INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) — Indiana lawmakers have entered the stretch run of the legislative session with some key issues hanging.
Some top lawmakers said earlier that accomplishing those priorities might not be possible by the April 29 deadline for adjourning the regular session, forcing a special session.

But leaders of the Republican-ruled Senate and Democrat-controlled House now say they’re prepared to negotiate in good faith in hopes of avoiding that.

“The goal is to get out of here on time for a whole lot of reasons, most of which is I think the people of this state expect nothing less,” said Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne).
House Speaker Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend), said there shouldn’t be talk about a special session. “You talk about crossing the goal line in the time available before you have to go to overtime,” he said. “Our focus is to get the job done.”

A top priority for Gov. Mitch Daniels and many Republican lawmakers, especially those in the House, is passing a resolution this year that would allow voters to decide in November 2010 whether to put limits on property tax bills into the state constitution.

Bauer wants to wait until next year to consider passing the resolution, saying it will give lawmakers more time to gauge the impact the caps have on local governments and taxpayers. But Daniels and House Republicans have been adamant about passing the resolution this year so the public will know now that they will get a chance to vote on making them constitutional next year.

The Senate has passed the resolution this session, and House Republicans tried procedural moves on key deadline days April 14-15 in an attempt to bring the measure to the House floor for a vote. They were outraged when, on both occasions, Democrats simply adjourned.

House Minority Leader Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) accused Bauer of arrogance in not dealing with the resolution. Approving it this year might still be possible, but Bosma said it would take extraordinary steps to make it happen.

“It’s very clear the speaker has stuck a stick in the eyes of taxpayers,” Bosma said.

Bauer responded by saying Republicans were trying to stir up a distraction from more pressing matters.

Daniels issued a statement April 16 saying Bauer was on the wrong side of taxpayers. “There’s one more inning to this game, and we’ll be back to try again,” Daniels stated.