News Blog

Editor's note: Senate Bill 621 has been controversial since its genesis with Democrats decrying it as a power grab while Republicans hoist the tax-payer protection banner to justify the bill's broad-based changes to the world of local municipal government. On Saturday, when Gov. Mike Pence, a Republican, signed the bill into law, he issued a lengthy statement justifying his decision. For the record, here is Pence's complete statement:

For Immediate Release

May 11, 2013

GOVERNOR PENCE SIGNS LEGISLATION REFORMING MARION COUNTY GOVERNMENT

INDIANAPOLIS - Governor Mike Pence today signed Senate Enrolled Act 621, concerning reforms to Marion County Government and issued the following statement:

"Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 621 came to my desk in the midst of no small amount of controversy. Given the competing views of this legislation, I have made a point to meet with supporters and opponents and have given careful consideration to their viewpoints. Hoosiers with differing views on this legislation have made thoughtful arguments, and I respect the opinions expressed by both sides.

"Unfortunately, what began as a serious effort to strengthen Indianapolis' economic and fiscal condition got clouded by politics. In making my decision, I focused exclusively on the policy and what would be in the best interest of the people of Indiana.

"Despite my misgivings about certain aspects of SEA 621, I am signing this legislation because it serves the public interest by granting to the current Mayor of Indianapolis - and any future Mayor of either political party - the authority to manage the City's finances in a manner that protects taxpayers and encourages economic development and job creation.

"The Indiana General Assembly was responsible for creating the Unigov statute in 1969 and has the legal authority to revise that statute in 2013. It is important to remember that Indianapolis is our capital city and, as such, our state government has an obligation to ensure that it is fiscally strong and capable of operating like a world-class city. After 44 years without significant reform, it is certainly worthwhile for our state legislature to revisit that governance structure to ensure that the interests of Hoosiers who live in our capital city are being well-served.

"But this isn't just about Indy. The economic vitality of our state depends to a great degree on how successfully our capital city serves as a center of commerce and entertainment and attracts visitors and businesses to Indiana. Our state government has an obligation to ensure that we continue to recruit and maintain top employers, attract more world-class events such as the Super Bowl and retain our outstanding professional sports franchises like the Pacers, the Colts, the Fever, the Ice and the Indians.

"In Indianapolis, the Mayor is responsible for achieving these objectives for the city. But to achieve them the Mayor must have sufficient authority to manage the finances of the city in a way that protects taxpayers, encourages economic development, creates jobs and provides for the public safety of the residents of Indianapolis. The Mayor needs the authority to manage the issues for which we hold him or her individually accountable.

"A careful examination makes it clear that the Mayor of Indianapolis does not currently possess the authority to advance these important goals for our capital city. For this reason, I decided to sign SEA 621 into law.

"There is ample evidence in the structure of Unigov and the fiscal condition of Indianapolis to demonstrate that the Mayor does not presently have the authority required to do his job. The City of Indianapolis is facing significant financial challenges. For example

* Despite attempts to adopt a fiscally balanced budget earlier this year, the City reports that the current budget will result in significant deficit spending in 2013 and a substantial reduction in the City's budget reserves going forward.

* At least one public agency in Indianapolis is reported to have exceeded its budgetary authority by more than $17 million over the last three years.

* The City-County Council passed a resolution to assess a $15 million payment-in-lieu-of-taxes on the Capital Improvement Board (CIB) to plug a $65 million shortfall in the City's budget, jeopardizing the CIB's ability to support the Pacers, Colts, Indians, Fever and Ice, as well as the city's convention business.

"It is clear that the Mayor of Indianapolis should be given the authority to manage the finances of the city in an effective and responsible manner.

"Under SEA 621, by December 1 of each year, each City office, department or agency must submit to the City Controller a proposed schedule for its spending. The Controller must then make a determination by December 15 of each year regarding whether the revenues for the next calendar year will support the appropriations adopted by the City-County Council. The legislation is quite clear that if the anticipated revenues are adequate to support the spending of the Council, then the Controller 'shall approve the proposed allotment schedule as submitted by an office, department, or agency.' If the City Controller determines that the revenues anticipated are not adequate to support the spending, then the Controller is directed to 'revise the proposed allotment... to reflect anticipated revenues.' The Controller has an obligation to report any decisions to the County Auditor and City-County Council. In addition, if he or she proposes to reduce spending by more than 5 percent of the total appropriation, then he or she must submit a fiscal justification to the City-County Council before the beginning of the allotment period.[1] This new authority will protect taxpayers by ensuring that deficit spending can be addressed in an open and public manner before it occurs.

"SEA 621 also includes commonsense reforms that give the Mayor of Indianapolis more flexibility to respond to economic development opportunities by reforming the Metropolitan Development Commission and eliminating the Council's power to assess a tax on the CIB, which could jeopardize the city's ability to support the Pacers, Colts, and other professional sports franchises.

"With those reforms, the Mayor will possess the authority to manage the finances of the city in a responsible manner that furthers the public interest of residents of Indianapolis, by ensuring a solid fiscal foundation for economic growth. By enacting these important budgetary reforms, voters also will be able to fairly hold one elected official, the Mayor, accountable for the financial health of the city.

"While I am signing SEA 621 because it strengthens the Mayor's financial authority and protects taxpayers, it is regrettable that this legislation also includes the removal of the four at-large seats on the City-County Council. While there are certainly valid arguments in favor of eliminating these at-large seats, including better representation and government efficiency, it is impossible to escape the characterization that this legislation appears partisan and politically motivated since all four at-large seats are currently held by the opposing political party.

"The truth is that both political parties have attempted to eliminate these four at-large seats on the City-County Council at one time or another.[2] Both political parties have made principled arguments that the citizens of Indianapolis and their interests would be better served by eliminating these at-large seats altogether. If the elimination of at-large seats on the City-County Council is a partisan act, then it is one that has been advocated by both political parties over the years.

"I am concerned that signing this legislation will eliminate four at-large seats that are currently held by one political party. However, I am consoled by the fact that nothing in this legislation removes the incumbent Council members before their terms expire or erodes the right of voters to express their will to elect the Mayor and City-County Council majority of their choosing in 2015. Were it otherwise, I certainly would have vetoed this bill.

"For all of Indiana to prosper, we must ensure that the City of Indianapolis continues to deliver world-class services, recruits and maintains top employers, and continues to offer employment and entertainment opportunities for all Hoosiers."

[1] It has been suggested that granting allotment authority to the City Controller may impermissibly give the Mayor a veto power over the budgets of certain judicial officers or constitutional county officers in violation of Ind. Code 36-3-4-14(b)(1). However, recognized principles of statutory construction presume that the legislature was aware of this provision in the Indiana Code and intended that its terms could be reconciled with the new provisions of SEA 621. Further, it is important to note that the City Controller may revise the allotment schedule of an office, department or agency only if he or she determines that anticipated revenues are not adequate to support the appropriation. Finally, the Controller must justify any allotment in excess of 5 percent, thereby ensuring public transparency over the revision and avoiding a situation where the Controller can withhold an entire appropriation from a constitutional county officer or judicial officer.

2 Baird v. Indianapolis, 976 F.2d 357 (7th Cir. Ind. 1992) (filed by three Democrat members of the City-County Council); and Representative Phil Hinkle's (R-Indianapolis) proposed amendment to SB 526 in 2011 to remove the four at-large seats.

Dear Readers of NUVO.net,

There is so much more background I'd hope to share with you before this weekend on these two woman, Kristine Barnett and Glennon Doyle Melton.

Alas, the weekend is here! So here is the elevator speech (script) on why each one is worth your time.

First, Ms. Barnett: I just finished her book, The Spark. It tells about her experience of raising a son with autism. "The system" had the lowest expectations for Jacob Barnett because he couldn't ties his shoes and special needs specialists didn't expect that he would ever learn to read. Spoiler alert: He is now the world'd youngest astrophysicist with IQ that is off-the-charts. His brain is extraordinary, but he may never have been able to share it with the world without the tireless and exceptional efforts of his mother.

In short, Barnett sets out to tell a story "about the power of hope and the dazzling possibilities that can occur when we keep out minds open and learn how to tap the true potential that lies within every child."

Expect a full book review from me on this subject. But for now, please know that you can pick up a copy of this book and meet the author at 2 p.m. TODAY, Sat., May 4, at Barnes & Noble at Greyhound Plaza, 14709 US Hwy 31 North, Carmel.

Next up: Glennon Doyle Melton

Glennon Doyle Melton's blog Momastery has almost 80,000 Facebook fans and a die-hard audience of readers. Her first book, Carry On Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed, is a New York Times bestseller.

Without compensation, she traveled to Indiana this weekend to be the keynote speaker for Project Home Indy, a nonprofit dedicated exclusively to serving homeless, pregnant teens.

Already, she has hosted a "love flash mob" on behalf of Projet Home, raising $83,000 in six hours just by putting a call out for support on her blog. That's $250 a minute! To top it off, the maximum allowed contribution was $25 max. [The goal was set at $83,000 because that is the amount it costs the Project Home, which staffs its facility around the clock, to provide service to a mom and baby for one year.]

"Up until that point, the biggest individual contribution we'd had was $5,000," Sarah Nielsen, Project Home Indy executive director said in a recent interview.

Nielsen recounted reading comments on the flash mob blog from people with only a few dollars in their bank accounts contributing $3 or $4. So, Project Home Indy's biggest donation ever actually came from thousands of people coming together to give whatever they could - a testament, Nielsen said, to the power of Melton's writing and the commitment of her following to helping mothers in need to persevere in the face of life's challenges.

Tickets to the Project Home's second annual fundraising brunch are sold out. But tickets to Melton's speech at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at Madame Walker Theatre are available for $30 at projecthomeindyandmomastery.eventbrite.com/.

More to come in the future about Project Home Indy, but just know for now that there are no other facilities in Indy like it and that it has waiting a list, so it can use all the help it can get in its mission to be a source of stability, inspiration and encouragement to young mothers in great need of support.

Editors note: On Friday afternoon, we received the following press releases from the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana. A few minutes later, we added the statement from Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office:

U.S. District Court Strikes Down Indiana's Immigration Law

"Because [the law] authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to effect warrantless arrests for matters that are not crimes, it runs afoul of the Fourth Amendment, and thus, is unconstitutional on those grounds."

-Judge Sarah Evans Barker

Indianapolis - In a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana affecting potentially all of Indiana's non-citizens, a federal judge today issued an order blocking portions of Indiana's immigration law and declaring it unconstitutional. A second order issued by the Judge denies a motion by three state senators to intervene in the case.

Ken Falk, ACLU of Indiana legal director, said "This ruling demonstrates that the Constitution applies to all Indiana residents and that the state cannot presume to regulate immigration."

Judge Sarah Evans Barker, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in Indianapolis, said in her ruling that the law "runs afoul of the Fourth Amendment" because it authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to "effect warrantless arrests for matters that are not crimes." Judge Barker had previously issued a preliminary injunction against the law and it never went into effect.

The law, Senate Enrolled Act 590, passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2011, permitted local law enforcement officers to make warrantless arrests of people in possession of certain immigration-related documents, even though the possession of those documents is not a crime. The law also made the use of identification cards issued by consulates of foreign countries illegal.

In July 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Arizona as unconstitutional in a decision that reinforced the proposition that immigration is the sole province of the federal government, and that states lack an enforcement role. Nevertheless, in September following that ruling and the Indiana Attorney General's decision to halt its defense of the law, Indiana Senators Mike Delph (R - Indianapolis); Phil Boots (R - Crawfordsville) and Brent Steele (R - Bedford) filed a motion to intervene.

"The Constitution is a restraint on the power of government over the lives of individuals," said Jane Henegar, ACLU of Indiana executive director. "The ACLU of Indiana is proud to stands with all people in our state when they assert those protections of their liberties."

The decision, Buquer v. City of Indianapolis, City of Franklin, Johnson County is entered in the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Case No. 1:11-cv-0708 SEB-MJD. The ACLU of Indiana was assisted on this case by Angela Adams of the firm Lewis & Kappes, P.C. and attorneys from the Immigrants' Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union as well as the National Immigration Law Center.

Attorney General's statement on Federal Court rulings on immigration law

INDIANAPOLIS - The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has issued its final ruling in a legal challenge to a state-level immigration law. Federal Judge Sarah Evans Barker on Thursday permanently enjoined the State of Indiana from enforcing the warrantless arrest and consular ID portions of Senate Enrolled Act 590-2011. The Court also ruled that the Indiana Attorney General had fulfilled his duty to defend the statute and that state legislators could not intervene in the lawsuit, Buquer v. Indianapolis. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller issued this statement:

"I take my responsibility to defend the statutes the Legislature passes from legal challenge as an important role of the office I hold. The court recognized that the Office of the Attorney General has faithfully defended all provisions of this statute until the U.S. Supreme Court last June said that state-level warrantless arrest laws are preempted as unconstitutional. Now that the federal court decision reinforces what we said all along -- that immigration enforcement is a federal government not a state responsibility -- this case is at an end and the state will not appeal. We are pleased that Judge Barker's ruling has underscored and reiterated the responsibility of my office to defend state statutes as is our solemn obligation," Zoeller said.

The Indiana Office of the Attorney General continues to defend the state immigration statute in a separate legal challenge Union Benefica Mexicana v. State, where litigation is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

NOTE: For background, please see Attorney General Zoeller's news release of July 31, 2012, concerning the legal challenge to SEA 590:

http://www.in.gov/activecalendar/EventList.aspx?fromdate=7/1/2012&todate=7/31/2012&display=Month&type=public&eventidn=57958&view=EventDetails&information_id=116961

What Happened

Briefs from the March 27, 2013 edition

Untimely death belies the fresh promise of spring. The U.S. Department of Defense announced Sunday that an improvised explosive device detonated March 22 in Afghanistan's Ghazni Province, killing Army Sgt. Tristan M. Wade, 23, of Indianapolis. (RT)

At the Indiana Statehouse, State Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, is receiving a warm House reception for his Senate Bill 621, which would tighten the mayor's control over local finances, drop the need for City-County Council approval of department heads, ease residency requirements for mayoral and council candidates, AND (of greatest outrage to the bill's opponents) strip the 29-member City-County Council of its four at-large seats, currently all occupied by Democrats.

Mayor Greg Ballard supports Senate Bill 621's provisions related to city operations, but claims no position on the proposed elimination of at-large councillors. Former Indianapolis Mayor and U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, who began his two terms as Indy's chief executive in 1968 and oversaw the unification of the city and county governments, however, said the at-large seats are important. On Thursday, at a ceremony inaugurating Robert Manuel as president of the University of Indianapolis, Lugar told WFYI's Sam Klemet: "I think that this was a good way, when we brought together the entire community, to make sure the entire community had a vote on a certain number of its representatives." (RT)

"Hoosiers are not extreme," John Zody, the newly elected chair of the Indiana State Democratic Party, told a group of Central Indiana journalists Friday. The Morgan County nativenoted his hope that common-sense candidates and the party's inclusive nature would find broad-based support as Democrats aim to regain ground lost following the decennial redistricting, which helped Republicans win their current super majority in the state legislature. (RT)

The newly elected prime minister of the Syrian opposition's interim government is Indiana educated. GhassanHitto, who was elected to the post on March 19, holds bachelor's degrees in computer science and mathematics from IUPUI, and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. He was also a member of the Islamic Society of North America in Plainfield until his family moved about 20 years ago, according to an ISNA member who answered NUVO's telephone call. Born in Syria, Hitto is a naturalized American citizen. He faces internal dissention within the opposition. Int(HL)

On Monday, the dust settled on the NCAA men's basketball tournament and the only state team going to the Sweet Sixteen is Indiana. IU barely pulled out a win in its battle against the University of Khalif Wyatt — sorry, we mean Temple University — in the last seconds, 58-52. Butler lost to Marquette in a squeaker (74-72), Valparaiso succumbed to Michigan State (65-54) and Notre Dame got whomped (76-58) by the Iowa State Cyclones who subsequently almost beat Ohio State. IU played clumsily enough to nearly lose against Temple; hereÕs hoping the Hoosiers can find their feet and shooting strokes Thursday night against Syracuse in Washington, D.C. The winner of that game plays the winner between Miami and Marquette on Saturday, March 30. (JP)

Heading into April, competition among Indiana high schools will take an eco-friendly turn as students step up to theRecycleForce Earth Day E-Waste Challenge. The R2-certified operation works to prevent elements such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury from contaminating the environment.Students collecting the most e-waste will net a $500prize. Schools interested in getting in on the action can contact info@recycleforce.org. (GC)

In other recycling news, the Indiana Recycling Coalition last week asked state Sen. Luke Kenley, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to restore funding — stripped during the financial crisis — to the Indiana Recycling Fund. In addition to supporting local recycling, responsible hazardous waste handling and educational programs, the fund, established in 1990, aids companies interested in expanding infrastructure to enable recycled commodity processing and manufacturing. (KB)

Repurposing is in season: The Aesthetic Design Style House, located at the Circle City Industrial Complex, is collecting donations of prom wear for its Prom Pop-Up Shop, a free boutique meant to kill the notion that conspicuous consumption is the only way to enjoy prom fun. Check out the community link at http://adstylehouse.com for more details. Also in need of some assistance on the fashion front: The Indianapolis Dress For Re-Entry Educational Facility, which seeks men's shoes (and shoe polish), belts and larger-sized pants (over 32" inseam), work pants, casual pants, and jeans. Contact rrosales@idoc.in.gov to make a donation.

People Power ...

Light the Way to Justice Rally

6-7 p.m., WEDNESDAY

INDIANA STATEHOUSE

As the Supreme Court this week considers the constitutionality of California's ban on gay marriage and the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents federal recognition of same-sex marriage, supporters of the LGBT community are planning to rally across the nation. More info at lighttojustice.org.

Moms Demand Action

10:30 a.m., THURSDAY

INDIANA STATEHOUSE

Moms Demand Action will hold a petition drive and rally with Mayors Against Illegal Guns on the east steps of the Indiana State House in conjunction with National Day to Demand Action.

Eco Student Summit 2013

10 a.m.-4 p.m., SATURDAY

IUPUI Robert H. McKinney School of Law

This first-ever statewide eco summit brings together high school and college students and faculty to share ideas, conversation and community building. Speakers include Gabe Filippelli (IUPUI) and Steve Hallett (Purdue). Go to indianalivinggreen.com to register, etc. The Indiana Living Green Earth Celebration will follow and last late into the evening. Free for students and faculty; $10 for others.

Doc Hendley, ÒWine to WaterÓ

5-8 p.m., Monday

IUPUI Campus Center

Hendley, named one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes for 2009, is coming to IUPUI to speak as part of the schoolÕs Earth Month Kickoff Event and Efroymson Lecture Series. Hendley's organization aims to help the more than 1 billion people around the world who lack access to clean water. Free.

Building Heartland Cities

6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday

Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, University of Indianapolis,

Former Indianapolis Mayor William Hudnut III will join Mayor Karl Dean of Nashville, Tenn., and Michael Coleman of Columbus, Ohio, to discuss revitalizing urban environments for the 21stcentury. UIndy Trustee Carolyn Coleman, former deputy mayor of Indianapolis and now director of federal relations for the National League of Cities, will moderate. Free, but registration requested at heartlandcities.eventbrite.com.

The Symbol Barrier

7:30-9 p.m., Tuesday

Butler University Atherton Union Reilly Room

In his talk "The Symbol Barrier: Using Video Games to Overcome the Greatest Obstacle to Good Mathematics Learning Kevin Devlin, a Stanford University mathematician and NPR's "Math Guy," will speak about his current research, which focuses on the use of different media to teach math to different kinds of people. Free.

This just in from the U.S. Census Bureau:

Get in on the madness of March and test your knowledge of the U.S. population. The U.S. Census Bureau today released "Population Bracketology," an interactive data visualization allowing you to fill out your own bracket based on comparisons of state and metro area populations. The objective is to pick the larger population between two metro areas or states. Visitors can click on the name in each matchup that they think has the larger population. See how close you can come to a perfect score of 63. At the end, visitors can mouse over their choices to see the actual population estimates or view the data table.

Sorry, no embed code available. You'll have to follow the link, and at the bottom of the bracket you can choose which one you want to play: http://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/057/

The population statistics used in the matchups come from the 2012 population estimates released last week.

--

News Desk Score: 51 of 63 on metro population areas and 56 and the states (ugh, some painful misses there).

Update: Just in at 11:28 a.m. from Council President Maggie Lewis:

Media Statement from President Maggie A. Lewis, Indianapolis City-County Council

Indianapolis - "Today, Councillor Jose Evans announced his decision to leave the Democratic party. We thank him for his service and wish him well in his endeavors."

Editor's Note: The news desk received the following news release at 9:45 a.m. this morning, March 5:

Indianapolis City-County Councillor Jose Evans Joins the Republican Party Twice-elected as a Democrat, Evans cites "accomplishments and philosophy" of the GOP as the main reasons for changing parties

Indianapolis, IND (March 5, 2013) - City-County Councillor Jose Evans announced today that he is becoming a member of the Republican Party. Evans, 40, who was elected as a City-County Councillor from District One in both 2007 and 2011, stated he would caucus with the Republican councillors.

"This is not a decision made in haste or without considerable thought," said Evans at a morning news conference. "When looking around my district, our city, and this state, however, it is clear that Republican policies and Republican leadership are getting things done, and I want to be a part of a Party that is focused on progress."

Joining Councillor Evans at today's news conference were Indiana Republican Party Chairman Eric Holcomb, Marion County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Walker, and Minority Leader for the City-County Council Republican caucus Michael McQuillen.

"We are very fortunate to have Jose join our party," declared Holcomb. "The message of the Indiana Republican Party is one of inclusion, and our record is one of results. Jose's leadership will be critical as we broaden our base, build our economy, and give our children the best education possible."

"Jose is a perfect fit for the Marion County Republican Party," added Walker. "His is a strong voice on issues ranging from public safety to creating jobs to neighborhood revitalization. He is a tremendous addition to our party's leadership."

"While we've certainly not always agreed on the issues, I've always considered Councillor Evans a thoughtful colleague," said McQuillen.

"Republicans and Republican leaders are working hard to improve our city and our citizens' lives at every level, and Jose's decision to join our caucus shows he values performance over politics."

About City-County Councillor Jose Evans

A resident of Indianapolis since the age of one, Evans grew up in Haughville, raised by a single mother. He received both an athletic and academic scholarship to Cathedral High School and the University of Indianapolis. He also earned a Master's of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Jose also served as the Executive Director of the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males under Governor Frank O'Bannon and Director of Minority and Women Business Enterprises for the City of Indianapolis under Mayor Bart Peterson Jose Evans and his wife Tara live in Pike Township and have three children: Malcolm, 21, Tayshaun, 10, and Landon, 2.

The NUVO news desk received the following news release from Gov. Mike Pence's Office at 4:23 p.m. on March 4:

INDIANA OUTLINES EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE IMPACT OF FEDERAL SEQUESTRATION ON HOOSIERS
Agencies Taking Steps to Avoid Cuts to Programs, Services

The Administration is working to offset the expected impact of mandated spending cuts to federal services the state provides to Hoosiers. The cuts are part of federal sequestration, which began March 2.

"Thanks to Indiana's strong fiscal position and careful management, the state will be able to manage the budget cuts with minimal impact to Hoosiers," said Chris Atkins, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

State agencies are making every effort to absorb the cuts administratively wherever possible, to minimize the impact on programs and services Hoosiers rely on. For example:

The sequestration cut will eliminate $4.1 million in food funds from the state's Women Infants and Children program (WIC). Due to Indiana's low transportation cost, administrative cuts of $1.6 million and a declining WIC caseload, Indiana will continue to provide full benefits to all recipients.

The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) will see funding for job seeker services reduced by $1.1 million and GED remediation cut by $515,000. DWD will mitigate the impact of these cuts completely with a discounted contract extension and a performance-based funding model.

The Department of Labor (DOL) will lose some federal matching dollars for the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration and INSafe, but can minimize the cuts with other funding sources. In addition, DOL is implementing new technologies later this year to increase efficiency and minimize personnel redundancy. The department expects significant cost savings that will mitigate any effects of sequestration.

Cuts to federal unemployment benefits cannot be mitigated by the state. Per instruction from the U.S. Department of Labor on Friday, March 1, EUC benefits to 33,000 Hoosiers will be reduced by 10.7 percent beginning March 31.

The Indiana National Guard will put 1,000 Army and Air National Guard full-time military technicians into unpaid furlough one day a week from the end of April through September. The Guard also will hold off on awarding $30 million in military construction projects at Terre Haute and South Bend for fiscal year 2013. The Guard will implement changes to training methods and will stagger furloughs to reduce training costs and ensure that mission requirements are still met.

The state will not backfill the federal cuts, but thanks to Indiana's hard work in balancing the budget and holding the line on spending, the state is poised to make strong investments in some of the very areas the federal government is cutting, including education and job training. Governor Pence's budget includes $127 million in new funding for Indiana schools, full funding of our state-funded college aid, and $18 million in additional job training funds, all of which would help mitigate the impact of sequestration.

A number of state agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Family and Social Services Administration, and the State Department of Health have not received guidance from the federal government about how the cuts will be administered. These agencies have put together their best estimates on the impact and are preparing to handle the cuts with as little impact on services and programs as possible.

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Environmental Management, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs will see either no impact or minimal impact that can readily be absorbed by the agency.

As agencies continue to learn more from the federal government about how they are to implement the reductions to their funding, the state will continue to provide additional updates.

Thumbs up: Breathing Easier

On Monday, American Electric Power reached a settlement with the U.S. EPA and several other stakeholders to retire three coal-burning plants in the Midwest by 2015, including one in Indiana. Altogether, plaintiffs estimated the plant retirements would eliminate 12 million tons in carbon-based emissions and 84,000 tons of sulfur dioxide. The Clean Air Task Force, which works to raise awareness of the health challenges associated with emissions from coal-burning plants estimated that the closures would avert 203 deaths, 310 heart attacks, 3,160 asthma attacks, and 188 emergency room visits per year. Plaintiffs report that the agreement will also require AEP to install new pollution controls at its Rockport plant and schedule its two units from retirement in 2025 and 2028, respectively, or capture 98 percent of their sulfur dioxide emissions, as well as develop 50 MW of wind or solar power in 2013 and an additional 150 MW of wind or solar power in Indiana or Michigan by 2015, plus invest $2.5 million in efforts to improve Indiana's air quality. The plaintiffs included eight northeastern states and 13 citizens groups, including local watchdogs such as Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana and the Hoosier Environmental Council, as well as organizations such Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Thumbs down: Far from free

The annual report of hate crimes reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation speaks volumes about the challenges the U.S. still faces as a nation seeking to overcome the toxic effects of racial prejudice. Of the 6,222 single-bias incidents reported in 2011, almost half (46.9 percent) were associated with racial bias; an additional 11.6 percent were associated with bias against certain ethnicities or nationalities. The Indiana Civil Rights Commission recently posted a Youtube video "The Road to Equality," highlighting efforts to tackle discrimination within the state. The commission handles cases related to race, sex, disability and sexual harassment, but not sexual orientation. Marion County, however, is one of a handful of Indiana counties that does expand its discrimination protections to the LGBT community. If one takes the FBI's hate crimes report as any indication, the community clearly needs protection: More than 20 percent of the single-bias hate crimes in 2011 were attacks based on the victims' sexual orientation.