10 Dems say Daniels shouldn't have claimed their support for Toll Road plan

INDIANAPOLIS | It was the tuna at a downtown diner's club, not the governor's transportation plan, that made Portage Mayor Doug Olson sick.

 In Indianapolis trying to secure additional liquor licenses for his growing city, Olson was invited to the governor's Thursday news conference but felt ill after lunch and headed home early.

When he woke up Friday morning, Olson learned he was one of 58 mayors to endorse Major Moves, a 10-year, $10.6 billion program predicated on a private lease of the Indiana Toll Road.

"I read it in the newspaper," Olson said. "I got an invitation to that press conference. That was it. I have no clue how they got me down for endorsing it."

On Friday, Olson and nine other mayors -- all Democrats -- wanted a retraction from Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels. The Indiana Democratic Party put out a news release saying it had asked the governor to set the record straight.

But Jane Jankowski, the governor's spokeswoman said that was news to her.

"To the best of my knowledge, we have not heard from any of these mayors. If they'd like to have a follow-up conversation, we're certainly willing to do that," she said. "What we asked them in our (earlier) contacts is if they were supportive of Major Moves and if they would join the governor for a news conference on Major Moves."

Olson said he doesn't need an apology, but stressed that Major Moves does not have his endorsement.

The apparent communications breakdown came on the final day of bidding for the Indiana Toll Road. Daniels is counting on a 75-year private lease of the 157-mile roadway to finance a $2.8 billion shortfall in Major Moves.

The administration would not say how many bids it received Friday or how large they were, but plans to make an announcement on Monday.

"We'll be in radio silence till Monday," Daniels said.

Even then, the news could be vague and devoid of dollar signs. Officials likely will say whether they have a clear-cut winner, a few close offers that require a second round of bids, or a batch of flops.

 If the last is true, Daniels will have to go a different route. If the bids do bring in big bucks, an initial vote on legislation to authorize the lease deal could take place on Tuesday.

 Northwest Indiana legislators have expressed opposition to the plan, arguing the seven counties surrounding the Toll Road deserve more than the 34 percent of the lease proceeds Daniels has offered.