Black Indiana lawmakers face Republican boos during debate
Tempers flared among Indiana legislators during a debate Thursday when Black lawmakers were shouted down and booed by some Republicans and two House members had to be separated in a hallway.
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House votes to override governor’s veto of landlord-tenant bill, allowing it to become law
The GOP-controlled Indiana House has voted to override Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s veto of a controversial landlord-tenant bill, allowing the measure to become law. The measure could eliminate local regulation of rental properties, most notably in Indianapolis. Both Holcomb and Democratic Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett expressed disappointment in the Legislature.
Lawmakers kill bill that would have stripped control of IMPD from city
Legislation that would have stripped control of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department from the city’s mayor is dead for the year. Meanwhile, a separate police oversight bill was voted down in committee by request of its author.
AG Rokita declined to sign bipartisan letter condemning Capitol attack
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, whose Valentine’s Day social media tweet alluding to a stolen election post briefly drew a Twitter warning, declined weeks earlier to sign a nearly universal statement of attorneys general condemning the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol. Separately, the Republican AG is facing calls for records surrounding his decision to remain employed as an adviser to a private company while also holding statewide elected office.
Taft builds new lobby group with Ice Miller transplants
Taft Stettinius & Hollister is making a big push into public affairs and lobbying in both Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., and has nabbed seven attorneys and nonlawyer professionals — including several big names in Indiana politics — from rival Ice Miller to do it.
Betz: Lawmakers propose ‘radical’ bid to reshape judicial selection
By initiating a constitutional amendment based on misinformation, three Indiana Republican state senators, now joined by multiple others, have proposed a radical resolution to eliminate citizen involvement in the retention vote of appellate judges, changing the current selection process that has been in place for 50 years. This proposal also severely decreases judicial independence and increases the political pressure on our state’s appellate judiciary. Indeed, if successful, the proposal would give the legislative branch far greater control over the Indiana state appellate judges and justices. It would also further embed in Indiana’s Constitution more systemic racism.
Indiana panels back tighter abortion law, ending gun permits
Indiana legislators advanced two measures Monday that join Republican-led drives across the country to tighten abortion laws and loosen gun restrictions.
COVID-19 lawsuit immunity bill heads to Holcomb
Legislation that aims to protect businesses from COVID-19-related lawsuits is heading to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk.
Indiana Secretary of State Lawson announces resignation
Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson on Monday announced plans to resign from office after Gov. Eric Holcomb “selects a successor and the successor is ready to serve.” Lawson, 71, is the longest-serving secretary of state in Indiana history. She was appointed to the office by then-Gov. Mitch Daniels in March 2012 and was elected in 2014 and 2018.
On Parkland massacre anniversary, Biden calls for tougher gun laws
President Joe Biden joined a Florida community Sunday in remembering the 17 lives lost three years ago in the Parkland school shooting massacre.
Indiana GOP budget plan boosts school vouchers, smoking tax
Nearly one-fifth of a proposed state funding hike for Indiana’s schools would go toward expanding private school voucher and virtual school programs under a budget plan Republican legislators released Thursday.
Biden administration to allow 25,000 asylum-seekers into US
The Biden administration on Friday announced plans for tens of thousands of asylum-seekers waiting in Mexico for their next immigration court hearings to be allowed into the United States while their cases proceed.
Trump impeachment trial shifts to his defense
Now it’s the Trump team’s time. The Senate trial is shifting to Trump’s defense lawyers on Friday, and they’re prepared to acknowledge that the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was every bit as traumatic, unacceptable and illegal as Democrats say. But they plan to say Trump had nothing to do with it.
Taft builds new lobby group with Ice Miller transplants
Taft Stettinius & Hollister is making a big push into public affairs and lobbying in both Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., and has nabbed seven attorneys and non-lawyer professionals — including several big names in Indiana politics — from rival Ice Miller to do it.
Biden administration asks SCOTUS to uphold health law
The Biden administration has told the Supreme Court of the United States that it believes the entire Affordable Care Act should be upheld, reversing a Trump administration position in a key case pending before the justices.
Indiana panel OKs bill that sets statewide standards on renewable energy projects
A bill that would set statewide standards for large wind and solar projects in Indiana passed a House committee on Wednesday morning, following a passionate debate between renewable energy advocates and a group of residents and local officials who said the bill would take away local control.
Indy lawyer seeks to keep Trump election challenge alive at SCOTUS
As the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump on a count of incitement of insurrection began Tuesday, his Indianapolis lawyer who asked the United States Supreme Court to overturn election results in Wisconsin pleaded anew for the high court to keep the case alive because Trump may run again for president.
Democrats propose $1,400 payments as part of Biden virus relief
House Democrats proposed an additional $1,400 in direct payments to individuals as Congress began piecing together a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that tracks President Joe Biden’s plan for battling the pandemic and reviving a still staggering economy.
Trump’s second impeachment trial to start with fight over its legitimacy
Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial is an undertaking like no other in U.S. history, the defeated former president charged by the House with inciting the deadly mob attack on the U.S. Capitol to overturn the election in what prosecutors argue is the “most grievous constitutional crime.”
Juvenile justice bill supported by Indiana advocates advances
A coalition of state and national organizations are putting their support behind a juvenile justice bill in the Indiana Legislature that they say will bring much-needed reform and prevent the state from losing federal money. The measure advanced to the full Senate on Tuesday.