Indiana

Between a Union and a Hard Place

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

As much as I like the Speaker of the House Pat Bauer, I would not want to be him right now.   Let’s face it, it’s been a tough year.

There’s a national trend that doesn’t favor Democrats in the next election.  Evan Bayh won’t be on the ticket.  House Republicans are running everybody and their mother against his members.  There was an unnecessary fight over Indiana alcohol laws.  One member had health issues, another got kicked out of leadership and Mitch Daniels is sitting at 70% approval rating.  And now you have to pick between two of your main Democratic constituents, unions and schools.

Here’s what I mean.  We all know Indiana lawmakers are deadlocked right now over education funding and delaying the implementation of the unemployment insurance tax increase.  Democrats say the two should addressed individually while Republicans say they are joined at the hip.

Although you would think there’s not much to argue about schools getting more authority to transfer money from their capital budgets to their operating budgets to shore up potential shortfalls and about delaying the increase in the unemployment insurance tax businesses have to pay for two years.   You would think that because there isn’t, both sides seem to pretty much agree on those two issues.  What they don’t agree on is a provision that would make it easier for independent contractors to be labelled as full-time employees and thus eligible for union membership under some circumstances.  And that’s where the deadlock is.

My very reliable sources tell me despite the public pleasantries and politeness, the GOP doesn’t trust the Speaker and they think if they pass education without tying it to unemployment the House Democrats will pull a fast one and they will be left holding the bag on unemployment.   Bauer, on the other hand, is juggling the teacher constituency with the union constituency and trying to protect both.

My money is at the end of the day, Bauer will protect schools and teachers because while he supports unions, his background is education.  And when you have to make a tough choice, you always protect your first love.   It’s not a great position to be in, but considering the year the Speaker’s had, it’s not surprising.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on March 11, 2010 (boomark / email).