Lobbying reform advocates may want to wait a bit before celebrating a reform proposal made public this morning.

House Speaker Pat Bauer proposed lobbying reforms this morning including a reporting requirement for gifts of $50 or more (the current threshold is $100.)  Republicans, meantime, point out that he killed several similar lobbying reform proposals earlier this year.

The Speaker’s apparent change of heart (though his presentation could be described as half-hearted) may have something to do with an ongoing  investigation into lobbying practices by Indiana newspapers.  There are other possible motivations including a desire to reduce the governor’s ability to assist GOP candidates in next year’s election.

Plus, a provision that applies to lobbyist conflicts of interest could be viewed as a poison pill.

Several of us in the Statehouse press corps hold a ritual post mortem each legislative session and we name the session, among other things.

This year’s choice is The Blade versus the Boss.  

The Blade, Governor Mitch Daniels, was asked this morning if he had spoken to the Boss, Speaker Pat Bauer, since passage of the budget.  Said the governor, “No, he hasn’t called.”

Bauer’s response to the same question:  “He hasn’t called, he hasn’t written.”

Bauer called it his most frustrating session.  It was his 39th.  The governor said his feelings about the session don’t matter.

The state Senate just posted a revised start time of 1:30pm.

All eyes are now on the Indiana House where representatives of the Indiana State Teachers Association were just spotted in the reception area of House Speaker Pat Bauer’s office.  They don’t like the school formula in the budget proposal.

Rep. Bill Crawford just walked into House Speaker Pat Bauer’s office carrying copies of the budget bill.

I asked if he had signed it yet (in his role as Democratic conferee, a move required for a floor vote to take place.)   Said Crawford, “I’m just getting ready to.”

That should set the stage for an afternoon vote in the House.

House Speaker Pat Bauer reports a “possible” agreement on a new state budget.  The Indiana House will not vote on it tonight.

The state Senate hopes, however, to vote sometime after reconvening at 8pm.

There is logic to the approach being taken in the Special Session.

Democrats loaded up the budget yesterday with pet projects because they know that it will be Democratic votes that get the bill out of the House.   They need 51 and only have 52.   Republicans will vote against the budget, so Speaker Pat Bauer must make sure that everyone in his caucus is on board.  Hence, Rep. Craig Fry’s successful attempt to include insurance legislation that would never go in a budget otherwise (Fry is notorious for holding out for personal budget favors.)

Once the budget bill gets over the state Senate it will be transformed into a Republican budget (there is no mystery in the Senate where the Republicans have 33 of the 50 votes.)   That GOP budget will (in all likelihood) come back to the House as a conference committee report.  Then, it will be the House Republicans who must carry the day.  Again, they need 51 votes but only have 48. 

Speaker Bauer has said repeatedly that Democrats will supply 3 votes (from Democrats in safe districts) if the Republicans do their part.

Fallout from morning media availabilities after the General Assembly failed to pass a budget:

Governor Mitch Daniels won’t be specific about when an overtime period will begin but it won’t be anytime soon. 

Speaker Pat Bauer says House Democrats will give at least 3 votes for a budget in the Special Session.  House Republicans, he says, must provide 48.

A Capital Improvement Board Bailout will be part of the SS.   The governor says, “There should be a solution.”

Bauer says the governor threw the budget out because he need an SS for the CIB and couldn’t justify it for that bill alone.

The governor will sign the Unemployment Insurance fix.

Daniels is “disappointed” by the failure of almost his entire agenda.

Said Bauer of Daniels, “He thinks he rules.”

Daniels suggested that Bauer halucinated during final negotiations.  Said the governor, “He’s been under a lot of pressure.

What does the governor want?

That’s the big question today as state lawmakers work to create a budget that won’t earn a veto in the face of a midnight deadline.  It prompts other questions.

Does Mitch Daniels want a Special Session?

Does he want to revive local government reforms?

Does he seek to embarrass House Speaker Pat Bauer?

Is he peeved at fellow Republicans in the General Assembly?

Answers in 11 hours or so.

Where major issues stand as the 2009 Indiana General Assembly winds toward a close:

Unemployment Insurance– Sen. Dennis Kruse says, “I’m very optimistic at this point.”  Speaker Pat Bauer says talks are difficult, “But they are moving forward.”

Abortion–Speaker Bauer says he is reviewing the bill and appointed Scott Pelath as a conferee (Pelath has a reputation for killing controversial bills.)  He suggests a Senate concurrence with House changes in the bill if supporters want to pass it.

Gary Casino move–Bauer says, “That’s just like throwing a bomb in the middle of things.”  He says it should be considered next year.

CIB-Both Governor Mitch Daniels and the Speaker say the Colts need to take part in a bailout.

Budget–The governor says more cuts are required and he is flexible about where to make them but won’t threaten a veto (while calling both the House and Senate budgets unacceptable.)  Speaker Bauer says Daniels wants to wash his hands of budget making process and should offer constructive criticism.

Republican Congressman Mike Pence paid a courtesy call to GOP members of the General Assembly yesterday and today some of them complain that Pence was denied an opportunity to address the House of Representatives.  They point out that Democratic Congressman Baron Hill addressed lawmakers earlier this year.

House Speaker Pat Bauer admits turning down a request from Minority Leader Brian Bosma to let Pence take the microphone.  He says Hill made his request two weeks in advance and that the request on behalf of Pence was spur of the moment.  He called it “so out of place” on a deadline day.

Bauer says that through Bosma he invited Pence to come back later.