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Organizing Thoughts

The nice part about Organization Day is all the gossip and other tidbits of information you get to pick up along the way.  So with that said, here we go…

Although all eyes were on House Speaker Brian Bosma Tuesday and his announcement to “get to work” and appointing two Democrats to committee chairmanship, a lot of people may not have noticed the seating arrangements.   Traditionally lawmakers are seated by seniority with the freshmen in the back.  Not this year.   New Republican lawmakers are scattered throughout the chamber and sitting next to more senior lawmakers.  The purpose of that, along with a new mentoring program, is help keep the new legislators focused and to minimize the chances they will go up to the podium and say something embarrassing.

Although legislation mandating government reform and consolidation make not make it out of the Statehouse this year, however incoming House Ways and means Chairman Jeff Espich says the locals will be forced to reform because they can expect no financial assistance from the Statehouse.

Espich also tells me that there’s no reason for a referendum on mass transit, saying local governments already have a number of tools (i.e. Local Option Income Tax) at their disposal to raise revenue for mass transit.

IPS is closer to state takeover of its more under-performing schools.  The District recently submitted a plan to the Indiana Department of Education however it was thoroughly rejected as not good enough for real reform.  If IPS does not get its act together a state takeover could begin next school year.

For anyone thinking State Treasurer Richard Mourdock  may be a contender for the U.S. Senate in 2012 by mounting a primary challenge against incumbent Dick Lugar may want to think again.  While Mourdock says he’s flattered and wants to focus on his current job as Treasurer his body language tended to show someone who really did not want to deal with the hassle of a campaign.    Another reason Mourdock may not run is that his wife doesn’t seem to be too thrilled with the idea either.

Posted: 11|17|10 at 8:02 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
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  • Curious

    Re the IPS passed referendum for remodeling schools, with the closings etc. just where does that stand and what is the accounting of all the money. Just wondering.

  • Think Again

    I was pleasantly surprised by Bosma’s actions yesterday. Pat Bauer hasn’t sat furhter than 10 feet from the podium for 40 years. That’s part of the problem. Why do you think Bosma picked Dobis for one of those committee chairmanships? Dobis has bucked Bauer within that caucus. But Dobis has been there along time, too.

    Nothing Jeff Espich says about budgets has any credibility to me. . he was a freshmen during the 1973 Bower tax overhaul. ‘Nuff said. Take your bowl cut and go back to Uniondale, Jeff.

    Term limits, anyone?

    Richard Murdock is one lucky man. If he lets this go to his head and challenges anyone for anything anytime soon, he’ll get his hat handed to him pretty quickly.

    But the thought of him opposing Lugar is kinda funny.

  • Think Again

    I was pleasantly surprised by Bosma’s actions yesterday. Pat Bauer hasn’t sat furhter than 10 feet from the podium for 40 years. That’s part of the problem. Why do you think Bosma picked Dobis for one of those committee chairmanships? Dobis has bucked Bauer within that caucus. But Dobis has been there along time, too.

    Nothing Jeff Espich says about budgets has any credibility to me. . he was a freshmen during the 1973 Bower tax overhaul. ‘Nuff said. Take your bowl cut and go back to Uniondale, Jeff.

    Term limits, anyone?

    Richard Murdock is one lucky man. If he lets this go to his head and challenges anyone for anything anytime soon, he’ll get his hat handed to him pretty quickly.

    But the thought of him opposing Lugar is kinda funny.

  • Think Again

    I was pleasantly surprised by Bosma’s actions yesterday. Pat Bauer hasn’t sat furhter than 10 feet from the podium for 40 years. That’s part of the problem. Why do you think Bosma picked Dobis for one of those committee chairmanships? Dobis has bucked Bauer within that caucus. But Dobis has been there along time, too.

    Nothing Jeff Espich says about budgets has any credibility to me. . he was a freshmen during the 1973 Bower tax overhaul. ‘Nuff said. Take your bowl cut and go back to Uniondale, Jeff.

    Term limits, anyone?

    Richard Murdock is one lucky man. If he lets this go to his head and challenges anyone for anything anytime soon, he’ll get his hat handed to him pretty quickly.

    But the thought of him opposing Lugar is kinda funny.

  • Think Again

    I was pleasantly surprised by Bosma’s actions yesterday. Pat Bauer hasn’t sat furhter than 10 feet from the podium for 40 years. That’s part of the problem. Why do you think Bosma picked Dobis for one of those committee chairmanships? Dobis has bucked Bauer within that caucus. But Dobis has been there along time, too.

    Nothing Jeff Espich says about budgets has any credibility to me. . he was a freshmen during the 1973 Bower tax overhaul. ‘Nuff said. Take your bowl cut and go back to Uniondale, Jeff.

    Term limits, anyone?

    Richard Murdock is one lucky man. If he lets this go to his head and challenges anyone for anything anytime soon, he’ll get his hat handed to him pretty quickly.

    But the thought of him opposing Lugar is kinda funny.

  • Think Again

    I was pleasantly surprised by Bosma’s actions yesterday. Pat Bauer hasn’t sat furhter than 10 feet from the podium for 40 years. That’s part of the problem. Why do you think Bosma picked Dobis for one of those committee chairmanships? Dobis has bucked Bauer within that caucus. But Dobis has been there along time, too.

    Nothing Jeff Espich says about budgets has any credibility to me. . he was a freshmen during the 1973 Bower tax overhaul. ‘Nuff said. Take your bowl cut and go back to Uniondale, Jeff.

    Term limits, anyone?

    Richard Murdock is one lucky man. If he lets this go to his head and challenges anyone for anything anytime soon, he’ll get his hat handed to him pretty quickly.

    But the thought of him opposing Lugar is kinda funny.

  • Abdul

    TA, on the Dobis issue, we are probably a lot closer than some people think.

  • Think Again

    You and me? Close? OK, if you say so. LOL. I’ve watched Dobis for 30 years. He’s not clean.

    The choice of a Democrat was brave. The choice of thie particular Democrat is suspicious.

    But I’ll watch. Politely. This is gonna be good.

    Ahhh, to be a fly on the wall in Pat Bauer’s (new) office. Hilarious.

    I still think Espich should’ve retired ten years ago.

  • Jhays

    Didn’t Espich star in a ‘B’ horror flick, about a Scarecrow who wiped out small towns with a shrill noise from his empty, pumpkin head? I’m sure he is as corrupt as Crawford, and possibly just as self serving. As the farm girl I’m seeing quipped, about the recent elections: “In farming, we refer to this as CRAP rotation. Putting the same bad seed, in the same depleted fields, and expecting a better result”.

    As for elders counselling the next generation. It seems more like every Fagin gets an Oliver twist.

  • Jhays

    Didn’t Espich star in a ‘B’ horror flick, about a Scarecrow who wiped out small towns with a shrill noise from his empty, pumpkin head? I’m sure he is as corrupt as Crawford, and possibly just as self serving. As the farm girl I’m seeing quipped, about the recent elections: “In farming, we refer to this as CRAP rotation. Putting the same bad seed, in the same depleted fields, and expecting a better result”.

    As for elders counselling the next generation. It seems more like every Fagin gets an Oliver twist.

  • Think Again

    Hays, you’re hilarious.

    No, Jeff Espich wasn’t in a B horror flick. Unless you characterize Gov. Bowen’s tax plan a horror flick.

    But that would be insulting to horror flicks.

  • Jack

    Among my many concerns with the upcoming session is the redistricting–wouldn’t be amazing to have a truly politically free plan. While I am hesitant to endorse term limits (that’s the voters right) I do believe that designing safe districts does not serve well except “to the winner goes the spoils”.

  • Jhays

    Even the author of Bowen’s property tax fix finds it a horror story.

  • Nick

    Mourdock is a smart guy.

    He should continue to focus upon his current job and tell everyone to calm down because Lugar will be re-elected when he runs.

  • Think Again

    No, Murdock is lucky. Moderately smart. No one who dyes his hair that much can be fairly labeled “smart.” It looks god-awful, and like with Gene Keady, the dye ultimately soaks into your brain.

    His automaker lawsuit was not as it appeared. He was dead wrong.

    I, too, think Lugar can be re-elected. He’ll have some far-right challenges to fend off, but he’s capable. We Dems probably won’t run anyone serious, but it pays to have a good placeholder on the ballot. You never know what might happen.

    For instance, one year ago, who would’ve thunk that Rep. Souder would crap in his mess kit so thoroughly, to allow a new Congressman from that district?

  • Think Again

    A judicial panel drew the lines for our current City-County Council maps. Quickly, cheaply, and rather well. In the last decade, the balance of power has shifted twice, never by more than two votes.

    This after, youll recall, the original lawsuit against the districts landed in the Superior Court of Judge Cale Bradford. Who ruled against Democrats, even though his brother benefitted as a district GOP councilman. Recuse? No! No need!

    Not to worry. Mitch rewarded Cale with an Appeals Court judgeship. After that same Appeals Court quickly, and unaninmously threw Cale’s decision out and ordered district lines drawn by a judicial panel.

    It can be done. Fingers crossed.

  • Dave

    “Structural deficit” sounds like code for a tax increase. It also begs a question. Who were the architects, who did that “structuring?” Perhaps they can design a new outhouse, dedicated to the state’s version of quantitative easing…

  • Turk_182

    The only way I see Lugar getting re-elected is putting 3 or 4 candidates to run against him to thin down the conservatives like what was done in the Dan Burton race.
    Otherwise I believe stick a fork in Mr.Lugar, he is done.

  • Nick

    You are right his automaker lawsuit was not as it appeared.

    Cerberus Capital, Columbus Investment firm, Massive Public Pension Losses, etc..

    Perhaps someone will tell the true story some day.

  • Think Again

    It’ll never happen. Wayyyyyy above your head and mine.

    Lots of billionaires made off with our money–again. Murdock was foolish to even try.

  • Think Again

    Wow, Turk. Are you taking political forecast lessons from Ernie?

    Stick a fork in Lugar. That’s hilarious.

  • Turk_182

    thanks TA

  • Anonymous

    TA why are you starting crap so close to the Holidays?
    My wife asked me to be kinder and gentler to those who are politically retarded until after New Years.
    I’m trying my best to accommodate her wishes regarding you. You however are making my attempt very hard.
    As I stated a few days ago, your crystal ball must have had a fog pass through, the results that you predicted fell short.

  • IndyErnie

    TA why are you starting crap so close to the Holidays?

    My wife asked me to be kinder and gentler to those who are politically retarded until after New Years.

    I'm trying my best to accommodate her wishes regarding you. You however are making my attempt very hard.

    As I stated a few days ago, your crystal ball must have had a fog pass through, the results that you predicted fell short.