Five Days and Counting…
There are now five days left before lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn, here’s what I know so far…
Major Moves — Unless Governor Daniels is willing to bend on I-69, Major moves will not pass. Two issues that have lawmakers up in arms are the proposed route through Perry Township and making the road a toll road between Bloomington and Indianapolis. Sen. Robert Meeks has told the press that there is no way the Senate will pass Major Moves with the I-69 as it stands now. So now the ball is in Mitch’s court and the next major move is up to him.
Indy Works — There will be two competing versions of the Mayor’s fire consolidation proposal offered today in the Government Consolidation Committee. The version endorsed by the Mayor and Speaker Brian Bosma consolidates the fire departments while the version that will be offered up by State Senator Mike Young and the Township Trustees will call for collaboration. There are potentially three votes for the Mayor and Speaker’s plan and one for the Trustee plan. It takes four signatures to get a bill out of conference committee so the big question now will be to see who gets removed in the event an agreement cannot be reached.
Property Tax Relief — The more time goes by, the less likely I think Hoosiers will see property tax relief. Sen. Luke Kenley told us Wednesday that on a scale of one to 10 (one being no tax relief, 10 being paying no more property taxes) this session will likely produce tax relief that ranks about a 3.
Dancing Lawmakers — You haven’t lived until you’ve seen lawmakers dance to the “Grease Megamix”, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and “Come on Eileen”. Just take my word for it.
Tune in tomorrow for more…
