Indiana News Update

Putting federal funds to work
Road projects in Lawrence, Jackson and Monroe counties are among 30 that have been identified for possible funding through a federal stimulus package. The Indiana Department of Transportation reports the projects on the list would create jobs in 24 Hoosier counties. “Funding for these jobs,” an INDOT news release reads, “depends on approval of the Economic Recovery Act by Congress. One of the requirements of the proposed legislation is that projects to be shovel ready within at least 90 to 180 days, depending on which version of the act might be approved by Congress.”
 

Illegal Immigration
Should the Indiana Legislature adopt a three-strikes illegal immigration law this session, a business would still have to be a flagrant violator to suffer significant consequences.  Under Senate Bill 580, slated for a hearing Wednesday, the state would punish a company that hires illegal immigrants by taking its license to operate in Indiana, but only after three violations within seven years. And the first violation would draw little more than a slap on the wrist. As the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, said, his legislation is not designed to punish law-abiding businesses. “You would have to be a pretty bad actor and very stupid to be punished by this bill.”

Arena funding receives backing
The House Local Government Committee voted 12-0 for Rep. Dennis Avery’s proposal, House Bill 1588, that would generate some funding for the arena. The bill moves to the full House for consideration. The arena, estimated to cost between $117 million and $127 million, would rely on various funding sources – a few of which require the Legislature’s approval.  Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, who as an ex-legislator was addressing his former colleagues, told the committee that the 52-year-old Roberts Stadium lacks the structural capacity to host large concerts and shows. Rather than sink tens of millions of dollars into renovating the stadium, the community has decided instead to build a larger arena Downtown, Weinzapfel told legislators from other parts of the state.

Abortion measures clear Senate
The Indiana Senate advanced two bills Tuesday that would increase regulations and requirements for doctors who perform abortions.  Senate Bill 89 would require a physician performing an abortion in Indiana to have admitting privileges at a hospital in the county where the abortion is performed or in an adjacent county.  Vanderburgh County Commissioners passed a similar ordinance regarding hospital admitting privileges last year, and Senate Bill 89 would extend such requirements statewide.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

Lawmakers renew effort against illegal immigrant workers
As unemployment in Indiana has climbed past 7 percent, state lawmakers have renewed last year’s failed efforts to crack down on businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.  If a company is cited three times for employing illegal immigrants, it could lose its business license to operate in Indiana, under three similar bills introduced this year. Supporters of the legislation say those penalties would keep businesses from employing illegal immigrants at below-market wages, and would dry up opportunities for illegal immigrants.

House speaker cool to several hot issues
Most lawmakers say the biggest issue before the Indiana General Assembly this year is passing a balanced budget during tough economic times.  But there are a few hot topics that some legislators also want addressed this session. They include taking the next step toward amending caps on property tax bills into the state constitution, starting over on trying to put a ban on gay marriage in the constitution and cracking down on illegal immigration.

Feds to state: Not so fast
All those changes — and cuts — at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have caught the attention of environmental activists — and others.  Mayors in several cities have complained to the legislature about the sweeping moves, which include suspending recycling and pollution prevention funding to localities, narrowing the definition of a violation, and closing IDEM’s Office of Enforcement as a separate entity.   Now the federal government has weighed in. A letter sent last week to IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly from Bharat Mathur, acting regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, says, in so many words: We’d better talk.

Bill would allocate money for road projects
State Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, reported this week that a bill he co-authored that would provide millions of dollars in immediate funding for state and local road projects cleared the House Roads and Transportation Committee and is on its way to the House Ways and Means Committee, which he chairs.  Pelath said the bill, House Bill 1656, would help put thousands of Hoosiers back to work. It would use undedicated Major Moves funds, state budget reserves and revenue generated by state fuel taxes to speed progress on large-scale road construction projects and give local units of government the ability to work on road and street repairs and renovations.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

We talked to our stable of local lawmakers to see what’s on their wishlists
Craig Fry wants to make sure neighbors — like those living near VIM Recycling in Baugo Township — can get money from the state to sue polluters.  Jackie Walorski believes renewable energy tax credits are a key to helping Elkhart County’s struggling economy.  Joe Zakas says local fire departments should be reimbursed by the toll road’s private contractors when they respond to calls on the highway.  And Wes Culver wants schools to have a more flexible calendar that is measured in minutes rather than days.  Those are just a few of the bills local legislators are working as the Indiana General Assembly gets under way today in Indianapolis. Here’s what they have planned:

As Indiana legislature convenes, high expectations come during recession
When lawmakers convene at the Statehouse today for the 116th session of the Indiana General Assembly, they’ll do so under the worst economic conditions of their lifetimes. With state revenues on the decline, tens of thousands of Hoosiers out of work and no end in sight to a deepening national recession, Gov. Mitch Daniels and Indiana’s 150 lawmakers face some painful decisions between today and the session’s end on April 29.  Topping the list of tasks for legislators in 2009 is the only bill they are required by law to pass: the state’s two-year budget.

State must stick to strict budget diet
It’s telling that Gov. Mitch Daniels used the word “sober” more than once Tuesday in describing the financial challenges facing Indiana’s state government.  It’s sobering when the state downsizes its revenue forecast and then falls $33 million short in the first month under the new projections.   It’s sobering when the administration must cut $763 million merely to finish the fiscal year with a balanced budget.  It’s sobering when the president-elect and top analysts warn that the national economy is likely to slide further in the months ahead, depressing tax revenues even more.

Push for Sunday liquor sales stalls
A group has decided to delay its effort at persuading legislators to change the state’s long-standing ban on Sunday alcohol sales and sales in general at drug, grocery and convenience stores.  Hoosiers for Beverage Choices had formed in August to push for changes to the state alcohol laws, including permission for the sale of cold beer at those same locations.  But Grant Monahan, president of the Indiana Retail Council, said no bill will be introduced this session because legislative leaders have called for a moratorium on alcohol-related legislation for the General Assembly session that starts today.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

Democratic candidate: More sub-prime regulation necessary
The home foreclosure crisis for Hoosiers became a hot button in the Indiana House District 33 race Monday with Democratic challenger Andy Schemenaur wanting more state regulations on sub-prime loans.  Schemenaur, a school administrator and fourth-generation farmer, also criticized incumbent Rep. Bill Davis, R-Portland, for voting against mortgage foreclosure counseling and the funding for it during the last session of the Legislature.

State’s largest voter registration drive is today
With just seven days left to register to vote, Indiana is holding the state’s largest voter registration drive. You can register to vote in two places today: Inside the Lafayette Square Mall, WTLC-FM and Hot 96.3 are set up to broadcast live from Center Court. The other drive will take place in Broad Ripple Park with Radio Now and Indy’s Music Channel. Today’s drives take place from 6 am – until 9 pm.  You can also pick up absentee applications at these locations today.

Learn more, tell more about who’s got the kids
Failure to conduct national criminal background checks of teaching applicants from out of state, and failure to require police and local school officials to report teacher misconduct to state authorities when it occurs here, leave Indiana children unacceptably vulnerable to potential abuse.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Committee Schedule Update

 House Committees

02/05/2008

8:30 AM

 Judiciary

Room: 156D

SB0027 Cooling off period for domestic battery. (Arnold, L. Lawson)

SB0139 Violation of probation. (Bray, Foley)

SB0184 Use of DNA evidence. (Zakas, L. Lawson)

02/06/2008

9:00 AM

 Public Policy

Room: 156 B

SB0107 Wine sales. (Becker, Riegsecker, VanHaaften)

11:00 AM

 Environmental Affairs

Room: 156 C

SB0043 Environmental matters. (Gard, Dvorak)

SB0045 Great Lakes Compact. (Gard, Pelath)

1:00 PM

 Ways and Means

Room: 404

SB0133 PERF COLA and thirteenth check. (R. Meeks, Klinker)

SB0233 Streamlined sales tax conformity. (Kenley, Welch)

SB0269 Coverage for prosthetic devices. (Dillon, Fry)

SB0360 E85 fueling station grants. (Hershman, Grubb)

1:30 PM

 Courts and Criminal Code

Room: 156 C

SB0085 Ballistic knives. (Steele, Cheatham)

SB0010 Inmate fraud. (Steele, L. Lawson)

SB0130 Conversion by failure to return rented property. (Arnold, L. Lawson)

 Labor and Employment

Room: 156B

SB0072 PERF annuity savings accounts. (Kruse, Niezgodski)

SB0051 Reemployment of retired teachers. (Landske, Weatherwax, Niezgodski)

SB0033 State police supplemental benefit. (M. Young, Niezgodski)

SB0197 Minority and women businesses. (Ford, Mishler, Bartlett)

SB0210 Teachers’ retirement fund issues. (Sipes, Tallian, Niezgodski)

3:30 PM

 Elections and Apportionment

Room: 156 A

SB0235 Vote centers. (Landske, Pierce)

 Natural Resources

Room: 156 B

SB0104 Reconstruction in floodway. (Hershman, Bischoff)

SB0088 Lake management work group. (R. Meeks, Dembowski)

SB0041 Public freshwater lakes. (R. Meeks, Dembowski)

SB0176 Courthouse preservation advisory commission. (Merritt, Bischoff)

 Public Health

Room: House Chamber Note: Joint Health Committee meeting with the Senate for an informational

update on HEA 1678

If time permits, committee will hear SB 42, 156 and 164

SB0042 Select joint commission on Medicaid oversight. (Miller, C. Brown)

SB0156 Communicable disease rules. (Miller, C. Brown)

SB0164 Medicaid claim payments. (Miller, C. Brown)

02/07/2008

8:30 AM

 Vetrans Affairs and Public Safety

Room: 156 B

SB0056 Flag protocol for combat deaths. (Waltz, Goodin)

SB0137 Public safety employees. (M. Young, Herrell)

SB0241 Department of homeland security funds. (Wyss, Arnold, Tincher)

12:30 PM

 Ways and Means

Room: 404

SJR0001 Circuit breakers and other property tax matters. (Kenley, Rogers, Crawford)

02/12/2008

8:30 AM

 Agriculture and Rural Development

Room: 156 C

SB0123 Grading and certification of meat products. (Jackman, Battles)

SB0190 Title 15 recodification. (Ford, Landske, Arnold, GiaQuinta)

SB0314 Department of agriculture. (Ford, Pflum)

Sam Turpin

Know Your Indiana Legislators

Legislative Guide 2008

District Maps & Bios

http://www.indystar.com/data/government/legislature08/house/bios.shtml?Keycode=House

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group

The Third House Advocacy Group is a full service governmental affairs firm comprised of a unique blend of highly talented, knowledgeable, and seasoned governmental consultants.  With close to 100 years of combined experience, we have the expertise, the contacts, and the skills necessary to provide competent consul to positively impact business decisions involving government – at the local, state and national level. Our adroit, bipartisan approach to issues and opportunities affords our clients a unique advantage in any political climate.

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group