Wednesday Wire Regarding Tuesday Tidbits
Here’s the long and short of some things to keep an eye on over the next few days that happened on Tuesday…
Indiana lawmakers are split over whether the state should opt out of the public option of the Obama administration’s health care reform plan. Governor Mitch Daniels’ office says they are studying the details in order to figure out the best course of action. House Speaker Pat Bauer says he supports the public option in principle. If Indiana did decide to opt out, it’s unclear exactly how that would occur. Right now the state can opt out of Medicaid-related programs by a decision from the Executive Branch, however under legislation offered by New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, a state could only opt out if its legislature passed a bill and the Governor signed it. Stay tuned.
As soon as House Speaker Pat Bauer unveiled his ethics reform package Tuesday, Indiana Republicans were quick to jump on it and criticize the him. Bauer wants to eliminate campaign contributions by contractors who do business with the state, institute a year-long “cooling off” period where former lawmakers can’t lobby the state and require disclose of legislative gifts of $50 or more. State GOP officials say Bauer had several opportunities to accomplish these goals last session, but sent similar reform measures to die in the Rules Committee.
The Lawrence Township Board Tuesday night voted to cut its budget by $3 million to help close a near $6 million shortfall. The cuts mean the townships fire fighters will have to take a more than 10% pay cut. The Township is also borrowing $2 million in emergency loans from the State.
Health and Hospital CEO Matt Gutwein Tuesday took the case for the Wishard referendum to the Downtown Rotary club of Indianapolis. I’m fundamentally neutral on the proposal to build the new facility, but having heard him and the opposition speak on the issue, I tend to think Gutwein makes a much better case for the referendum than his opponents do against it.
Marion County Democratic Chairman Ed Treacy has filed an ethics complaint against the Mayor accusing him using government resources to help a political contributor. I guess Treacy is trying to endear himself to all but declared Mayoral candidate Melina Kennedy since it is common knowledge amongst Democratic circles that he wanted someone other than her to run for Mayor.
