INDIANAPOLIS — Local government reform and more changes to bring the state's unemployment insurance fund into balance top the legislative agenda the Indiana Chamber of Commerce announced Monday.
The organization that lobbies for business unveiled a list of 20 items it hopes to see the Republican-led General Assembly accomplish during the legislative session that begins Jan. 5 and ends in April.
The chamber intends to once again fight to have township government eliminated, or at least have three-member township advisory boards abolished.
Meanwhile, it wants to revisit the issue of Indiana's bankrupt unemployment insurance fund, which has borrowed close to $2 billion from the federal government to make benefit payments. The chamber believes benefits should be lowered so business taxes don't have to be increased as much as they would be under a plan lawmakers endorsed last year and the year before.
In the realm of education reform, the chamber's agenda looks much like that of Gov. Mitch Daniels and Tony Bennett, state superintendent of public instruction.
The chamber is arguing for changes to collective bargaining rules that allow teachers' unions to negotiate salary and benefits, but nothing else. It also wants more authorizers of charter schools and expanded school choice.
Other items on the list include making Indiana a "right-to-work" state where union membership can't be compelled; opposing further business and environmental regulations; and opposing any tax increases.
"This upcoming legislative session poses real opportunity for Indiana. Voters responded to candidates emphasizing job creation and the economy; the next step is for legislators to follow through on that message at the Statehouse," chamber President Kevin Brinegar said.
The Indiana chamber is an influential presence at the Statehouse when the General Assembly is in session.
One reason is because lawmakers value its lobbyists' expertise on how legislation would affect businesses.
Another is that the chamber's political action committee, Indiana Business for Responsive Government, funnels hundreds of thousands of dollars into state legislative races.
According to a pre-primary campaign finance document, that political action committee had spent more than $218,000 on legislative races this year from April through September, including $19,000 on the campaign of Rep. Ron Bacon, R-Chandler. During the 2008 elections, it spent $300,000.