Elections & Politics

Jobs and the economy are the biggest issues on the minds of Hoosier voters. That’s according to polling by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

President Kevin Brinegar says education in general and the cost of higher education also are top concerns. He made the comments at a luncheon Thursday in West Lafayette.

Brinegar says the Chamber’s survey shows a big difference between federal and state lawmakers too.

A vote in Congress on a two-tier tax rate could come in the next few months.

Congressman Todd Rokita (R-IN4) says he’d like to see it happen before the election in November.

It calls for one tax rate in the mid-twenties for the upper income bracket and another in the teens for the lower bracket, but the income level cut-off has not been determined. Rokita says that would be the same for businesses and individuals.

Congressman Todd Rokita (R-IN4) is holding constituent events Saturday in White and Clinton counties.

He says he will use the forums to talk about tax reform and the need continue the so-called Bush Era tax cuts for everyone. Those are set to expire at the end of this year.

Pat Bauer is out as leader of the House Democratic caucus.  A majority of members voted Thursday to replace him with Hammond Representative Linda Lawson:

Frustration within the minority caucus had been building for some time.  An earlier attempt to oust Bauer failed.  But Thursday, at least 21 of the 23 Democrats who attended a caucus meeting in Lafayette voted to replace Bauer at the top with Lawson. 

Lawson, who becomes the first woman to lead the caucus, says the position isn’t something she ever really wanted.

House Democratic Leader Pat Bauer has reportedly cleaned out his Statehouse office.

It's the latest sign the South Bend Democrat might be ousted from his post at a party caucus meeting scheduled for Thursday. 

Sources confirm to Indiana Public Broadcasting that Bauer’s Statehouse office is virtually empty. However, Bauer says he’s merely, in his words, “changing logistics” and switching out decorative items for communications equipment.

Some House Democrats say there is increasing frustration about the way their caucus is being led and that growing unrest could mean removing Minority Leader Pat Bauer from his current position. 

An attempt to oust the South Bend Democrat from his position atop the caucus materialized last week, but fizzled after not enough caucus members could reach an agreement.

State Representative Dave Cheatham (D-North Vernon) says members have been vocal about their concerns in caucus.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence says Indiana must move from reform to results and laid out his vision for the state in a speech to the state Republican convention Saturday. 

The platform unveiled by Pence offered more aspirations than specifics, as is common early in a campaign.  The 6th District congressman lauded the accomplishments of the Daniels administration but says there is still work to be done.

A union leader is the Democrats pick to run for the state Senate in District Seven.

Brad Thompson serves as president of Tate and Lyle’s International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1070.

He also was president of the Federation of Grain Millers local union 702 at Cargill.

Now, the Delphi resident is looking to take on another role, state senator in the 7th District.

He says will use those experiences leading unions as a building block of his campaign.