Underlying votes, strategies, and goals this legislative session were the fall elections and drawing the new district maps as a result of the decennial census. Also, with Bayh’s and other vulnerable seats at least 6 current or former state legislators are seeking congressional seats.
Of the 811 filed, only 116 went to the Governor for final approval, of which he signed all 116.
After months of speculation that the “short” Session would end early, Speaker Bauer announced — on what we thought would be the last day — a six day recess. The House returned Wednesday, March 10, and the negotiating between the House and the Senate resumed. What began on January 5 ended at 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 13, a little less than two days before the midnight Sunday, March 14, statutory deadline.
We expected heated debate over SJR1 and HJR1 regarding the placement of tax caps in the Constitution, but they became inconsequential topics, mainly overshadowed by the “take your guns to work” bill and unemployment insurance compensation. They passed the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) number one national priority, the Employee Parking Lot Protection Act. This will permit employees to have weapons out of sight in a locked vehicle in a company-owned parking lot. Indiana became the 13th state to enact this law. While many exemptions exist, expect attempts to clarify and further exemptions next year.
Lawmakers delayed the $400 million increase in the unemployment insurance compensation premiums businesses must pay. The bill delays the effective date of the employer-paid unemployment tax increases for 2010.
Legislators passed an ethics reform bill, creating buzzwords of ethics and transparency for the election and sessions to come. They also in a small way, gave aid to financially strapped public school systems.
No significant local government consolidation and reorganization bills passed. Two distinct approaches to township government reorganization were seriously considered, but in the end, both failed. The overall subject of the consolidation and reorganization of local units, as articulated in the Kernan-Shepard Report, is certain to be a major focus in the 2011 Session.
But between now and January 2011, when the General Assembly begins the 177th Session, which will perhaps be the most challenging and contentious session in recent memory, we will be singularly focused on the election of all 100 members of the House and 25 members of the 50 member Senate. So far, there are ten open seats due to retirements. It will be the responsibility of those in the General Assembly in 2011 to draw the maps of the 100 House Districts and 50 Senate Districts that will be in place for the next decade. There is no doubt that Republicans will remain in control of the Senate, currently 33-17. But the House, presently Democrat-controlled by a 52-48 margin, is up for grabs, thus creating a battle for control, which will be decided by the voters on November 2.