Industry groups endorse Major Moves

INDIANAPOLIS | A trio of state housing associations pledged their support Friday for Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels' 10-year transportation program.

Dubbed Major Moves, the $10.6 billion plan hinges on a multidecade lease of the Indiana Toll Road.

Staff from the Indiana Association of Realtors, Indiana Builders Association and the Indiana Manufactured Housing Association joined the governor at a morning news conference. They said the jobs created by Major Moves will drum up for work for them.

"Our members are literally on the front lines of selling Indiana every day," said Karl Berron, the top lobbyist for the Indiana Association of Realtors.

"When we looked at the breadth of projects, the pace with which they're accelerated, this was a no-brainer for us. We're thrilled to stand here today to endorse the plan."

The Realtors also support Daniels' plan to abolish township assessors and shift their duties to the county level. That plan need legislative approval, as does any Toll Road lease.

The governor does not, however, need the Legislature's permission to raise tolls, which, for commuters, will nearly double later his year.

Higher tolls on semis will be phased in over four years, the governor announced last week. At that same press conference, the Indiana Motor Truck Association pledged its support for Major Moves.

Bids for the proposed Toll Road lease are due on Friday.The governor is counting on the lease to bring in more than $2 billion, which would fund most of new construction in Major Moves.

If those bids fall short, would the governor use a proposed cigarette tax hike to bankroll road building?

"I rather doubt it, here in the near time," Daniels said. "Again, this is a health measure, first and last, for me. "

Earlier this week, the governor said lawmakers could improve the overall health of Hoosiers by increasing the cigarette tax by at least 25 cents to 80.5 cents per pack. The proposal would raise about $120 million a year, but faces long odds in a pre-election legislative session.

Meanwhile, Daniels said Friday he does not support a statewide smoking ban for bars and restaurants, as Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, has proposed. The governor said he prefers to leave those decisions to local governments.