Although it’s only been a few days since Indiana lawmakers came back in special session, I am already believing this is a big giant waste of time.

Already,  my very reliable sources are telling me that Black Democrats in the House are pretty much united that if there is no plan for a casino in Gary, they will also not vote for the budget, nor the CIB plan.   They make up seven of the 52 House Democratic members.  Both Governor Mitch Daniels and Senate Pro Tempore David Long have maintained lawmakers should simply deal with the budget and the Capital Improvement Board.

Speaking of CIB, my sources are also informing me that Marion County Democrat, Cherish Pryor in particular, is offering, with Bill Crawford’s blessing, an amendment to the Daniels-Ballard plan that would completely alter the proposal.

The plan would eliminate the Facilities Management Board of Marion County, whereby all Marion County government properties would all be under the same governing board.  The CIB properties would still be under one board, but the Governor would have no appointments, instead the County Commissioners (all Democrats) would get two more appointments.

I am also told the Crawford-Pryor plan would eliminate the admissions tax and replace it with a Marion County food and beverage tax, thus putting pressure on City-Council Republicans to pass a countywide food and beverage tax and making them more vulnerable in the 2011 elections.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,  because Monday will be here sooner than you think.

As much as I hate to say I told you so, but  I told you so.

If I were IPS, I’d be gettign ready to write a big, giant settlement check.

Since Indiana lawmakers aren’t accomplishing anything and still costing you money, I thought I’d give you another story to express your shock and outrage.  Enjoy!!!

From The Huffington Post

Desmond Hatchett, a 29 year old who lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, has fathered 20 (maybe 21) children with at least 11 different mothers. The kids, who are between 11 months and 11 years old, require food, clothing, etc. which doesn’t come cheap. That’s a problem for their minimum-wage earning father.

“I had four kids in the same year. Twice.”Hatchett says.

He was called to court last week where he appeared on the docket eleven times to answer for 15 of his 21 children who haven’t received child support recently. The mothers of Hatchett’s children are supposed to get anywhere from $25 to $309 a month, but the government is only allowed to take up to 50% of his pay check, and when that’s split so many times some women only get a $1.98 a month.

Here’s a thought.  Instead of paying people to have children, how about we pay them not to have children?  If they come get a vasectomy or tubal ligation, we give them $1,000.  If they want the procedure reversed they would have to pay for it themselves.  This would save taxpayers money, and more importantly, reduce the number of children who are born to idiots!

Hey, we gotta break the cycle some way, right?

As Indiana lawmakers convene for the first day of the special session, here are some questions I think are worth asking…

1. With one side wanting a two-year budget and the other a one-year budget, how will lawmakers reach a compromise?
2. When will they leave?
3. Will lawmakers adopt a school funding formula that allots more money to schools per student or per district?
4. When will they leave?
5. Will there be a cap on charter schools?
6. When will they leave?
7. What’s going to happen with the CIB?
8. When will they leave?
9. Will gaming manage to make it into the budget?
10. Are they gone, yet?

Of course I do caution you, that when it comes to the Indiana General Assembly, just when thought you had the answers, lawmakers come along and change the questions.

If you’re interested in reading the Governor’s anaylsis of the Capital Improvement Board and its operations.  Feel free to download a copy.

CIB Anaylsis #1

CIB Analysis #2

Before critics of Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock get too excited over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to not block the sale/merger of Chrysler with Fiat, it’s important to look at a couple of facts.

1. This was not a decision based on the merits, this was based on procuedure.
2. The Court said no in this case had a right to a stay.  And the decision was based on traditional procedural law, and whether the Plaintiffs had met that burden.
3. This ruling only applies to the Chrysler case.  Anyone thinking that challenge to GM’s bankruptcy would not succeed if based on the merits should think again.

Finally, the same people who complain about how much Mourdock spent challenging the bankruptcy are also the same people who supported the legal challenges to Indiana’s Voter ID law a few years ago.  That law was upheld as Constitutional.

You can read a copy of the SCOTUS opinion below.

SCOTUS Opinion on Chrsyler Bailout Lawsuit

I hope you’re sitting down because you are not about to believe what you are about to read.

After January 1, the city of Indianapolis should cease all efforts to consolidate with anymore township fire departments.   I’ll give you a moment to catch your breath.

I know this may sound a little odd, especially since I have been a proponent of consolidation from day one.  I still believe that if done properly consolidating basic government functions like police and fire can yield efficiencies and savings.  However, there comes a time when you just have to call it a day.

My motivation doesn’t stem from a sense of defeat, but a sense of just wait and see.  Come January 1, the full weight of the property tax caps (1% for residential, 2% for rental, and 3% for commercial) fully kick in.  Throw in an increase in homestead exemption and local governments are going to lose millions in property tax revenue.  Let me rephrase that, homeowners and taxpayers are going to be able to keep millions of their own dollars.

This means that these townships in Marion County (Franklin, Lawrence, Pike, Wayne and Decatur) are going to be looking for ways to find cash to operate.  While some have some reserves, you can only live off them for so long.  The only way these townships will be able to operate is to either engage in borrowing in perpetuity or make serious cuts in service.   By then, these guys  will be begging to consolidate and if I were Indianapolis proper, I would have no desire to pick up the bill and would let them collapse under their own weight.  Hey, they had five years to get right with Jesus, so it will be a little late to come looking for the Lord.

Enjoy it while you can guys, your days are so numbered.

The following are the words of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan…

“States that do not have public charter laws or put artificial caps on the growth of charter schools will jeopardize their applications under the Race to the Top Fund.”

There are $4.3 billion available.  The anti-charter crowd may not be able to read, but surely they can count.

Higher union dues and a possible sale of their downtown headquarters are on the table in order to cover the costs of the Indiana State Teachers Association long-term disability obligations.

ISTA says it will pay out benefits to more than 600 members enrolled in its now defunct long-term disability insurance fund.  The LTD, along with the medical insurance fund, were both the subject of state and federal investigations for running up more than $67 million in debt.  Since then National Education Association has stepped in to take over ISTA.  The union has since announced it is getting out of providing those services and announced in a memo it would no longer provide those benefits.

Officials say they will work the the NEA to pay those benefits which could cost up to $60 million over the next 20-30 years.  ISTA says to cover those costs members could have to pay more (currently membership is $449 a year)  it would also have to look at layoffs and selling its Market Street headquarters.

Below is my conversation with ISTA President Nate Schnellenbeger.  It’s about five minutes long.

[podcast]http://www.indianabarrister.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/nate.mp3[/podcast]

Although it may have seemed like  a good idea when Bart Peterson was Mayor some City-County Council Democrats may not vote tonight for fire consolidation between IFD and Perry Township.

My sources tell me Marion County Democratic Chairman Ed Treacy is apparently pressuring Council Democrats to vote “no” even though most of them voted for consolidation involving Washington and Warren Townships.

I know Treacy is upset that Marion County Dems won’t have a broad based tax increase to hang around Greg Ballard’s neck, so I guess this would be the best he could do.

It would have been nice though had Ed picked something that would make his fellow Democrats look less like hypocrites should they vote “no” tonight.

*UPDATE*

I checked the Council record from the past two fire consolidation votes.  Washington Township passed 17-10 in the Summer of 06 and Warren Township passed 21-8.

The Democrats voting for Washington Township consolidation, who are still on the Council include Brown, Gray, Mahern, D.,  Mansfield, Moriaty Adams, Nytes, Oliver and Sanders.

Democrats voting in favor of  the Warren Township consolidation were Bateman, Brown, Gray, Mahern,  Mansfield, Moriarty Adams, Nytes, Oliver and Sanders.

Here’s a copy of the ordinances and the vote breakdowns for your reading pleasure.

consolidation-ordinances

*4:35 p.m. UPDATE*

I just got a call from Chairman Ed Treacy denying he’s pressuring Council Democrats to vote against consolidation.  To quote Treacy, “You’re a lying mother*******!”

*9:00 p.m. UPDATE*

The Council passed consolidation 20-9.  Who’s laughing now?