Howey on the 1st Half.

The Howey Report…The Indiana Senate, and the Animal House Great piece by Brian Howey. Good catch by The Indiana Law Blog. I think Howey is dead-on in his analysis. He gives kudos to Senator Garton as the most distinguished Hoosier lawmaker. In addition, I’d add Senators Long, Kenley, Bray, and Simpson as some of my favorites. (More, probably, from past experience than anything in particular I’ve noticed this session — except I like Senator Long’s broadband bill. (A bit of analysis here.)

Howey goes on to characterize the House of Reps as the Animal House. Bauer is apparently cast in Belushi’s role. So, I suppose that makes Bosma Greg Marmalard and Daniels would then be Dean Vernon Wormer. Howey expects this kind of stunt out of Bauer, apparently, but expects better out of solid citizens like Dave Crooks and Peggy Welch (Pinto and Flounder?). Then the Governor is doing fine until he goes all “Car-Bomb” Daniels on them. Presumably the House Democrats are now on double-secret probation.

Now, I haven’t seen that Rep. Bauer has done the Democrats any favors with his leadership, but he would have gained my respect if, rather than hiding out in his office for two days, he had done some variation of the following on the floor of the House:

Ladies and gentlemen, I’ll be brief. The issue here is not whether we broke a few rules, or took a few liberties with our lobbyists — we did. [winks at Speaker Bosma] But you can’t hold a whole Party responsible for the behavior of a few, sick twisted individuals. For if you do, then shouldn’t we blame the whole Party system? And if the whole Party system is guilty, then isn’t this an indictment of our political institutions in general? I put it to you, Brian — isn’t this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can do whatever you want to us, but we’re not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America. Gentlemen!
[Leads the Democrats off the floor, all humming the Star-Spangled Banner.]

Somehow I see former Speaker John Gregg as more likely to pull something like that off.