By John Byrne, Post-Tribune staff writer
The reasons for the GOP's recent support of a proposed $1 billion South Shore extension plan are in the eye of the beholder.
When 15 Republican state representatives crossed over to help the South Shore plan succeed in the House Jan. 29, the plan's sponsor, Rep. Chet Dobis, ascribed the bipartisan support to the most altruistic legislative impulses.
"I have heard that it was due to the merits of the project, I have heard that it was out of respect for me or for the fact I have supported local projects of importance in other regions of the state," said Dobis, D-Merrillville. "I have heard all those comments. As far as how many votes were due to each, I haven't got a clue."
After criticizing the financing package on the House floor, Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, was less charitable.
"This thing is greased," Brown said. "There are some very strange bedfellows here."
Whatever the justification for the Republican hug, it powered the South Shore bill through the House.
The bill posits using about $30 million in state sales tax revenue raised annually in Lake and Porter counties to pay off a $350 million bond to help pay to build South Shore lines south to Lowell and east to Valparaiso.
The Regional Development Authority would kick in another $150 million.
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, has pledged a $500 million federal match.
The package has picked up some legislative weight since Dobis and Visclosky pitched it to the House Ways and Means Committee Jan. 17.
One amendment -- favored by House Speaker Pat Bauer, D-South Bend -- would capture $6.5 million in sales taxes annually raised in LaPorte and St. Joseph counties to improve the existing South Shore line in Michigan City and South Bend.
A Dobis amendment allows the funding members of the RDA -- The cities of Gary, Hammond and East Chicago, Lake County and Porter County -- to opt out of the development pact just once per decade.
Dobis said the provision will improve the terms of the $350 million bond.
In opposing the funding package, Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said the amendment is indicative of Dobis' lack of respect for the northern Lake County cities which would contribute so much to the work.
Like Smith and Brown, Rep. Dan Stevenson, D-Highland, worries the northern cities along the existing South Shore line will take a hard economic hit if the new lines go in.
The funding package's success is far from assured, however.
To get the $1 billion project green-lighted, it must get approval from the Republican-controlled Senate.
Standing in the way is Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, chairman of the powerful Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee and an avowed skeptic of the sales tax diversion scheme.
Assuming the Senate approves it, the bill would go to Gov. Mitch Daniels.
Daniels initially sounded as though he would veto a financing plan based on state revenue.
Recently, however, he has softened his stance, indicating that if the RDA identifies the South Shore as a priority, he will get on board.