Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed into law two pieces of legislation, one allowing workers to bring guns to work as long as they are kept locked in their cars, the other approving public-private partnerships to build the Illiana Expressway in Northwest Indiana and the Ohio River Bridges Project in Southeast Indiana. His office released brief statements on both measures. On the gun bill:
Considering the clear language of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and the even stronger language of Article 1 Section Thirty-Two of the Indiana Constitution, protecting these rights as provided in HEA 1065 is appropriate. I also am compelled to give great weight to the overwhelming consensus of both Houses of the General Assembly as they passed this bipartisan statute. The law does contain ambiguities that the General Assembly may wish to refine at some future date, to avoid unnecessary litigation, but the understandable concerns raised against the bill do not suffice to justify a trespass on a fundamental right so expressly protected by our founding documents
And of the Illiana/Ohio River Bridges legislation:
No action of this General Assembly has greater potential for job creation than SEA 382. The Illiana Expressway in northwest Indiana and the Ohio River Bridges in southeast Indiana are long-sought major infrastructure projects with the potential for significant economic impact. This bipartisan legislation enables the use of public-private partnership financing options, which are the only practical means of making them happen. While other states are shuttering their highway programs, Indiana is shattering all records for infrastructure investment, and this could extend that record with enormous benefit to Hoosiers at opposite corners of our state.
The LA Times spanks Indianapolis-based WellPoint for not living up to a three-year-old pledge to donate $30 million toward covering those without health insurance.
Shelby County has decided to dedicate about $4.4 million annually in “racino” revenues into economic development efforts.
Home building activity ticked up in Fort Wayne in the first two months of the year.
The Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission has changed its name to Indiana Dunes Tourism.
ADCO will shutter its Evansville operations, costing the city about 100 jobs.
