Indianapolis Star
May 1, 2005
And the winners are
The envelopes, please. Here are winners of the first Leggies, awarded to Statehouse
players who displayed dedication above, beyond and occasionally below the call
of duty:
The Let's Make a Deal Award: In his first legislative session as governor, Mitch Daniels demonstrated a gift for making offers that friends and foes couldn't refuse. He talked Republican leaders from suburban Central Indiana counties into accepting a regional food and beverage tax to pay for a stadium in Downtown Indianapolis. He talked reluctant Republican House members into voting for daylight-saving time. He talked Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson into giving up oversight of stadium construction. Remember, it's not personal; it's business.
The Take My Ball and Go Home Award: Once upon a time, Pat Bauer was a prince of the Statehouse, shaping the budget and deciding which bills were allowed a floor vote. But after his party's defeat in November, the former House speaker was reduced to leading a Democratic walkout to block votes on 132 bills before a midsession deadline. Bauer's temporary roadblock killed the bills, but Republicans were able to resurrect most of their favorite ideas later in the session.
The Bulldog Award: State Rep. Phil Hinkle locked his jaws around Peterson's Indianapolis Works proposal before the session even began. The Marion County Republican continued to insist the numbers didn't add up in favor of consolidation despite the business community's strong support for the plan. The mayor is still counting the teeth marks on his backside.
The Partisan of the Year Award: Competition in the Statehouse is always tough for this prize, but Republican state Rep. Mike Murphy edged out the field. As Marion County Republican Party chairman, waving the GOP banner early and often is a large part of Murphy's job. But even some Republicans rolled their eyes at Murphy's frequent broadsides targeting Mayor Peterson.
The Tangled Up and Blue Award: Bart Peterson is accustomed to winning. So this session, the first in which the Democratic mayor had to ask a Republican-controlled legislature for help, was destined to be difficult. Late in the session the mayor said he had been treated like a piñata. Now he knows how Peyton Manning feels on Sunday afternoons in New England.
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