Politics

Since boosters first kicked the tires on the idea of upgrading public transportation in 2008, efforts to get the General Assembly to approve a funding referendum have proceeded in starts and stops.

The Hoosier livestock industry makes more than $2.5 billion a year and “has seen growth in almost every livestock sector.” But for a group that’s doing so well, animal-farmers sure seem defensive.

Marya Rose, CFO of Cummins, said she “knows employees will leave our state” if HJR-3 passes, and that Minnesota’s debate over a same-sex marriage cost the state $17 million.

Also: The IMA’s recently wed director, Charles Venable, announced his organization’s opposition this week to the proposed gay-marriage ban.

Crusader of the Year: U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett. No one made more big cases in the past year—and his savvy press people made sure we all heard about the exploits. The crime-fighter still has plenty of fish to fry.

He worries that the controversy has gotten to the point where he and like-minded supporters of a ban are considered “bigots.”

The measure must win simple majorities in both Statehouse chambers again this year before the question is popped to Hoosier voters. Let the pots and pans fly.

New is companion bill HB 1153, which seeks to explain some vague language and make it more coherent for Hoosiers if the resolution reaches voters in November.

As AP reporter Tom LoBianco churned out hit after hit, politicos quietly talked about how he was able to get so much dirt on Tony Bennett. But the blogosphere erupted with more pointed talk of foul play by the Glenda Ritz administration.

President and CEO Daniel F. Evans, Jr.’s words were pointed: “IU Health is committed to the health and economic well-being of our communities: we challenge our policymakers to do the same.”

In addition to Lugar, Obama awarded the Medal of Freedom—founded by president John F. Kennedy—to Bill Clinton, Sally Ride, Oprah Winfrey, Loretta Lynn, Gloria Steinem, and more.

In taking a public stance on the hot-button topic, Butler’s president joins a group of leaders across a spectrum of industries and entities who have denounced HJR-6.

The decision was perhaps inspired in part by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s address to an Indianapolis audience more than a month ago.

Among Indiana’s higher-education institutions, the move is unprecedented to join Freedom Indiana, a bipartisan collective of business and organizational leaders, in the plan to thwart the passage of an amendment banning gay marriage statewide.

City-county councilman Zach Adamson and partner Christian Mosburg flew to Washington D.C. today, only partly by choice: The two can’t tie the knot in their home state, so they’re going where same-sex marriages are legally recognized.