The New Odd Couple
Felix and Oscar, Whitney and Bobby, Mitch and Bart, which is the odder couple? The Governor of Indiana and Mayor of Indianapolis held a joint news conference this week calling on the legislature to pass Hometown Matters, a plan that would give local governments more taxing options in exchange for lower property taxes. The two men promoted the plan Tuesday and I noticed some striking similarities.
Both want to change how things are being done in Indiana. Both have run into opposition from the other’s party. Both may be each other’s saving grace. Although on opposite sides of the political fence, Daniels and Peterson have similar backgrounds. They were both businessmen and both key aids to major Indiana political figures Daniels was an aid to Dick Lugar and Peterson worked for Evan Bayh. And I believe they both went to the same high school, but I’ll have to double-check that.
I asked the Mayor and Governor if they ever called each to ask for help with each other’s parties. They politely smiled at me and told me they are always looking for assistance to move things forward. I honestly think if done right, Daniels and Peterson would make a great team. All they need is a little understanding. Daniels could help Peterson with Indy Works, part deux that he says he encourages his fellow Republicans to endorse government reform. And Peterson could do some arm-twisting on local Democrats and tell them to get with the program on Major Moves.
Of course there is the background issue of whether Peterson will run for Governor, but let’s leave that out of the picture for now. Both the Mayor and Governor face a greater opponent than each other, it’s the status quo and bi-partisan obstructionism to change. It’s that type of bureaucratic entrenchment that will impede Indiana’s progress toward the 21st Century. So who knows?! Can two political figures work together and share an agenda without driving each other crazy? (Start music here!)
If the “New Odd Couple” were a TV show, the opening lyrics would go something like this…
“On November thirteenth Mitch Daniels was asked to remove himself from his place of political residence. That request came from his fellow Republicans. Deep down he knew they were wrong. But he also knew that someday he would return to them. With nowhere else to go, he appeared at the home of his childhood friend, Bart Peterson. Sometime earlier, Peterson’s Democrats had thrown him out, requesting that he never return. Can two of Indiana’s top political figures share an agenda of change and moving the state into the 21st Century without driving each other crazy?” (Start music here…)
