Daniels agenda, DST, and the next two years with Pat Bauer

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.