UPDATE (8:40 a.m., Wednesday, January 25, 2006): I stand by the idea proposed in this post that the Democrats in the Indiana Senate should convene a panel of experts to produce a robust minority report that may or may not conclude in favor of Major Moves, especially the Toll Road linchpin. But it's a pleasure to read in a Star article by Ted Kim and Matt Tully's column that on Tuesday, Democratic senators like Vi Simpson of Elletsville, Earline Rogers of Gary, and our newest Democratic senator, Karen Tallian of Portage, seemed to have the same idea -- analysis, not shots from the hip. My own state representative, David Orentlicher of Indianapolis, also appeared to be on the same page. Good for them!
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Governor Mitch Daniels (R) has presented his fellow citizens of Indiana with a fascinating possibility. By privatizing the Indiana Toll Road via a 75-year lease arrangement in exchange for a $3.85 billion lump sum payment, the governor would be able to fund most if not all other major highway construction projects on the state's agenda.
These include the "Fort to Port" plan to upgrade U.S. 24 between Fort Wayne and Toledo, Ohio; the Hoosier Heartland Highway from Fort Wayne to Lafayette; improvements to U.S. 31 between South Bend and Indianapolis; the extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville; and construction of two Ohio River bridges further joining the Falls Cities area to Louisville, Ky.
Presumably, though I have not heard it mentioned, Western Indiana might be served by constructing the Ind. 641 bypass around Terre Haute.
Major Moves has become indeed a tantilizing prospect. Yet it suffers from poor process, insensitive public relations, and lack of a meaningful response by opposition Democrats. All of these contribute to the present climate in which Major Moves is supported by many Republican legislators, panned by Democratic legislators, and held in skeptical regard by the public. This is especially in the Northern Indiana tier of counties through which the Toll Road runs, if media web polls are a rough guide.
Two mistakes have brought Major Moves to this spot. One mistake is the fault of the governor. The other is the fault, collectively, of active Indiana Democrats including -- but not limited to -- those Democrats serving in the General Assembly.
The solution is developing a group of Democratic experts to prepare a "minority report" for adoption, use, and dissemination by the Senate Democrats, who are next in line after the House passes the bill.
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