Indiana

Statehouse Stuff

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

For those of you who care, here is the gossip, rumor and innuendo from the Statehouse.   As always, take it for what it?s worth?

Although the speculation continues over whether Indiana Congressman Mike Pence is running for Governor or President, allow me to to assist.  My very reliable sources are telling me that Pence will announce around February 1 that he will run for Governor.  And while he has been running on two tracks, the track that tends to get the most traction is the one that leads to Washington Street, not D.C.

Tea party activists are slated to get together this weekend near Tipton to try to decide on a challenger to Richard Lugar in the 2012 primary.  If they were hoping to snag Richard Mourdock, they might want to think again.  I?m told Mourdock, while very flattered at the prospect, may be having some serious second thoughts about running against the man who is expected to have major party support next year.  Also, Mourdock will not be in attendance at the convention.  He will spend the weekend in Evansville.   In addition, in the 2010 primary Dan Coats got about 40 percent of the vote, while ?tea party? candidate Richard Behney only received 4 percent.

Mike Delph is re-introducing his immigration bill this session.  While I disagree with most of it and don?t think a good chunk  it will withstand a constitutional challenge, I do think Delph is right on one point.  He has a provision in his bill that all government business must be conducted in English.   There is something to be said about encouraging people to learn the language of the country they are in.  It?s one thing to be at the airport, where you have a significant international audience, but the City-County building, that?s a little less cosmopolitan.

For all the whining, moaning and gnashing of teeth over  Governor Mitch Daniels? budget plan that would eliminate adult  Medicaid coverage for dental, hearing aids, chiropractic care and podiatry, the real ticking time bomb is what?s slated to happen next year.  The Governor?s office says because of the new health care plan, virtually every new dollar in state revenue will have to go to Medicaid coverage starting next year.   Frankly, I think Indiana should give a serious look at opting out of Medicaid and coming up with a new plan altogether.

My sources are also telling me Indiana lawmakers may have an unemployment insurance bill ready to go soon.  Talks are reportedly making progress on how to close the fund’s $2 billion deficit.  In the past the sticking issues have been the amount of premium increases and cuts in benefits.

And finally, a proposed statewide smoking ban is up for a House committee vote today.  I’m told the measure will likely pass, but with exemptions for casinos, private clubs, and cigar lounges.

That’s all for now.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on January 19, 2011 (boomark / email).