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Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Ind. Law - “That’s really our only constitutional duty,” Bauer said

Getting a late start today ...

A story today by Jim Stinson of the Gary Post-Tribune gives a good picture of yesterday in the Indiana House. The headline "Dems walk out on final House-bill day." Some quotes:

Dozens of bills that Republicans said were important to Northwest Indiana and the state as a whole faced an uncertain fate as a midnight deadline loomed Tuesday night.

At stake was not only statewide daylight-saving time — a major component of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ agenda — but a property tax “circuit breaker” that would mostly benefit Lake County homeowners.

Democrats cried foul regarding the inspector general bill, which they said would make the position the most powerful of any kind in the United States.

House Bill 1002, the inspector general bill, was one of about 130 bills that faced an immediate death in the House if Democrats stayed away.

The last day for House bills to be finalized began Tuesday morning with a prayer at about 9 a.m. Then Democrats adjourned to caucus, effectively walking out and shutting down legislative business until they returned. More than 12 hours passed. * * *

In a news conference in the afternoon, Minority Leader Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, indicated Democrats would probably not reappear on the floor.

The budget and major economic development projects have been approved by the House, Bauer said, fulfilling major constitutional and political duties, respectively.

“That’s really our only constitutional duty,” Bauer said.

May I ask again - Where in the Constitution does it say that?

Further, the Indiana General Assembly has two houses. Passing a bill in one house only begins the process of lawmaking, it does not mean our elected representatives may pack up their bags and go home. The other house gets a chance to review the bill, reject it, or adopt it, with or without revisions. Then, if there are differences, the two houses may work them out, or not.

Another quote from the story got my attention:

The bill seemed doomed for now. But the state Senate could change their deadline to accept the bills, some leaders said.
Sure. And hell could freeze over.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 2, 2005 10:48 AM
Posted to Indiana Law