Indiana Political News

Summer sessions of legislative study serve a purpose
Assigning something to a “study committee” sounds like something only policy wonks and reporters could love. Controversial issues get sidetracked and put out of the spotlight for a while. Complicated matters get talked to death and never resolved. Some legislators take notes while others read or snooze. Everybody gets travel pay, and the summer passes pleasantly. But the summer study sessions of the Indiana General Assembly have a long history and serve a useful purpose. Dozens of issues get assigned to the study committees so that, as Mike Smith of the Associated Press notes, “lawmakers will be more informed about them when they reconvene.”
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080527/EDITORIAL/805270317

Debate over immigration legislation far from over
Property-tax relief wasn’t the only weighty issue state lawmakers tackled last session, but it is one they ultimately resolved. The other big, contentious topic – what the state should do about illegal immigration – was left twisting in a whirlwind of politics and emotion. In the end, Republicans and Democrats failed to reach a compromise on legislation addressing the issue.  Well, it’s coming back. The Legislative Council – a group of lawmakers that oversees the affairs of the General Assembly – formally punted illegal immigration back into political play last week by assigning the subject to a bipartisan, interim study committee.
http://www.news-tribune.net/politics/local_story_148100922.html?keyword=topstory

State law requires counties to report on sirens
Indiana’s emergency management officials are assessing the state’s tornado sirens to make sure they’re adequate for alerting residents about dangerous weather.  A bill passed last session by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Mitch Daniels in March requires each of Indiana’s 92 counties to submit a report on siren coverage to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
http://www.rensselaerrepublican.com/articles/2008/05/27/news/state/state03.txt

Indiana Dems searching for running mate
The search is on to find a running mate for Jill Long Thompson in the race for Indiana governor. Meanwhile, Governor Mitch Daniels got a campaign boost of his own. “Thirty-three states have raised their gas tax, but not us,” the governor said. Daniels accepted the endorsement of the Professional Firefighters Union Tuesday. “What he has done for our members by initiating a subsidized training program where firefighters can get excellent state and national standard training,” said the union’s president, Tom Hannify. 
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8385912&nav=menu188_2

Sam Turpin

Lt. Governor Skillman to Host Advancing Hoosier Women in Business Seminar Series

 

Lt. Governor Skillman to Host Advancing Hoosier Women in Business Seminar Series

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, and the Indiana Small Business Development Center Network are pleased to announce they will once again host the Advancing Hoosier Women in Business seminar series during summer 2008.  This popular event will be held in four locations: Rensselaer, Jasper, Marion, and Madison. 

“Building on the success of last year’s women in business series, this year’s events will highlight even more women entrepreneurs and continue to stimulate an interest in entrepreneurship throughout our state,” said Lt. Governor Skillman.  “The women in business seminars provide participants with excellent networking and educational opportunities with a local emphasis.  I encourage any woman interested in entrepreneurship to attend.”

Each seminar provides Hoosier businesswomen with technical and educational resources as well as networking opportunities.  Success stories of how rural women have launched thriving entrepreneurial careers will be featured.  Attendees can look forward to panel discussions, Lt. Governor Skillman’s keynote address and other notable speakers.

The registration fee for each one-day seminar is $20.00 per person.  Each event will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and lunch is included.  Dates are as follows: Rensselaer, June 19; Jasper, June 26; Marion, July 8; and Madison, July 22.  Please log on to http://www.ocra.in.gov/ or call the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs at 800.824.2476 to register for any of the Advancing Hoosier Women in Business seminars.

State works with local non-profits to return trees to downtown Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana (May 9, 2008) – Tomorrow, May 10, 2008, the Indiana Department of Administration will complete a coordinated city, state, and non-profit effort to improve the Indianapolis tree canopy near Indiana Government Center. Working with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Division, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, the Department of Administration will begin planting trees along one of downtown’s most prominent stretches of pavement, West Washington Street.

The trees, which have been paid for by the Keep Indianapolis Beautiful NeighborWoods Program, will be planted along the north side of the street, between West St. and Senate Ave. At the recommendation of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Community and Urban Forestry (CUF) Program, the new trees will be a mix of Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulate) and Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa).  Both varieties are resistant to pests and disease, and are suited to withstand the stresses of an urban, street-level setting.

“By working together with the CUF Program, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, we’re able to beautify a major downtown thoroughfare, all at no cost to taxpayers,” said Department of Administration Commissioner Carrie Henderson. “This is a win for everybody.”

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s NeighborWoods Program, in partnership with the City of Indianapolis, is dedicated to replenishing the Indianapolis tree canopy by planting 100,000 trees over the next ten years. The program serves all of Marion County, with a specific focus on urban areas in Center Township. Founding sponsors include Indianapolis Power & Light Company and Veolia Water Indianapolis.

The Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA) provides support services to state agencies. IDOA centrally manages activities relating to the Government Center Campus, state purchasing, the vehicle and aviation fleet, state travel, real estate leases, and property disposition, among others. Through its operations, IDOA helps to ensure the smooth function of state government, finding efficient and effective solutions to government-wide needs.

Sam Turpin

Indiana Political News

Daniels makes second visit to Indiana soldiers in Iraq
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says he’s only had four hours of sleep in the past three days, and that was on the floor of an airplane. But Daniels was more than willing to sacrifice a little shut-eye to visit with Indiana National Guard troops in Iraq.
http://www.news-tribune.net/local/local_story_142181812.html

 

Sam Turpin

Political News

Lieutenant governor
It’s understandable that Democratic candidate for governor Jill Long Thompson might look to Southern Indiana for a running mate. She is a well-known politician in northeast Indiana, which she represented in Congress for three terms. But she is less well-known in Southern Indiana. In the May 6 Democratic primary, her opponent Jim Schellinger carried all the southwestern counties except Warrick, even though Long Thompson won overall to claim the nomination.
Lieutenant Governor Full Article

Group Fights for Tougher Child Abuse Laws
“I’ve asked them to do a bill draft to expand the sex and violent offenders registry to include child abuse and neglect convictions,” Crouch tells NEWS 25. Convicted abusers would register just like sex offenders. Crouch says the bill could require that even past convicted abusers register as well. But those who attended Tuesday night’s meeting felt little progress being made. A representative from Child Protective Services and state representatives Phil Hoy (Dem) and Dennis Avery (Dem) spent most of the time talking about current policies in place.
Child Abuse Full Article

One of the best citizens is leaving citizen legislature
Politics has been called the art of the possible, but possibilities don’t become probabilities without somebody playing all the angles. Those somebodies are legislators, and it is understandable that they get the reputation of being wheeler-dealers (if we like what they’re doing) and connivers (if we don’t). They make compromises, you see, which seems somehow disreputable if not downright shady. 
Senator Meeks Full Article

Couple’s Voyage to tie knot leads them to Holiday World coaster
It will happen at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari at 9:30 a.m. Friday when Jerry Flemming, a 36-year-old factory worker from Convoy, Ohio, marries Leslie Baia, a 34-year-old nursing assistant from Protection, Kan. “They contacted us last fall asking permission,” said Holiday World spokeswoman Paula Werne. Officiating will be Bruce Borders, a state legislator from Jasonville, Ind., who’s been an Elvis impersonator for many years.
Representative Borders Full Article

 

Sam Turpin