Mitch's State of the State Address

I have to give Mitch credit... he managed to do something I haven't seen before last night. He presented a State of the State Address that surprised both parties and had both sides questioning him. He's done a great job of pissing off those that voted for him, why not piss off everyone that works with him. Good Job Mitch!

State of the State Address - Gov. Mitch Daniels

Lawmakers lukewarm to proposals - Indystar.com

House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, praised Daniels' speech, but didn't endorse eliminating township assessors.

"We all agree we have to take bold measures to reorganize local government."

If that reorganization means getting rid of elected positions, Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Garton, R-Columbus, said he's not in favor of it.

Sen. Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange, said he wouldn't support a cigarette tax increase if it led to increased spending overall. If it's targeted to property tax relief, then Meeks said he'd listen.

Rep. Cindy Noe, R-Indianapolis, said his proposal to raise the cigarette tax caught her by surprise.

"I just have a real reservation with using taxes for social engineering, whatever the topic is," Noe said.

Daniels sets course that defies 'business as usual' - Indystar.com

His township proposal garnered only tepid applause even from his fellow Republicans, who know township politicians are an ornery and powerful bunch. And the idea of any tax increase -- even one on cigarettes -- drew plenty of skeptics.

"I have no idea at this moment," Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, said about the cigarette tax. "It depends on a lot of attitudes."

The attitude from Democrats on Wednesday was obvious -- they said Daniels has failed to turn around the state despite his big promises. They are convinced his controversies will be their gain come Election Day.

Lawmakers cool to Daniels' cigarette tax proposal - fortwayne.com

House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, and Senate President Pro Tem Robert Garton, R-Columbus, did not dismiss the proposal but stopped short of endorsing it. Several lawmakers, however, said its chances of passing were slim.

"They don't appear to be good right now, and I think part of the problem is that although the governor says it is a health care issue, most legislators aren't willing to vote for taxes unless they know where the money is going," said Senate Tax Committee Chairman Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville.

Kenley said it would be especially difficult to get a tax increase through the closely divided House in a year in which all 100 of that chamber's seats will be on the November ballot. Republicans control the chamber 52-48.

Republican Rep. Jeff Espich of Uniondale said election-year politics would make a tax increase difficult to pass. But he also said that House Republicans had no interest in raising taxes last year and that sentiment had not changed.

Democratic Rep. Charlie Brown of Gary said he supported a cigarette tax increase for health reasons. But House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, said most members of the House Democrat caucus would not back it.

"What is the proposal? Just to float a 25-cent thing out and let the money just float in the air somewhere?" Bauer said.

Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington, said she doubted Democrats would even get a chance to vote on an increase because it lacked support among Republicans who control the agenda.

It seems to me that everyone is focusing on the 2 least important items of the 3 Mitch talked about. The 'sin' tax won't ever fly in an election year, so that part of the speech was just posturing. The removal of the township assessors will be met with a huge fight as the local communities are not going to want outside 'urban' folks coming in to assess their 'rural' property. To me, the big issue is Mitch's "major moves' privatization proposal. This one scares me... alot! I hope the media does some research and jumps on this one in the coming weeks.