Indiana

Statehouse Update

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I’m at the Statehouse and will try to blog regularly throughout the day on what’s going on here.

1:30 p.m.

• I spoke the Speaker right before lawmakers went to lunch to get his thoughts on the final 72 hours of session (i.e. the Budget, Unemployment Insurance and the Caapital Improvement Board).  You can hear his comments below.  We spoke for about four minutes.  He makes an interesting comment regarding Jim Irsay.
• House Speaker Pat Bauer

9:52 a.m.

• The unions are already showing up for today’s unemployment rally.  They are going to protest any possible cuts in worker benefits.  A couple thousand are expected to show.  Of course I did wonder if these guys can all afford to take the day off to protest, are they really worried about being unemployed?
• I ran into Senate Pro Tempore David Long.  He was on his way to the Governor’s Office.  I asked him what he thought about Jim Irsay’s weekend comments that the Colts have already given enough and had no intention to contributing to close the $47 million shortfall.  His response, “Jim Irsay is the last thing on my mind right now.”  It wasn’t clear if he was going to meet with the Governor on the CIB, the budget or unemployment.  However, Senator Luke Kenley wasn’t too far behind.  Stay tuned.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on April 27, 2009 (boomark / email).