ANDERSON, Ind. —
Even though Republicans will be able to legislate at will when the General Assembly convenes in January, two local Democrat state lawmakers say that only makes their presence for debate more vital.
State Rep. Terri Austin overwhelmingly won re-election over Republican opponent James Lycan on Tuesday.
And Indiana Senate Democrats chose state Sen. Tim Lanane as their leader on Wednesday.
But with Republican supermajorities in both the Indiana Senate (37-13) and House of Representatives (69-31), will they simply be lone voices in the wilderness?
“It’s a pretty thin pancake that only has one side,” Lanane said on Friday. “On every issue there needs to be a debate. I think you have to do your duty as loyal opposition. I’ve challenged our members. Our numbers may be small, but that just means we have to work harder,” Lanane added.
Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said last week said the GOP would not overreach and focus on issues that matter to Hoosiers: education, jobs, and fiscal matters.
Lanane said he hopes Bosma lives up to that pledge and steers Republican lawmakers away from divisive social issues as the General Assembly prepares for its long session where the primary obligation is crafting a new state budget.
“We need to address the economy, education, public safety and infrastructure — which is a good way to create a lot of jobs — and the cost of higher education,” Lanane said. “These are the bread-and-butter issues I think people expect us to be working on.”
Austin said she believes one reason for the surge in Republican members is that this was the first election using new redistricting maps as a result of the 2010 census. Because Republicans were in the majority, “those maps were skillfully drawn,” to generally favor Republican candidates, she said.
Austin said she will take Bosma at his word and begin the session “with a clean slate, and we will work hand-in-hand,” with the majority.
She added that even though Republicans have a supermajority, that doesn’t mean everyone will agree. “They’ve got a very diverse group,” she said.
Large majorities also create the added prospect of factions developing within the caucus that can make it politically difficult to manage.
“We’ll see what kind of agenda they develop,” Austin said, “but our Democrat focus will be on jobs and economic development.”
She added that the supermajority the Republicans are enjoying now may be short-lived. In the mid-term election in two years, Democrats will likely target specific districts around the state in hopes of picking up more seats.
Find Stu Hirsch on Facebook and @StuHirsch on Twitter, or call 640-4861.
Election 2012
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Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, says Democrats and Republicans will begin the upcoming legislative session “with a clean slate." Darron Cummings
Discussion
Democrats will assume role of ‘loyal opposition’
General Assembly focus: to gain lost seats in 2014
- Election 2012
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Democrats will assume role of ‘loyal opposition’
Even though Republicans will be able to legislate at will when the General Assembly convenes in January, two local Democrat state lawmakers say that only makes their presence for debate more vital.
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New state schools superintendent may face limit on power
Democrat Glenda Ritz won the race for the state’s schools superintendent by challenging the education overhaul implemented by the Republican incumbent Tony Bennett, but her power to stop the sweeping changes in Indiana schools may be limited.
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Obama backers say race wasn’t a factor in vote
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In Indiana, nearly 90 percent of all blacks — 8 percent of the electorate — voted for Democratic incumbent Barack Obama. -
Winner Donnelly, losing Republicans assess race
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Pence's Anderson district office to remain open until December
Officials for 6th Congressional District Rep. Mike Pence, now Gov-elect Pence, said Wednesday that his district office next to the Paramount Theatre Centre will remain open through mid-December to provide constituent services.
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Lanane takes helm of Senate Democrats
Indiana Senate Democrats have elected Tim Lanane of Anderson to lead their 13-member caucus in General Assembly. Lanane, an Anderson attorney, has served in the Senate since 1997.
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House leader pledges no abuse of supermajority power
The Republicans’ near-sweep of Tuesday’s Indiana House races now gives them power that mirrors the GOP’s long-held supermajority in the state Senate. That shift prompted new Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, an Anderson attorney, to offer some advice: “Be careful what you wish for,” Lanane said.
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Pence pledges to go on with education, tax cut initiatives
Gov.-elect Mike Pence said he’ll make job creation “job one” when he takes office in January and promised to abide by his campaign’s “Roadmap for Indiana” plan, which includes support for education reforms that voters seemed to reject and a tax cut that legislative leaders oppose.
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Indiana exit poll: Women aid Donnelly victory
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney cruised to victory in Indiana, while Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly won a closely watched U.S. Senate race and Republican Rep. Mike Pence won the governor's contest.
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Pence elected Indiana governor to extend GOP control
Republican Mike Pence won election Tuesday as Indiana governor, extending his party's control of the state's top office at the same time voters ousted the incumbent GOP state schools superintendent.
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