Speaker Wants More Jobs Info from IEDC

Indiana Speaker of the House, Democrat Pat Bauer, says job creation information released recently by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is a good start, but not enough.  The agency has released records for three programs, regarding how much money was given in tax incentives to companies promising jobs, and how many of those jobs were actually created.  Director Mitch Roob says those tax breaks resulted in 75 thousand jobs.  But Speaker Bauer says the IEDC hasn’t done enough to get money back from companies that didn’t follow through with job promises.  And he says the records are incomplete, since there are a total of eighteen incentive programs for businesses.

“We need to have measures so that no company comes in here and tries to cheat.  But this is about jobs and we need jobs and not spin so we need to work together to make sure our reports are accurate and complete and that’s what we’re asking them to do.”

 Bauer says the legislature may need to introduce bills in coming session that will both strictly define company compliance with job creation and have stiff penalties for companies to pay back the tax money they received.

Indiana Supreme Court Upholds Voter ID Law

 The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the state’s voter identification law, ruling it does comply with the state’s constitution.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.  Hear the Story

Democrats Hold State Convention Saturday

Indiana Democrats are holding their statewide convention in Indianapolis Saturday.  The convention will be held to officially nominate the Democratic candidates for the three statewide offices up for election in November.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.  Hear the Story

Indianapolis Airport Welcomes New Airline

Scott Brown, Branson AirExpress (Geoffrey Smith, photo)

The Indianapolis Airport today announced a new airline will be offering flights to and from Indiana’s capital city.  Branson AirExpress will begin service September tenth.  Indianapolis commercial air travelers will be able to fly directly to Branson, Missouri, or connect to Austin and Houston, Texas.  Seth Brown is a spokesperson for Branson AirExpress

“We plan to deliver low cost service, great fares and convenient access.  Branson AirExpress is a great example of how communities can work together in these tough economic times to expand service and offer a great value.”

Branson Express will offer four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays.  Research from the Branson Airport indicates that on average, two hundred people a day from central Indiana are currently making the over eight hour drive to Branson, a popular Midwest tourism destination.

Indiana Republicans Hold Convention Tomorrow

Indiana Republicans are holding their statewide convention in Indianapolis Saturday.  The convention, which is held every two years, will be held in large part to officially nominate the Republican candidates for the three statewide offices up for election in November.  There are two incumbents: State Auditor Tim Berry and State Treasurer Richard Murdock.  Current Secretary of State Todd Rokita has reached his term limit, so there’s no incumbent in that race.  Republicans are poised to nominate Fishers town councilman Charlie White to run in that race.  Party Chairman Murray Clark says it’s also a time for Indiana Republicans to set the tone as they head toward the November election.

“This is a tailwind year and we need to take advantage of it.  And it’s absolutely critical that we win these three statewide elections, that Dan Coats wins the United States Senate race, that we deliver some congressional seats now held by Democrats and that, of course, we win the majority of the Indiana House of Representatives.

Indiana Democrats hold their party convention in Indianapolis next Saturday.

Home Health Care Advocates Say State Pushing Elderly into Nursing Homes

A group of home health care advocates is calling on Indiana state government not to go ahead with plans to cut fifteen percent of funding for programs they say help keep Hoosiers out of nursing homes.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.  Hear the Story

State Party Chairman Reacts to Daniels ‘Truce’

Last week, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels told a reporter at the Weekly Standard that he thinks the Republican Party should call a truce on social issues like abortion and gay marriage and focus instead on fiscal and national security issues.  The comments drew sharp criticism from members of his own party.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland spoke with Indiana Republican Party Chairman Murray Clark about the issue, and what it means to a possible Daniels’ presidential bid.  Hear the Story

State Aims to Preserve Thousands of Acres of Wetlands

Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources is working on a new conservation project to protect thousands of acres of wetlands in the state.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.Hear the Story

IN and IL Governors Move Forward on Illiana Expressway

The Illiana Expressway in northwest Indiana is moving forward now that both Indiana and Illinois have passed laws allowing it to be built with private funds.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.Hear the Story

Vote Centers Could Come to an End in 3 Counties

 Data from the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute shows statewide, counties could save nearly three million dollars by switching from precincts to vote centers during the upcoming elections.  But this past legislative session, no bill allowing counties to have vote centers was passed.  And with three pilot counties set to lose their vote centers January first, supporters are campaigning for the legislature to take action when they return to the statehouse on Organization Day in November.  Among them is Wayne County Clerk JoAnn Stewart, whose oversees one of the three pilot county vote center programs.

“When you talk to the voters who is [sic] actually who we work for, we’re not listening to them.  They are saying we want this to stay.  And we’re saving them money.  And in this current economy, why aren’t we pursuing this?”

Some lawmakers worry there are too few defined standards for vote centers to make them statewide yet.  If the legislature does not take action during the upcoming session, test vote centers will be closed before May primaries in 2011.