YWCA lands right man for job for womenThe YWCA of Northeast Indiana could not have picked a better man to make history for the organization.Smoking ban
A state Senate committee will hear testimony at 4 p.m. today on a statewide smoking ban, and supporters are hopeful that this is the year Indiana will adopt such a law.
The Senate Public Policy Committee has been the graveyard where smoking bills die. But lawmakers believe they have worked out a compromise that – imperfect as it is – will result in passage.
As in previous years, the debate comes down to exemptions from the law. Unless amended, House Bill 1149 -- http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/HB/HB1149.2.html -- would exempt horse tracks, casinos and previously existing cigar and hookah bars. The bill would exempt bars, but only until Sept. 15, 2013.
Time zones, again
Hoosiers unhappy with the state’s time designation have continued to push for changes since the state returned to observing daylight saving time.
Despite their wasted effort – isn’t this dispute settled? – the Indiana House Roads and Transportation Committee is scheduled to hear a resolution asking federal highway officials to conduct hearings on placing the entire state in the Central time zone.
Even if approved, the resolution has no force of law.
Please, give it a rest.
GOP debate
The four remaining Republican presidential candidates face off – yet again – in a debate in Mesa, Ariz., to be broadcast on CNN at 8 p.m.
The Arizona and Michigan primaries are Tuesday.
Corporate taxes
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner is scheduled to announce this morning the Obama administration’s plan to overhaul corporate income taxes.
The New York Times reports that Obama would seek to remove loopholes in the corporate income tax in exchange for lowering the top rate from 35 percent to 28 percent. The rate for manufacturers would be less, reportedly 25 percent.
Though the nation’s top corporate rate is among the highest in the world, most companies pay less after taking advantage of deductions and other loopholes.
But those loopholes – including write-offs for research and accelerated depreciation of investments – are popular.
Some congressional Republicans may well insist that any look at corporate taxes should be part of a broader examination of the entire tax structure.
