Indiana

Thursday?s Political Thoughts

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I’m doing the morning show live from the Indiana General Assembly today, so this will be short and to the point.

Politico is reporting that Governor Mitch Daniels will announce later this Spring whether he will run for President.  The article is pretty interesting.  Of course looking at the current field of contenders, Daniels would be refreshing since he would be the intellectual grown up in the room and I’ve always preferred grown ups to grizzly bears.

An Indiana Senate Committee is moving forward with an Arizona-type illegal immigration bill.  It passed overwhelmingly.  Frankly I think lawmakers should have waited until the courts decide what to do about Arizona’s law.  I’m also still trying to see where all the illegals are Indiana?  I need some work done around the house.

Speaking of laws, as if the issue of gay marriage weren’t enough, Indiana lawmakers are looking at legislation that would require couples who want to marry to take a marriage class or pay extra for a license.  No offense, but I took a class before I got married and it didn’t tell me anything I couldn’t have figured out for myself.   And here’s the kicker, the fees from the license would go toward subsidizing poor couples who can’t afford to pay the fee.  I think there’s a term for government actions like this.

The hits just keep on coming in the debate over school reform.  I hear some union members are so mad at reform supporters that they planning another protest.  This protest would take place this Saturday at the floral shop owned by State Representative Bob Behning in Indianapolis.   While I think it is totally uncool to take your political issues to someone’s job, the good news is the union members can pick up some flowers just in time for Valentine’s Day.

And for anyone who cares, Sam Carson, the son of the late Julia Carson, is announcing today that he’s running for Mayor of Indianapolis.

That’s all for now.

Oh, one more thing.  Wednesday was a good day for shameless self-promotion.  My inaugural monthly column appeared in the Indianapolis Star this week and the Indianapolis Business Journal did a nice write up of yours truly.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on February 10, 2011 (boomark / email).