The Great Compromise of ‘08?
Indiana lawmakers are in the half-time phase of the General Assembly. I say half-time phase because the session is more like a three-period hockey game and we’re in the second period. The third period doesn’t begin until two to three weeks before the session ends. Usually at this point lawmakers stake out positions, play hardball and later compromise by splitting the difference on dollars issues. I don’t see that happening this time.
Look at the five big issues on the table: Lottery privatization, the Commerce Connector and Illiana Expressway, Full Day Kindergarten, Property Tax relief and providing Health insurance for Hoosiers.
FDK – everybody agrees on it, just watch to see how they finally agree to pay for it.
Lottery Privatization – Democrats don’t want it. Most Republicans do. This is a philosophical argument, not money.
Tax Relief – this is about money and philosophy.
Commerce Connector and Illiana Expressway – once again, difference in philosophy.
Health Insurance – this is both about politics and cash.
If the situation was that the differences in all these issues were money and spending, I can see a compromise down the road. However, Democrats and Republicans have deep philosophical differences on these matters and they are either for them or against them. I don’t see much room for negotiations because there really isn’t much to negotiate.
