The USDOT time zone docket has a couple of interesting recent entries. First is a response from the USDOT to an inquiry from Sen. Bayh with respect to a constituent complaint that the USDOT had not yet acted on the Southwestern Counties’ petition. The response is pretty vague, but essentially it tells the Senator that the process is moving along. They say they are reviewing the Southwestern Counties’ petition. If they find that not enough justification has been provided, the petition will be denied. If enough justification has been provided, the USDOT will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking, a 30 – 60 day comment period will follow before a final decision either issuing a rule changing the time zone or denying the petition.
The other is a letter from state Representative Dave Crooks reporting his unscientific legislative survey showing that 66% of respondents would prefer Eastern Time for all of Indiana versus 32% for Central. He further indicates his support for granting the Southwestern Counties’ request to be moved to the Eastern time zone.
This is why I have no respect for Dave Crooks anymore.Right up to the election he preached the need for a time zone referendum and Central time preference then after elected pulled a flip flop and proceeded to kill his own referendum bill.
The petition will be granted it’s just a matter of when.The DOT can speak of NPRM or if there is not enough evidence or whatever it is they pretend to do over there.
Heres what I know as of now.Ice Miller LLP has been successfully rebutted twice by counter petitions from Central time supporters.The firm uses half truths,misleading information,and countless provable incorrect statements.The new tactic is the request for further information this third time around by the DOT is not being made public nor has the Ice Miller LLP response as of today.So Central time supporters can not argue or check the facts or information.Nice isn’t it.I thought this was supposed to be a open and public process but I guess not.
You have to hand it to Crooks though he sure knew how to play this game!!Fool me once shame on you foool me twice shame on me.I can’t believe I donated money to this guys campaign.What a sucker I am!!
Oh yeah.The Joint Petition may be granted but Ice Miller LLP did not prove their case.The petition will be granted because of politics as usual!
Almost forgot Crooks survey was 2589 people out of a district of around 61,000.1692 Eastern,838 Central,59 no opinion.We got the results but not the survey to vote on.