I have to give it to Indiana lawmakers.  Just when I think they are about to do something that is not only silly, but politically short-sighted, they pull themselves back from the brink, in this case it was the marriage amendment. You know what I mean. The amendment originally stated “Only a marriage between one […]

Earlier this year the folks who supported HJR-3, the marriage amendment, were livid at the fact that House lawmakers were looking at eliminating the second sentence.   They were so upset that the in several e-mails and public statements they threatened to primary any Republican who voted to alter the amendment. On January 27, 23 House […]

If you want an idea of what could happen if the marriage amendment gets on the ballot in Indiana this November, you may want to head north to Minnesota. The North Star State took up the amendment in 2012. It was defeated 52-47 and cost Republicans control of the State Senate. We spoke with Jack […]

I have a running joke I use in my standup comedy act about marriage, some days my wife wins and other days my wife wins.  (Rimshot!)  Of course marriage is give and take and some days one side wins and some days the other side does. Luckily for both sides in the marriage amendment debate, […]

I spoke this weekend with Chris Smith, he is the son of House Elections Committee Chairman Milo Smith which passed, 9-3, HJR-3, the amendment banning gay marriage in Indiana..   Chris is gay and took to Facebook to criticize the House Republicans’ actions. On his Facebook page Chris wrote… Hello everyone. I am the gay son […]

One of the big arguments in the debate over HJR-3, the marriage amendment, is Hoosiers should have the right to vote and one person should not prevent that from happening. Fair enough. In a democracy, even though we live in a constitutional republic, citizens should have their voices heard.  But if that argument is good […]

One of nice things about being a political pundit is you know you’re winning the debate when people attack you instead of the argument that you make.    This is especially true in the case of Democratic City-County Councilor Vern Brown. In a recent letter to the editor in the Indy Star, Brown said he was […]

If you are a supporter of the HJR-3, the latest poll by Indiana House and Senate Republicans cannot make you feel good, especially if you break it down and really dig into it. While on the surface, an HJR-3 supporter might think it’s good news… 53% of those surveyed support the amendment* 55% favor amending […]

by Richard Hickman,  Mayor, Angola, IN President, Indiana Association of Cities and Towns New Year’s resolutions can be cliché, so it’s amazing how many of us get sucked into making them each year. Even if we don’t write them down or share them at parties, many of us still have at least a short list […]