Rep. Riecken honored for helping former POWs
State Rep. Gail Riecken, D-Evansville, has been named “Legislator of the Year” by Indiana’s chapter of the Disabled American Veterans for her work on legislation that honors former prisoners of war. House Enrolled Act 1258 allows cars with POW license plates to park for free at any metered spot in the state. This puts POWs on par with disabled veterans. ”I truly appreciate this honor, but it is our veterans who fought courageously to protect our freedoms and
independence who deserve the praise,” Riecken said in a statement.
GOP resists Dems’ state budget plan
Democrats who control the Indiana House advanced their version of a new state budget to the full chamber Monday with little sign that it will gain much, if any, support from outnumbered Republicans. The House Ways and Means Committee endorsed the plan on a 15-10 party-line vote after approving several amendments to the one-year spending bill. The changes included provisions that would increase spending for certain items and programs, as well as tax incentives to help the beleaguered recreational vehicle industry in northern Indiana. The committee also added a provision by Rep. Robert Cherry, R-Greenfield, that would make the administration of Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels reopen a state school for troubled and needy youth for at least another year.
Bill seeks audit of FSSA modernization
It’s been two years since Indiana began an ambitious plan to modernize the Family and Social Services Administration, and a bill introduced in the legislative special session aims to tackle the many problems some say stem from the overhaul. Critics of the $1.16 billion modernization drive say it has created a digital bureaucracy, filled with difficulty and frustration for some of the most vulnerable Hoosiers. These people have been stripped of personal caseworkers, been forced to deal with long response times and even seen benefits dropped amid increasing complications as a result of the shift, critics say.
