V19, N26 Thursday March 13, 2014 Teachers, commissioners take aim 12 educators, 4 county commissioners challenging House, Senate incumbents By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – The teachers are challenging in the House. The county com- missioners are doing the same in the Senate. Looking for trends heading into the November general election, 12 teach- ers, principals Democrat teacher Mela- and school board nie Wright (left) is in a members are seek- ing Democratic rematch with State Rep. nominations in the Jack Lutz) House, with re- In two other seats, HD21 where State Rep. matches coming in four districts: Timothy Wesco is facing Democrat Jodi Buoscio and in HD16 where Rensselaer School HD29 where State Rep. Kathy Kreag Richardson is facing Board member Richard Ludington is challenging State Rep. Joe Marcum, the Republicans ran unopposed in 2012. In Douglas Gutwein; HD35 where Melanie Wright came very HD28, State Rep. Jeffrey Thompson had no Democratic close to upsetting State Rep. Jack Lutz; in HD46 where opponent in 2012, easily defeated a Libertarian candidate James Mann will face State Rep. Bob Heaton, and in HD62 by more than 18,000 votes, and will face Sean Shanley where Democrat Jeff Sparks narrowly lost to State Rep. Matt Ubelhor. Continued on page 4 The sine die primer By MATTHEW BUTLER INDIANAPOLIS – Legislators who are Indiana and Purdue basketball fans will be too busy Thursday after- noon to watch their respective games only blocks away at the Big Ten Basketball Tournament. Instead, they are trying to meet the self-imposed “It’s completely optional for the deadline of 5 p.m. to conclude the 2014 Indiana General As- mayors. If he’s not comfortable sembly’s business. There is still he doesn’t have to do it, OK?” a lot to get done and the typical last day maneuvers of waiving - Senate President David Long, the Eight Hour Rule will almost responding to Indianapolis certainly be required to move bills from the Rules Committees Mayor Ballard’s criticism to the floor. At press time Thurs- of the business tax repeal day morning the session’s ‘Big Four’ pieces of legislation, SB1/ Page 2 HB1001, HB 1002, HB 1004, and HB its case against the county by county 1006, appeared to be agreed-upon option during the blue ribbon commis- products ready for final caucus ap- sion process.” proval and thus final floor votes. “Finally, we remain concerned Business Tax Cuts: Dur- about how this approach shifts the ing a Tuesday conference committee burden of another business tax cut on hearing the finalized compromises to to Hoosier homeowners,” said Hick- SB 1/HB 1001 were unveiled. Start- man. ing July 2015, there would be local Senate President David Long, options for the following: To exempt told of concerns by mayors - particu- is a non-partisan newslet- small business personal property (un- larly Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard - der $20,000); to eliminate the tax on reacted Wednesday afternoon, saying, ter based in Indianapolis and new non-utility business equipment; “It’s completely optional for the may- Nashville, Ind. It was founded and, to enact “Super Abatements” for ors. If he’s not comfortable he doesn’t in 1994 in Fort Wayne. new business personal property up to have to do it, OK? But he does have, It is published by twenty years (as opposed to the prior what we call, a ‘Super Abatement,’ I WWWHowey Media, LLC 10 years allowed). thought that was very important.” The other major component, Long continued, “I come from 405 Massachusetts Ave., which leadership seemed to be tout- a large county, Allen. You can argue, Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN ing the most this week, is a cut in the how can we compete with a small 46204 corporate tax rate from 6.5% to 4.9% county? Take your pick, Hendricks or over six years. Between now and 2015 Marion? Marion can compete on any Brian A. Howey, Publisher there will be a blue ribbon commission project with the ‘Super Abatement’ for to investigate all of this before it goes any kind of equipment we’re talking Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington into effect and, one assumes, advise about. I think it’s a great equalizer Jack E. Howey, Editor the next session to make any neces- and if they’re not comfortable, if they Mary Lou Howey, Editor sary revisions to what was felt so don’t trust themselves, they don’t Maureen Hayden, Statehouse imperative to pass this session — an trust their neighbors, what is it?” Matthew Butler, Daily Wire interesting organizational timeline. As with the compromise Angola Mayor Richard Hick- income tax cut last year, Gov. Mike man, who is president of the Indiana Pence will soon be able to say he Subscriptions Association of Cities and Towns, react- pushed for and was able to sign into HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 ed to the deal, saying, “When looking law some kind of business personal HPI Weekly, $350 back at where this discussion started, property tax cut (not elimination, how- Ray Volpe, Account Manager it’s clear progress has been made. ever) and a corporate tax cut. We’re pleased the legislature listened Here where other key legisla- 317.602.3620 to some of the concerns raised by In- tion stands as of Thursday morning: email: [email protected] diana’s city and town leaders. Now the n Transportation Fund- real work begins. IACT looks forward ing: Another legislative priority for the Contact HPI to being an active participant in the Governor was to secure $400 million www.howeypolitics.com blue ribbon commission; we’re glad to in additional road funding. The House have a seat at the table.” passed that amount (HB 1002) but a [email protected] Hickman, a Democrat, contin- wary Senate cut it in half. The latest Howey’s Cabin: 812.988.6520 ued, “It is some consolation that the compromise appears to grant $200 Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 deal struck between the House and million now and a second installment Washington: 202.256.5822 Senate will not result in an immediate of $200 million contingent on later Business Office: 317.602.3620 loss of local government revenues. revenue and fiscal numbers. This The most significant issue remains; could also be chalked up as a success what the legislature calls a ‘local op- for Pence. He asked for $400 million © 2014, Howey Politics Indiana. tion’ to eliminate the personal prop- and he can technically say he got that All rights reserved. Photocopy- erty tax on new equipment is by no in a manner that addresses others’ ing, Internet forwarding, fax- means a true local option. The result fiscal concerns. ing or reproducing in any form, of this approach leaves too many n Pilot Pre-K Program: without a voice and is a complete Over the course of Tuesday it ap- whole or part, is a violation of departure from the regional economic peared the leadership might not have federal law without permission development efforts succeeding in been exactly on the same page in re- from the publisher. our state. IACT will continue to make gards to finalizing HB 1004, the Pre-K Page 3 bill. Earlier in the day Speaker Brian Bosma intimated there were almost overwhelmed juggling so much conference was an agreement in principle between leadership. Asked committee work. later, Sen. Long seemed to be pumping the brakes. “Well, Perhaps they say this the last week of every since we haven’t discussed it with our caucus completely session; perhaps 2014 is slightly different. As the ses- yet I’m not going to completely say,” he said. “That is not sion reached its last week crescendo, those in the (super) a finished product. There is some language we need to minority probably felt it had been especially long and less insert in it. We haven’t finalized it.” At mid-morning today, enjoyable. In an almost empty House Chamber I could a pilot program for up to 3,000 at-risk children up to 127% hear from the press gallery one Democratic representa- of poverty line would be funded by state agency reversions tive ask another, “You’ve been here a long time, is this the ($10 million) and from private donors ($5 million). Over worst [session] one?” the last couple of weeks one could have safely guessed “Yeah,” came the reply, “this is the worst one.” this effort was destined only for a study committee. Too The Republican leadership will seek to convincingly little for early childhood education advocates but, one as- argue to the contrary. sumes, the Governor will be framing this as another 2014 However, those most pleased about outcomes legislative victory. might be the opponents of something settled over a month n Criminal Code Reform: With a bipartisan ago: HJR-3, the constitutional amendment banning same- group of legislators standing at the Statehouse Wednes- sex marriage. For social conservatives who had such high day with Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard in praise of this hopes for this supermajority under a very socially conser- year’s revisions to the criminal code (HB 1006), one can vative governor, this might be remembered as one of their assume there is solid agreement for passage. most disappointing sessions yet. v Another key piece of legislation which appeared quite uncertain until late Wednesday afternoon was the Butler covers the General Assembly for HPI. Central Indiana mass transit bill (SB 176). Sen. Pat Miller met with reporters briefly to announce there was agree- ment. The finalized version would allow referenda in six Pence talks $$ at Road School counties on mass transit expansion with the following stipulations: No light rail, no corporate tax, and if the 10% WEST LAFAYETTE (WLFI) – Gov.