleagues planned to leave some members behind as a strategic maneuver.According to the Indiana Constitution, “two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business.” To make sure House Republicans do not do anything official without two-thirds of representatives present, a House Democrat is needed to make a motion for a quorum call — a roll call.Once the speaker notes there are not enough members in attendance to conduct business, the House goes into recess until the next session. This is what has been happening during every session since the House Democrats’ exodus last Tuesday.A lack of productivity has been the concern of those opposed to the House Democrats’ maneuvers. The day after their departure, Gov. Mitch Daniels issued a statement condemning the representatives’ actions.“You don’t walk off the job, take your public paycheck with you and attempt to bring the whole process to a screeching halt,” Daniels said. That afternoon, the governor retracted his previous statement.“Even the smallest minority has every right to express the strength of its views, and I salute those who did,” Daniels said. Stemler also defended his party’s actions.“When you are in the minority you have very few options to influence legislation,” Stemler said. “This is an option to slow the legislative process down to allow for closer look at what these bills consist of.” He insisted that despite their absence from the Statehouse, his colleagues are working on amendments and he has remained in contact with them.Because the House did not have a quorum, Stemler said the committee report for the “right to work” bill was not accepted in the limited time and thus died. However, opponents of the anti-union legislation are not in the clear yet.“The concern that we have is that there are other bills that are out there still that deal with labor issues,” Stemler said. “The language of the original ‘right to work’ bill could be admitted into another bill that is germane to it.”Stemler said he is confident in his decision to stay in Indianapolis.“The reason why I stayed — it was never about not supporting our caucus — I’ve always been a strong supporter in our caucus’s position to protect labor and education as well,” Stemler said. “My staying is not an endorsement of the majority, nor is my staying a rejection of the Democrats — but solely based on respect for the institution for the House of Representatives and the oath of office I took.”
(03/02/11 4:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana’s complex and ambiguous patchwork of gun laws has prompted Indiana Senate Republicans to author multiple pieces of legislation that would unify and loosen Indiana’s firearm regulations.The first is SB 292, which would prohibit political subdivisions from regulating firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories. It would allow the state to enforce universal, state-wide gun laws instead of permitting individual counties and cities to enforce conflicting regulations.“They’re all sorts of units of government that, on their own, have set up their own particular ordinance and rule,” bill author Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, said. “The problem for the legitimate gun owner ... if they travel across the state of Indiana ... could no way know the vast amount of rules that have been set up all across the state.”Tomes is the founder and director for the Second Amendment Patriots, an Evansville organization “of local residents and family members who enjoy firearms,” according to its website. The bill’s second author, Sen. Johnny Nugent, R-Lawrenceburg, said the situation was comparable to a change in speed limits from county to county or city to city. But in those cases, visible signs on the side of the road make clear the change of speed to drivers.“There’s no way to ever know if you would be in violation of the law,” Nugent said of the changes in firearm laws from place to place.The bill also states that if a political subdivision violates the legislation, damages may be recovered. The plaintiff, however, must be a legal U.S. resident who can lawfully own a gun. On Feb. 14, SB 292 passed 38-12 in the Senate and has since been referred to the House of Representatives. It must pass there before it reaches the governor’s desk. A concern with the bill is the effect it could have on Super Bowl XLVI, which will take place in Indianapolis next year. Nugent said because the purchase of a ticket is a contract, Lucas Oil Stadium can restrict guns in the stadium if stadium officials so choose.“They can prohibit whatever they want to prohibit,” Nugent said. “It would have to be in the contract with the purchaser of the ticket.” Although Tomes said the bill’s authoring was out of primary concern for constituents, Nugent said he hasn’t talked to many people in his district regarding the bill. Nugent said the National Rifle Association played a part in the legislation.The second bill, also authored by Tomes with Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, would reform current gun transport laws in the state. Current law prohibits unlicensed gun owners from transporting a handgun anywhere except to a residence or business after it is purchased.According to the Indiana General Assembly website, Senate Bill No. 506 would allow an unlicensed gun owner to “carry the handgun at a shooting range, while attending a firearms instructional course or while engaged in a legal hunting activity.” Additionally, an unlicensed gun owner may transport a handgun as long as it is unloaded and securely wrapped.Opponents of these bills said they worry the legislation would lessen gun-carrying restrictions in public places, such as hospitals and parks, set by current county and city ordinances. Tomes responded that the bill is aimed at law-abiding citizens. He said it won’t make it easier for criminals to obtain gun permits by changing state or federal laws.“They do what they want. They break laws, unfortunately. That’s what they do,” Tomes said. “We are talking about people who have never been a threat to society and will never be a threat to society.”
(03/02/11 4:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Last week, Gov. Mitch Daniels signed House Bill 1450 in the hopes that it would bring the Indiana unemployment trust fund into structural balance in two years and repay the $2 billion owed on the federal government trust fund advances by 2019, according to the governor’s press release.The unemployment insurance system is a joint federal-state program that has been in place since the 1930s. Money in the trust fund comes strictly from premiums paid by employers — workers pay nothing for it, and it uses no general tax fund revenue. The money is held in trust by the federal government and each state has its own account. In essence, Indiana employers pay premiums for unemployed Indiana workers.Structural balance, which hasn’t been obtained in the state in more than a decade, means the premiums coming in through payments by employers will equal the benefits going out to unemployed workers.“Currently we are bringing in less in premiums than we are paying out to workers, and that’s where the 2 billion-dollar debt to the federal government comes from,” said Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Lafayette, Senate co-sponsor of HB 1450.The new law, which is to take effect immediately, will restructure the formula for unemployment benefits — which could reduce the amount of benefits distributed to seasonal workers and raise taxes on businesses. “Not only is this bill going to reduce benefits by 25 percent for unemployed families, it’s going to take money out of local economies all across the state,” Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington, said in an e-mail. “Unemployment benefits are spent on necessities at local businesses — the hometown grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations.”Hershman said although the bill may reduce unemployment benefits for seasonal workers, the restructured formula will not significantly affect full-time employees. Previously in Indiana, unemployment benefits were determined by calculating a worker’s highest quarter of earnings in a year and paying an unemployment benefit based on that highest quarter. Therefore, seasonal workers’ unemployment benefits were based on a much higher income than they were actually making. For example, if a highway construction worker earned $30,000 in three months and was then unemployed the remaining nine months of the year, his unemployment benefits would reflect him making $120,000 a year.“Under the new law, we will take a look at whatever money you’ve earned over a 12-month period and pay you an unemployment benefit based on that annualized number,” Hershman said. “For the vast majority of people who are in normal employment circumstances and are disrupted, it will have no impact on their benefits at all.” The law would also place a cap on unemployment benefits so no more than 47 percent of an individual’s average earnings prior to layoff could be earned through unemployment benefits. Hershman said that number is the national average of the other 49 unemployment systems throughout the country. Opponents of the law argue that it will instigate the unemployment problem by putting a monetary burden on businesses, which may thus be less willing to hire new employees or keep existing ones.“When you take money out of somebody’s pocket, they are not able to invest it in their own business, and consequently they would not continue to employ certain people,” said Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, another Senate co-sponsor of the bill. “It’s not the best thing in the world ... if we don’t address the issue at the state level, the federal government will come in and address the issue and we don’t want to go there.”Boots said if Indiana does not collect more money than is spent, the federal government will start reducing the state’s credit and will take over Indiana’s unemployment system. If the federal government were to impose its system, there would be a 6.2 percent premium on every employer for the first $7,000 each of their employees earns in wages in a year, he said. The new Indiana law taxes employers half a percent for the first $9,500 each of their employees earns in wages in a year, Boots said. Despite the amounting debt legislators were trying to overcome, the new law lowers the premium from what it was before. However, a 13 percent surcharge was added on the premium.The premium will go toward structurally balancing Indiana’s unemployment trust fund while the surcharge will go toward paying off the debt. “If the unions want to express their concern on behalf of workers, I think they ought to be spending their time lobbying the federal government,” Hershman said. “The $2 billion we owe the federal government, they (the federal government) are trying to charge us a 4 percent interest rate — $70 million a year that has to come out of the Hoosier budget.”
(03/02/11 4:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTSLast week state Senate Republicans passed Bill No. 589, which would lower corporate income tax by 20 percent, in an effort to attract businesses to Indiana.The bill was authored by Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Lafayette, and it passed the Senate with a vote of 39-10. It was subsequently referred to the Indiana House of Representatives.“It (the bill) is the result of a very intense summer study committee ... which consisted of four legislators — equally balanced between Democrats and Republicans,” Sen. Hershman said. Business and community leaders from around the state joined the committee to discuss economic development policies.“We took a look at not only Indiana’s current tax climate and economic development practices but also practices around the nation and the world,” Sen. Hershman said. “We came up with a fairly comprehensive set of recommendations that would improve Indiana’s business climate and make our state the best destination of choice for business growth and current business expansion.”The recommendations included instilling entrepreneurship education in school curriculums and state programs acknowledging the importance of arts and cultural activities. But research revealed Indiana as an outlier when it came to tax rates.“We have one of the highest corporate business taxes in America and when taken in combination with the federal tax rate, one of the highest in the world,” Sen. Sherman said.—Vince Zito
(03/01/11 1:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTSIndiana Senate The Ginseng Bill (Bill No. 498)Summary: Requires a person to be licensed to grow or harvest ginseng. The bill requires a grower to provide the Indiana Department of Natural Resources with a summary of the harvest. Prohibits the purchase, sale or possession of wild ginseng by a ginseng dealer unless approved by the DNR.Authors: Sen. R. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, and Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen Latest Action: Passed Senate 44-6; referred to House Feb. 15House Sponsor: Dick Dodge, R-Pleasant LakeCall Dodge to comment on the bill: 800-382-9841The Lawsuit by Schools Bill (Bill No. 495)Summary: Prohibits the governing body of a school corporation from using funds received from the state to file suit against the state unless the school corporation is challenging an adverse decision by a state agency, board or commission.Authors: Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, Sen. Carlin Yoder, R-Middlebury, and Sen. Jim Banks, R-Columbia City Latest Action: Passed Senate 33-16; referred to House Feb. 17House Sponsor: Rep. Robert Behning, R-IndianapolisCall Behning to comment on bill: 800-382-9841The Casket Bill (Bill No. 467)Summary: Prohibits casket suppliers from removing, covering, altering or making unreadable a country of origin on a casket.Authors: Sen. Allen Paul, R-Richmond, and Sen. Jean Leising, R-OldenburgLatest Action: Passed Senate 39-0; referred to House Feb. 10House Sponsor: Rep. Tom Saunders, R-LewisvilleCall Saunders to comment on bill: 800-382-9841—Vince Zito
(02/25/11 4:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington residents, politicians and a native screenwriter and producer gathered in the Hoosier Room of Nick’s English Hut on Thursday evening to show their support for Mayor Mark Kruzan.Kruzan, first elected in 2003, is running against John Hamilton and John Gusan in the Democratic primary election in May.Kruzan was introduced by Angelo Pizzo, screenwriter and producer for the movies “Hoosiers” and “Rudy.” “He (Kruzan) is a very funny guy,” Pizzo said. “Comedy is very difficult — getting that timing right is tough.” Kruzan got the audience laughing with a play on words as soon as he took the floor.“I got to go to the filming of ‘Breaking Away’ as an 18-year-old version of myself,” Kruzan said. “That’s version.” Kruzan graduated from IU with degrees in journalism and political science in 1982. In his speech, Kruzan listed his four C’s as his approach to governing the city — community character, community commerce, community collaboration and community condition. Kruzan said he has adopted the slogan of his girlfriend, head coach of IU’s women’s volleyball team — “controlling the controllable.” He says he is not worrying about the campaigns of his competitors but rather his own.Community commerce and collaboration were the reasons Kruzan decided to hold the event at Nick’s, he said.“Nick’s is iconic. It’s local, and it’s a part of our character,” Kruzan said. Before his speech, Kruzan supporters huddled around the popular incumbent, attempting to get a word with him. Kruzan said he was confident in the upcoming election but he never allows himself to get too optimistic.“We have a really good team with strong supporters,” said Alexa Lopez, Kruzan’s deputy campaign manager.Bloomington resident Mike Walsh, one of the roughly 100 in attendance, said he is a Kruzan supporter because he believes the mayor has done great things for Bloomington.“He has made Bloomington comfortable and attractive for business development,” Walsh said. During his eight years as mayor, Kruzan said he is most proud of the B-Line Trail, the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District and the state-of-the-art police and fire training facility located on Walnut Street.Indiana Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington, was also in attendance.“The mayor and I have been friends many years,” Simpson said. “He is a progressive thinker and has done great things for this city.”Kruzan concluded his speech by thanking those in attendance and mentioning prominent people who were busy in Urbana, Ill.“(Reps.) Matt (Pierce) and Peggy (Welch) couldn’t be here tonight,” Kruzan said. “Plus, Urbana is beautiful this time of year.” The bar exploded in laughter.