Opinion

Hearts

When my State Affairs Indiana colleague Kaitlin Lange asked Gov. Eric Holcomb what he was playing on his Spotify music list, he responded, “Feeling Stronger Every Day” by the legendary rock band Chicago.

I’m often asked if there is really a need for public libraries or if anyone really uses them anymore. Because, really, what’s the point in a library when everyone has the internet on their phone? Sound familiar?

Grownups I know who collected baseball cards as kids can usually tell tale after woeful tale of cards of baseball legends they would have neatly boxed up and stowed away even today were it not for little brothers who wouldn’t leave them alone or the Moms who went on cleaning frenzies and transformed comfortable—if messy—bedrooms into spotless, card-less antiseptic areas. These are bittersweet “what if?” memories. Similar tragic memories haunt those of us who were comic book collectors.

Indiana is in the beginning of labor market restructuring that offers a once in a century opportunity — and risk. Normally, government plays a modest role in these types of changes. But, In the post-pandemic world, how well places do will largely be the result of how quickly, and effectively state and local government adjusts. There is both good and bad news for Hoosier policymakers, but first some basic facts.

Not long ago, the Indiana State Teachers Association issued a call for the state’s lawmakers to address a pressing problem during the upcoming legislative session.

Some of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s budget priorities will no doubt be controversial — especially to conservatives who focus solely on tax cuts and never see a reason to increase government spending.

This is Part Two of my look back at 2022 with appreciation for those people, places and things that made my column possible. So, thanks…

All good things must come to an end.

This is the first monthly column by the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, or LWVJC. We will write about legislation and elections and other matters that impact our daily life. Today, we’re sharing basic information about the League of Women Voters.