Indiana

Colts Care?

Posted on April 03, 2009
I’m doing some legal education classes today and tomorrow to keep my Illinois law license current, however during breaks I check my email.  Here’s what I got from the Indianapolis Colts. STATEMENT FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/2/09 The Indianapolis Colts understand and are concerned about the current CIB funding shortfall as well as the financial difficulties [...

Do You C.I.B. What I C.I.B.?

Posted on April 02, 2009
Okay, here are the details on the state CIB funding proposals to close the $47 million budget hole which includes $20 million in operation costs for Lucas Oil, $15 million for Conseco, $5 million for the Convention Center and $3 million for marketing the Convention Center as they sit right now...

Does Bill Polian Get It?

Posted on April 02, 2009
1:30 P.M. update - The CIB bill passed out of committee 10-2, with a lot of lawmakers acknowledging that there will be changes before it is all said and done. ****************** Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian testified today before the Senate Appropriations Committee over the the plan to address the $47 million operating deficit...

Tea Time or Talk Time?

Posted on April 01, 2009
In 14 days, your taxes are due.  If you’re like me you got them done early, broke even and called it a day. For some people, April 15 is a day of “Tea Parties”  both locally and nationally where citizens will come together and express their grievances with their government...

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Details. Details? Details!

Posted on April 01, 2009
I’m hearing some more details out what Indiana lawmakers will propose tomorrow to deal with the Capital Improvement Board’s operational issues.  Here’s what it looks like now, but please note, this could change. Pacers contribution decreases by $5 million...

Moving Day

Posted on March 31, 2009
We are making some changes to Indiana Barrister.  You guys have been so great about visiting that we’ve outgrown our current host.   Tomorrow we will be transferring to a new server so we can have more bandwidth.  This may cause some problems for you trying to read or post to the blog, but they [...

The More I C.I.B.

Posted on March 31, 2009
Expect a comprehensive statewide proposal to  be this Thursday regarding the Capital Improvement Board and its $35 million operational deficit. Lawmakers are being tight lipped, but the proposal will be included in HB 1604 which created a similar like Capital Improvement Board in Ft...

Suddenly, I C.I.B.

Posted on March 30, 2009
I spent a good chunk of the day trying to get a feel on what Indiana lawmakers will unveil on Thursday with respect to the Capital Improvement Board and its multi-million dollar operations deficit.  Here’s what I’ve been able to gather so far...

If You Can?t Beat Them?

Posted on March 30, 2009
Advance Indiana is demanding I disclose the details of some annoying e-mail I received regarding how I should cover future taxpayer revolts. I took me about a micro-second to figure out how to deal with this.  Ignore it. I mean if I’m a such a fraud and charlatan, then why would Advance Indiana spend so much [...

Was That a Threat or a Promise?

Posted on March 29, 2009
There’s nothing like getting back into town after a weekend of comedy, cigars and good alcohol only to find threatening e-mail waiting for me. I won’t go into details, but needless to say the person told me that I am in the middle of the “Taxpayers’ Revolt” regarding the “elites vs the common people” and if [...

Friday Stuff

Posted on March 27, 2009
We had some technical issues yesterday, but the blog is back up and running. Here’s the latest news. Indiana’s unemployment rate creeped up to 9.4 percent, up from 9.3 percent.  The scary part of the figure is that 58 of 92 counties have unemployment rates of 10 percent or higher...

Pacers CEO: ?Everything Is on the Table?

Posted on March 26, 2009
Indiana Pacers Chief Executive Office Jim Morris says that everything is on the table in order to reach a fair and equitable settlement with the city, state and Capital Improvement Board over the operational costs of Conseco Fieldhouse. Morris made his comments today at a news conference outlining a new health initiative in Indiana...

School Daze

Posted on March 25, 2009
If you’ve ever wondered how your school district compares to others on ISTEP, graduation rates, attendance, etc  click here.   It’s a link to the Indiana Department of Education’s website.  It has a lot of really good data attached with it on public, private and charter schools...

Did You Hear the People Sing?

Posted on March 25, 2009
The Children of the Revolution had their Statehouse protest today.  About 200-250 people showed up, but there were only about 100 or so left when it ended. They touched on everything from property taxes, to the CIB, to lobbying reform.  At times it was hard to follow where it all was going...

Program Note

Posted on March 24, 2009
FYI, Indianapolis Public School Superintendent Dr. Eugene White will be a guest tomorrow on my morning radio show.  He’s scheduled to appear tomorrow from 7-8 a.m.  You can hear the interview at 1430 AM or over the Internet at www.wxnt.com.  We’ll talk about the 2008 State of the District report, budget cuts, ISTEP test scores, charter [...

Night Notes

Posted on March 24, 2009
I’m preparing for my interview with Dr. Eugene White regarding IPS so I want to make this quick. The Indiana State Senate moved forward today with fixing the state’s unemployment insurance fund problems. The Indiana House moved forward today with property tax “reform” and giving Superintendent Tony Bennett unnecessary grief...

Blessed Are the Poor, For They Shall Have a Hell of a Lot of Nerve

Posted on March 23, 2009
Although the title of this blog post may not seem very Christian, it’s okay because I am not.  In fact, these days in a tough economy I’m feeling a lot less generous and a lot less giving. It’s been reported that the city is closing down some local pools in order to make some badly needed [...

Marion County Township Trustee Wants $1.7 Million Tax Increase

Posted on March 23, 2009
The Wayne Township Trustee in Marion County wants to raise taxes nearly $1.7 million to pay for fire protection. David “King” Baird has filed notice in this past weekend’s Court and Commercial Record that the township will hold a meeting on April 9 to formally ask the Department of Local Government and Finance to increase the fire protection [...

The State of IPS

Posted on March 22, 2009
Indianapolis Public School Superintendent Dr. Eugene White is unveiling the 2009 Indianapolis Public Schools “State of the District” this week.  I got an early copy of the presentation, and while there is some good news, IPS is increasingly becoming a school district that is poor, black and academically challenged...

Get a Load of This?

Posted on March 21, 2009
I got this e-mail from a friend yesterday.   It make me think that maybe Indiana should seriously think about lowering unemployment benefits… Hey Abdul, You’ll love the irony in this.  My assistant is going to have to have some surgery soon and be out for about a month...

Bauer v. Bosma

Posted on March 20, 2009
With about 6 weeks left to go before the end of session, I spoke with House Speaker Pat Bauer and Minority Leader Brian Bosma to get their perspectives on the remaining days.  Here are their interviews… House Speaker Pat Bauer Minority Leader Brian Bosma  

The Children of the Revolution are Revolting

Posted on March 20, 2009
In case you were wondering, the line-up has been unveiled for the March 25th “Revolt at the Statehouse.”  Enjoy. “Increasing Debt: Mortgaging our Children?s Future” Lisa Kelly, former Libertarian candidate for Lt. Governor “The Colts, Pacers and the Capital Improvement Board” Gary Welsh, Attorney at Law and Publisher of Advance Indiana Blog ?Government Grants & Public Corruption? Rev...

FYI

Posted on March 20, 2009
From Indiana House Democrats… The news conference scheduled at 1:15 p.m. today to announce the plans of State Reps. Ed DeLaney, John Barnes and Mary Ann Sullivan (all D-Indianapolis) for Marion County fire department consolidation has been postponed indefinitely...

Damage Control?

Posted on March 19, 2009
Are Indianapolis Public Schools going to be doing some damage control this evening?   Maybe. The IPS Parent’s Advisory Council, a group created by the Superintendent’s Office, is holding a meeting tonight from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m in the IPS Board room at 120 E...

What About Bob?

Posted on March 19, 2009
State Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker may have a contender for his job when party officials meet this weekend.   Marion County Democrat and labor leader Bob Voorhies’ name is surfacing as a challenger.  Voorhies reportedly sent out an e-mail to State Central Committee members expressing his intent  to run for State Chairman, even though he [...

IPS, What a Mess!

Posted on March 18, 2009
Indianapolis Public School teachers say it is virtually  impossible for them to do their jobs because the district won’t discipline problem students.  The complaint is part of a continuing fight between the teachers and the administration over wages and working conditions...

School Daze

Posted on March 17, 2009
I recently got an e-mail from someone accusing me of hating public schools and doing nothing to promote the positive things that take place in them.  My first instinct was to rip the writer a new one in my usual brilliant prose, however I decided to take a more thoughtful approach and further clarify my [...

Breaking News

Posted on March 17, 2009
ATF officials say it was arson that destroyed the 218-unit apartment building at Senate and Michigan last week. Officials would not release any more details, only to say the fire last week was intentionally set.  They have also posted a reward for any information leading to an arrest or conviction...

Monday Morning Musings

Posted on March 16, 2009
Here are my thoughts for the morning… Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels was featured Friday night on 20/20 about the leasing of the Indiana Toll Road.  It’s a pretty good interview.  Opponents of privatization still don’t make a valid argument about why it was a bad idea...

Two Out of Three Ain?t Bad

Posted on March 16, 2009
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard today announced that the city approved two of the three charter schools up for a 7-year renewal. Flanner House and Christel House both either met or exceeded city standards.  The third school, Fall Creek Academy did  make improvements, however the Mayor’s office said Fall Creek’s improvement had not been consistent enough over [...

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