Susan Bayh, former Indiana first lady, dies after long battle with brain cancer
Former Indiana First Lady and attorney Susan Bayh has died at age 61 after nearly three years of brain cancer treatments, her family said Saturday.
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Legislature overrides Holcomb veto of housing measure
Nearing the mid-point of the 2021 legislative session, the Indiana Senate overrode Gov. Eric Holcomb’s veto of a bill that housing advocates claimed would put more Hoosier tenants at risk of eviction. Democrats harshly criticized the override as the work of a Republican supermajority “drunk on power.”
Trump impeachment trial to open with sense of urgency, speed
Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial is opening this week with a sense of urgency — by Democrats who want to hold the former president accountable for the violent U.S. Capitol siege and Republicans who want it over as fast as possible.
Lawmakers reject no-excuse absentee voting, other election amendments
At least 13 bills dealing with election and voting have been introduced into the 2021 session of the Indiana General Assembly, but only three have received a hearing and none are addressing calls by Democrats for expanded absentee voting and easier access to early voting.
Voting company files $2.7B suit against Fox, Giuliani over election fraud claims
A voting technology company is suing Fox News, three of its hosts and two former lawyers for former President Donald Trump — Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell — for $2.7 billion, charging that the defendants conspired to spread false claims that the company helped “steal” the U.S. presidential election.
Democrat-led House, drawing a line, kicks Greene off committees
A fiercely divided House tossed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene off both her committees Thursday, an unprecedented punishment that Democrats, joined by a handful of Republicans, said she’d earned by spreading hateful and violent conspiracy theories.
Indiana Senate backs bill to ban renaming of Indianapolis
A proposal to ban Indianapolis and more than 100 other Indiana cities from ever changing their names has been approved by the state Senate. The proposal also would prohibit the renaming of many other Hoosier cities.
Law enforcement reform bill advances with bipartisan support
A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing police accountability and enacting criminal justice reform advanced to the Indiana Senate after lawmakers unanimously approved the measure in a House vote Tuesday.
High court puts off wall, asylum cases at Biden’s request
The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to requests from the Biden administration to put off arguments in two cases involving the U.S.-Mexico border wall and asylum-seekers because President Joe Biden has taken steps to change Trump administration policies that had been challenged in court.
Schumer, McConnell end standoff to organize 50-50 Senate
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced an agreement Wednesday with Republicans to organize the evenly split chamber, ending a weekslong standoff that prevented the new Democratic majority from setting up some operations and soured relations at the start of the congressional session.
Biden discussing COVID-19 aid with Dems, wants fast action
President Joe Biden panned a Republican alternative to his $1.9 trillion COVID rescue plan as insufficient as Senate Democrats pushed ahead, voting to launch a process that could approve his sweeping rescue package on their own, if Republicans refuse to support it.
Senate confirms Pete Buttigieg as transportation secretary
Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg won Senate approval Tuesday as transportation secretary, the first openly gay person to be confirmed to a Cabinet post. He’ll be tasked with advancing President Joe Biden’s ambitious agenda of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure and fighting climate change.
Senate set to confirm Buttigieg for transportation secretary
The Senate is poised to approve former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg to be transportation secretary, the first openly gay person ever confirmed to a Cabinet post, tasked with advancing President Joe Biden’s wide-ranging agenda of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure and fighting climate change.
Indiana House approves COVID-19 liability protection bill
The Indiana House has approved legislation that would protect businesses from COVID-19-related lawsuits. The measure slightly differs from a liability protection measure passed last week by the state Senate.
Indiana Republicans differ over governor’s COVID-19 powers
Indiana is nearing a year under the coronavirus public health emergency issued by Gov. Eric Holcomb as some of his fellow Republicans in the state Legislature aren’t letting up on attempts to rein in the authority he’s used to impose mask rules and restrictions on businesses and crowds.
Biden to meet with GOP lawmakers to discuss virus relief
President Joe Biden is set to meet Monday with a group of 10 Republican senators, including Indiana’s Todd Young, who have proposed spending about one-third of the $1.9 trillion he is seeking in coronavirus aid, though congressional Democrats are poised to move ahead without Republican support.
Census delay points to special session for Indiana lawmakers
A delay in the completion of data from last year’s census has Indiana legislative leaders anticipating a special session over the summer to draw new maps for congressional and General Assembly districts.
ISBA fights legislation to end retention votes, ‘politicize’ appellate bench
A measure that would strip Hoosier voters of the power to retain appellate judges and Supreme Court justices — transferring that authority to the Legislature — has drawn fire from the Indiana State Bar Association, which warned the proposal would politicize the appellate bench and threaten the independence of the judiciary.
Virus aid package tests whether Biden, Congress can deliver
More than a sweeping national rescue plan, President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package presents a first political test — of his new administration, of Democratic control of Congress and of the role of Republicans in a post-Trump political landscape.
COVID liability immunity bills advance, but questions of scope remain
Legislation in the Indiana Senate that would protect businesses from COVID-related liability is one step closer to becoming law, having reached the full Senate floor for a successful vote on an amendment offered by the bill’s author. Meanwhile, companion legislation in the Indiana House passed out of committee this week.