Legislative priorities | A Democrat enters the SOS race

Correction: an earlier version of this newsletter incorrectly attributed the House Democrats' priorities to the House Republicans.

We're done with the first week of the legislative session, and already bills are moving. Legislative leaders made their goals more clear this week with the release of their priorities.

There's bound to be some disagreements, even within the Republican party.

House Republicans unveiled a massive tax reform plan (more on that later), and want to help ease jail over crowding, restrict vaccine mandates, end Indiana's state of emergency and address health care worker shortages.

On the other side of the third floor, the Senate Republicans had a very nuts and bolts list of priorities, which included making more Hoosiers eligible for the taxpayer refund, ending Indiana's public health emergency and ensuring schools receive full funding for children who were considered virtual students.

Senate Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing for marijuana legalization, investment in child care, and the expansion of affordable housing, among other priorities. House Democrats want to see paid leave, a child tax credit, the state "fully invest" in K-12 public education and improve public transportation, among other goals.

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Eli Lilly resumes contributions after Capitol riot

Thursday signified an important milestone: a year since the U.S. Capitol insurrection shocked the country.

Roughly a year ago, Eli Lilly and other corporations announced they were suspending contributions to those who voted against certifying the election results after the riot. But those contributions have since resumed.

Federal Elections Commission records show that Eli Lilly contributed $5,000 to Rep. Jackie Walorski in July, $2,500 to Rep. Jim Baird in October and $2,500 to former Vice President Mike Pence's brother Rep. Greg Pence in November.

• Looking back: What we've learned about Pence and the U.S. Capitol riot

Democrat enters secretary of state race

Destiny Scott Wells, a former deputy attorney general and veteran, announced this week that she is running for secretary of state. Wells is the first candidate to seek the nomination from Democrats at their convention this summer.

On the Republican side, Secretary of State Holli Sullivan, former Mike Pence aide Diego Morales and Newton County Commissioner Kyle Conrad have all announced they are running.

Republicans are at odds over tax cuts

House Republicans filed their plan to slash billions of dollars worth of taxes this week, including both the income tax for everyday Hoosiers and the tax businesses pay on equipment.

By fiscal year 2025 — even before all the taxes have been phased in — the state is expected to lose out on more than $1 billion, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill due to the tax cuts.

Gov. Eric Holcomb's 2022 priorities included a plan to reduce the taxes businesses have to pay on new equipment — a tax cut that is included in the House's version. But he was a little more reluctant to agree to other tax cuts.

Pence gets involved in Biden's vaccine mandate

Former Vice President Mike Pence's political advocacy group Advancing American Freedom is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the federal government's workplace vaccine and mask mandates.

“America is about freedom and the ability to make the best decision for your family or business, and Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate must be stopped in its tracks in order to preserve freedom, protect American livelihoods and businesses, and to safeguard our constitution,” Pence said in a statement. “Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate is not the American way, and Advancing American Freedom will always stand up to unconstitutional overreach from the Executive Branch that infringes on the freedoms we so greatly cherish.”

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Republican challenger to southside district

City-County Councilor Michael-Paul Hart is entering the ring for the Indiana House District 89 seat encompassing parts of Beech Grove and Marion County's southeastern side.

Hart is still in his first term, part of the wave of newer, younger councilors that took the stage in 2020. He's one of just five Republicans on the 25-member council that now hosts a Democratic supermajority.

The seat has the potential to be flipped — it's one of two that Democrats narrowly won in 2020. In District 89, Democrat Mitch Gore defeated former Marion County GOP chair Cindy Kirchhofer.

Things aren't looking great for the business community

As expected House Bill 1001, the legislation severely restricting employer vaccine mandates, is moving forward, even amid record breaking COVID numbers.

Lawmakers also amended the bill Thursday to ensure that anyone who is forced to resign because their request for an exemption is denied would be guaranteed unemployment benefits.

The House could vote on the bill as early as Tuesday, the same day as Holcomb's State of the State speech. (Look out for our coverage on both).

The bill isn't near as restrictive as one proposed by a lawmaker in the Senate.

Former Marion County prosecutor dies

Carl Brizzi, a former Marion County prosecutor who ran for Congress in 2020, has died.

"With great sadness, our law firm confirms the passing of our friend and colleague Carl Brizzi, 53, who suffered a stroke this evening," reads a Facebook post from the law firm Lewis And Wilkins LLP. "Our thoughts are with his wife and children."

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Hoosier Politics is compiled and written by the IndyStar politics and government team. Send us tips or let us know what you think of the newsletter by emailing Kaitlin.Lange@IndyStar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Legislative priorities | A Democrat enters the SOS race