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Gov. joins lunch crowd, talks issues |
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Saturday, January 24 2009 |
By TJ HEMLINGER
Staff Writer
Gov. Mitch Daniels stopped in Columbia City Friday noon for lunch and a chance to say hello to some constituents and county officials at Big G’s on the south side of town.
He worked a crowded room before sitting down to a breaded tenderloin — with ketchup — and then answered a few questions.
Speaking about economic development, Daniels said, “We are working every day, believe it or not, to help businesses that want to start or to relocate to Indiana. We’ve been overwhelmed by businesses that continue to inquire about us.
“I believe we’re doing all we can to present Indiana with a competitive advantage. When you look at anybody’s competitive rating, we’re at the top, with the exception of a few Sun Belt states. We’re keeping taxes down, and we’re keeping a positive workforce.”
This session of the General Assembly is the “long” session, when legislators have to produce a balanced budget.
“I don’t think it will be hard at all,” Daniels said. “I think we need to know there will be a flood of federal money, which is the taxpayers’ money, as far as I’m concerned, but it will be a one-time thing. Most states will need this money just to keep the lights on. In Indiana we are keeping the lights on because we’ve been frugal.”
Asked if he thought the legislature would take any action on the recommendations of the Kernan-Shepard Report, which outlined a streamlining of county government by eliminating county commissioners and township trustees and having one county official appoint the assessor, recorder, treasurer and other positions, Daniels said simply, “I hope so.
“As I’ve been saying, we’re in tough times. We’re trying to make a more efficient and better government. This is a method that may not have all the answers, but it’s better than doing nothing.”
Daniels was stopping at unemployment centers across this part of the state to tell workers he appreciated their efforts in these trying economic times.
“It haunts me how fast this (surge in unemployment) came on,” he said.
Then he was off to his next stop.
E-mail staff writer TJ Hemlinger at
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, January 27 2009 )
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