Indiana

Post Consolidation Mortem

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I spent some time on the phone last night talking to politicos about why Marion County Township Fire Consolidation failed by one vote.  The vote was 24-26, had one vote changed the Lt. Governor could have passed the tie breaking vote.  I asked my contacts a number of questions as to why the measure didn’t make it…

• Did the pro-consolidation forces miscounted or overestimate their votes in support of the measure?
• Did Senator Mike Young give such a convincing argument that it brought over several lawmakers who were on the fence?
• Did the Mayor not do enough to convince Senate Democrats like Greg Taylor (Who was going to vote “no” anyway) to come on board?
• Were pro-township people just that organized?
• Was the timing just not right?

The answer I would suspect involves a little of all of the above.  However I do take some issue with Mike Young’s (who lives in IFD by the way)  powers of persuasion because I figured if he was that persuasive he wouldn’t be single.

I think the the lawmakers who voted against consolidation voted for double taxation and higher rates.  But like I’ve said before, people will sing a different tune when those tax caps fully hit next year, so the forces of good, light and fiscal responsibility will eventually get the last laugh and get to laugh best.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on February 25, 2009 (boomark / email).