May 1, 2005
Indianapolis Star
Betting on slot machines at racetracks? Better luck next year
Bills on school choice, ISTEP move also failed to make the grade in legislature.
Star report
Here's a look at some of the bills that failed to advance this year:
o Choice: Public school choice.
o Ethics: Ban on lobbying by some former legislators.
o Testing: Move ISTEP test to spring.
o Service: Require Indiana Gaming Commission members to serve at governor's
will.
o Wages: Exempt certain public projects from common construction wage law.
o Yearbooks: Require yearbooks to accept photos from non-school photographers.
o Taxes: Increase local income tax rates to reduce the need for property tax
increases.
o Schools: Create an appointed superintendent of public instruction.
o Regulation: Deregulate local telephone service.
o Pets: Pet store regulation.
o Curfews: Allow parental exception for curfew violations.
o Slots: Authorize slot machines at racetracks.
o Schools: Allow expansion of charter schools.
o Regulation: Give the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission merger and fining
authority.
o Tax: Increase the gas tax.
o Roads: Including pickup trucks in the state formula for distributing road
repair money.
o Assault weapons: Ban on assault weapons.
o Judges: Allow governor to appoint Marion County judges.
o Revamp: Change Indianapolis Airport Authority board.
o Wages: Ban local living-wage requirements.
o Cigarettes: Increase the cigarette tax.
o Employment: Make it easier for employers to dip into workers' paychecks to
recoup employment-related expenses.
o Cars: Allow people to take out high-interest loans against their car titles.
o Rage: Tougher penalties for road rage.
o Certificates: Require gift certificates to remain valid for at least a year.
o Medicaid: Permit the governor to limit or exclude an optional Medicaid service
from the state's Medicaid plan by executive order.
o Elections: Place Indiana Election Commission under direct control of secretary
of state.
o Legislature: Curb lifetime health care for lawmakers who leave the General
Assembly after serving just over six years.
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