Time zone decision could renew debate

INDIANAPOLIS -- The decades-long debate about how Indiana sets its clocks will see its next jolt when a federal agency decides in the coming weeks whether it will redraw the state's time-zone line.\nThat decision is to come about the same time as when state lawmakers start their new session -- and provide ammunition for those who want to reopen the time argument that has continued since a bill to adopt statewide daylight-saving time passed by one vote in April.\nThe U.S. Department of Transportation, which regulates time zones, expects to make a final decision by January regarding which, if any, of the 17 Indiana counties will move from Eastern to Central time, agency spokesman Bill Mosley said.\nGov. Mitch Daniels, who pushed the daylight time bill through the legislature, hopes the time-zone ruling will end Indiana's debate about time, clearing the way for other issues during the 2006 legislative session that begins Jan. 4.\n"The governor believes the time zone discussion will be resolved by, the end of the year," Daniels spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said. "We've focused far too much on this issue and have a number of important topics, such as Major Moves (his transportation plan), property tax relief and moving more dollars to the classroom to work on during the next legislative session."\nSenate President Pro Tem Robert Garton, R-Columbus, said this week the time-zone debate was unlikely to become a major issue during the session unless the feds make "a mess of Indiana."\nBut others are ready for a new time debate.\nWhile the last legislative session focused on the switch to daylight-saving time, some want the upcoming session to focus on the time zone question.\nRep. Dave Crooks, D-Washington, plans to file a bill in the House -- which Republicans control 52-48 -- that would call for a statewide referendum regarding whether Indiana should be on Eastern or Central time.\nAlthough House Democrats have named Crooks' bill as one of their top three legislative priorities, not all party members might back the proposal.\nDuring the last session, eight Democrats sided with 43 Republicans to pass the daylight time bill. Nine Republicans and 37 Democrats voted against the measure.\nRepublican House Speaker Brian Bosma of Indianapolis said he could not predict whether Crooks' bill would get a committee hearing or any legislative support. But he noted that Indiana residents have been living happily in two time zones for decades.\n"We need to talk about the future, not the past," Bosma said.\nSeventeen Indiana counties asked the Transportation Department this summer for a switch to Central time, but the agency gave preliminary approval to changes for just five counties.\nThe department's proposal upset many residents because it would place time zone boundaries between some counties in the South Bend and Evansville areas that wanted to stick together as regions.\nHundreds of people attended four public hearings across the state about the issue that ended this week, and the DOT said it would consider testimony in making its final decision.