Indiana

Party of One Redux

Posted on March 02, 2009

Rebel Without a Caucus

Posted on March 01, 2009

Buy Indianapolis or Indiana or American, Which Comes First

Posted on March 01, 2009

Caption This

Posted on February 28, 2009

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

Children of the Revolution

Posted on February 27, 2009

Statehouse Stuff

Posted on February 27, 2009

The Madness of Mike Young

Posted on February 26, 2009
It took a while, but I knew I would eventually figure out why a “conservative” Republican like State Senator Mike Young would oppose government reform. At first I thought it really was a tax issue, until I discovered that Wayne Township has the highest tax rate for fire service in Marion County and consolidation would only [...

Scrap That

Posted on February 26, 2009
Indianapolis city officials are announcing two major changes to the police department’s part-time job policies following the employment of officers at a scrap metal yard accused of dealing in stolen material. Mayor Greg Ballard, Public Safety Director Scott Newman and Police Chief Mike Spears said they were ordering all command personnel in IMPD to quit their [...

White Out

Posted on February 26, 2009

Post Consolidation Mortem

Posted on February 25, 2009
I spent some time on the phone last night talking to politicos about why Marion County Township Fire Consolidation failed by one vote.  The vote was 24-26, had one vote changed the Lt. Governor could have passed the tie breaking vote.  I asked my contacts a number of questions as to why the measure didn’t [...

I Need a Drink!

Posted on February 24, 2009
Get a load of this!  If you want to know why your water rates are going through the roof, it?s not just because the city financed a majority of the bonds to purchase the water company with adjustable rate loans that have gone through the roof, but there?s evidence that when the people who used [...

The Mortgage Crisis

Posted on February 24, 2009
The following is a guest column by Indianapolis attorney Mike Norris. More consumers are losing their homes than ever before, and more lenders are foreclosing their mortgages than ever before. Both sides are losing faith in the American mortgage lending system, even though one wants payments; the other is willing to pay...

Death By Franklin Township

Posted on February 24, 2009
That statement may seem a bit extreme or harsh, but it is fair. Because I called out Terry Royalty on his reported annual four-month stints in Florida, he’s apparently cancelling all mutual aid agreements with IFD, Beech Grove and Perry Township...

Kip, Too?

Posted on February 23, 2009
Throw another name into the ring of potential Democratic contenders for Mayor of Indianapolis.  The latest addition I hear wanting to run against incumbent Greg Ballard in 2011 is lobbyist and former Democratic State Party Chairman Kip Tew.    Tew was also a senior advisor for Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign in Indiana and was aide [...

Slowly But Surely

Posted on February 23, 2009
The movement toward government reform moved slowly today as the Indiana State Senate approved an amendment to a township government consolidation bill that would give county councils oversight over township budgets and eliminate their advisory boards...

State of the City Redux

Posted on February 22, 2009
One way I tend to gauge how well elected officials are doing is by listening to their critics.  If their critics have nothing good to say about them, then that probably means they’re doing ok.  Such is it with Greg Ballard and his critics. Now before we go any further, let me say this so some [...

Daniels Plane Diverted

Posted on February 22, 2009
While en route to Washington D.C., this morning Governor Mitch Daniels’ plane had to be diverted to Columbus, OH.  Press Secretary Jane Jankowski said the plane had to land in Columbus after cracks had developed in the windsheild of the aircraft...

State of the City React

Posted on February 22, 2009
Here’s some reaction from yesterday’s State of the City address… Democratic City-Councilor Mary Moriarty Adams Marion County GOP Chairman Tom John Marion County Democratic Party Executive Director Adam Kirsch Enjoy.  

State of the City

Posted on February 21, 2009
In his second State of the City address, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard today said the city was strong, but not immune to the challenges and crisises hitting the rest of the nation. He reiterated his themes of a safe, livable city, that has a healthy economic climate, good schools, is environmentally sound and has efficient [...

Ask, But You May Not Receive

Posted on February 21, 2009
In case any of you ever wondered what happened to the idea of a debate between Amos Brown and me over government consolidation and it’s impact on the African-American community, here’s the e-mail response my friend Amos recently gave tax activist Melyssa Donaghy… I?m in receipt of your e-mails concerning a recent op-ed in the Indianapolis [...

Open Forum

Posted on February 20, 2009
I’ve got some work to do today, so I’ll make this quick.  I’ll give you some topics to chat about.  Feel free to discuss… Should Indiana follow the lead of some other states and NOT take the economic stimulus money? Should the Indiana House pass a one-year budget or go back to a two-year? Is government reform really [...

Stimulating Indy

Posted on February 19, 2009
Want to know what the city of Indianapolis would like to spend economic stimulus on?  Click here. The total cost, $268,323,010.  

Breakin? The Law

Posted on February 19, 2009
The Indiana Senate by a vote of 28-22 passed legislation that would allow cities and towns to install cameras at intersections to catch drivers who run red lights.  The cameras would photograph rear plates and the tickets issued could not be more than $100...

Do These People Get It?

Posted on February 19, 2009
Proponents of township government may be basking the glow of “victories” at the Statehouse Wednesday they can’t be so oblivious as to deny the inevitable? Can they deny property tax caps are coming? Can they deny declining property values that will negatively impact their tax base? Can they deny the bad economy will likely impact requests for poor [...

Treated Like Royalty

Posted on February 19, 2009
The pro-township forces keep telling me that township government is important because it’s the government closest to the people.  Maybe someone should tell that to the Franklin Township Trustee Terry Royalty.   I’m told he’s been on vacation in Florida since October and apparently this tends to be an annual trip...

I Have Now Officially Seen It All

Posted on February 18, 2009
There are a lot of things in this world which I never thought I would see. Barack Obama as President.  O. J. Simpson in jail.  And Republican State Senator Mike Young of Indianapolis vote to raise taxes on Marion County residents, but that’s pretty much what he did today in the Senate Local Government Committee...

Death or Taxes?

Posted on February 18, 2009
The Marion County townships with fire departments and no plans to consolidate do have a plan to deal with the impending shortfall due to property tax caps, it’s called raise taxes. Pike, Wayne, Decatur, Franklin and Lawrence are facing millions in shortfalls when the property tax caps kick in fully in 2010...

Wednesday Wire

Posted on February 18, 2009
Here are some little things to report this morning.   I’ll be at the Statehouse later with more updates… City officials say they may be able to save a couple million in interest payments on Lucas Oil Stadium due to refinancing which can help them get a little closer to plugging the $43 million operational deficit...

Stacked and Packed

Posted on February 17, 2009
Here are ten simple rules on how NOT to have a “informational” Town Hall meeting on the implications of a total ban on smoking in all workplaces in Marion County. Don’t have everyone on your “information” panel be associated with the anti-smoking group...

Budget?s First Step

Posted on February 17, 2009
Indiana lawmakers took their first major step today toward passing a budget.  By a vote of 14-9, the House Ways and Means Committee passed a one-year spending plan totaling $14.5 billion. The budget includes more than $308 million in new spending; most of which goes for education which was not included in Governor Daniels’ budget and $26 million [...

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.