The Indiana Chamber of Commerce (pdf file) has issued its report on how the recent session of the General Assembly went on "issues important to business and the state's economy," and folks there don't seem too happy:
It was politics as usual -- with common sense often checked at the door.
Suck it up, smug, arrogant liberal scum:
Self-identified conservatives outnumber self-identified liberals in all 50 states of the union, according to the Gallup Poll.
At the same time, more Americans nationwide are saying this year that they are conservative than have made that claim in any of the last four years.
I don't usually like to gloat -- that is something we smug, arrogant, conservative scum like to leave to the other side -- but ha, ha, ha. See you at the polls next year.
You know that governor we have in our heads that tells us when we've talked enough and it's time to listen and also frequently advises us not to speak at all? Well, Antonin Scalia's wasn't working this week:
This court has never held that the Constitution forbids the execution of a convicted defendant who had a full and fair trial but is later able to convince a habeas court that he is
Former Fort Wayne Democratic City Councilman Tom Hayhurst plans to give 3rd District Republican Rep. Mark Souder a rematch:
Hayhurst said that "the economy here is a huge problem," adding that the unemployment rates in some areas of northeastern Indiana are "approaching" Depression-era levels.
"I think there needs to be more focus with regard to that particular challenge," Hayhurst said.
Is it the federal government's business that some people can't travel by bus between Indianapolis and the cities of Muncie, Columbus, South Bend and Evansville and between Louisville and Evansville? It must be, beause $2 million has been awarded to provide that service, which, guess what, makes it your business, too. But don't think of that money as providing only limited service.
Illinois, where it sometimes seems political corruption was invented (it surely was perfected there), gets a little more serious about transparency in government:
The measure will plug many loopholes in the FOIA law and establish a public access counselor under the attorney general to issue binding opinions in records disputes.
[. . .]
Of all the money flowing out of the Obama administration, one of the chunks that has the best chance of accomplishing something good is the $4 billion set aside to encourage more charter schools. The monetary incentive has encouraged seven states to ease restrictions on charters. An attempt was made in the Indiana General Assembly to put a limit on the number of charters, but it was beaten back.
Welcome to hope and change, a world where politics as usual will be banished:
It's nice to have the All-America City bragging rights again, but I'm more impressed with Valparaiso's being named the state's 2009 Community of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The award reflects Valpo's economic growth and financial stability at a time when most other cities are falling apart. Public investment of $40 million has been topped by almost $700 million in private investment, which created 1,500 to 2,000 jobs. City government has a $2.6 million rainy day fund:
Rep. Joe Donnelly told people at his recent town hall meeting that the current health care system must change because otherwise Medicare will go broke. Granted. But he went on to say that:
. . . legislation should cover people with pre-existing conditions and provide benefits to small and medium-sized businesses while not increasing the national debt.
How, for God's sake, can we cover more people and provide more benefits while not increasing the national debt? And they accuse oppoents of exaggeration.
