Rebecca Patrick, Author at Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Woefully Inadequate and Unacceptable E-cigarette Tax Proposed by Senate Republicans

Woefully Inadequate and Unacceptable E-cigarette Tax Proposed by Senate Republicans

Last week, Senate leader Rod Bray (R-Martinsville) indicated the e-liquids tax proposed in the Senate’s version of the budget would bring that segment in line with the traditional cigarette tax. Unfortunately, the Senate Republican amendment adopted yesterday in committee absolutely does not do that. The tax on vaping products is only 10 cents per milliliter of e-liquids; that’s entirely insufficient and arguably [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-09T13:25:09-04:00April 9th, 2021|

Chamber: ‘Woefully Inadequate’ and ‘Unacceptable’ E-cigarette Tax Proposed by Senate Republicans

(INDIANAPOLIS) — Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kevin Brinegar comments on the “woefully inadequate” tax on e-cigarette products offered today in the state budget: “A tax on vaping products of only 10 cents per milliliter for e-liquids is entirely insufficient and arguably worse than no increase at all. Last week, Senate Leader Rod Bray indicated the e-liquids [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-21T12:52:34-04:00April 8th, 2021|

Trio of Broadband Bills Unanimously Pass House Utilities Committee; Vote on Business Restart Grants Soon; New Coolest Thing Made in Indiana Competition

Trio of Broadband Bills Unanimously Pass House Utilities Committee; Vote on Business Restart Grants Soon; New Coolest Thing Made in Indiana Competition

Three Indiana Chamber-backed bills that would help expand broadband to all areas and populations of the state sailed through the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee on Monday: Senate Bill 352 (Broadband Development), authored by Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Salem), adds more competition and transparency to the state’s spending of taxpayer dollars for the expansion of broadband. Senate Bill 359 [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-02T14:20:59-04:00April 2nd, 2021|

Updates on COVID-19, Health Care and Insurance Legislation

House Bill 1002 (Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19), authored by Rep. Jerry Torr (R-Carmel), finally cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee (7-1) after three weeks of work on an amendment by Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) that would get the legislation in shape to pass. The bill protects health care providers from professional discipline for certain acts or omissions in response [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-02T13:03:45-04:00April 2nd, 2021|

Carbon Credit Program, Commercial Wind and Solar Standards Clear Committees

Carbon Credit Program, Commercial Wind and Solar Standards Clear Committees

SB 373 – Carbon Credit Programs Authored by Sen. Sue Glick (R-LaGrange); sponsored by Rep. Don Lehe (R-Brookston) Amends the law concerning the President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust program to give the program additional powers relating to the reduction of carbon footprints. It also amends the law concerning the Clean Water Indiana Program to create a new account called [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-02T13:35:22-04:00April 2nd, 2021|

Senate Committee Passes Chamber-Supported Pregnancy Accommodation Bill; House Labor Committee Approves Deduction of Dues Bill for Union Membership

Senate Committee Passes Chamber-Supported Pregnancy Accommodation Bill; House Labor Committee Approves Deduction of Dues Bill for Union Membership

HB 1309 – Pregnancy Accommodation Authored by Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown); sponsored by Sen Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) Allows an employee to request an accommodation for the employee’s pregnancy. Requires an employer to respond to an employee’s request for an accommodation within a reasonable time frame. Provides that a request for accommodation does not require an employer to provide an [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-02T13:41:58-04:00April 2nd, 2021|

House Overwhelmingly Passes FAFSA Bill; Senate Expected to Concur on Amended Version

House Overwhelmingly Passes FAFSA Bill; Senate Expected to Concur on Amended Version

Senate Bill 54 (FAFSA Awards), authored by Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg), easily passed the House this week 87-6. As amended by the House, the bill provides that a school corporation may receive an improvement award for increasing the percentage of its high school seniors who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) beginning with the 2022-2023 school [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-02T12:00:31-04:00April 2nd, 2021|

Chamber Pushes Higher Cigarette Tax in Budget Bill Testimony; Senate Leader Later Nixes Tax Hike

Chamber Pushes Higher Cigarette Tax in Budget Bill Testimony; Senate Leader Later Nixes Tax Hike

HB 1001 – State Budget Authored by Rep. Tim Brown (R-Crawfordsville) The budget bill appropriates money for the operation of the state, K-12 and higher education, the delivery of Medicaid and other services, and various other distributions and purposes. Chamber position: Support in Part The latest: The Senate Appropriations Committee took public testimony on the budget this week. After earlier meetings [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-02T14:41:35-04:00April 2nd, 2021|

Indiana Chamber’s New Coolest Thing Made in Indiana Competition Honors Manufacturing Tradition, Builds on March Madness Enthusiasm

(INDIANAPOLIS) — As the state enjoys the spotlight during this year’s NCAA March Madness, the Indiana Chamber is announcing the Coolest Thing Made in Indiana competition to celebrate the state’s long manufacturing history. Companies entered in the tournament will face off in a single-elimination bracket format. “While Indiana is known for its sports prowess, agriculture and Hoosier Hospitality, we’re [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-04-08T16:39:36-04:00March 30th, 2021|

Federal Relations: Is the Filibuster Ripe for Change in Today’s Senate?

Federal Relations: Is the Filibuster Ripe for Change in Today’s Senate?

We’ve heard lot of discussion recently about efforts to end the filibuster in the United States Senate. The Indiana Chamber opposes such action because it can lead to those with a very slim majority not trying to work with the other party – whichever it may be – and ramming through more extreme policies that didn’t benefit from trying [...]

Rebecca Patrick2021-03-26T14:19:30-04:00March 26th, 2021|

About Rebecca Patrick