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Sunday, November 29, 2009
Ind. Gov't. - "Lean times pressure Indiana's lawmakers Excess is out, pinching pennies is in"
That is the headline to this story today by Ed Bradner of the Evansville Courier & Press, that begins:
INDIANAPOLIS — As the 2010 session of the Indiana General Assembly approaches, state lawmakers are feeling pressure to practice a brand of politics that respects the country's economic woes.Feeling the weight of the economic downturn, Hoosiers have grown more frugal. It's why Indiana's sales tax revenue is sagging: Excess is out and pinching pennies is in.
A similar story exists in politics. Voters who are watching their own families' budgets like hawks are demanding that kind of accountability from the politicians who represent them.
In the past, with the critical 2010 elections looming and with control of the General Assembly equaling control of redistricting in 2011, the focus of the upcoming session would have been politics.
This year, though, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle readily admit there won't be much patience for political posturing when they head back to the Statehouse in January.
That's why Democrats and Republicans who in the past have resisted such changes now are embracing proposals to limit lobbying largesse and crack down on gerrymandering.
Most telling are the issues lawmakers have chosen to get early starts on by holding December hearings. Both Democrats and Republicans are using the month to debate issues that draw contrast between the two parties.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 29, 2009 12:56 PM
Posted to Indiana Government