Indiana

Night of the Living Ed

Posted on June 08, 2009
Although it may have seemed like  a good idea when Bart Peterson was Mayor some City-County Council Democrats may not vote tonight for fire consolidation between IFD and Perry Township. Marion County Democratic Chairman Ed Treacy is apparently pressuring Council Democrats to vote “no” even though most of them voted for consolidation involving Washington and Warren [...

Muncie-mania

Posted on June 07, 2009
Although I spend most of my time writing about Indianapolis-related issues, Munice has gotten my attention as of late, because it seems to be a test case for what could happen here in Indy next year. Due to property tax caps, Muncie faces a $3.8 million budget shortfall, and the city’s Mayor Sharon McShurley is laying [...

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 06, 2009
“This is like a local union having financial issues and the national comes in and takes it over.” - City-County Councilor Duke Oliver in a radio interview complaining about the state plan to merge the Capital Improvement Board and the Marion County Building authority.

Just Click, That?s All I Can Say!

Posted on June 06, 2009
See it to believe it

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For a Few Dollars More

Posted on June 05, 2009
As state and local lawmakers begin thumbing through the details of new Capital Improvement Board plan being pushed by Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, I think this little friendly reminder is in order. Don’t forget to add $7-9 million into the equation! The $7-9 million is the amount of revenue generated by non-Pacer/Fever events [...

Dueling Budgets

Posted on June 05, 2009
Indiana House Democrats today said  they will present their own budget on June 11 when the special session begins because they don’t trust the Republicans’ numbers. In a media availability today,  House Speaker Pat Bauer and Ways and Means Chairman Bill Crawford said they wanted to re-craft the budget so schools would be held as harmless as [...

Daniels, Ballard to Unveil CIB Plan at 3:30 p.m.

Posted on June 04, 2009
Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard are expected to unveil their plan to solve the Capital Improvement Board’s $47 million shortfall this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at the Statehouse. There are no new broad-based taxes and the plan relies heavily on cuts and “creative” revenue streams, but I am hearing the plan may not [...

A ?New? C.I.B.

Posted on June 04, 2009
Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard are calling for a new Capital Improvement Board that would oversee Conseco Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil, the new Convention Center and the major City-County properties. The New CIB would combine the Marion County Building Authority and create the Facilities Management Board would be created...

Court Halts Chrysler Bankruptcy

Posted on June 03, 2009
The 2nd Circuit Court appeals in New York has issued a stay in the Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings.   The Court has agreed to hear arguments on behalf of Indiana Sate Police, Teacher’s Retirement Fund and the Major Moves Construction Fund.   The hearing is set for Friday at noon...

No New (Broad-based) Taxes

Posted on June 03, 2009
Although Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard won’t roll out a Capital Improvement Board funding shortfall solution until Thursday, reliable sources say the plan will not include any broad-based taxes; much to the dismay of the Mayor’s critics and political enemies...

More ISTA Issues

Posted on June 03, 2009
The Indiana State Teachers Association, under the control of the National Education Association, put out a memo today saying they are going to cease all long-term disability payments after July. You can read the entire memo at the link below. ISTA Memo ISTA Trustee Ed Sullivan also said in the memo that ISTA will no longer accept contributions [...

The Loyal Opposition

Posted on June 02, 2009
My friends over at the Indiana Democratic State Party are taking a few shots at Governor Mitch Daniels this morning.   Daniels unveiled his budget outline Monday night, which dips into state reserves in order to provide more money for education, but also hold the line on spending in other areas...

When Less Really Is More

Posted on June 01, 2009
Although Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels won’t unveil his Capital Improvement Board funding plan until later in the week, I have made an interesting discovery along the way. As you know the CIB has an estimated $47 million shortfall, $15 million of that comes from the Indiana Pacers asking the CIB to takeover the operational costs of Conseco Fieldhouse...

Daniels Outlines Budget Priorities

Posted on June 01, 2009
Call it ironic, but just before Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels outlined his budget priorities to Hoosiers tonight, Central Indiana television stations were broadcasting severe weather alerts. Daniels said he is willing to dip into some of the state surplus to fund education, but there will be no increases anywhere else...

Governor to Unveil CIB Plan This Week

Posted on May 31, 2009
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels says he will unveil a plan this week to address the Capital Improvement Board’s financial situation. The CIB is running an estimated $47 million shortfall and lawmakers failed to come up with a funding solution during the closing days of the last session...

All In the Family

Posted on May 29, 2009
If you’re an IPS teacher who is being let go because of budget cuts, you’re going to love this.  My Indianapolis Star counterpart Andy Gammill is reporting on his web blog that IPS is changing its nepotism policy to hire Superintendent Eugene White’s son...

Early Weekend Update

Posted on May 29, 2009
Since I start teaching Saturday class tomorrow for the University of Indianapolis’ MBA program, I figured I should post this now.   I was out for most of the week taking care of my Dad so the gossip, rumor and innuendo is slim pickings.    But for what it’s worth… Governor Mitch Daniels will unveil his budget plans [...

Obama in ?11?

Posted on May 28, 2009
It’s nice to be back. I’m hearing some pretty interesting rumblings behind the scenes regarding the Mayor’s race in 2011. Although there is no nominee, I hear the Obama campaign has agreed to send staff and volunteers into Indianapolis to help the Democratic candidate win the race...

School Daze

Posted on May 27, 2009
There may be a lot more to the story being reported by my colleagues over at RTV 6 than meets the eye, regarding an IPS teacher accused of “inappropriately touching a student” 6 News is reporting the John Marshall Community High School Math Teacher has been suspended and is being investigated for reportedly molesting a 7th [...

A, B, C.I.B.

Posted on May 27, 2009
As Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels’ team gets ready to unveil a plan to address the Capital Improvement Board funding shortfall, one of the biggest challenges the administration will face is selling the plan to outstate lawmakers. Lawmakers argue that the people who benefit from the facilities, should help pay for them...

Out of Town, But Not Out of Touch

Posted on May 26, 2009
I’m in Chicago today and tomorrow with my parents. Some of you may know my Dad had a minor stroke and he’s been diagnosed as a diabetic.  I’m home getting him into his routing.  I’m leaning more about diabetes than I ever thought I would...

Weekend Reading

Posted on May 24, 2009
I hadn’t planned to post anything today, but when I saw Mitch Daniels on the cover of National Review, I couldn’t help myself.  Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.

Memorial Day Weekend Update

Posted on May 22, 2009
Since it’s Memorial Day Weekend and the Abdul birthday is tomorrow, I’m doing my gossip, rumor and innuendo posts today.  Enjoy the info and take it for it’s worth.  I’ll be back in on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. More ISTA Issues It looks like financial troubles over at the Indiana State Teachers Union had been [...

An Early Birthday Present

Posted on May 21, 2009
Although I don’t turn another year older until Saturday,  I got a really cool present early.  It wasn’t cigars, really good scotch or even a ridiculous amount of iTunes cards.   I got a healthy Dad. A few days ago my father was at his bank in Chicago and felt dizzy and blacked out...

Spin! Spin! Spin!

Posted on May 21, 2009
Here is the e-mail that the Indiana State Teachers Association sent out to its members regarding the recent trouble with its health insurance and long-term disability fund. May 19, 2009 ISTA Members, As you may know, the ISTA Insurance Trust has recently experienced a number of severe difficulties...

I Can?t Drink to This

Posted on May 20, 2009
In their quest for a solution to solve the Capital Improvement Board funding shortfall, my friends in the Mayor’s office are floating the idea of a regional alcohol tax.   The tax would be raised one-percent in Marion and the surrounding counties...

NEA Takes Control of ISTA

Posted on May 20, 2009
The AP is reporting what I heard earlier this week might happen, the National Education Association is taking over the Indiana State Teachers Association.  This has serious political consequences as ISTA is one of the largest contributors to Indiana Democrats...

A Chicken In Every Pothole

Posted on May 19, 2009
Could the answer to Indianapolis’ infrastructure problems lie in a two-piece value meal from KFC?   Maybe. The Chicago Tribune  this Spring reported that KFC has offered the city mayors across the country the chance to fill their potholes for free...

Assess This

Posted on May 18, 2009
Marion County Assessor Greg Bowes says more than 60 percent of  county property tax payers could see either a decrease or no change in the assessments this year.  Bowes says the County is completing its latest assessments and taxpayers should get their bills by the first week in June...

Bennett on ISTA Investigation: ?Disappointing?

Posted on May 18, 2009
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett called it “disappointing” that the FBI and the Indiana Secretary of State are investigating the Indiana State Teachers Association Health Insurance Trust Fund. State and federal authorities are investigating ISTA’s trust fund for making bad investments which have helped put the fund into the hole by more than $67 [...

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