Some Will Win, Some Will Lose…
You know how the rest of the song goes. So now that the special session is over, we go down the list of the major players and figure who won and who will live to fight another day. So with all that said…
Governor Mitch Daniels
- Big Winner! He got the budget he wanted and kept the surplus. He stayed on message and drove the debate. He also walked right up to the brink and the Legislature blinked.
House Speaker Pat Bauer
- Talk about fighting a war on two fronts. Between having to fight the Governor on one hand and members of his own caucus, particularly the Black caucus, on the other hand. He did have a major victory on the unemployment insurance fund.
Senate Protempore David Long
- Although there was never any question, Republicans would get a budget out of the Senate, I will give the big guy credit for keeping an orderly process the whole time and keeping a civil atmosphere in his chamber.
State Senator Luke Kenley
- Once again proved he is one of the smartest people in Indiana.
State Representative Bill Crawford
- I think we are looking at the final days of Bill Crawford. Throughout the session he looked tired and somewhat discombobulated. He stood his ground and fought for IPS, but in the end the best he could do was mitigate damages.
Republican Leader Brian Bosma
- The groundwork has been laid for 2010. With redistricting and tax caps both at stake in the next election, the House GOP scored a major victory by getting the budget they wanted.
Democratic Leader Vi Simpson
- Although Democrats have as about as much power in the State Senate as the former President of Honduras, Simpson gave an impassioned warning about the need to change the school funding formula on the last day of special session. And from my vantage point, that message did not fall on deaf ears.
Greg Ballard
- Whereas the Mayor of Indianapolis had some big wins last year, this year was different. Losses on government reform and the CIB, the Mayor really took it on the chin. He had some smaller legislative victories but lost the big ones. I still think there is an opportunity to fix the CIB which I will expand on tomorrow, but it will require the Mayor to do something he hates doing, play politics.
ISTA
- Talk about a bad millennium. Between the scandal involving the health insurance fund and cuts in school funding and now the seeds for real choice being planted in Indiana, ISTA may not be around much longer.
School Choice Lobby
- They won because ISTA lost.
Labor
- By scoring a victory on the unemployment insurance fund, labor in Indiana proved that it can still get things done and show up in force.
Business
- The business community almost took it as much on the chin as the Mayor’s office. It suffered losses in both government reform and unemployment insurance. I think the consequences are going to be a lot of cash for House Republicans but not so much for their Senate counterparts.
The Taxpayers
- I’ll let you make the call.
July 1st, 2009 at 6:44 am
I agree almost completely. Except for ISTA. They're going to be around for a long time–perhaps weaker, but still here.
Vi Simpson flirted briefly with running for governor a few years ago. She's always been a solid thinker. A little liberal, but consistent and smart.
Crawford just needs to retire.
And, one more time, it's President Pro tmepore, not “protempore.”
You did a great job keeping us informed, Abdul. Kudos. You even bashed a Republican yesterday (Murphy).
July 1st, 2009 at 6:54 am
Internet charter schools offer school systems THE opportunity to improve their academic performance-something that ISTA has nothing positive to do with. Of course, it won't take too long for serious consumers to recognize that government schools (even the charters) are fifth wheels and un needed for academic performance.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:19 am
Pascal, you couldn't be more wrong. 95% of ISTA's ongoing mission is teacher improvement and in-service training. Wise up and stop the cheap shots, huh?
July 1st, 2009 at 7:19 am
I agree with TA about the ISTA. They're like a bad penny…
TA, funny. I also have a problem with making mistakes when correcting others. My sympathies.
Between Abdul, Dr. Bennett and those faceless wags over at Frugal Hoosiers, I have had my mind changed concerning charter schools. So, I'm glad that the proposed restrictions on charter start ups were dropped.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:27 am
Since when has being 'discombobulated' been a determinant for a Democrat in Indiana leaving office?
July 1st, 2009 at 8:44 am
Careful, Rico…I could start naming GOP names…
I used to hate the thought of term limits. I'm starting to like them because these clowns adopt redistriciting lines every 10 years, which virtually protect 90% of incumbents.
The voters eventually do take care of these things…Bill Cochran in southern Indiana, Bob Garton in Columbus are two examples. But three decades is too long for a part-time job. Move on, already.
The only experience we've had with someone else drawing district lines, was the City-County Council in 2003. When the GOP tried to rig the lines in a ridiculous fashion, a lawsuit was brought. One of the incumbent Republicans' brother was the presiding judge, and did not recuse. Remember this fiasco?
Ultimately, the presiding judge's ruling was unanimously tossed, and the judge got a (nearly-lifetime) Appeals Court position. And a judicial panel ended up drawing council district lines.
The result?
City Council shifted to Democrats in 2003. Shifted back to GOP in 2007. Seems kinda fair to me…and the district lines are relatively compact, including whole intact neighborhoods. Which leaves voters to choose the best person to represent them.
What a novel idea.
It's not completely free of nonsense, but the judges did it in two weeks, and I'll stack up their work against any legislative panel's redistricting.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:16 am
Your shot at ISTA was a cheap one and an inaccurate one. Yes, ISTA had an insurance problem either through mismanagement or criminal activity by an employee. The FBI investigation will sort that out. The bottom line is that not one teacher lost one day's insurance coverage of any kind and not one teacher lost one penny's worth of benefits or claims. As much as you would like ISTA to disappear, they are here to stay and will become stronger.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:06 pm
“Cheap shot” is the misstated mission of the ISTA; more accurately characterized by Gordon Gecko, “Greed is good.”
July 1st, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I'm a card carrying D, but a HUGE charter school proponent, so good for them!!
BUT, the Governor owes the Capital City more than what he gave us on the CIB. He and Kenley created this problem and now are washing their hands of it. Say what you will about even building a stadium to begin with (a fair debate to have), but at least Bart had a plan to pay for it.
Here's what they said in 2005:
“A project the state makes possible, the state should take authority in overseeing,” Daniels said. (The Indianapolis Star, April 1, 2005)
“At a news conference Friday, House Speaker Brian Bosma said the mayor initially sought $72 million a year for the project. Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, said the gap made clear to many lawmakers that the state was better equipped to oversee the project. Daniels questioned the 'financial acumen' of Peterson's financial advisers.”
(The Indianapolis Star, April 24, 2005)
“Schalliol, the state budget director, said a new state financing authority would best guard the state's interest in the project. A major part of Monday's debate centered on the financing of the project. Schalliol argued the state authority could finance the project at lower rates than the city. Peterson strongly denied that, saying the city's high credit rating ensures low finance rates.” (Indianapolis Star, April 5, 2005)
“Daniels: The governor suggests the state could finance the project at a lower cost than the city.” (Indianapolis Star, April 3, 2005)
They owe us more than this.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:00 pm
FYI: At least three signs on three sides of Lucas Oil Stadium (east, south & west) are noticeably & incompletely illuminated- haven't seen the north side lately. Like taxpayers, the named sponsor doesn't appear to be getting a very good deal either. Less tax, more freedom.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I wanted a shut down. Let the people see how much government they can do WITHOUT.
Let the flaming begin……….
July 1st, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Questions: why exactly the consistent slamming of ISTA? Be willing to bet several of the posters belong to “interest groups” even if it is their political party. Why is there a “black caucus” and not a “white caucus”? Is discrimination still alive and well just a bit of existence in a “privileged” class that is not supposed to be challenged? Why the total love fest with charter schools? Is it because ISTA and several other education groups do not favor? Just wondering!
July 1st, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Jack;
Good questions. Your answers:
1. Slamming ISTA is ignorant of facts, but it happens anyway. It's the blog equivalent of a drive-by. Cheap, easy and not always accurate.
2. Anyone can form a caucus. A “White Caucus” might be a tad insensitive, but there's no law against it. Your whole discrimination issue needs more discussion than we can do here.
3. Love Fest with Charters? It's because most often (not always) they swoop into a neighborhood, bleed off the best of the best, and want full tuition support. Cherry-picking with public dollars. And yes, some folks want charters just because ISTA doesn't generally want them. It's human nature.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:51 pm
TA, no offense, but you have no idea what you're talking about when you are talking about charter schools. Charter schools cannot pick and choose their students. They like any other public schools have to take anyone who walks into the door. They cannot discriminate based on special needs, academic performance or any other reason. If they are too full, they have to take students by lottery. Over 70% of students in charters are minority, over 60% are impoverished, students in charters start 14 percentage points below their public school peers. You could not be more wrong.
Charter schools don't get any transportation dollars or building dollars which is about 40% of what schools receive. Charter schools only get the per student fee.
16% of students who leave IPS go to charter schools, 70% go to townships. So much for charters bleeding IPS.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:02 pm
In what way is the following analogy in any sort of error? “ISTA is to government schools what the UAW was to GM, Ford, and Chrysler”. Ever hear of the Learning Company? Is there any comparable unproductive sector to compare with government schools on an input to output basis? Think about Moe and Chubb's last book (Politics, Markets and America's Schools) and then get a copy of their latest-note to Mitch…David Holt had this on the screen long before this book came out. I'd say that if we want to improve performance from the Indiana stench we have, thanks to ISTA and others, then use the technology the private sector does and get rid of the buggy whips and fifth wheels. For readers, Liberating Learning, $25 American.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Obviously I wanted a government shut down too. Only to show that most everything will work fine without government.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:49 pm
You need to be in some of these public schools when parents come in and say that the charter schools said they need to enroll their son/daughter in a public school because they have special needs and the charters dont have the money, the trained staff or time to deal with the problems….I have seen this over and over and over. Talk to people who handle the enrolling process in any public school and you will hear the same story…………………..some charters are more subtle about it than others…but it happens…the same with students with poor attendance, poor motivation or uninvolved parents………
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:55 am
The last comments on charter schools is a common thread across the country—they do cherry pick, they are not willing/able to take on the tremendous job of handling the 15%+ of students with very serious concerns, they don't need transportation, they don't need special education or the supporting facilities, attendance officers, expensive sports programs (just try to drop those from local schools even if the board/administration wanted to), etc.. They are not burdened by some of the amazing pile of regulations heaped up regular schools, the magnifying glass is not nearly as critical as with other schools. The cherry picking part is an interesting when considering the finalist in several Indiana sports programs—how many “special” schools make it to the late stages of competition, and please don't someone say it is because of anything less than the fact they can recruit/allow for students with “special skills” to attend.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:23 am
Paul, I do know what I'm talking about regarding charter schools. I was speaking generally, of course, but specific experience with three different charter schools in different parts of the city tell me I'm right. I wasn't happy to learn it. It didn't make my day.
And, for what it's worth, I am aware of specific charter schools that get transportation money. They should get it. Not in exactly the same manner, but some transportation assistance is appropriate.
I'm not sure about your IPS exodus percentages, Paul, but it's about what I would've expected. Except: a decent number leave Marion County altogether.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:16 pm
“Special needs” ? Is it not possible to comprehend that not all can be schooled, instructed, or brought to any standard of academic competence? Do the math sometime instead of pricking your bleeding hearts. Fully half of students are below average on IQ which is the main predictor of academic success. Can you expect from a below 100 IQ CHILD the same academic success as that of a kid with 115? Only in Indiana. IDOE shows the CSI of every classroom in the State. Roughly, it is the IQ of that classroom on average. Look up IPS, for example, and you will find very low CSI. Let's talk about that amongst adults and all of its implications?
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:27 am
Pascal, that's actually a very good point.
But Indiana's constitution requires a free and appropriate education for all students. And, if we don't equip those students you describe as “below 100 IQ”, to deal with their world as adults, who will? How will they become anything as adults, other than drains on society and our tax dollars?
Perhaps we need a solid discussion about how we prepare those students for adult lives. It's a fair subject. My guess is, it will be more expensive per student, to properly prepare those kids.
July 5th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
This must be a website for Republicans and the charter school lobbysists. Wish the ISTA away because the NEA loves charter schools. Why? They know and believe that they'll someday organize those teachers as well then where will we be? Charters dump the kids back on the public schools after September 21 and KEEP the funding. The dollars should follow ths student ALL year due to the transient population of urban schools. This website is funnier than Comedy Central and Fox News combined. I love it. Charters???
July 10th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
The losers were the Hoosier taxpayers. Within 24 short months (my guess much sooner), expect substantial tax increases to shore up the State budget. Time will tell. Schools districts and public safety are the first to take a hit. Failures by Mitch have been fundamental government reform (which would have saved millions), property tax reform (sorry, tax caps are a farce), CIB (Mitch got the State involved in a purely county issue), school funding (IPS is failing in part due to funding). Expect local municipal and county budgets to increase taxes sooner to make up for state funding shortfalls.
July 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
The losers were the Hoosier taxpayers. Within 24 short months (my guess much sooner), expect substantial tax increases to shore up the State budget. Time will tell. Schools districts and public safety are the first to take a hit. Failures by Mitch have been fundamental government reform (which would have saved millions), property tax reform (sorry, tax caps are a farce), CIB (Mitch got the State involved in a purely county issue), school funding (IPS is failing in part due to funding). Expect local municipal and county budgets to increase taxes sooner to make up for state funding shortfalls.