Art of Compromise
During this current legislative session, lawmakers are being forced to do something difficult � prioritize their issues in order of importance.� Actually, this entire session is challenging due to the budgetary woes; being forced to choose which programs do or do not receive funding and which are cut back is extremely tough.�
Priorities must be established and we must initially take care of the primary necessities, including
education,
Medicaid,
Department of
Corrections
and welfare.� Until
these needs are
funded, discre-
tionary spending
cannot be deter-
mined.� Before
long, we will see
the House budget in introduced form, and it will be very interesting to observe which priorities are established.� Some legislators want education to be the main concern and are requesting no less than a 31/2 percent budget increase.� We have been told to do "whatever is necessary" to achieve full educational funding.�
In addition, there is a similar story from various advocacy groups throughout the state.� Although each legislator will have a differing opinion on which issue is of highest importance, we are in a situation that forces us to establish priorities.� For that reason, frequent communication and discussion must occur to make the result palatable for Hoosiers.�
Priorities must be established at the local government level as well. In last week's column, I published my survey results for your consideration. The survey indicated that the state needs to con-tinue working on budget, tax, and education issues, as well as government efficiency. The question �Should tax dollars be used to develop, construct, and maintain recreational trails on abandoned railroads?� was one that received a negative response of 75.4 percent:� Respondents wrote on their survey returns that recreational trail projects in rural areas are not an efficient use of tax money because the usage would be so low. Instead, citizens are more interested in job creation in the private sector than more permanent expenses for the public to support.�
I was seeking input on this issue because of the controversial Nickel Plate Trail through Howard, Miami, and Fulton Counties.� If it does not spark a heated discussion where you live, it does where I reside � next to the old Nickel Plate Railroad.� County officials, Indiana Department of Transportation (IDOT) officials, and the majority of adjacent landowners have rejected this proposed trail.� Proponents of the trail hope that volunteers and fundraisers may make a dent in the extensive amount of dollars needed to complete this 38.5-mile project.� On the contrary, opponents vehemently refer to their property deeds and abstracts that state that the Right of Way returns to their property when the rails are removed.� They correctly state that their paperwork represents the basis for property ownership in this country.�
��� This issue will not be resolved soon and not without a court decision.� In the meantime, I think it is best to recognize the priorities previously mentioned (education, Medicaid, DOC and welfare) and exercise the art of compromise to find solutions.� Perhaps we can even find an agreement on the recreational trail issue.� However, the word compromise is rarely used, and the net result will be a failed project and angry landowners.
More later,
Bill
(Representative Bill Friend�s district includes Bourbon and Bremen. He may be contacted via EMail at [email protected], phone (800) 382-9841 x9619, or his Statehouse office at 200 West Washington Street, 401-7, Indianapolis, IN 46204. )
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