Lawmakers elect leaders

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana lawmakers set aside their differences long enough Tuesday to swear in members and elect leaders for the upcoming legislative session during the largely ceremonial Organization Day.\nA budget crisis and three disputed House races loomed in the background, though, leaving lawmakers to urge cooperation before the real work of the 113th session had even begun.\nHouse members elected Democratic Rep. B. Patrick Bauer as the new speaker of the House. The 32-year House veteran from South Bend had been sole chairman of the powerful budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee for all but two years since 1991.\nBauer will be called upon to help craft a new two-year budget amid a deficit approaching $800 million.\n"It's going to take every individual in this body to have a positive attitude, to work together," Bauer said. "We can't snipe at each other, and we can't allow that outside sniping either."\nPublic-works projects that put people to work, such as highway and building construction, could be one way to improve Indiana's economy, Bauer said.\nHe also said he may support delaying the court-ordered property reassessment and property tax cuts that were approved during the special legislative session to blunt the effects of that reassessment.\n"We need to find a way and a means to get out of this situation, and I believe this situation is temporary," he said.\nSen. Larry Borst, R-Greenwood, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he did not believe the state could afford additional bonding for new construction. He also disagreed with a delay of tax cuts.\n"I can see no circumstance where you won't put property tax cuts into effect," Borst said.\nMary Dieter, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Frank O'Bannon, said Tuesday that it was too early to comment on the budget.\nDieter, however, said the governor's office did not anticipate any additional spending and had not discussed delaying property reassessments.\n"We think property tax cuts are important for businesses and individuals to jump-start our economy," Dieter said.\nThe Legislature reconvenes Jan. 7.\nMembers of the Senate re-elected Sen. Robert Garton, R-Columbus, as the chamber's president pro-tem, a position he has held since 1980.\nRepublicans control the Senate 32-18, while Democrats hold a 51-49 majority in the House.\nHowever, Republicans have challenged the outcome of two House seats won by Democrats. In addition, a losing Democratic candidate in House District 15 in northwest Indiana formally challenged the residency eligibility of the winner, Don Lehe, R-Brookston.\nThe Indiana State Recount Commission was to meet on Wednesday to discuss the disputed races. The commission must resolve the races by Dec. 19.\nHouse Minority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said Democrats and Republicans had entered into a "gentlemen's agreement" to seat members Tuesday on the condition that those seats were subject to the findings of the commission.\nIn other business, Rep. Mike Smith, R-Rensselaer, announced his resignation, effective Nov. 30, to become executive director of the Indiana Casino Association.