General Assembly wraps session distinguished by cooperative tone

INDIANAPOLIS | Hands were shaken, hugs were shared and state lawmakers, who spent the past four months passionately opposing each other in great and small policy debates, were all smiles Saturday morning after House Speaker Brian Bosma gaveled out the 2013 Indiana General Assembly.

Legislature embracing cooperation over conflict at midpoint of session

INDIANAPOLIS | For the first time since 2010, the Indiana General Assembly has made it to the midpoint of its annual session without a walkout, boycott or protest shutting down the business of the legislature.

DOUG ROSS: Sifting through fallout from last week's election

The fallout from the Nov. 6 election is still being sifted through. Today, I'm highlighting three observations.

Northwest Indiana representatives elected to lead House Democrats

INDIANAPOLIS | House Democrats have chosen two Northwest Indiana representatives to lead their caucus against a supermajority of House Republicans during the 2013 legislative session.

Indiana House Democrats set for leadership fight

INDIANAPOLIS | A dramatically shrunken caucus of Indiana House Democrats will decide Thursday whether their leadership looks to the future or the past.

Lawson starts unifying process for Dems with email

INDIANAPOLIS | New House Democratic Leader Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, is wasting no time in working toward her goal of electing a Democratic majority.

The Daily Fix

Offering perspective on today's issues

Bauer's loss is Northwest Indiana's gain

State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, is interim leader of the Indiana House Democrats after a vote Thursday to remove state Rep. Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, as House minority party leader.

EDITORIAL: Bauer's loss is Northwest Indiana's gain

Now that the autocratic Pat Bauer has been deposed as leader of the Indiana House Democratic caucus, the Democrats can start to repair their reputation as an anti-progress party.

Lawson seeks teamwork, unity in leading House Democrats

INDIANAPOLIS | For 12 years, state Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, was a fixture in the last row, aisle desk of the Indiana House, even keeping her seat in the back of the chamber as increasing seniority entitled her to a spot near the front.

Lawson elected House Democratic leader

INDIANAPOLIS | State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, was chosen Thursday to lead the Indiana House Democrats as they try to regain control of the Republican-dominated chamber.

Shakeup in Ind. House Dem leadership could put Hammond rep on top

INDIANAPOLIS | State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, is poised to become interim leader of the Indiana House Democrats on Thursday following a planned vote to remove state Rep. Pat Bauer as House minority party leader.

BRIAN HOWEY: Bauersaurus is vulnerable to attack now

When I was a high school page for House Speaker Kermit Burrous back in the early 1970s, I remember standing at the speaker’s podium for a photo with him, and looking out across the House chambers as members gathered for the session. I saw Jeff Espich and, of course, the little giant, the mar…

DOUG ROSS: Creation of RDA was no easy process

Seven years after the creation of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, its architect, state Rep. Chet Dobis, is retiring from the Indiana General Assembly. He reflected Friday on the birth of the agency in 2005 and its short lifespan so far.

Term-limited governor says his work is not done yet

INDIANAPOLIS | With his eighth and final legislative session now in the rearview mirror, Gov. Mitch Daniels isn't planning to just coast through the last nine months of his second term.

Legislative session started with strife, ends with results

INDIANAPOLIS | A 10-week legislative session that began Jan. 4 with protests and boycotts ended at 12:36 a.m. region time Saturday with agreements on history-making legislation that could fundamentally transform life for most Hoosiers.

Chet Dobis about to close book on 42 years in Indiana House

INDIANAPOLIS | When the speaker's gavel slams down today to end the 2012 session of the Indiana General Assembly, it also will close the legislative career of the only state representative Merrillville has known.

Indiana House honors retiring Highland representative

INDIANAPOLIS | State Rep. Dan Stevenson, D-Highland, was praised Tuesday by his fellow representatives as a quiet but hardworking leader in the Indiana House.

Pat Bauer

State Rep. Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, is the House minority leader.

DOUG ROSS: Two veteran lawmakers say enough is enough

A number of veteran Indiana lawmakers have either been defeated at the ballot box in recent years or, like Reps. Chet Dobis and Dan Stevenson, have decided not to run for re-election. That should not go unnoticed.