Indiana

Statehouse Update

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I’m at the statehouse and this is what I’m hearing or seeing so far…

• Lawmakers are still wrangling over education and unemployment.  I hear Democrats are willing to take a two-year delay in the tax increase if Republicans will give in on more flexibility for schools to move money around in their budgets.
• The House passed a bill allowing employees to bring their guns to work in their vehicles.  Watch for litigation to fly with this one.
• Although everyone is hailing the ethics bill passed, I haven’t spoken to one person either inside or outside the House and Senate chambers who thinks it will make a difference.   Also the provision that would ban lawmakers from becoming lobbyists unless they sit out a year doesn’t go into effect until Jan 1, 2012.  That gives anyone who loses in the 2010 election plenty of time to find another job.
• I’m still hearing lawmakers may not adjourn until tomorrow.

That is all.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on March 04, 2010 (boomark / email).