Manufacturers' lobbyist decries tax plan

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	Wednesday, October 24, 2007
	Manufacturers' lobbyist decries tax plan Gov. Mitch Daniels' plan to shift property taxes to businesses from homeowners is almost certain to crimp Indiana's attempts to create an attractive industrial environment, an Indiana Manufacturers Association lobbyist warned today. Mark Cahoon, vice president of government finance and economic development, said the state can't afford to surrender a tax system that currently is attractive to business investment. "Indiana already has a tough time attracting the industrial investment it needs to grow," Cahoon said. "This will make that job many times more difficult."   WellPoint expects to reap M-Plan customers WellPoint Inc. officials expect to win about 50,000 new customers from M-Plan Inc. as part of an endorsement deal the two health plans signed in September, WellPoint CEO Angela F. Braly said in a conference call with analysts this morning. WellPoint's Indiana subsidiary, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, will pay a commission to M-Plan for every employer group that chooses Anthem. Braly's comments came after WellPoint reported profit growing 7.1 percent to $868 million, or $1.45 per share.
	I-69 leg could take 416 homes, 68 businesses Officials have taken another regulatory step toward expanding Interstate 69 by releasing a 1,000-page environmental-impact statement that outlines why they chose the 142-mile route to link Indianapolis and Evansville. The state and federal governments released the document Oct. 22. It says the route will require the relocation of 68 businesses and between 366 and 416 homes and will cost between $1.73 billion and $1.83 billion.   Report: Kokomo vote tips Chrysler contract Chrysler workers at two Kokomo plants overwhelmingly rebuffed a tentative United Auto Workers contract during voting yesterday, according to a Reuters report. A tally of votes cast so far means the Kokomo results have tipped the overall vote slightly against the contract, the news service said. A majority of the 45,000 workers represented by the United Auto Workers union must approve the deal.   UAW launches strike at International truck The United Auto Workers union started a strike yesterday against International Truck and Engine Corp., including its two plants in Indianapolis. "International Truck and Engine has shredded our agreement, shipped our work out of the country, and trampled our nation's labor laws," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a release. Roy Wiley, spokesman for Warrenville, Ill.-based International, said the company has been "negotiating in good faith."   EU approves Dow AgroSciences corn products The European Union Commission has approved using genetically altered corn developed by Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences LLC and DuPont for use in animal feeds, and for human consumption and other uses. However, the corn, which resists insects and the Roundup herbicide, still cannot be raised in the EU. Dow AgroSciences, the agricultural arm of Dow Chemical Co. of Midland, Mich., has been investing in biotechnology in an effort to diversify away from its core pesticide business. Republic Airways profit hits turbulence Rising expenses from adding new aircraft put a drag on third-quarter profit at Republic Airways Holdings, which fell 8 percent from the same time last year, to $20.2 million. The operator of regional jets for six large U.S. carriers cited a 25-percent rise in expenses, excluding reimbursable fuel costs, from the same time in 2006. They included increased pilot training and other expenses, as the carrier put into service several Canadair jets for Continental Airlines and switched to some larger Embraer aircraft.
	Simon loses court appeal on gift-card charges A federal appeals court has ruled against Indianapolis-based shopping mall giant Simon Property Group in a case revolving around whether dormancy fees can be charged on gift cards. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan on Oct. 19 sided with the state of Connecticut in its ban on the practice, according to Bloomberg. If an unused balance on its Crystal Mall cards lingered six months, Simon reduced the value of the card by $2.50 per month. Simon also charged $7.50 to reactivate an expired card.   From IBJ staff and Associated Press-Compiled by Norm Heikens Governor touting property-tax plan Gov. Mitch Daniels is traveling today to drum up support for his plan to fix the state's property-tax system. Daniels says his reforms would provide about $1 billion in property-tax relief by cutting the average homeowner's bill by a third. He's calling for tough new oversight on local governments and raising the sales tax to 7 percent from 6 percent. Lawmakers will have to pass the plan twice before voters have their say on a proposed constitutional amendment. Fox 59 will have more at 10 p.m.
	Police investigate train accident Indianapolis police are trying to identify the body of a man found last night on train tracks under the Emerson Avenue overpass northeast of downtown. The train crew that called for help told investigators they saw the body before passing over it. They believe the man was hit by another train five minutes ahead of them. Centerville woman died of natural causes The Wayne County coroner says Kelly Stanley, 18, suffered a fatal seizure Sept. 7. She was found dead in her parents' home six days after her sister, Erin, was strangled in the same house. James McFarland, 23, has been charged with Erin's murder. Blue jackets invade Indy for FFA convention The 80th National FFA Convention kicks off today downtown. It's expected to draw more than 55,000 delegates over four days. Members will attend classes and seminars covering all aspects of agricultural services. They'll also team up with city leaders for several community programs. Paragon heads west Paragon Cos. has expanded to the West Coast with its first location outside its Indianapolis headquarters on East 86th Street near Hague Road. An office in San Diego opened last week. "We have had a desire to diversify geographically for quite some time," Rich Block, president of Paragon, said in an e-mail. "After evaluation of the Southeastern and Southwestern markets, we strongly believe in the potential of the Southwestern market." No projects have been announced.      Largest Indianapolis-Area United Way Allocations Largest Indianapolis-Area Full-Service Advertising Agencies When someone has a business proposal for you, how do you prefer to be approached: via phone, mail or e-mail? Why? Sign up today for IBJ's Real Estate Weekly E-mail Alert. This once-a week e-mail focuses on real estate, both commercial and residential, including news about deals, people, meetings, trends, projects and more. If you have any connection to real estate, you'll want to read IBJ's new Real Estate Weekly. Sign up today for your free subscription.
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