For release Tuesday noon June 8 and thereafter (670 words) Despite efforts to give Indiana voters more say on big issues – referenda over public spending being a notable example – there’s no such movement when it comes to judges of the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.            Indiana has enjoyed a competent judiciary thanks to: 1) A selection process that uses an appointed commission to narrow down applicants, and 2) has the governor pick…

For immediate release per holiday publication schedules (698 words).“And that is why we are laying a new foundation for our economy so that when our troops return home and take off the uniform, they can find a good job, provide for their families, and earn a college degree. These are some of the ways we can, must, and will honor the service of our troops and the sacrifice of their families.” — Barack Obama, Memorial…

For release Tuesday noon May 25 and thereafter (675 words)It was the last teaching day of the school year and I was rushing through my lecture, “After the Civil War.” I had to get to the Election of 1876 before the bell rang or my students would miss what they needed to understand why Reconstruction collapsed. I made a Hobson’s choice. I would skip over the administration of Ulysses Grant in order to get to…

For release Tuesday noon March 18 and thereafter (704 words)Even months later I still am hopping mad at the Colts. I am angry because they didn’t make Annual Yearly Progress (AYP). Not all their subgroups passed. Their offensive line caved in during the Super Bowl. Their defensive line didn’t do well, either (no excuse about the injuries). Their defensive backs also failed because they didn’t stop Drew Brees. Thus, way too many subgroups failed to…

For release Tuesday noon May 11 and thereafter (660 words)The battle for Evan Bayh’s open Senate seat will draw national attention in the fall election, but the campaign for constitutionally protected property tax caps will likely draw more voters to the polls. The Nov. 2 ballot will include this question: “Shall property taxes be limited for all classes of property by amending the Constitution of the State of Indiana?” The limits would be set at…

For the use of member newspapers only (755 words)“We oppose all infringements on individual rights, whether they stem from attempts at private monopoly, labor union monopoly or from an overgrowing government. People will say we are conservative or even reactionary. We are not much interested in labels but if we were to choose one, we would say we are radical. Just as radical as the Christian doctrine.” — William Grimes, the Wall Street Journal, Jan.…

For the use of the membership only (725 words) A tour of the state with municipal policy experts left me convinced that few if any Indiana cities will institute the necessary budget corrections in time to avoid crises next year.  Talks with civic leaders, elected officials and editors in seven Indiana cities suggest that we are more likely to follow the recent example of Harrisburg, Pa. That is, we will still be arguing about minor budget…

A Post-Primary Look at Indiana’s Prospects To accommodate election-day deadlines, this week’s column is for immediate release (691 words)by ERIC SCHANSBERG, Ph.D. It’s always hazardous to speculate about the future, especially in politics and economics. But I have a few ideas about our economic and political future and want to get them on the record. The most obvious point is that we have no clear idea where things will go politically in 2010, 2012 and…

For release Tuesday noon April 27 and thereafter (747 words with optional cut) This last winter the Federal Reserve System (FED) reported that it was raising the discount rate, a type of interest it charges bank, from .5 per cent to .75 percent. What does such action have to do with interest rates in Indiana? Joe, who mows lawns, offers his brother Bill a loan of $100 to buy a bike on the agreement that Bill…

For release Tuesday noon April 20 and thereafter (629 words)Government types tell us that the 2010 Census helps Americans two ways. First, adding 800,000 or so census workers to the federal payroll will reduce our country’s unemployment rate. Second, American neighborhoods will receive more “government money” to the extent they participate in the census.   The first benefit is bogus — they are lying. However many census workers are added, private-sector employment will fall by that…