DST a done deal in the Hoosier State

[greasywheels121]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...EWS02/504290498

 

DST A DONE DEAL

House passes daylight-saving time bill

Dramatic vote, cheering cap 3-decade fight; state will sync up with nation next April

By Mary Beth Schneider and Kevin Corcoran

 

Daylight-saving time is coming to all of Indiana for the first time in more than 30 years.

 

In a history-making drama, the Indiana House voted 51-46 late Thursday to pass the controversial issue, which has dominated the legislature, coffee shops and kitchen tables for four months.

 

Gov. Mitch Daniels, who made passage of the time change one of his top economic priorities, will sign the bill soon so that on April 2, 2006, Hoosiers will join people in 47 other states in turning their clocks ahead one hour.

 

The climactic vote at 11:36 p.m. came after a half-hour of emotional testimony, in which lawmakers on both sides of the debate brushed away tears. They had fought about the issue all session. Some argued the changes are needed to boost Indiana in a global economy and erase the state's backward image. Others called it an unnecessary intrusion in Hoosiers' lives.

 

Lawmakers had been deadlocked in the House all day.

 

The bill -- Senate Bill 127 -- had come within two votes of being killed earlier Thursday, when the House voted 49-48 against the time change.

 

But after 12 hours of behind-the-scenes pleading -- supporters called it persuasion; opponents called it arm-twisting -- backers believed they finally had locked up the requisite 51 votes.

 

"Now is the time," said House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis. "Today is the day. Let's do it."

 

At 11:30 p.m., the voting began and a flurry of red and green lights illuminated lawmakers' choices. For six minutes that seemed longer, Bosma held open the vote. Once again, it looked as if the bill would not reach the all-important 51 "yes" votes.

 

Two Democrats who have supported daylight-saving time -- Rep. Terri Austin, of Anderson and Rep. David Orentlicher, of Indianapolis -- were the last to vote no. Opponents thought they had won and began to chant for Bosma to tally the vote.

 

Suddenly, one red light switched to green, as Rep. John Ulmer, R-Goshen, changed his mind. The tally stood at 50 when Rep. Troy Woodruff, R-Vincennes, switched his vote.

 

The instant Bosma saw he had 51 votes, he closed the voting machine and announced the bill had passed. Supporters cheered and applauded. Opponents shook their heads.

Victory call

 

Harry Gonso, the governor's chief of staff, called Daniels on his BlackBerry and handed the device to Rep. Gerald Torr, the Carmel Republican who had fought for the bill all session.

 

Torr, surrounded by cameras and reporters, was in a daze. He could hardly take in the governor's words, he said, recalling only that Daniels congratulated and thanked him.

 

Woodruff, whose switched vote had just guaranteed Indiana would switch to daylight-saving time, was rushed by House Republicans into the serenity of Bosma's office before facing reporters. A political newcomer elected last November in a district where daylight-saving time is unpopular, Woodruff had cast the toughest vote of his life.

 

Within moments, he faced the barrage of reporters' questions.

 

"It was time to end this thing," he said, still appearing stunned by what he'd just done. "It's time to move the state forward."

 

As he spoke, his Web site still contained a pledge to his constituents to "always vote against this controversial piece of legislation" -- a promise Democrats were quick to point out.

 

"Some things are more important than re-election," Woodruff said.

 

He had simply tired of Democrats playing politics with the issue, he explained, adding he was fed up as he watched Democrats who have always supported the bill vote against it.

 

And so he changed his vote.

 

Bosma said Woodruff was a portrait in political courage, saying the 34-year-old could end up paying for his vote at the ballot box. He accused House Democrats of seeking to trade votes on legislation legalizing slot machines at horse-racing venues for votes on daylight-saving time.

 

"It was clear that every time we came up with enough votes, the Democrats took some of those votes away," Bosma said.

 

Bosma said he had specifically urged Woodruff not to vote for the bill. He had not realized it was Woodruff who had cast the deciding vote until after he closed the voting machine. Woodruff, who also is an aide to U.S. Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., narrowly defeated a Democratic incumbent last fall to win his seat.

 

"It's not the most popular issue in his area," said Bosma, who now must begin work to ensure Woodruff can hold his seat. House Republicans narrowly took control of the chamber last fall by a 52-48 margin after eight years out of power.

Hailing a change

 

Daniels had no immediate public comment after the vote. Gonso, who had watched the drama play out on the House floor, hailed the vote's real and symbolic effects.

 

"It signals our state's willingness to make a change," Gonso said. "This had been a centerpiece of Mitch's campaign and his desire to effect change."

 

One thing the bill doesn't change is Indiana's time zones. Many opponents had argued that Indiana, now mostly in the Eastern time zone, is a better fit in the Central time zone. The bill requires Daniels to ask the U.S. Department of Transportation to hold hearings on where the time zone boundary should fall.

 

Currently, 82 Indiana counties are in the Eastern time zone, and 10 counties in northwestern and southwestern Indiana are in the Central time zone. The bill will validate five counties in southeastern Indiana that have been illegally observing daylight-saving time.

 

Torr said the daylight-saving time legislation might not compare to the state's $24 billion budget in weight.

 

But, he said, he understood why the issue has captivated -- and divided -- Indiana.

 

"We pass a budget every two years -- it's not that big a deal," he said. "This is historic."

 

That point was made repeatedly during the House debate. The issue has failed to garner enough support for years in Indiana's legislature. Wednesday, the Senate passed it 28-22. But the House had balked.

 

Rep. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo, gave the issue new life. He had voted against it twice before -- once earlier this month and again Thursday morning. Only someone willing to switch his or her vote can seek a new vote, and Buck had decided to switch.

 

"I wasn't pressured by anybody," he said to derisive laughter from House Democrats opposed to the bill.

 

Instead, he said, he changed his mind by pondering the mural in front of the House, which he said symbolized the pioneers and entrepreneurs who have taken risks in Indiana without knowing whether that risk would pay off.

 

Rep. William Crawford, D-Indianapolis, took offense at what he called "the grandiose concept" that daylight-saving time was going to be "the greatest thing since sliced bread."

 

Indiana, he said, has too many children who need help from the state, and too many people out of work. Instead of focusing on those problems, he said, the legislature had become absorbed in daylight-saving time. He'd supported the issue before, he said, but now he would vote no.

 

"I will always choose children over clocks," Crawford said.

 

As hard as Torr and other supporters had fought for the bill, others, such as Rep. F. Dale Grubb, D-Covington, had been just as passionate in opposition.

 

Grubb's district sits along the Illinois border, and many of his constituents work there. Daylight-saving time would always put their jobs one hour behind their home lives.

 

Thursday night, though, Grubb knew this battle was over. But not his fight. Even proponents expect they will be fending off attempts to repeal daylight-saving time as soon as January, when lawmakers return.

 

Choking back tears, Grubb asked supporters to study the time change's impact on Hoosiers.

 

He asked for their promise that "if this doesn't work, you've got to come back and help me fix it so it doesn't hurt my part of the state."

[southsider2k5]

That is a thing of beauty. Indiana finally hits the 19th century.

[greasywheels121]

I'm interested to see what they do with the time zone now. Personally, I feel being on Central time makes more sense. I guess that's the next thing to determine.

[kapkomet]

 

I NEVER thought I would see this.

 

I bet they end up in the eastern time zone.

[Rex Kickass]

The way daylight falls on Indiana, it makes more sense to be in the Central Time Zone.

[EvilJester99]

So now there are only 2 other states that don't use DST?? I believe its Arizona and Hawaii...

Edited April 29, 2005 by EvilJester99

[mreye]

 

I think the time zones will stay the same, but if they change, Central makes more sense. Imagine if we go Eastern it'll be light outside at 9:30pm.

[kapkomet]

Think of all the money you will save on your electric bills. :rolly

[Rex Kickass]

Which business will have to eat because the sun wont come up til almost 9 AM in the winter.

[southsider2k5]

FWIW, the meridian line that is supposed to be the divider between CST and EST goes through Columbus Ohio. Indiana should be on central time.

[Controlled Chaos]

Can someone explain why this was such a highly contested battle?? What's the big deal?

[southsider2k5]

Can someone explain why this was such a highly contested battle??  What's the big deal?

 

Hoosiers are backwards and fear change... next question.

[mreye]

Hoosiers are backwards and fear change... next question.

!sdrawkcab ton era eW

[kapkomet]

Crap, those cows are going to be sooooooo messed up because they won't know what time it is.

[Goldmember]

The climactic vote at 11:36 p.m. came after a half-hour of emotional testimony, in which lawmakers on both sides of the debate brushed away tears. They had fought about the issue all session.

 

didn't know daylight savings time was so important. thanks to them hoosier legislators, i will now take my dst more seriously...

[whitesoxin']

We better not be on eastern. I like being on central time.

[Rex Kickass]

Won't change the Central Time folks that already change over.

[YASNY]

Does anybody really know what time it is?

Does anybody really care?

[southsider2k5]

didn't know daylight savings time was so important. thanks to them hoosier legislators, i will now take my dst more seriously...

 

If it wasn't a big deal, it wouldn't have taken Indiana 100 years to catch up with the rest of the country. Laws and lack of laws like this are what makes Indiana the butt of jokes.

[Rex Kickass]

Did you know its illegal to go to the Cinema in Gary within four hours of eating Garlic?

 

It's true. However, there are no Cinemas in Gary.

[Nokona]

I didn't even know that Indiana discovered time yet.

[Mplssoxfan]

Does pi still equal 3 in Indiana schools?