Day 1 in Review

• According to the Muncie Star Press, the House voted to override the Gov’s veto of some film legislation from last year;

A bill vetoed by Gov. Mitch Daniels that would extend tax credits to Indiana’s film industry was revived by the Indiana House on Tuesday.

The House voted 78-17 to override Daniels’ veto in its only action on opening day. It heads to the Senate for similar action.

The Indy Star also has a story on the veto override.

• State Property Tax repeal got a hearing.

• SB 17 and 18 both passed out of committee and will go to the full senate.  These deal with referenda for construction projects and stricter controls on tax-increment financing districts.

A Lil Bit Country… Osmond to Speak in FW

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette announces this morning that Marie Osmond will be speaking in the Fort in April.

[She will] be the keynote speaker at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne’s seventh annual Tapestry: A Day for Women, scheduled for April 25 at Memorial Coliseum. Tapestry is a daylong event that promotes renewal and self-growth for women.

Osmond was chosen for a variety of reasons, but the ones germane to this blog include…

…Osmond has also struggled in her life, most recently with the divorce from her husband of more than 20 years, the death of her father and her teenage son entering rehab – which all occurred last year.

Osmond, the mother of eight children, has also suffered from postpartum depression.

Here is the info on how to see her;

$60 for open seating. A reserved table for 10 close to the stage costs $650. Businesses can sponsor tables for $1,000. Registration begins Feb. 25, and women can either sign up on the Web site, www.ipfw.edu/tapestry, or through a mailed brochure.

Darwin Award Nominee 1

Former late-night radio talk-show host Art Bell used to give out a “Darwin Award” each year.  This award was for the person who did the human race the most good by deselecting themselves from the gene pool.  To the Blogmeister, it’s one of the side benefits to the theory of evolution that creationism has yet to equal.  Since Art is no longer broadcasting and, to the Blogmeister’s knowledge, Darwin Awards are no longer given out, I would like to resurrect them and possibly give one out at the end of 2008.

Our first nominee of the year really doesnt qualify since he was not removed from the genome, but we can always hope.  From the Associated Press, via the Muncie Star Press:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) – A man who hid hunting knives in his pants to try to steal them from a western Michigan store tripped while fleeing and stabbed himself in the abdomen, police say.The suspect was hospitalized after Monday night’s attempted theft from a Meijer Inc. superstore in Grand Rapids and is expected to face a misdemeanor shoplifting charge, police say.The wounds did not appear to be life-threatening, The Grand Rapids Press reported.

The man had put about $300 worth of hunting knives in his waistband, police told WZZM-TV. Police say he tried to leave the store, but Meijer employees confronted him and a scuffle followed.

The man then fell and was stabbed by the knives he had hidden in his clothing, police said. They said it happened about 5:40 p.m.

“The man was taken to the hospital,” said Meijer spokesman Frank Giuliano. “We are cooperating with the investigation by police.”

State Helps Town – Citizens Left in Lurch?

When the Blogmeister first saw this article he was hopeful the PEOPLE of Nappanee would be getting some help.  As the reader will recall, the town was devastated by a tornado that struck in October.  Then to literally add insult to injury, FEMA, denied the citizens any federal disaster relief funds.  After an appeal filed by U.S. Rep. Mark Souder and Governor Mitch Daniels was denied by FEMA last week, we get news today Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Lakeville) and Rep. Bill Friend (R-Macy) …

plan to introduce a bill to appropriate $660,000 for disaster relief to the northern Indiana town of Nappanee, where 352 homes and 107 businesses were damaged by a tornado in October.

Sounds good doesn’t it?  Well read the last paragraph carefully;

Graig Lubsen, a spokesman for House Republicans, said the $660,000 appropriation was based on the amount of money the city of Nappanee estimates it is in the red because of the tornado.

So, does this mean none of the money goes to the people who lost their homes and businesses???  You know, the ones who paid property taxes, sales taxes, withholding taxes etc.?  I’m glad their getting their police and fire protection, but is anyone looking at ways to help these people out?

 In a related story published by the South Bend Tribune, Governor Mitch Daniels…

…has submitted a request for additional assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration, according to a press release late Monday afternoon.

A decision from the SBA is expected later this week, according to the release.

Nothing in the story indicates to whom the money would go.

FDA Sets Meeting on Zyprexa Adhera

From the Indy Star: 

NEW YORK – The Food and Drug Administration has scheduled a meeting next month to review the safety and effectiveness of a long-acting version of Eli Lilly and Co.’s schizophrenia drug.

The agency’s panel of psychiatric drug advisers will meet Feb. 6 to assess Zyprexa Adhera, an injectable version of the company’s best-selling drug, which accounted for a quarter of Lilly’s sales last year.

FDA said it is particularly concerned about incidents of severe drowsiness among patients tested with the new formulation.

Zyprexa is currently available in pill form to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Sales grew 6 percent to $1.67 billion in the final quarter of last year.Shares of Lilly rose $1.03 to $55.57 in morning trading today.

Inside SB 114

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has a good story regarding SB 114.  Essentially; 

Senate Bill 114 would outlaw hostile or forced annexations – such as the city of Fort Wayne taking over much of Aboite Township.

Indiana is one of only six states to allow involuntary annexations.

“The time has come to change Indiana’s annexation law and put the rights of Hoosier property owners and taxpayers first as opposed to the rights of municipalities,” said Sen. Jeff Drozda, R-Westfield, author of the legislation.

For those not in northeastern Indiana, the city of Fort Wayne annexed much of Aboite Township, with little say from the people who lived in the township.  The annexation reportedly caused property taxes to increase about 30% for those annexed just in time to receive another huge property tax increase this year along with the rest of us.  At the time, there was great opposition to the annexation, but because the city could legally do whatever it wanted, it happened anyway.  The motivation for the city?  The township had the highest per capita income in the county and the city needed the money… which it got.

[Blogmeister Note:  The Blogmeister owns business property in Aboite Township, which was purchased after the annexation was completed.]

Inside HB 1039: Sales Tax Holiday

From a press release by the Indiana House Democratic Caucus:

INDIANAPOLIS — As part of an ongoing initiative to protect Hoosiers from escalating tax rates, State Rep. Kreg Battles (D-Vincennes) has filed a bill that will provide for an annual two day sales tax holiday beginning on the second Saturday of August.

The provision for the sales tax holiday is contained in House Bill (HB) 1039, of which Battles is a co-author. According to the legislation, any item purchased at a retail price of less than $2,500 would be exempt from the state’s sales tax during the holiday.

Interesting idea!  Although if this came to fruition, it would be fun to see how many $2499.00 sales pop up.  Realistically though, this only amounts to a net savings of $150.00 per $2500.00 purchase.

Sen. Amos Thomas Suffers Relapse

The Blogmeister first posted on the recovery of Sen. Amos Thomas last month.  According to the Brazil Times, it appears he has suffered a relapse.  From the Times story:

According to his son Ben, Thomas recently began experiencing severeheadaches again, a problem he had suffered through after having a laminectomy in December.

After having the laminectomy, Thomas’ doctors informed him the headaches he experienced were spinal headaches caused by a leaking of spinal fluid.

A procedure was performed on Thomas in surgery by creating a “patch” in the area where the laminectomy was performed.

However, the “patch” did not work as efficient as hoped.

“The patch didn’t get ahold,” Ben told The Brazil Times. “They tried to get him on his back with the idea that it would heal up.

“It was just kind of a fluke.”

Ben said Amos was readmitted a few days ago and had another surgery procedure for the problem Monday.

“I think he’s OK,” Ben said as he was traveling up to Indianapolis to see his father. “He’s a little down, obviously, because he wants to get back to legislation.”

Ben said there was a possibility his father may get out of the hospital Tuesday, but indicated Wednesday may be more reasonable.

“He’s going to be fine,” Ben said. “I guarantee he’ll be back on his bicycle when it gets warmer.”

A laminectomy is a surgical procedure for treating spinal stenosis by relieving pressure on the spinal cord.

The Blogmeister continues to wish the Senator a speedy recovery.

Bartlett Sworn In

From a press release issued by the Indiana House Democratic Caucus:

INDIANAPOLIS — During a ceremony just hours before the start of the 2008 legislative session, State Rep. John Bartlett (D-Indianapolis) was sworn in as Indiana’s newest lawmaker.

Bartlett, 59, will represent the residents of Indiana House District 95, which is located in the Northeast side of Indianapolis. He serves as a mid-term replacement for former State Rep. Mae Dickinson, who retired in December.

The Blogmeister wishes Rep. Bartlett well in his new position.