An interesting article by Mary Beth Schneider in yesterday’s Indianapolis Star on Daniels agenda and the dynamics of the State House now that the Democrats control the House.

Gov. Daniels proposes full-day kindergarten, on which Democrats will likely be receptive, and privatization of the Medicaid delivery system, on which they probably will not. Also: health insurance for low income Hoosiers, a new public infrastructure proposal (the so-called “Commerce Connector” toll loop around Indy – more from stAllio!) , and a ceiling on state spending below incoming revenue.

“There’s been a lot said lately about blue states and red states,” Daniels said. “Well, I don’t know which we are and don’t much care. But we will not be a red-ink state again so long as I am governor.”

Daniels’ rhetoric about state austerity appeals to me. As always, however, I’m sure I’ll have differences of opinion about which spending is worthwhile and which is not. That’s just the nature of the beast.

Speaker, soon to be minority leader, Brian Bosma seems to blame his loss in status on Governor Daniels and the national anti-GOP tide. Significantly, he points to Daylight Saving Time, even over Toll Road privatization, as the toughest vote that made a difference in the election, even over Major Moves. To which I say good. That was a solution looking for a problem. I know the Chamber kept pointing to executives on the east coast who had trouble figuring out their day planners to coordinate meetings with Indiana colleagues, but for most Hoosiers, the time arrangement was working just fine. So, even if we never get Hoosier Standard Time back, at least there were significant consequences for that vote.

Now, we look forward to seeing the Once and Future Speaker, Pat Bauer and Governor Daniels try to get along. The irresistable force versus the immovable object. They’ve said some pretty tough things about each other. Bauer is a long-time politician, and probably understands that the heated rhetoric is part of the game — I think he can harbor a grudge when he feels it’s politically advantageous, but I don’t think he internalizes the grudges such that they’ll prevent him from seizing what he views as an opportunity. Though Daniels has been around politics for a long, long time; he’s relatively new to the elected office thing. We’ll see if he can let bygones be bygones when doing so will let him reach common ground on pieces of his agenda.

Mike Smith has an article for the Associated Press discussing the Democratic control of the Indiana House. Because of his decisive vote in the Daylight Saving Time vote after having promised his constituents he would “never” vote for it, I am most pleased that Troy Woodruff lost to Kreg Battles. I am less pleased about the loss of Steve Heim, the other incumbent who appears to be a DST casualty. Rep. Heim’s critical pro-DST vote was one of those where he could have kept the DST bill dead but instead voted in favor of a motion to reconsider. On all the substantive votes, he voted against it. But he enabled Speaker Bosma to take unusual procedural steps that allowed passage even though the vote initially went against DST.

I liked that Rep. Heim actively blogged about the legislative process, and, even where I disagreed with him, he seemed like a reasonable sort.

Now, we’re likely to see some interesting fireworks between Gov. Daniels and Speaker Bauer. Not only do they have policy differences, they also seem to personally dislike each other. It will be the irresistable force against the immovable object.

For the most part, I take a “gridlock is good” approach to state government. If not too many new laws get passed, I probably won’t be terribly upset.