Gov. Daniels' 1st year highlights

From Associated Press reports\nGov. Mitch Daniels achieved much of his legislative agenda in his first year as governor. Among the highlights:\n• Passage of legislation requiring statewide observance of daylight-saving time. Seventeen counties have sought a switch from Eastern to Central time.\n• Creation of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, a panel of business leaders which Daniels chairs. The IEDC says it has completed 142 competitive, economic development deals within the past year, with commitments for more than 18,500 new jobs.\n• More work sent to private companies in an effort to streamline state government. One move involved a state prison, and a current proposal focuses on food stamps, Medicaid and other welfare benefits -- a contract that could top $1 billion. Daniels said of the issue: "You've heard me say that government is the last monopoly. Often it has no competition for what it does. Monopolies tend to overcharge and abuse their customers. We are trying here and there to introduce some competition and secondly plant some accountability."\n• Closure of more than 20 license branches.\n• Cap on property tax relief payments to local governments and steps to eliminate state budget deficit, including freezing funding levels for much of state government.\n• End of state workers' collective bargaining rights.