A Senate committee debated a bill Monday that's meant to help establish businesses in economically-depressed areas but members postponed a vote following questions about its usefulness. Senate Bill 165, authored by Republican Sen. Randy Head of Logansport would distribute up to $10 million in tax credits to venture capital firms investing in Indiana businesses.

The author of a constitutional amendment to protect hunting and fishing has introduced the proposal this year without language that would protect farmers as well.

Credit score disclosures and credit inquiries were the focus of the Senate Commerce, Economic Development and Technology Committee's discussion Monday of Senate Bill 175. Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis, said she filed the bill after numerous people told her they had problems with the accuracy of their credit reports and credit scores.

After three and a half hours of heated testimony and debate, a House committee postponed a vote Monday on a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and woman.

State Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield, who serves on a committee that advises the Indiana State Fair, has introduced legislation meant to ensure students can attend the annual event - even if it means missing school. He says the success of the fair is threatened by more schools changing to "balanced calendars."

In 1964, President Johnson traveled to Martin County, Ky., to try to sell his "war on poverty" to the American public. The initiative spawned dozens of government programs, including Medicaid and Head Start. Residents in Martin County say the programs helped - but what they really need is steady work.

Democrats are seeking to revive the measure, which expired last month, to cover 1.3 million Americans who have been out of work for the long term.

Religious organizations have objected to the new health care law's requirement that employers include contraception coverage in the insurance plans they offer employees. But the Obama administration says one group of nuns is already exempt and has no standing to object.

The Justice Department will answer a challenge to a provision in the law requiring most employers that offer health insurance to include birth control at no cost. A group of Catholic nuns objects to the provision, and they won a temporary reprieve from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Congress has tried to boost premiums on the cheap, subsidized insurance FEMA offers. But property owners in flood zones protested the rate hikes, and legislators backed off in 2013, calling for "further study." Meanwhile, a string of bad storms has left the program $24 billion in debt - so far.