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…

For release at noon Tuesday April 6 and thereafter (631 words) “This latest tragedy, at a heavily fortified army base, ought to convince more Americans to reject the argument that the solution to gun violence is to arm more people with more guns in more places.” — Paul Helmke, former mayor of Fort Wayne now president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence Maybe Steven Covey, the business guru, was talking about Indiana when…

For release Tuesday noon March 30 and thereafter (655 words) The 2010 legislature came and went without reforming the redistricting process, but lawmakers aren’t off the hook. If electoral maps to be drawn in 2011 are to have any credibility with voters, legislators will have to follow a more transparent and honest process than has been used before.            As required every 10 years after the census, the next General Assembly will draw state legislative and…

For release noon Tuesday March 23 (651 words) by Tad DeHaven A stint as an Indiana budget official gave me a first-hand view of how policymakers use taxpayer money to serve their political self-interests. So when an Indianapolis news channel discovered that the state’s economic development agency was taking undeserved credit for job creation, I was probably the least surprised person in the state. If there is one issue that resonates with voters today it…

For release Tuesday noon March 16 and thereafter (700 words)Three years ago, neighborhood residents cheered when the state Alcohol and Tobacco Commission denied a request by an Indianapolis Circle K to sell beer and wine along with traditional fare: gas, pop and food items.  Greg Silver served as attorney for the Nora Community Council, which opposed the alcohol permit. “We had everyone from the neighborhood against it,” he recalls. The united effort, Silver says, persuaded officials…

For release Tuesday noon March 9 and thereafter (702 words)The proven job- and wealth-creating policies were dismissed early this session as “non-starters,” to use a bit of legislative lingo. There was never any chance of reforming the Collective Bargaining Act, for instance, or introducing a right-to-work law or opting out of wage controls. Instead, we were asked to trust in tax credits for start-up companies, mandated percentages of officially designated “citizens” at work sites and…