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.

RICH JAMES: What welfare recipient can afford drug treatment?

Talk about a loaded question. State Rep. Hal Slager's question is this: Do you believe Indiana, like other states, should implement random drug testing as a requirement to receiving state-funded welfare benefits?

EDITORIAL: Drug testing for welfare doesn't add up

Testing welfare recipients for drug use is a popular cause, but the dollars and cents don't add up.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Serious questions on hybrid welfare system

Gov. Mitch Daniels' recent column was an opportunity to educate Hoosiers regarding the following services in Indiana: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Medicaid for basic health care. These so-called welfare programs s…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Welfare privatization critics need to modernize talking points

For years, our administration has sat silently through frequent criticism of our initial attempt to repair and reform Indiana's welfare system. Much of the criticism was sincere and accurate, much was simply crude politics. But even when it crossed the line into inaccuracy, we endured it wit…

PHIL WIELAND: Test state lawmakers by the cup

It's too bad the Indiana Senate apparently killed the bill testing those receiving government handouts. All it really needed was a little tweaking.

New law prohibits withdrawing welfare money at strip club ATM

INDIANAPOLIS | Hoosiers receiving cash welfare benefits will no longer be allowed to withdraw their money from an ATM inside a strip club starting July 1.

Plan to drug-test welfare recipients, lawmakers dies in Senate

INDIANAPOLIS | A pricey plan to drug-test some welfare recipients and state legislators failed to advance out of an Indiana Senate committee Wednesday.

Ind. House votes to deny welfare payments at strip clubs

INDIANAPOLIS | Recipients of cash assistance welfare benefits may no longer be able to withdraw money from ATMs inside strip clubs.

House panel OKs welfare drug test pilot program

INDIANAPOLIS | Some Indiana welfare recipients would be required to pass a drug test under legislation approved by a House committee Tuesday.

Lawmakers to DHS: Provide better services with less money

SPRINGFIELD | It's going to be a tough year for the Illinois Department of Human Services if it can't find places to trim its budget, consolidate and address the rationale behind recent pay raises.