I picked up some interesting information regarding local party politics this week.  It goes to precinct committeemen filings for the Marion County Democratic Party and who exactly might be running the show next year.

According to Marion County Clerk Beth White’s Office there were 542 PC filings.  The number takes into account withdrawals and successful challenges.  Out of that 542, I discovered this breakdown of PCs and who brought them to the table.

• Mayoral candidate Brian Williams – 190.
• Indiana Democratic African-American Caucus – 72.
• Mayoral candidate Jose Evans – 44.
• Stonewall Democrats – 20.

That’s a total of at least 326 individuals running for PC.  I say at least because Organizing for America, the Barack Obama political group, also brought people to the table.

So if you do the math, out of 542 PCs running,  at least 60% could be considered outside the establishment.  That also means if enough of them get elected and enough of them form a coalition, there could be a new County Chairman and whole new Marion County Democratic Party.

I think we’re all agreed here the proposed $2 billion transfer of the city’s water and wastewater facilities is the biggest policy/political move of the Ballard administration.  It is fraught with a lot of risk, but also a lot of reward.  There’s going to be a lot of talk in the days ahead, but as we go forward with the discussion, I think it would be nice to keep a few things in mind.

Healthy skepticism of the deal is okay.  There should be with something this massive.  City officials have an obligation, which I think they will live up to, to sell this idea to the public and ratepayers.   They should answer all questions about rate increases, accountability, and how will the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission allow Citizens $426 million payment to be spent or are there pitfalls the city hasn’t planned for yet?  These questions, as well as many others, should be asked.

All I ask critics of the proposal is to do two things.  First, read it.  Start with the Memorandum of  Understanding.  Hint, it’s 21 pages, single-spaced.  Second, if you don’t like it, offer up an alternative.  It doesn’t take a lot of synaptic activity to call the agreement a “backroom deal” but then what?  The emotionally unstable ranting of the conspiratorial madman is cute for about five minutes, then what?   If you think this is a bad idea, fine.  What do you have to replace it?

Where’s your plan to address the city’s $4 billion water/sewer infrastructure problem?  What’s your plan to repair streets, sewers and sidewalks with limited, actually shrinking, tax dollars which are the result of tax caps and declining revenue?  What’s your plan to mitigate rates which are rising due to an original water deal which froze rates while the need to fix the infrastructure continued to grow?   What’s your plan to deal with the water company’s near $950 million debt?  What part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the city and Citizens Gas do you have concerns?  Would you have preferred a more cash up front and less rate protection down the road?  In other words, whatcha got?!

Matter of fact, I will make space available for anyone with thoughtful questions, concerns and an alternative plan.  Because if you are coming to the table with serious questions for a grown up discussion about this city’s infrastructure, then you deserve to have a voice.   If all you’re doing is “talking crazy” then please keep it to yourself, because you’re probably the only person who’s taking you seriously.

Now that the 2010 Legislative session has come and gone, we can discuss who won, who lost, who was basically a draw.  Actually, there are different degrees of how much individuals win and lose based on what they hoped to accomplish, what they got done and how this all plays into the upcoming elections.  So with that said, the awards go to…

Governor Mitch Daniels – Big winner.  He got his property tax caps as well as lawmakers to hold the line on spending.

Senate Republicans – Winners.  It was getting shaky towards the end and I was starting to wonder if I was watching the Manhattan tribe, but they held together at the end.

Senate Democrats – Draw, they’re the Senate Dems, what else needs to said.

House Democrats – Losers.  The House Ds took it on the chin this session.  They didn’t stop the tax caps, there was major dissention in the ranks, and the proposed Warrick County aquarium and museum tax district kept everyone here a week longer than necessary.

House Republicans – Biggest Winners.  They got about 80% of their agenda through and, politically speaking, the winds are at their backs for now.

Business – Winner.  Any time you can get a tax increase delayed for a year, you’re in good shape.  They also scored a victory on employee classification, however, they lost on guns in the workplace.

Schools – Draw.  They lost money due to the economy, but they also got more flexibility to move money around in their budgets to mitigate their financial situations.

Unions – Loser.  They wanted the state to change the rules on how independent contractors are classified so more of them can be considered full-time employees and thus eligible for more union membership.

2nd Amendment Crowd – Winner.  Got guns in the workplace as long as it stays locked in the car and also access to permit database restricted to media.

Local Government – Draw.  The tax caps are coming, but that just means more opportunities to be creative and consolidate.

Local Government reform – Loser.  But keep trying guys, I’m with you.

Redistricting Advocates – Draw.  It was a loss for now, but will be back next year.

Gaming – Loser.  They didn’t get any help from lawmakers this year, but this may have to be revisited next year because no one has a choice.

Anti-smoking advocates – Draw.  No smoking ban, but they saved the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Board.

Lobbyists – Winners.  Despite ethics reform, anyone who hung around the rail the last days and paid attention saw how much pull they have with lawmakers and it has nothing to do with money or gifts.

Taxpayers – Biggest Winners.  They get to vote on tax caps.

Media – The real winners.  Because we always are!

Feel free to add your thoughts.

I’m a little tired this morning after a long last day at the Legislature, so instead of me talking, I’ll let the lawmakers talk.

David Long on Last Day

Pat Bauer on Last Day

Brian Bosma on Last Day

The deal is as follows…

1. A one-year delay in the increase in the unemployment insurance tax.
2. Flexibility for schools to transfer money from their capital budgets to operational budgets.
3. Giving the Department of Labor the authority to create better rules on worker classification to draw better distinctions between full-time employees and independent contractors.
4. Instruct the state’s Public Employee Retirement Funds and Teacher Retirement Funds to merge fund management operations, to achieve efficiencies and savings.  There would still be two boards, but one executive director.
5. Eliminates the creation of the Warrick County Sales Tax Increment Financing District in order to pay for a museum and aquarium.

This is basically the deal that was reached last week, with the exception of the worker classification and sales tax financing district.

Sine Die!

I’m getting confirmation from very reliable sources that Indiana lawmakers have reached an agreement tonight.  No word on the details and no one is speaking on the record yet.  They were divided over unemployment insurance tax issues and some school funding matters.  Stay tuned.

Here’s where we are.

1.  Republicans say Democrats are including ridiculous demands for labor.

2.  Democrats say the GOP wants a two-year delay on unemployment that will cost the state $500 million.

3.   The Speaker doesn’t think they’ll be done tonight.

4.  The GOP doesn’t think there’s any reason to go past today.

5.  Not sure if the House can Sine Die with only 50 Democrats present.

As one my media colleagues just wrote, the wheels are coming off in front of our very eyes.

The House is adjourned until 6:30 p.m.

Here’s Pat Bauer’s most recent comments for those of you who care.

Pat Bauer

With a weekend left, Indiana lawmakers are blaming each other for the stalemate here at the General Assembly. Senate Pro Tempore David Long says there could have a deal last week, because Democrats are making unreasonable demands they say will break the state budget.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Pat Bauer says he wants to make sure schools don’t share all the pain in the state’s fiscal crisis.

Long said Democrats were asking for legislation which would benefit unions and would break the state budget and they have gone about as far they intend to on making concessions.

Lawmakers have until March 14 to reach an agreement, the last day of session.

You can hear Long and House Republican Leader Brian Bosma’s comments below.

Long & Bosma

I’ll  Twitter if something changes.

This can’t be good.

I’m getting word this evening from my sources at the Statehouse that the real reason Indiana lawmakers can’t get anything done is because House Democrats don’t have a majority to pass anything, instead they only have 50 votes,  and you need 51.

State Rep. Dennie Oxley, Sr. has been out with health problems and State Rep. Craig Fry is reportedly down in Florida watching spring training.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think taking off work during your potentially busiest time of the year is a good idea.  Especially when there are serious issues that need to be worked out.

Meanwhile sources say Senate Republicans keep caving into the Democrats on just about every issue, when Democrats don’t have the votes.

I’m going to try to sort all this out in the morning, but I can tell you one thing,  this is a heck of a way to close out the last days of session.

The Indiana House has adjourned until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.  There had been some talk lawmakers were close to reaching a deal on unemployment.

I hear they are still close, but no cigar just yet.

We spoke with State Rep.  David Niezgodski shortly after the House adjourned.  His comments are below.

Niezgodski