Posted on 12/17/2011 8:16:34 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says he will push for a statewide smoking ban and mild local government reforms in the 2012 legislative session.
Those are among the priorities Daniels, a Republican who will begin his last year in office in January, plans to outline in a noon speech Friday at the downtown Skyline Club for the Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis.
In an interview Thursday, he also hinted that he would support a proposal seeking legislative approval to let voters decide whether to increase local income taxes to expand mass transit in Marion County and surrounding counties.
“My attitude is the same one we’ve had generally—there ought to be local flexibility,” Daniels said.
When asked whether he would endorse Indianapolis-area leaders’ mass-transit plan, which includes raising taxes in Marion and Hamilton counties, the governor replied, “See me tomorrow.”
Daniels was more definitive Thursday in his support for the smoking ban, saying he hopes one “with minimal exceptions” can pass this year. Even if Indianapolis leaders pass a local ban in coming months, Daniels said, a statewide ban also is needed.
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma has said lawmakers may seek passage of such a ban before the Super Bowl in February. Last year, a statewide smoking ban that included several exemptions such as casinos and bars failed after clean-air advocates assailed it as too weak.
Passing sweeping changes to local government—particularly eliminating township government—also has been tough in the past. But, this time, Daniels said he’s optimistic that a few reforms, including clamping down on government nepotism and conflicts of interest, and eliminating township boards—but not the whole system of government—will get traction.
“This is going to have to be continual progress,” he said. “I just hope we can make some this time.”
On Thursday, Daniels also endorsed right-to-work legislation that Republican lawmakers have made the centerpiece of their 2012 priority list.
He said after a year of considering the issue, he’s concluded that becoming a state where unions cannot negotiate contracts requiring non-members to pay dues will make Indiana more economically competitive. He cited feedback from site selectors that at least a quarter of companies won’t eye Indiana for relocation opportunities because of its non-right-to-work status.
Right-to-work opponents say there’s been no proven correlation between a state’s economic success and its right-to-work status. They point out some studies that find lower average wages in right-to-work states.
“Nobody says this is a cure-all. If it was, we’d have tried it at the front end,” Daniels said. “Every year, we try to take steps to make it more affordable [for companies] to hire Hoosiers.”
Last year, Daniels’ top priority was passing sweeping education reforms that included expanding charter-school authorizers; providing vouchers for low-income students to attend private schools and restricting teachers unions' collective bargaining agreements to wages and benefits.
His goal next year is to ensure those reforms get put to use by publicizing options such as charter schools and a program that allows students who complete high school a year early to receive college scholarships.
Daniels’ other past initiatives include putting the state on daylight-saving time, leasing the Indiana Toll Road and privatizing welfare services delivery.
Almost in the same breath he calls for a statewide smoking ban?
Duuuuuh! People actually believe this guy?
If the concern is public health they must regulate homosexual for the same reasons.
If.
FUMD!!
Nanny Statism is ugly, no matter what the letter is that follows the name of the politician attempting to impose it upon the populace.
Cannot believe people were actually claiming that this Statist Liberal Open Borders Globalist was a Conservative
Govt smoking bans work...if you are in the cigarette-butt picking-up industry
That’s a private company.
“———now keep the smoke away from the kids.”
Smoking didn’t seem to do much harm to the Boomers who were surrounded by smoke in their childhood. They are an extraordinarily healthy generation.
Smoking bans are not terribly important in the big picture of statism. Doesn’t rank up there with economic policy or foreign affairs.
But it’s a good litmus test for conservative candidates for higher office. Just like global warming lip service politicians.
If a candidate believes that SHS or AGW junk science will kill us all he/she is either
A. Too stupid to have any power over fellow citizens or
B. They know it’s bogus but believe it serves a gubmint purpose. Which makes them more dangerous than A.
It’s bigger than you think.
One of the dangerous things about statism is how they wear you down. If you’re hit with 10,000 tiny little regulations, you start to feel surrounded.
By the time the big and egregious things start happening, you’re so worn down already, and already mentally tuned to having state interventionism in your life, that you’re less inclined to resist.
Think of it as a way of training.
Being trained to accept statism is a big, BIG problem.
I know. You’re right. It’s called incrementalism.
Statists advertise it when it comes to smoker bans, trans fat, Eco wackos.
Conservatives can learn something from the Statist. Especially when it comes to abortion and killing unborn humans. Boil the frog. Anti smoking activists told us 30 years ago they only wanted some non smoking sections on airplanes. Now look.
Instead of trying to hit a 5 run homer, continue with incremental steps and social engineering.
“Like it or not, there are very few private companies that permit smoking on the premises any more. Some may have some smoking rooms, but typically you have to go outside if you wish to smoke.”
I see that you are in agreement that the free market is able to decide. I agree with that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.