Indiana State News Roundup

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Battle starting at the statehouse concerning cold med prescriptions…Bedford State Rep will run for Bedford State Senate…Federal grant to the state is meant to offset DOD cuts…

The 2016 legislative session has yet to start, but already pharmaceutical industry groups are clashing with law enforcement organizations over a bill that would require a prescription for a common a cold medicine also used to make methamphetamine.

Proponents say something has to be done to roll back Indiana’s leading status in the number of yearly meth lab discoveries. Prosecutors say that while the proposal will not stop the state’s meth problem, they believe it will curtail the number of meth labs.

But critics say the added cost and hassle is unfair to consumers, who will have to visit the doctor to obtain a prescription. And they add that the government may wind up paying that cost through Medicaid and Medicare.

The legislative session starts January 5th.

 

 


 

 

 

An attorney and state representative from southwest Indiana has announced he’ll run for state Senate.

Representative Eric Koch  a Republican from Bedford, announced he’s seeking the seat of Senator Brent Steele of Bedford, who plans to retire at the end of his term in 2016.

Koch is a graduate of Georgetown University and the Indiana University School of Law.

The Citizens Action Coalition and other groups have gone to court seeking Koch’s correspondence with utility companies regarding a solar energy bill. The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to hear the plaintiff’s appeal after a lower court dismissed the case.

The retiring Steele is 68. He served in the Indiana House from 1994 to 2002 before being appointed to the state Senate.

 

 


 

 

 

 

Indiana has been awarded a $2.7 million federal grant to help communities and businesses prepare for a downturn in Department of Defense spending.

Officials with the Indiana Office of Defense and Development say the state is looking for ways to lessen the blow of the expected downturn.

The grant will help pay for a study that will analyze which manufacturers, cities and towns will be most affected by the cuts. The results of the survey will be used to help find other compatible business and manufacturing opportunities for those who are impacted

Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann announced the grant award last week.