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.

The Daily Fix

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Senate approves flurry of legislation

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate voted in favor of 40 proposals Wednesday, the final day for the Senate to act on House-approved legislation.

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.

House approves drug testing for some welfare recipients

INDIANAPOLIS | The Republican-controlled Indiana House voted 78-17 Monday to spend $2.7 million next year on a drug testing program for some welfare recipients that may save the state $1.5 million in denied benefits.

EDITORIAL: Payne's final reform for DCS

James Payne offered the necessary next reform for the Indiana Department of Child Services — by resigning from the agency he founded.

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…

EDITORIAL: Learn from welfare privatization failure

Marion Superior Court Judge David Dreyer's ruling in the welfare privatization case isn't the final word, but it's one for the textbooks.

Constitutionality of Indiana immigration law still unresolved

INDIANAPOLIS | A Northwest Indiana Hispanic social services organization will continue its legal challenge to the state's 2011 immigration law after a U.S. Supreme Court decision Monday involving a similar Arizona law left the constitutionality of most provisions of the Indiana law unresolved.

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.

Jan. 31, 2012... House approves costly plan to drug test welfare recipients

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 approves costly plan to drug test welfare recipients

INDIANAPOLIS | The Republican-controlled Indiana House voted 73-23 Tuesday to spend up to $1.5 million for a two-year pilot program drug testing welfare recipients, despite projected savings of only $43,000.

Lawmakers would lose perks if on drugs

INDIANAPOLIS | State lawmakers could lose their Statehouse parking spot, office space, electronic devices and staff if they fail a drug test under a modification made Monday to House Bill 1007.

Ind. House votes to require drug tests for lawmakers

INDIANAPOLIS | A proposed pilot program to drug-test Indiana welfare recipients in three counties was changed Friday to also require mandatory drug and alcohol tests for members of the General Assembly.

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.

Indiana's use of call centers called into question

One legal eagle who knows about the problems faced by those who need public assistance says reception to the hybrid welfare eligibility system in Indiana is "cautiously optimistic."