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.

Democratic Senator Vi Simpson called Mitch Daniels “out of touch” this morning for his pursuit of local government consolidation.  She also labeled his criticism of Republican Senators who voted against Kernan/Shepard proposals a “temper tantrum.”  (Daniels said he was embarassed for them.) Said Simpson, “Its too early in the session for a temper tantrum.”

Democratic Senator Tim Lanane, meantime, says that no one could demonstrate savings from the proposed reforms and that voters oppose them.  Lanane says it makes more sense to reform the existing system than scrap it.

Daniels, Simpson said, “Needs to remember that we represent our districts and don’t represent the governor.”

Jill Long Thompson’s new spokesman just called to debunk Internet reports that the Democrat candidate for governor is short on petition signatures required to make the ballot. 

That’s right the Thompson campaign now has a spokesperson.  Its Jeff Harris, who is familiar to political reporters in these parts.  He worked for the state Senate and the Vi Simpson campaign in 2004.  He even has an Indianapolis cell phone.

Harris says he quit his job to take up with the Long campaign.  (That’s confidence for you.)  And, he says Long will file to put her name on the ballot at the Statehouse tomorrow.