Introduced Version, Senate Bill 0163 – Singles out furniture made by inmates in the DOC for sale only to state and local governments. Other goods can be sold on the open market. Looks like Sen. Jackman got a $400 contribution from “Old Hickory Furniture, Co.” Not exactly huge money but could explain his involvement in this bill. Also, Old Hickory gave $2,000 to the Indiana Manufacturers PAC and they gave Sen. Jackman $1,000.

The bill just seemed unusually specific, so I thought I’d dig a little. Could be coincidence, I suppose.

Introduced Version, Senate Bill 0159 another one from Senator Lanane. Allows a court to require psychological counseling as part of the sentence for a conviction of cruelty for animals. Probably appropriate, even though being an animal lover, I support vindictive justice in cases of animal cruelty.

Introduced Version, Senate Bill 0154 – This bill kind of suffers from some double negatives, but if I read it correctly, the open container provisions do not apply:
1. to a person in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle designed, maintained, or used primarily for compensation (as long as the person isn’t the driver);
2. to a person in the living quarters of a house coach or trailer (not the driver).
3. where the container is in a locked glove compartment.
4. where the container is in the truck bed (or area behind the last seat in an vehicle not equipped with a trunk.)

Expands the open container provisions to vehicles in the right of way of a public highway even when not in operation.

Good article in the South Bend Tribune entitled SouthBendTribune.com: Daniels’ leadership faces test

Mitch Daniels has momentum and his party in charge of the entire Indiana government, but lack of money may mean he can’t get things done. This will be a good opportunity to see whether “The Blade’s” stint as Bush’s chief of the OMB resulted in tidal waves of red-ink based on personal preference or simply because he was a good soldier abiding by the Bush administration’s addiction to deficit spending.

He has to deal with a starting deficit of $600 million, $717 million in delayed payments owed to schools and an additional $150 million for school enrollment growth. On top of that, he wants to spend tax money on tax incentives for business and investment in research and capital. This means either spending cuts or tax increases. No indication has yet been given of what sorts of cuts or tax increases are contemplated.

School funding formulas will pit school against school. On the one hand, fast growing suburban school would probably like a flat, per-student formula; whereas rural and urban populations with stagnant or declining population and tasked with educating more expensive students would like a different formula.

Also, Medicaid costs are going up; Indy wants further government consolidation and gambling to finance the Colts; and Mitch wants Daylight Saving Time but has neglected to tell us which time zone he has in mind.

As a follow up on SB 99, the Criminal Code Purpose Statement, the bill comes out of the Sentencing Policy Study Committee which has a final report. Presumably more substantive legislation will be (or perhaps has been) introduced. I only glanced at the final report, but the committee seemed very concerned about increasing prison populations and recidivism. Presumably (and it’s probably in that report), they have made recommendations as to approaches they think will reduce prison populations by reducing recidivism.

A good, and fiscally responsible goal. The existence of a high rate of recidivism would suggest that Indiana’s penal system isn’t meeting its reformative goal. And, while it may be serving the interest of retribution, that is a function the Indiana Constitution prohibits for the criminal justice system. Which is fine since retribution is emotionally satisfying but expensive, fleeting, and a waste of government resources. Prevention, deterrence, and reformation are the less satisfying but more logical goals.

Daniels names INDOT chief

As I mentioned awhile back the Indianapolis business community is certainly unrepresented in Mitch Daniels appointments. Today we have Thomas Sharp as the head of INDOT. He is an Alcoa retiree and owner of Indianapolis rental properties according to the Indy Star.

Introduced Version, House Bill 1047

Synopsis: Holocaust education course. Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, requires each school corporation to include a study of the Holocaust as a part of the social studies curriculum.

I hope social studies programs do teach kids about the Holocaust, but I really don’t like the idea of the General Assembly getting this specific about the curriculum.

Introduced Version, House Bill 1045 This bill requires insurers to notify the BMV if a person’s policy is cancelled before the policy expiration date. The BMV is then required to revoke the person’s operator’s license if they don’t jump through some hoops proving their renewed financial responsibility.

I understand the problem it’s intended to address. Lots of people register their vehicle with a binder or other proof of insurance that doesn’t require they pay the full period in advance. Then they don’t pay their premium and keep driving. Then they get into an accident and can’t pay for the damage they caused. However, I don’t know that this approach will be especially effective. And woe to the person who wrongfully gets snarled in the BMV bureaucracy under this system.

Finally, the proper penalty should probably go to the registration of the vehicle. I am not sure on this point. (In fact, I think there is some question under Indiana law on this point.) But, I think insurance follows the vehicle more than it follows the driver. Seems like a person should be able to have a license without having their own vehicle and still be able to drive another person’s vehicle, provided that they are driving with the permission of the vehicle’s owner and thereby covered by that person’s insurance. That would not be possible under this system.

Introduced Version, Senate Bill 0148 Provides that an auto insurance company can’t use adverse information contained in an individual’s credit report or that of a spouse, family member or other named insured as a rating factor.

Maybe there are strong public policy reasons against using credit information in this fashion, but it seems to me that if there happens to be a strong correlation between bad credit ratings and high claim payouts, the insurance company ought to be able to use that information to assess its risk and adjust its premiums accordingly.

Introduced Version, Senate Bill 0127:

Speed limit on section of U.S. 20. Increases the speed limit on a section of U.S. 20 located in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.

I guess I don’t object to the idea of a 65 mph speed limit on U.S. 20 from the intersection of U.S. 20 and County Road 17 in Elkhart County to the intersection of U.S. 20 and State Road 331 in St. Joseph County. However, the structure of this legislation certainly reeks of special legislation which the Indiana Constitution prohibits and the Supreme Court has been looking down upon recently. The section of the Indiana Code provides:

30 mph in urban districts

55 mph unless otherwise specified

65 mph for Interstate highways

60 mph for vehicles exceeding 26k pounds on Interstates

65 mph on US 20 between CR 17 and SR 331.
One of these things is not like the others.