Essays
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Nothing to Fear From Full Disclosure
Read more: Nothing to Fear From Full DisclosureAndrea Neal column for Sept. 28 and thereafter750 words INDIANAPOLIS – What possible reason could a politician give for refusing to answer a questionnaire? During more than a decade of examining candidate records, the folks at Project Vote Smart have heard it all. "I don’t do surveys." "The information might be used against me." "My record speaks for itself." When it comes to making excuses, candidates this election year are no different than in the…
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Update: Reassessment a Disaster in Many Ways
Read more: Update: Reassessment a Disaster in Many WaysAndrea Neal column for May 25 and thereafter740 words Note to editors: This updates May 25 column with Supreme Court decision for newspapers that publish column later in week. INDIANAPOLIS — The reassessment fiasco continues. If Marion County’s experience didn’t convince lawmakers the system is messed up, Lake County’s surely will. Even before tax bills went out, citizens living in Gary’s Miller Beach area filed suit, alleging the county’s property reassessment process was unconstitutional. On…
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When Cities Get Into the Hotel Business: A Labor Ultimatum
Read more: When Cities Get Into the Hotel Business: A Labor Ultimatum719 Words For release May 23 and thereafter Digital mug shot available on request By Dr. Eric Schansberg A hotel and clothing union is pressuring the Indianapolis City Council to require workers at a municipally subsidized convention complex there to vote on whether they want to belong to a union. Otherwise, the union will not be able to guarantee “labor peace.” What should a council do? Before we start, there is the question of whether…