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A swanky party at the Lucas estate attracted celebs in the run-up to Sunday’s …
Updated: Friday, 27 Feb 2009, 7:16 PM EST
Published : Friday, 27 Feb 2009, 6:04 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It's halftime in the 2009 Indiana General Assembly.
Republican Governor Mitch Daniels sought to avoid direct criticism of the General Assembly at a gathering with the Statehouse press corps Friday. But he had plenty to say about what lawmakers produced in the first half of the 2009 General Assembly. For example, he spoke bluntly of the one-year budget proposal produced by majority Democrats in the Indiana House.
"The budget's of almost no use at all. In fact, it's of no use at all," said Daniels.
Why, he was asked, would the House pass a casino bailout bill?
"I have no idea," responded Daniels.
And then there are the things that didn't get done. The House failed to pass a plan to solve a deficit in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
"We cannot afford Rolls Royce benefits and eligibility in Indiana unless we want absolutely, job-killing taxation," said Daniels.
He didn't accuse Democrats of car-bombing his agenda as he did a few years ago, but he made it clear that he sees Pat Bauer as an adversary.
"We all know nothing happens in the House of Representatives that Speaker Bauer doesn't permit. He is never challenged and his authority is total," said Daniels.
The governor did say that he expects things will improve in the second half of the session.
Meantime, the governor had high praise for the Republican leader
of the state Senate, David Long, for his role in the passage of a
government consolidation bill. The second half of the General
Assembly begins Monday.
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