Commentary
A not-so-special session
Indiana legislators are gearing up for a special session set to begin July 25 and last at least a couple of weeks. We should urge them to reconsider and just stay home. The session will cost Hoosiers about a quarter of a million dollars, and it’s hard to see what we’ll get for the money. […]
Holcomb staking legacy on economy, workforce development
Since 2005, Indiana’s economic fortunes and global reputation have weathered economic challenges, a pandemic and worker woes. And yet the state has landed projects worth tens of billions of dollars and created hundreds of thousands of jobs. These landmark economic victories are not the result of our state “Forrest Gumping” its way through life, but […]
Buttigieg move a blow for Indiana Democrats
Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg recently moved to Michigan and likely took with him any chance of a statewide Democrat electoral win in Indiana. Ever since “Mayor Pete” showed his national prowess in an unexpected run for President in 2020, Hoosier Democrats have wanted more. His name is regularly floated for offices from governor […]
The Special Education Teacher Shortage: An All Hands on Deck Approach
Special education is a set of federal mandates that schools are required to follow to ensure that student with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education. Currently special education services are federally funded at 40% and schools are held accountable at 100%. This funding gap has long plagued the field and manifests itself in […]
Indiana keeps investing in its bad reputation
I was speeding through Georgia this past Sunday and I couldn’t help looking for political billboards. Then I saw it. A “Now Hiring” billboard for state troopers, with instructions to apply at gatrooper.com. As an occasional government watchdog, I was fascinated by this whole new strategy for filling one of any state government’s toughest jobs. […]
Evaluating Mike Pence on Jan. 6
In the midst of the angst and partisan turmoil over the January 6th committee hearings, it is wise to step back and consider their role in our Republic, and how historians will look at the events and key players, five years, 30 years, even 100 years from now. History is continually revised to conform to […]
Public Health: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
In American history, gains in life expectancy and quality of life can be attributed to investments in public health infrastructure. Diseases such as cholera and typhoid have been largely eliminated due to improvements in sanitation; immunizations have prevented death and disability from polio, whooping cough, measles, and five different cancers; and countless children have avoided […]
This year’s special session bucks historical trends
After more than 20 years covering the Indiana Statehouse, I have seen a thing or two. But the upcoming special session is a rarity – an emergency meeting on something other than the two-year state budget. Under Indiana’s original constitution from 1816-1851, there were no special sessions because all legislative business was expected to be […]
Wealth building and wealth stripping solutions
I’m officially old enough to now have an “I remember when …” story. Today’s lookback – hearkening memories of 1999: “I remember when gas was under $1 per gallon.” Now, thanks to inflation, I’ll get to add “I remember when gas was above $5” to my story bank. With enough time, these are just that: […]
The difference between ‘Greenlights’ and ‘red lines’ is simple
Matthew McConaughey’s 2020 memoir, “Greenlights,” was definitely alright. I recommend listening to McConaughey reading it on Audible–his version of the voices of his past made the autobiography wildly entertaining. The book’s title and theme refer to green lights as opportunities to seize. He says, “a green light is being kind to our future self.” In […]
Rare action on guns – in courts and Congress
While there is often a lot of talk about measures to reduce gun violence, and just as frequent push-back, it is rare to see as much action on gun issues as we’ve experienced in the last two weeks. On June 23, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision expanding the Second Amendment to guns carried […]
Have you seen the Indiana Constitution lately?
Today, we are justifiably bombarded with public discussion about freedom and constitutional rights. As we celebrate Independence Day, I thought I would write about our own Indiana state constitution. Interestingly, Indiana has had two constitutions, the initial document was affirmed in 1816. Our current constitution was installed in 1851. One of my favorite things to […]