Conservative group to demand lawmakers approve Pence income tax cut

INDIANAPOLIS | A debate between leaders of the Republican-controlled General Assembly and Republican Gov. Mike Pence over whether Indiana can afford Pence's campaign promise to reduce the state's income tax rate by 10 percent is about to go public in a big way.

Ind. Chamber of Commerce rates area legislators

INDIANAPOLIS | The state's most powerful business organization has rated Indiana's lawmakers based on their "pro-jobs" votes during the 2012 legislative session.

Gary chamber members to meet with legislators

GARY | The Public Policy Committee of the Gary Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Earline Rogers will host a State House Tour on Feb. 28.

GUEST EDITORIALS: Can we afford the EPA's new rules for coal?

The environment is important, but so is affordable energy.

GUEST EDITORIALS: State's issues go deeper than punch

The punch isn't the problem.

GUEST EDITORIALS: Indiana passes hypocritical gun law

The majority of Indiana's lawmakers care a lot more about gun lobbyists — and themselves — than they do about the concerns of mayors, librarians and many Hoosiers.

GUEST EDITORIALS: The unsavory practice of poaching jobs

It's hard to imagine anyone or any organization more critical than we've been of Illinois' ill-advised, premature and audacious increase in the state income tax.

ANDREA NEAL: What if legislators were subject to merit pay?

A public school teacher I know makes the claim that teachers would consent to performance pay for their profession if state legislators accepted merit pay for theirs.

Ellsworth offers plan to change Washington

INDIANAPOLIS | A lifetime ban on lawmakers becoming lobbyists and a balanced budget amendment are among the reforms U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., vows to pursue if Hoosiers elect him to the U.S. Senate.

GUEST EDITORIALS: Transfer policies should be clear

Indiana's colleges and universities need to get their acts together when it comes to transferring credits from Ivy Tech Community College.

Cook County spotlights lobbyists with online database

CHICAGO | Cook County has launched a new online database of lobbyists and lobbying activity.

Auto dealers, local banks avoid consumer oversight

WASHINGTON | The financial overhaul bill awaiting final action in the Senate includes a new regulator whose aim is to make sure mortgages, credit cards and other products from big banks don't abuse or confuse you.

Ex-aide: Blagojevich told him to pressure Emanuel

CHICAGO | A former top aide to Rod Blagojevich testified Monday that the former governor planned to hold up a $2 million grant to a school in then-U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel's district until the congressman's Hollywood-agent brother held a fundraiser for him.