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Saturday, October 14, 2006

Ind. Gov't. - Legislative benefits and the power of elections

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette opines today:

The partisan power squabbles that seem so frustrating in the midst of a legislative session serve a different – and positive – purpose in the midst of a heated election season.

Consider the campaign efforts of Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma and House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer: Both have only nominal challengers for re-election on Nov. 7, but they’ve been stumping furiously to retain or regain leadership.

The frenzy to control the House has convinced both Republican Bosma and Democrat Bauer that it’s time to end a costly pension perk that matches $4 in taxpayer money for every $1 legislators pay – for a part-time job. In May, Bauer announced he would not seek to reinstate the lifetime health insurance benefit for lawmakers that Bosma eliminated by a special order in the last session.

In addition, Bauer said this week that he would seek to eliminate the in-session per diem paid to lawmakers who live within 50 miles of Indianapolis. He said the savings Statehouse-area legislators make on food and lodging allows them to claim more as salary, bolstering their pension match.

Lawmakers are eligible to collect the $137 per diem seven days a week while the General Assembly is in session.

The interest Bosma and Bauer suddenly have in restricting the generous legislative perks is an example of the beneficial role the electoral process plays in protecting citizens from abuses and excesses of government. It worked directly in May, when Senate President Pro Tem Robert Garton lost his re-election bid to a GOP challenger who targeted the lifetime insurance perk that Garton helped create.

The process continues to work even without serious election challenges in exerting pressure on leadership for positive change. It’s the undeniable value of checks and balances at work.

And remember the "pundits" from Indiana Week in Review, last quoted in this October 8th ILB entry. Even they were saying in this week's show last evening (10/13/06) that this upcoming year's General Assembly would change the match of $4.00 from the state (i.e. the taxpayers) for every $1.00 members of the General Assembly contribute to their own personal retirement pension plans. (Of course, those who instituted this plan and the lifetime healthcare benefits plan will continue to reap the benefits).

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 14, 2006 12:15 PM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law | Legislative Benefits