Rep. Dan Burton: trying to keep Congress safe?

Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) seems afraid of being on the House floor.

Burton offered an amendment to H.R. 2918 that said the following: “Would require the Comptroller General to submit a report to the Committee on House Administration within 6 months of enactment analyzing the security arrangements of the House Chamber, including whether enclosing the House galleries in a transparent shield would be an appropriate and cost-effective measure.”

Basically, Burton wanted a study to be done that would determine whether closing the House galleries would be “a cost effective security measure,” explained his spokesman John Donnelly. Or, in laymen’s terms as told to us by someone familiar with the situation, “he wants a plexiglass wall to stop the public” from doing anything dangerous from the House gallery.

He has nothing against visitors or the Capitol Police who do a great job Donnelly tells Shenanigans, but the fact remains that “the Capitol Building is one of the top 2 targets for terrorists in the world,” Donnelly explains.

And at first if you don’t succeed, try again. This isn’t Burton’s first go at talking about closing the House galleries - or to have a study to see if closing the House galleries worthwhile - back in the 1980’s Burton asked the same thing.

“It’s a perennial of Burton’s,” another source says. “It has been routinely rejected because both parties have viewed it as separating the people from their House, and sends the wrong message. Rules has never highlighted.” And, sadly that’s what happened Thursday after the vote-o-rama, the Rules Committee didn’t approve it to be considered.

House Democratic Leader Pat Bauer was one of the speakers at Saturday night’s Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in Indianapolis.

The speaker went after the Governor on schools, the budget and accused him of engaging in a “hostile takeover” of state government during the special session.  He also encouraged Democrats to circumvent the news media and “twitter” their message to the public directly.

The Speaker was in somewhat rare form.  You can hear his entire commments below.

It’s about six minutes long.

Enjoy.

Pat Bauer

Okay, for all of you who really care,  here’s the rundown for the next few days at the Indiana Legislature.

• Today - Senate introduces its version of the budget.  The appropriations committee will vote it out.
• Monday - Senate takes up budget for second reading amendments.
• Tuesday - Senate adopts full budget.
• Tuesday afternoon - House convenes.  Refuses to adopt Senate budget.
• Wednesday - Conference committees meet.  Mayhem and hilarity ensue.

If you are in Marion County your property tax bills should be hitting your mailboxes. Assessor Greg Bowes says 65 percent of property taxpayers should see a decrease or no change in their tax bills.

However Decatur Township residents should see the biggest increase in their bills.  So IB is asking today how’s your tax bill looking?   Are you paying more, less or the same?  And which government entity had the biggest increase?

Enquiring minds want to know.

And remember, it was two years ago this week when the property tax revolution began which changed the political landscape of Indianapolis and forced the Legislature to act.

I spent a good chunk of yesterday watching the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the Capital Improvement Board.  As I Twittered the proceedings I was trying to imagine which was more painful?  Watching the hearing or sliding down a long giant razor blade and into a pool of alcohol.  Upon reflection, the alcohol would have been less painful.

First, City Controller Dave Reynolds, walking a high-wire act,  tells the committee that they are working to make the Governor’s numbers work.  He said they are close, but he told members that even with the current funding plan only gets them to 2011.

After that a number of amendments were offered, the one that sparked the most outrage was a Democratic proposal which would have mandated any hotel in the Professional Sports Development Area disclose how much they pay in salaries and benefits.  When asked what would be done with the information, City-County Council Democratic Leader Joanne Sanders said it would be used to help “convince” the hotels to pay more living wages.

Cherish Pryor did offer an amendment that eliminated the Governor’s Facility Management Board, decreased the amount of state support for the plan and increased the food and beverage tax on users of the facilities.  It also moved control tax abatements from the city’s Metropolitan Development Commission to the Council.  Which is a whole nother story for a whole nother time.

The whole bill came collapsing down and State Rep Randy Borror called it a second rate presentation.  And when there was no Republican support, Bill Crawford pulled the bill.

So where are we now?  Let’s see.  House Democrats are still mad at House Republicans.  The Governor’s Office apparently isn’t too happy with the Mayor’s Office.  We are no closer to getting this problem solved and the city could potentially lose the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four because these people can’t get their act together.

Anyone have a giant razor blade?

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi has filed formal charges against Lee Tibbets, who is accused of molesting a 13-year od John Marshall student.

Although everyone is innocent until proven guilty, the affidavit is pretty harsh. And a lot of this could have probably been avoided had IPS administrators done their job.

If you want a copy, I will send it to you.  But after reading it think about this, shouldn’t IPS spend more time trying to protect its students from sexual predators rather than trying to stop charter schools from giving former IPS students a good education.

Just a thought.

I’m looking at the budget plan Indiana House Democrats will pass today on a party-line vote and trying to figure out what’s different than the last budget plan lawmakers couldn’t pass the last time around.

• It’s a one-year spending plan, which won’t pass the Senate.
• It changes the school funding formula, which won’t pass the Senate.
• It stifles the growth of charter schools, which won’t pass the Senate.
• It keeps open the Soldiers and Sailors Home, which won’t pass the Senate.
• It also has cost about $50,000.

Why are we here again?   Thats right, my House Democratic friends couldn’t pass a budget.

Gallup polling has some new data out on America’s political landscape.  40 percent of Americans are identifying themselves as conservative.  While 35% call themselves moderate and 21% liberal.

When broken down in more detail, moderates are the largest group at 35%, conservatives - 31%, liberal - 16%, very conservative - 9%, very liberal - 5%.

I find this data interesting  because while conservatives make up a plurality of the nation’s political philosophy they are a minority of the leadership.

Gallup offers some explanations for this dichotomy, which include the following…

• A narrow demographic base.
• No national leadership.
• A lack of enthusiasm by the party faithful.

This doesn’t mean conservatives can’t win, but they are going to have to broaden their appeal.  Broadening your appeal doesn’t mean compromising your principles, but knowing that 60% percent of the population may share a different political philosophy you may have to adopt a more “user-friendly” message.

Your thoughts.

Although it’s only been a few days since Indiana lawmakers came back in special session, I am already believing this is a big giant waste of time.

Already,  my very reliable sources are telling me that Black Democrats in the House are pretty much united that if there is no plan for a casino in Gary, they will also not vote for the budget, nor the CIB plan.   They make up seven of the 52 House Democratic members.  Both Governor Mitch Daniels and Senate Pro Tempore David Long have maintained lawmakers should simply deal with the budget and the Capital Improvement Board.

Speaking of CIB, my sources are also informing me that Marion County Democrat, Cherish Pryor in particular, is offering, with Bill Crawford’s blessing, an amendment to the Daniels-Ballard plan that would completely alter the proposal.

The plan would eliminate the Facilities Management Board of Marion County, whereby all Marion County government properties would all be under the same governing board.  The CIB properties would still be under one board, but the Governor would have no appointments, instead the County Commissioners (all Democrats) would get two more appointments.

I am also told the Crawford-Pryor plan would eliminate the admissions tax and replace it with a Marion County food and beverage tax, thus putting pressure on City-Council Republicans to pass a countywide food and beverage tax and making them more vulnerable in the 2011 elections.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,  because Monday will be here sooner than you think.