Lawmakers meeting for organization day

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - State lawmakers scheduled early action on property tax caps at Tuesday's Organization Day session. But there was still talk of a potential tax increase.

Two subjects hover over the 2010 session of the General Assembly; money and politics. The state budget crisis and the battle for control of the Indiana House are front and center.

In a brief session House Speaker Pat Bauer (D-South Bend) handed down five bills that will be scheduled for rare December hearings.

They include the measure calling for constitutional caps on property taxes.

"I wouldn't mind getting out a little early cause we were here a little late last time," said Bauer. "So ya like to balance it out."

But with control of the House up for grabs, getting out early will also allow lawmakers in targeted districts to hit the campaign trail fulltime.

Democrat Scott Reske of Pendleton is one of them.

24-Hour News 8’s political reporter Jim Shella asked Reske if this session will be more political than normal.

Reske downplayed it saying simply, "I don't know, you know, I don't know."

Minority Republicans, meantime, are already developing campaign themes.

In a news conference Minority Leader Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) said, "Two simple mantras for us this session: No new taxes, no new spending.”

That's the backdrop for a report from the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute that warns of growing money trouble.

John Ketzenberger of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute said, "As much as nobody around here wants to talk about it, the state may have to consider increasing revenue, which means a tax increase."

It would also be a campaign issue. Get ready a quick yet partisan session. The 2010 session begins in earnest on January 5, 2010. It is the so-called short session and must conclude in March.