Post Consolidation Mortem
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.
