Big GOP changes, proposals on the way for Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov.-elect Mitch Daniels huddled with advisers Wednesday to start building the first Republican state administration in 16 years and map out a legislative agenda aimed at economic revival and government reform.\nMeanwhile, House Republicans beamed after winning control of the chamber in Tuesday's election, eager to work with a GOP governor and pursue some of their own initiatives. They are likely to include economic development proposals and a state constitutional ban on gay marriage.\nHouse Republican Leader Brian Bosma, who was likely to be nominated as the next speaker on Thursday, also said he would give legislation to put Indiana on daylight saving time a chance to advance.\nIt has been a polarizing yet nonpartisan issue over the years, and Democratic leaders effectively killed it from the start in recent sessions.\n"It wouldn't surprise me in the least to see daylight saving time on the floor of the House this session," said Bosma, R-Indianapolis.\nUnless recounts or litigation over close races is pursued and preliminary tallies are overturned, Republicans will have a 52-48 majority in the House. Democrats came into Tuesday's election with a 51-49 advantage.\nNeither side would rule out recount requests, but Democratic Speaker Patrick Bauer said it was "time to move on." Bauer will lose his speaker's title, but will continue to be leader of House Democrats.\nAlthough many changes to state government are pending, the impact of Tuesday's election already was reverberating in the Statehouse. Not since 1988 has one party ruled the governor's office and both chambers of the Legislature.\nGov. Joe Kernan pledged full cooperation in the switch to a Daniels' administration, and it began Wednesday with talks between Kernan's chief of staff, Mary Downes, and Harry Gonzo, an attorney and former IU football star who is directing the Daniels' transition team.\nDaniels met later with Gonzo and other advisers, including Lt. Gov.-elect Becky Skillman, Indianapolis businessman Bill Mays, and top campaign aides. Among them were campaign manager Bill Oesterle and Mark Lubbers, a top aide to former Republican Gov. Robert Orr.\nDaniels spoke only briefly to reporters, saying he would offer more details about his plans on Thursday.\n"I've said often that the very first step will be to deliver a legislative program, and our new lieutenant governor will not only have to lead on all that as the principal author, but also as quarterback in trying to enact it," Daniels said.\nDaniels has touted dozens of proposals, but has not said he would pursue all of them immediately.\nAmong other things, he has proposed tax breaks to businesses, reforms at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and other agencies, a streamlined permitting process for businesses and farms, and moving Indiana to daylight saving time with as much of the state as possible in the central time zone.\nHe also wants to move the statewide ISTEP test to the spring, and says Indiana should move toward statewide full-day kindergarten when it can afford it.\nAnother key priority is eliminating the state's $830 million budget deficit. He has not advanced any comprehensive plan for doing that, but says tax increases should be a last resort.\nBosma said Wednesday that longtime Republican Rep. Jeff Espich of Uniondale would be the next chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and as such, be an architect of the next two-year budget. Bosma also said tax increases should be a last resort, but did not rule them out.\nRepublicans pledged weeks ago to pursue several proposals next session, including a constitutional ban on gay marriage. House Democrats denied GOP attempts to even debate the issue last session, and several Republicans made it a campaign issue.\nBut Bosma said their top priority would be jobs and economic development. They have touted several pro-business tax changes, among other things.\n"It is a very exciting time for us now as we move from campaign mode to governing mode," Bosma said.\nBauer said House Democrats were still "48 strong" and prepared "to offer constructive advice if asked"