SOUTH BEND -- Speaking at the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Marriott Hotel, Gov. Mitch Daniels reported on progress and addressed the topic du jour.
Time.
"I regret it took so much time and so much noise," he said. "For 90 percent of Indiana, it's settled; it's clear."
Bills proposing daylight-saving time had failed several times in the past until one squeaked through the state Legislature in April. Indiana will join 47 other states in observing daylight-saving time in April 2006.
In July, the federal Department of Transportation informed Daniels that to change time zones, each county must file a petition.
During the gubernatorial campaign last year, Daniels suggested daylight-saving time and the Central time zone were in the best interests of the state.
"We meant everything we said," Daniels said. The switch to daylight-saving time was the right decision for Indiana, he said.
Last weekend was the last time everyone was confused about time in Indiana, he added.
"We didn't persuade the rest of the state," Daniels said referring to counties that didn't file a petition to change time zones. He said he'd be happier if the state was unified.
Although he'd like to see the region on the same time, Daniels said he would not step in at the upcoming Department of Transportation public hearings