Democrats in the Indiana Senate have alternatives to the alcohol tax proposed as a solution to the deficit at the Capital Improvement Board (CIB.)

Sen. Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington) filed an amendment that permits the city of Indianapolis to redirect local option income tax (LOIT) money currently designated for public safety to the CIB.   The city already has the ability to raise that tax, if necessary.  (Can you say hostile proposal?)

Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton) has an amendment that calls for expanding the Professional Sports Development Area (PSDA) to include the Circle Centre Mall.   That means that sales tax money that would otherwise go to the state, could be directed to the CIB.  Of course, that means the money will come out of the state General Fund.  (Can you say veto target?)

Mayor Ballard should consider this as encourage to find another solution.

While state lawmakers wait for Mayor Greg Ballard to come up with a plan for solving the deficit at the Capital Improvement Board, Democrats in the Indiana Senate have two suggestions.

Sen. Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington) filed an amendment that would allow the city of Indianapolis to use money from a public safety local option income tax (LOIT) for other purposes, including the C.I.B.   The city already has the ability to increase the tax if necessary.

Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton) proposes expanding the Professional Sports Development Area (PSDA) in downtown Indianapolis to include the Circle Centre Mall.   Sales taxes collected in the PSDA would then be routed to the C.I.B.  

Neither proposal is likely to gain much traction, but they might help the Mayor focus.

Sen. Earline Rogers (D-Gary) made no secret of the fact that she is a Chicago Bears fan when the Colts played in the Super Bowl.  Today she shared her allegiance with Colts President Bill Polian when Polian testified on the Capital Improvement Board bailout before a state Senate committee.

Sen. Rogers said that she will have to justify a vote to support the Colts to Bears fan constituents. 

Polian took the cue and apologized for not doing enough to win over Bears fans in Northwest Indiana.  When Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton), a Colts fan, suggested that he bring up the Colts win in the Super Bowl, Polian again picked up the cue.

“I was too polite to mention that to the Senator,”  he said, “although I am wearing my (Super Bowl) ring!”

Sen. Rogers voted for the bill.