Live-blogging the State of the State Address

Good evening.  I will be covering the Governor's State of the State Address this evening.

7:03   Indiana is a stronger state.  We enter 2008 with positive momentum. (He's right.)

7:05   Government service is better.

7:06   BMV time is now 8 min, 11 sec - HUGE applause, and rightly so!

7:07   Governor admits to making mistakes along the way, but the results are real and dramatic.  This is good for him to say, as everyone already knows.  I think this is a strength of his.

7:07   If we can fix the BMV, we can fix anything - another big applause and laughter.

7:08   If you're not at least a little  proud of Indiana, you're not paying attention.

7:09   The Governor reflects on his accomplishments so far.  New jobs, budget shortfall, etc.  As I listened to this laundry list, it truly is amazing that so many initiatives have been tackled in so little time. You have to give the Guv credit for taking problems on boldly.

7:12   The Governor address the legislators - Take 4 major steps for taxpayers:  immediate relief, permanent protection against unaffordable taxes (there is some unease here among some), reform the assessment system, and genuine limits on total local spending and borrowing.  The last item is the most critical I think. (A group of Repeal Property Taxes activists cheer - or shout, I couldn't tell.)

7:16   The best line of the night receives standing ovations - "To tax less, you must first spend less, so you must say a polite "no" to the spenders and their lobbyists, and an emphatic "yes" to the overburdened property taxpayers of Indiana."  What a great line. "Business as usual must yield."

7:17   Discusses the commission and thanks Kernan and Shepard.

7:17   "This Assembly will take up other business, as it should."  Hmmm, is this a sign of support for you know what?  :)  Let the theories begin...

7:18   We must not settle for a mere shift of taxation.  This is an important statement, as many people fear the legislature will put a dollar in our front pocket only to take two out of our back pocket.

7:19    The Governor comments that no one's leaving for spring break until this is resolved.  Amazingly, there is little applause from the legislators on this one...  It's a hit with the rest of the audience, though!

7:21   Governor sets a deadline and asks the legislature to pass a fair, far-reaching, and final property tax reduction plan by February 26th, former Gov. Bowen's 90th birthday.

7:24   Speaker Bauer looks like he's really in pain.

7:25   The Governor calls on the motto of the Special Olympics - "Win or lose, may I be brave in the attempt."

7:26  Daniels calls on the legislature to be brave and act in a bi-partisan fashion.  "...fix their view not on the risks, and the critics, and the special interests, but on the chance for leadership, for breakthroughs, for greatness that lies straight ahead of us. So be brave these next few weeks."

Well done, Governor.  Thank you to Becky Skillman and her wonderful staff for graciously hosting us in their office during the speech.

Governor Daniels did what he needed to do tonight.  He set the tone and expectations for the legislative session.  And he managed to receive two cheers from the Repeal Property Taxes crowd as well.  It will be tough to work through all the details, but I think many legislators are ready to vote for any plan that will get them out of hot water with the voters.  We'll just have to see.