One of the 27 recommendations of the Kernan-Shepard panel (officially the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform) is to have a single elected official in charge at the county level.

John Krauss, director of the Indiana University Center for Urban Policy and the Environment and a former deputy mayor of Indianapolis, led the staff support for the commission. He was recently quoted in a Governing magazine article: "There should be one person that’s accountable. You don’t have three CEOs that run McDonald’s or Microsoft."

Tampa, which has seen its attempts at unification with Hillsborough County fall short three times, is aiming for the elected "mayor" to run the county option. Voters will have their say in November.

Former Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan gives his take on redundancy at the county level and other local government reform topics in Indiana. 

Few doubt the positive impact of technology on the way we work and live. This Atlantic Monthly article, however, questions the more subtle influence that computers might have on reading and learning. The article is titled: "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

For the sake of congruity, I don’t mind telling you that this article was too long for me to read all the way through. However, the premise seems noteworthy and the layout is pretty.

Have you recently contacted your legislator only to have him/her not return your correspondence like you’re some awkward high schooler who asked out the cool girl because he believed his friends when they said, "Hey, what’s the worst that can happen? Seriously man, I think you totally have a shot"? (But turns out you have to be a quarterback or a frontman for an alt-rock band to get a callback.)

If so, you may not be alone. Seems many more people are contacting their legislators these days thanks to the Internet, and often do so without a returned message or a satisfactory response, at least according to a Congressional Management Foundation study found on The Thicket. The study suggests the communication paradigm is changing and organizers are even soliciting opinions about how legislators can communicate better.

Furthermore, if you don’t know who your legislators are, check out the Chamber’s Grassroots legislator search. Just type in your address and it will display your legislators and their phone numbers/addresses.

Hope your questions are answered. Seriously, I think you totally have a shot.

Good news for the BP Whiting expansion this week as the Indiana Department of Environmental Management issued the final air permit for the project. The Northwest Indiana Times has more.

"We support the BP Whiting modernization project," says Vince Griffin, Indiana Chamber VP of energy & environmental affairs. "With a $4 billion price tag, the project is not only the largest investment in the state’s history but it preserves a critical piece of Indiana’s economy, promotes a more stable oil source from Canada and does all of this while providing a high level of protection for our environment."

A small number of businesses are making a large impact on Indiana’s economic landscape. The numbers are in a new Indiana Chamber Foundation study titled Accelerating Growth in Indiana’s Mid-Market Companies.

Digest these digits: mid-market firms (those with annual sales between $5 million and $100 million) account for 3% of all the state’s for-profit organizations, yet provide 30% of the jobs and more than 40% of the sales for that same group. Additional data, an online survey and one-on-one interviews with mid-market company leaders indicate there may be a tremendous opportunity to enhance the state’s economy.

The further purpose of the project is to find ways to help these already successful Indiana companies grow even more. The details are outlined in a press release, 12-page study summary and audio commentary from foundation leader Mark Lawrance.

Take a look, review the numbers and let us know what you think.

Mark Willen of Kiplinger.com has an interesting breakdown regarding McCain’s and Obama’s views on the corporate tax. You business owners and fanatical fans of finance (sorry, I just received my certificate in alliteration) could find the distinctions intriguing.

Also, you may be surprised at what Bill Clinton’s former labor secretary Robert Reich says on the matter.

Floods have definitely taken a collective toll on Indiana this month. According to the Indy Star, at least 70 businesses have suffered flood damage and a major hospital had to be closed in Columbus.

For those looking to either recover or prevent future disasters from destroying your business, the Indiana Chamber has created Disaster Planning and Homeland Security for Indiana Business. The book, authored by Ice Miller, LLP, outlines what businesses need to do to make sure their finances are in order during not only natural disasters, but chemical spills, acts of terrorism, etc.

Click here to learn more about the book or to order online.