Smoke Free Indy, an organization dedicated to banning all smoking in Indianapolis, held an open house downtown Thursday a smoke free restaurant to extol the virtues of smoke-free work environment and to stress the point that employees should not have to choose between clean air and their job.

I would argue that by holding an open house in a smoke free place Smoke Free Indy undermines its own argument.  Right now a business in Indianapolis has a choice to go smoking or non-smoking.  If it decides to go smoking it cannot allow anyone in their establishment under the age of 18.  In addition, anyone who wants to exercise their right to work in a smoke free environment can.  And anyone who wants to patronize a smoke-free drinking establishment can.  

By holding an event in a smoke-free environment, Smoke Free Indy has demonstrated the power of choice. They have patronized an establishment that chose to go smoke free, the tipped servers who exercised their right to breathe smoke free air and chose to work in smoke free workplace and they dined with other customers who chose to eat in a place that did not allow smoking.

The free market is working because businesses, workers and customers are making choices and exercising their rights.  It would be one thing if there was no compromise in place, but there is.  And it is working. Smoke Free Indy knows it.  And now so do you.  So whether you’re a business owner, server or patron go out and enjoy your evening in either a smoking or non-smoking environment.  

It’s your choice.

If today was a test vote of property tax caps in the Indiana House of Representatives, it failed.

Lawmakers, primarily along party line votes, turned back an amendment that would have put constitutional property tax caps on the November 2010 ballot.

House Republicans tried to attach the measure to HJR 6, which would combine the State Auditor and Treasurer’s Offices.  However, the amendment was not allowed by the Speaker as it was not considered germane.

A vote to overrule failed by 50-45.

Now while the vote was procedural in nature, it did provide some insight as to how difficult it will be to get the caps through the House should it ever come up for a vote.

Back in 2007 I wrote a blog post about Republican State Senator Mike Young.  Back then, as the Republicans were picking their new County Chairman, Young said current Chairman Tom John would get the job over his dead body.  

It’s 2009 and I’m still waiting for Young to keep his promise.

In the true spirit of being a political obstructionist, Young managed to get Marion County exempted from legislation that could have put it on the road to reforming its Library system.

SB 348 would require library districts across Indiana to look at how they provide services and encourage them to consolidate into singe countywide library districts.  Young offered an amendment in Committee that would exempt Marion County, particularly Speedway and Beech Grove.

Please note, Speedway Library has a higher tax rate than the Marion County Library tax rate and Beech Grove recently went to the state asking to raise the property tax caps.  So why Mike Young would spend time protecting higher taxes and inefficient government instead of looking out for the taxpayers is beyond me.

He is the typical example of a piece of political cholestoral that clogs the arteries of government reform.

I scribbled yesterday how Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer is leaving, but some how I’m thinking the wrong Trustee is stepping down.

I found out yesterday that Wayne Township Trustee David “King” Baird has had some “interesting” expenditures as of late.  For example…

• The Trustee’s office spent $10,000 at a west side “weight loss and motivation clinic.”
• The Trustee also spent $750 a month advertising poor relief services in a west side newspaper.  Don’t you think that $750 would have been better spent on poor relief?
• The Trustee also spent $100,000 on “accounting services.”  That number was $12,000 under the previous Trustee.

The sad part is Wayne Township is about to be dealt some major financial blows.  The new airport entrance is now in Hendricks County, taking cash off the tax rolls.  The number of foreclosed homes and declining home values will soon hit the property tax coffers.  And not to mention the property tax caps.  But someone thought spending $10,000 at a weight-loss clinic was a good idea.  Maybe it’s time the “King” of Wayne Township was overthrown.

Here are my questions regarding the worst snow storm to hit the area since the “Macarena” was a hit.

1. How did your municipality do with snow removal?
2. How were the side streets?
3. How were the strip malls?   I noticed parking lots would get plowed but not the entrances.
4. How was your subdivision?

Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer must see the handwriting on the wall.  Rumor is  Drummer announced this afternoon he is resigning his post to take a governmental affairs position with Ice Miller.  Drummer has been township trustee since 1996.  

Carl is not the type of person to run from a fight, but to bail from a position he’s coveted for so long means he must know something a lot of other Trustees don’t.

It also makes me wonder if the Marion County Democratic Delegation to the General Assembly will be so eager to protect townships now that Carl has jumped ship.

Any confirmation out there?

UPDATE: It’s true.  Drummer’s gone.  Can township government be far behind?!

As I watched the snow come down yesterday I had this thought come to mind.   If you took 100 people and had them represent every unit of local government in the United States, 8 of them would be from Indiana.  Think about that when you think about local government reform.

Okay, where were we?  Oh yeah, the CIB and Uni Gov 2.0.

There was a moment of irony as we got the bad news at today’s Capital Improvement Board meeting, the bad weather hitting the area had really started to come down.  

Here’s a breakdown of the $115 million deficit officials announced.

• Lucas Oil operating costs – $20  million
• CIB Operations – $5 million
• Conseco Field House – $15 million (as of 2010)
• Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association – $3 million
• Two one-time loan and insurance obligations – $43 million
• Circle Center Mall Investor Loan Payment – $34 million

CIB officials say they are taking steps to tackle the problem such as cutting staff, reducing services, capping salaries and benefits.  But it will also need assistance from the city, the legislature, vendors and its tenants (i.e. the Colts, Pacers, etc.)

I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but as I said the other day, I feel for the elected or appointed official who goes to the public asking for a bailout.  I’d notify my next of kin first.

Uni Gov 2.0

Mayor Greg Ballard spent the day talking tax caps and government reform.  The Mayor testified before a Senate Committee today saying the 1-2-3 tax caps are necessary for citizens to have predictability in the tax bills.   The Mayor also called for “Uni Gov 2.0” by consolidating fire, poor relief, county property tax administration and emergency 9-11 services.

His speech was sprinkled with bi-partisanship acknowledging former Mayors Richard Lugar and Bart Peterson as well as acknowledging State Senator Jim Merritt and State Representative Ed Delaney for their government reform efforts.  

A public forum on government reform is scheduled for Wednesday night at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet School at 7 p.m.  The Mayor and a bi-partisan group of Marion County lawmakers will be there.  The forum is sponsored by the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce.

I’m in a hurry so I will make this quick.

The Capital Improvement Board is projecting more than $110 million in deficits in short and long term operating expenses.

The Mayor unveiled Uni Gov 2.0, calling for fire, poor relief, emergency services and property tax administration consolidation.

More later.

Gotta run.