City-County Council Democrats are introducing an ordinance Monday night that would limit where and how the city of Indianapolis could spend its federal stimulus dollars.

Proposal 87 would require the city to “spend economic recovery funds on goods and services that retain and create local jobs to help keep residents employed” and ensure the purchase of “local products and services.”

My question is “how do you define local?”

Is it strictly Indianapolis, the surrounding counties, or the entire state?  What if it’s a company that has operations in Indianapolis, but is based out of another part of the state or the nation?  Would that meet the definition of local?  The entire region is so interconnected that dollars spent in one place tend to circulate throughout the local economy.

It’s no big secret that I’m always hesitant when it comes to concepts like “Buy American.”  I think the first duty of government is to spend taxpayer dollars wisely and prudently and if the company just happens to be American or local and it meets the definition, that works just fine.

However, I prefer people “Buy Like an American” rather than “Buy American” and get the biggest bang for the buck.

Libertarian At-large City-County Councilor Ed Coleman may find himself literally being a party of one at Monday night’s Council meeting.

Coleman switched parties from Republican to Libertarian two weeks ago.  Since making the change there has been a question as to whether Coleman would be able to keep his Council committee assignments.  He currently sits on Rules and Metropolitan Development.

Marion County Libertarian County Chairman Tim Maguire sent a letter to Council President Bob Cockrum asking that Coleman being recognized as a member a minority party and he be allowed to keep his committee assignments, which Council rules say must have a minority party member on them.

However, Cockrum tells me that the rules are set up for a two-party system, not three.  And since Coleman was appointed as a Republican and has left the majority party there is no real reason for him to keep those assignments.  Therefore Republicans are asking the Democrats, the minority party, if they want to have Coleman caucus with them and make his committee assignments.

When I spoke to Council Minority Leader earlier in the week show told she had not received the formal request yet, however she said it is very unlikely Democrats would assign Coleman to any committees because he is not a Democrat, nor does he reflect their values or priorities.

This entire matter is expected to be resolved Monday at the Council’s Committee on Committees which ultimately signs off on all committee assignments.  It consists of Cockrum, Sanders and Majority Leader Lincoln Plowman.

Believe it or not, I’m actually going to try to take the day off.  In the meanwhile, here’s a photo of your favorite blogger and his future wife.  Feel free to scribble a caption.   Back tomorrow.

Here are a couple things that I think are newsworthy from the Statehouse today…

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels says he’ll  decline taking the portion of the federal economic stimulus package that’s geared towards unemployment insurance.

Although the state faces hundreds of millions in deficits in the fund, Daniels says the conditions attached to the federal dollars would only make matters worse because Indiana would have to increase its benefits in the long haul.  He says the federal plan would be a bad fit and result in job killing taxes.

By last estimate, Indiana would have received up to $200 million for unemployment.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard says he had a productive meeting today with members of the Marion County Democratic Statehouse delegation.  The Republican Mayor met with the Democrats as a whole for the first time this session.  He said the two sides talked about his legislative agenda and government consolidation.  The Mayor would not comment on specifics, only to call them “positive.”

A number of the Democrats oppose township consolidation when it comes to fire services and poor relief, even though many of those same officials supported it a couple years ago when Bart Peterson, a Democrat, was Mayor.

Revolution.

Counter-revolution.

Counter-Counter revolution.

If you ever doubted that Indianapolis Public Schools should be dissolved and something else take its place, doubt no more.  IPS Principal Jeff White was demoted today from running John Marshall Community School  and re-assigned to School 44 at 2033 Sugar Grove where he will serve as an assistant principal.  White would not comment about the move.

This is the biggest mistake IPS could make by taking a positive, Black male role model out of a place where he is needed the most.  This is not surprising.

What do you expect from a school district that issued orders that unruly students were not to be dismissed for fear of litigation and keep up its dismal attendance record?  This also the same district under inquiry for possible misuse of Title One funds.  This is also the same school district where faculty and staff are assaulted on a regular basis and wants to put charter schools out of business.  And this is also the same district that tried to ban Mayor Greg Ballard from visiting students because he supports charter schools.

This is a sad day for IPS and an even worse day for its students and those parents who counted on Jeff White for leadership and moral support.

All I can say is what goes around eventually comes around.

Indianapolis city officials are announcing two major changes to the police department’s part-time job policies following the employment of officers at a scrap metal yard accused of dealing in stolen material.

Mayor Greg Ballard, Public Safety Director Scott Newman and Police Chief Mike Spears said they were ordering all command personnel in IMPD to quit their outside employment.  New policies will be drafted for the rank and file, but restrictions will be put on where they can work and what type of employment they could engage in.  Officials said it was important to maintain the public trust, especially since IMPD had a string of embarrassing situations involving officer wrong doing last year.

Newman said rank and file officers will still be able to do things like referee games and would likely be able to work as off duty security guards in apartment complexes where they live.

FOP President Bill Owensby said while he understood the need to craft a rule, he said it would have been better if the Ballard administration had rules in place prior to making today’s announcement.

Under the current system, officers are issued work permits for outside employment and nearly half the force has one.

Newman also pointed out the city was well aware of the investigation into the scrap metal yard since last year, but allowed officers to work there to continue to gather evidence on its alleged illegal activities.

It took a while, but I knew I would eventually figure out why a “conservative” Republican like State Senator Mike Young would oppose government reform.

At first I thought it really was a tax issue, until I discovered that Wayne Township has the highest tax rate for fire service in Marion County and consolidation would only lower it.

So with that said said, Young’s opposition has nothing to do with taxes and everything to do with the Wayne Township Trustee’s office.  That position is currently being held by David Baird, who by the way has no clue as to how his township is going to function once the tax caps fully kick in next year.  But Young in his infinite political genius thinks the Republicans can win back that seat in 2010 so he opposes consolidation because he thinks his party will get it back.

Please note, Baird won in 2010 by promising to raise taxes to provide more poor relief.  And Since Mike Young can’t do math, I need to remind him that 6 out of the 7 Wayne Township Board members are Democrats and he is on a fools errand.

When I asked several Democratic and Republican officials about Young’s plan, the consensus was “He’s delusional and living in fantasy land.”

No argument here.

*FYI – I’m hearing Marion County Fire Consolidation is not dead yet and will resurface as an amendment to legislation heading over to the House of Representatives and it also has bi-partisan support. Stay Tuned.

I spent some time on the phone last night talking to politicos about why Marion County Township Fire Consolidation failed by one vote.  The vote was 24-26, had one vote changed the Lt. Governor could have passed the tie breaking vote.  I asked my contacts a number of questions as to why the measure didn’t make it…

• Did the pro-consolidation forces miscounted or overestimate their votes in support of the measure?
• Did Senator Mike Young give such a convincing argument that it brought over several lawmakers who were on the fence?
• Did the Mayor not do enough to convince Senate Democrats like Greg Taylor (Who was going to vote “no” anyway) to come on board?
• Were pro-township people just that organized?
• Was the timing just not right?

The answer I would suspect involves a little of all of the above.  However I do take some issue with Mike Young’s (who lives in IFD by the way)  powers of persuasion because I figured if he was that persuasive he wouldn’t be single.

I think the the lawmakers who voted against consolidation voted for double taxation and higher rates.  But like I’ve said before, people will sing a different tune when those tax caps fully hit next year, so the forces of good, light and fiscal responsibility will eventually get the last laugh and get to laugh best.

That statement may seem a bit extreme or harsh, but it is fair.

Because I called out Terry Royalty on his reported annual four-month stints in Florida, he’s apparently cancelling all mutual aid agreements with IFD, Beech Grove and Perry Township.  That means if there’s a major fire in Franklin Township and they need help, the trustee won’t call for it.  That also means if there was a problem in IFD, Beech Grove or Perry, Franklin township would not respond with assistance.

So think about this one folks, if there’s a major fire or disaster in Franklin Township, there’s a pretty good chance someone is going to die because of the Trustee’s actions.  If I were you I would move, or pre-plan my funeral now.

Congrats.

P.S. Get ready to pay more in insurance too.