Sparks fly on first day of Indiana's special session

Under the gavel for only about half an hour, the two parties took opposite sides on the possible inclusion of gambling expansion in a bill to bail out Indianapolis' indebted Capital Improvement Board, the dismissal of Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels' budget proposal as a starting point for negotiations and whether it is appropriate to "fast track" nonbudget bills.

The one item on the Democratically controlled House's agenda Thursday was whether to "fast track" three bills -- the budget, the CIB rescue bill and a bill calling for an audit of the Family & Social Services Administration. Fast tracking involves waiving the rule requiring a 24-hour waiting period after a bill is introduced before it can be assigned to a committee.

House Minority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, opened debate with a stinging rebuke of the Democratic proposal. "We were willing to waive rules on the reason we were here: the budget," Bosma said. "But what we were not willing to do is to be put on the fast track for an undisclosed bill that contains gambling provisions."

The CIB rescue bill could have three gaming measures added to it next week, including a provision allowing Gary to move one of its casino licenses to the Little Calumet River in exchange for giving up its other license.

Regional transit may surface

Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, said he also wants to add language to the CIB bill that would essentially revive the transit bill that stalled during regular session. That bill creates a regional transit district with local income taxing authority to run the South Shore Railroad and a consolidated bus system in Lake and Porter counties.

Daniels and Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, have said they don't want to see gaming be a part of the special session, but rather addressed in a summer study committee. In fact, Daniels included a CIB fix in his budget plan, rather than present it as separate bill, as had been done during the regular session when gaming provisions were then added to it.

Democrats, in rejecting Daniels' budget proposal, also rejected the idea of marrying the budget with the CIB fix and have separated the two, opening up the CIB bill for gaming and transit amendments.

That is another reason Republicans are miffed that the previously agreed process of how the special session would play out is not happening. Daniels and the four party leaders from the House and Senate agreed last month that Daniels would submit a spending plan based on a new revenue forecast, that a special budget committee would hold hearings on that plan and that it would be the basis for the budget passed in the special session.

House Democrats, however, have gone forward with their own budget proposal, saying that Daniels' plan is "unacceptable" as a starting point because of its treatment of education.

Daniels' plan would increase per-pupil funding for every child, but, due to declining enrollment, would decrease state funding for 25 schools, including those in Gary, East Chicago and Michigan City.

House Speaker Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, in exaggerated tones, called it "one of the most horrendous school programs in history" and said Republican objections to gaming are just intended to distract the public from that.

The House Democrats have put forward a one-year budget that includes a "hold harmless" provision whereby no school will see a reduction in state funding.

Bosma says the budget plan is unrealistic -- "phony" even -- and that it will drain the state's rainy day reserves if it isn't scaled back in the second year.

The point of a one-year budget, says House Democratic Spokesman John Schorg, is to pass a new, different one during the second year as economic conditions allow.

The debate continues today when the Ways and Means committee begins budget hearings on the House Democrats' proposed spending plan.