If one of your laws has been widely ridiculed, it's probably not a good idea to respond by making it even dumber:
Indiana legislators are disagreeing about how old someone should look before they have to provide identification when buying alcohol.
Both the House and Senate have approved bills revising a much-ridiculed state law that took effect last summer requiring store clerks to card all carry-out alcohol customers regardless of their age.
"Gaming events" generate more than $500 million a year for Indiana non-profits, and an Indiana House Committee wants to explore how to modify rules put in place a few years ago "to curb the illegal gambling schemes that have been operating under the guise of charities":
This would count as a breakthrough in the president's thinking if anybody believed he actually meant it. Speaking of the lack of a budget compromise due to the mean people "playing politics," President Obama warned that there will be repercussions on Main Street:
Even if a school system has a "leading contender" for superintendent among its own personnel, its still a good idea to, A) conduct a nationwide search (just in case "leading" turns out not to be "best" and, B) do everything in public. But apparently they don't feel that way in Muncie:
The Muncie Community School Board's decision to forgo community outreach and a public search for its new superintendent is legal, but there are differing opinions on whether it's the best approach.
Mindful of the political risks, Republican presidential hopefuls treaded gingerly - or ducked - as House Republicans unveiled a budget plan that would slash federal spending by about $5 trillion over 10 years while revamping health programs for the elderly and poor.
If they care more about getting elected than being honest about the fiscal mess we're in, screw 'em.
Thank goodness this is the minority view on the court:
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer argued Tuesday that judges need to apply the Constitution's values with an eye toward the changing times as he talked about the past successes and missteps of the nation's highest court.
A sign of the times -- "loosies," cigarettes sold singly, 75 cents each or two for $1:
Itinerant cigarette vendors have long been a fixture in some parts of the city, like bodegas that sell individual cigarettes in violation of state law. But with cigarette prices up and the number of smoke-friendly places down, the black market for loosies is now thriving on the streets.
Not sure about this
Indiana's governor would gain broad authority to create new toll roads under a measure that Republican state lawmakers are pushing.
Indiana's two major parties are having a little catfight over what the walkout by Democratic House members did or did not cost. Gov. Daniels has launched a TV ad saying it cost the taxpayers $400,000.
"It's not true," said House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend.
Republicans aren't always knee-jerk tax cutters. Indiana Commerce Secretary Mitch Roob wants to cut our corporate income tax rate to 6.5 percent, saying the rate of 8.5 percent is among the top third in the nation and some companies won't even consider us because of it. But critics say such a cut would increase investment by only 2 or 3 percent, which wouldn't get close to replacing the funds lost. House Wayns and Means Committee Chairman Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, puts it this way:
