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Okay, for all of you who really care,  here’s the rundown for the next few days at the Indiana Legislature.

• Today – Senate introduces its version of the budget.  The appropriations committee will vote it out.
• Monday – Senate takes up budget for second reading amendments.
• Tuesday – Senate adopts full budget.
• Tuesday afternoon – House convenes.  Refuses to adopt Senate budget.
• Wednesday – Conference committees meet.  Mayhem and hilarity ensue.

Although he didn’t say the House version of the budget will be dead on arrival, Republican State Senator Luke Kenley says his chamber will write its own version and it will be much closer to the Governor’s vision.

Kenley says they’ve been writing their version and are building on the Governor’s plan. He says it will be a much leaner budget and will not spend money the state doesn’t have.  It will also include a school funding formula where the money follows the student.

On the Capital improvement Board, Kenley says the plan will include hotel, car rental and ticket taxes as well as a state contribution to the professional sports development area.

He adds it probably won’t include the Governor’s plan to create a new facilities management board to oversee all Marion County properties because lawmakers have been getting a lot of push back on that idea.

Kenley says it will include a new CIB, noting the structure of the board has to change. Kenley says lawmakers will still have to look for the savings the Governor was hoping to reach by creating a new board.

The Senate is expected to hold its first budget hearing on Monday.

If you are in Marion County your property tax bills should be hitting your mailboxes. Assessor Greg Bowes says 65 percent of property taxpayers should see a decrease or no change in their tax bills.

However Decatur Township residents should see the biggest increase in their bills.  So IB is asking today how’s your tax bill looking?   Are you paying more, less or the same?  And which government entity had the biggest increase?

Enquiring minds want to know.

And remember, it was two years ago this week when the property tax revolution began which changed the political landscape of Indianapolis and forced the Legislature to act.

I spent a good chunk of yesterday watching the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the Capital Improvement Board.  As I Twittered the proceedings I was trying to imagine which was more painful?  Watching the hearing or sliding down a long giant razor blade and into a pool of alcohol?  Upon reflection, the alcohol would have been less painful.

First, City Controller Dave Reynolds, walking a high-wire act,  tells the committee that they are working to make the Governor’s numbers work.  He said they are close, but he told members that even with the current funding plan only gets them to 2011.

After that a number of amendments were offered, the one that sparked the most outrage was a Democratic proposal which would have mandated any hotel in the Professional Sports Development Area disclose how much they pay in salaries and benefits.  When asked what would be done with the information, City-County Council Democratic Leader Joanne Sanders said it would be used to help “convince” the hotels to pay more living wages.

Cherish Pryor did offer an amendment that eliminated the Governor’s Facility Management Board, decreased the amount of state support for the plan and increased the food and beverage tax on users of the facilities.  It also moved control tax abatements from the city’s Metropolitan Development Commission to the Council.  Which is a whole nother story for a whole nother time.

The whole bill came collapsing down and State Rep Randy Borror called it a second rate presentation.  And when there was no Republican support, Bill Crawford pulled the bill.

So where are we now?  Let’s see.  House Democrats are still mad at House Republicans.  The Governor’s Office apparently isn’t too happy with the Mayor’s Office.  We are no closer to getting this problem solved and the city could potentially lose the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four because these people can’t get their act together.

Anyone have a giant razor blade?

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi has filed formal charges against Lee Tibbets, who is accused of molesting a 13-year od John Marshall student.

Although everyone is innocent until proven guilty, the affidavit is pretty harsh.  And a lot of this could have probably been avoided had IPS administrators done their job.

If you want a copy I will send it to you.  But after reading it think about this, shouldn’t IPS spend more time trying to protect its students from sexual predators rather than trying to stop charter schools from giving former IPS students a good education.

Just a thought.

I’m looking at the budget plan Indiana House Democrats will pass today on a party-line vote and trying to figure out what’s different than the last budget plan lawmakers couldn’t pass the last time around.

• It’s a one-year spending plan, which won’t pass the Senate.
• It changes the school funding formula, which won’t pass the Senate.
• It stifles the growth of charter schools, which won’t pass the Senate.
• It keeps open the Soldiers and Sailors Home, which won’t pass the Senate.
• It also has cost about $50,000.

Why are we here again?   Thats right, my House Democratic friends couldn’t pass a budget.

Gallup polling has some new data out on America’s political landscape.  40 percent of Americans are identifying themselves as conservative.  While 35% call themselves moderate and 21% liberal.

When broken down in more detail, moderates are the largest group at 35%, conservatives – 31%, liberal – 16%, very conservative – 9%, very liberal – 5%.

I find this data interesting  because while conservatives make up a plurality of the nation’s political philosophy they are a minority of the leadership.

Gallup offers some explanations for this dichotomy, which include the following…

• A narrow demographic base.
• No national leadership.
• A lack of enthusiasm by the party faithful.

This doesn’t mean conservatives can’t win, but they are going to have to broaden their appeal.  Broadening your appeal doesn’t mean compromising your principles, but knowing that 60% percent of the population may share a different political philosophy you may have to adopt a more “user-friendly” message.

Your thoughts.

Indiana Barrister reached a nice milestone this week.

Our little blog has received more than 20,000 comments from you faithful readers. With 1,841 posts, that averages to about ten comments per post.  It’s hard to imagine that in only four years we’ve received over 20,000 comments about Indiana issues important to you.

As a reward, we have upgraded the website comment system so that you can reply directly to a person’s comment. Did you like one of the fellow IB’ers comments? Well, just “Like” their comment to move it to the top of the comment list, or if things get out of hand you can “Report” a comment so we can take a look.

You can also leave a comment using your Facebook Profile, Twitter Account or just leave a comment like before with your name/nickname and email address.

You can also follow IB on  Twitter.  Our account www.twitter.com/IndyBarrister.

Stay tuned for more new features for Indiana Barrister to make it easier to participate and discuss issues important to Indiana.  And there’s another big announcement coming soon that will allow you to interact and offer even more opinion.

Thanks again for reading and participating.