I’m a little tired this morning after a long last day at the Legislature, so instead of me talking, I’ll let the lawmakers talk. David Long on Last Day Pat Bauer on Last Day Brian Bosma on Last Day

With a weekend left, Indiana lawmakers are blaming each other for the stalemate here at the General Assembly. Senate Pro Tempore David Long says there could have a deal last week, because Democrats are making unreasonable demands they say will break the state budget. Meanwhile, House Speaker Pat Bauer says he wants to make sure […]

As much as I like the Speaker of the House Pat Bauer, I would not want to be him right now.   Let’s face it, it’s been a tough year. There’s a national trend that doesn’t favor Democrats in the next election.  Evan Bayh won’t be on the ticket.  House Republicans are running everybody and […]

Indiana House Speaker Pat Bauer says education funding should be a separate issue from unemployment insurance and he’s asking Governor Mitch Daniels to get that message to his fellow Republicans. Although lawmakers seem to agree on most of a plan to give schools more flexibility to solve their budget shortfalls and all parties seem to […]

This weekend marked six months of being a very happily married man so I gave local and state politics a break and spent time with my lovely wife.  It was time well spent and I highly recommend some of you getting off the blogs and getting  out of the house and doing something. With that […]

Supporters of a measure that would change the way alcohol is sold and distributed in Indiana admit changes will have to be made to the legislation amidst growing opposition from a number of places. Currently, the bill requires an alcohol wholesaler to be reimbursed if they lose a contract with a supplier to another wholesaler.  The […]

To be honest, it wasn’t Monday’s 75-23 vote in favor of putting property tax caps into the Indiana Constitution that surprised me the most.  What caught me off guard somewhat is the argument by House Speaker Pat Bauer that local governments hadn’t come out and made the case against property tax caps.  It was a […]

If you’ve ever had any interaction with House Speaker Pat Bauer, you know it’s important to know when to read between the lines.  Yesterday was one of those days. The Speaker said local governments hadn’t made the case against implementing property tax caps.  He pointed out that the locals have had a year or so […]

As you folks know one of my big issues down at the Statehouse is government reform and consolidation.  I think there is too much government in Indiana and it can be streamlined for more accountability, efficiency and savings.   The township assessors have already felt the bite of the consolidation and it looks like the Trustees […]

Indiana’s four legislative leaders today are showing unity on state finances, but differing on property tax caps. Speaking at the Indiana Chamber 2010 Legislative Preview Lunch Senate Pro Tem David Long, House Speaker Pat Bauer, Senate Democratic Leader Vi Simpson and House Republican Leader Brian Bosma all agreed that with Indiana’s $310 million revenue shortfall, […]