CLERE: It’s a matter of respect

By ED CLERE

STATEHOUSE — What do taxpayers, Congressman Mike Pence and fallen soldiers have in common?

Indiana House Speaker Pat Bauer didn’t have time for any of them.

I write this column with a sense of disappointment. I was hopeful I would have something positive to report to you today.

Instead, for the most part, last week was a series of setbacks and missed opportunities.

Constitutional property tax caps will have to wait another year. As time for a vote ran out, House Republicans made several unsuccessful attempts to force the issue, but Bauer refused to budge, ignoring House rules, members of his own caucus and a majority of Hoosiers.

In fact, when the speaker abruptly — and improperly – adjourned for the week, I had in my pocket a motion to suspend the rules to allow an 11th-hour vote on the caps. But I never had a chance to offer it, because before our scheduled business was complete, the speaker suddenly banged the gavel and hastily retreated from the chamber, leaving consternation in his wake.

Delay doesn’t mean defeat. But the caps are likely to be met with even more resistance next year, and if they don’t make it next year, the process would have to start over. Of course, the part of the process that raised the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent — a 17-percent increase — is already done.

“Cut now, cap forever” — the cry of last year’s legislative session — appears really to have meant, “Cut now, cap while convenient.”

By making himself the single obstacle that prevented a vote on the tax caps, Bauer showed tremendous disrespect for all Hoosier property owners, who now will have to endure at least one more year of uncertainty because of one man.

A low point in the week was when Pence was snubbed by the speaker.

Earlier in the session, the speaker invited Congressman Baron Hill to address the House from the speaker’s podium. Hill, a Democrat, was greeted with a standing ovation from all members, including me.

Such bipartisan courtesy and respect when it comes to welcoming other elected officials is a longstanding tradition in the Indiana House.

Not only did the speaker not allow Pence, a Republican, to speak, he didn’t even allow him to be introduced. Introductions on the House floor are commonplace; they happen almost every day. Members introduce folks from back home and others whose presence they wish to note. In the same week a congressman was refused an introduction, we were introduced to a member’s new grandson.

Suffice it to say, Pence, the third highest-ranking Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, warranted an introduction, at the very least.

Instead, in frustration after being rebuffed by the speaker several times, Republican Leader Brian Bosma interrupted the speaker to announce Pence’s presence at the side of the chamber.

Republicans — and a few Democrats — stood and clapped. Most Democrats stayed in their seats.

Speaker Bauer said there was no time for Pence to speak, but a short time later we took a dinner break — for three hours. According to the speaker, the break was for “security reasons” because of a “tea party” on the south lawn of the Statehouse. In a way, I could see his point. If I were Bauer, I might consider taxpayers a security threat — at least to my job security.

I didn’t feel threatened by the thousands of assembled taxpayers. In fact, I was glad they were there and enjoyed walking among them and talking with them. They deserve our attention and our respect.

I almost mentioned the next — and most egregious — show of disrespect by Bauer in a previous column, but I decided to let it go. I’m sorry I did because it demands mention.

Several weeks ago, we adopted a resolution honoring 152 of Indiana’s recently fallen soldiers, and more than 100 of the heroes’ loved ones were in the chamber for the presentation. They arrived early and stood waiting. By the time the speaker arrived, they had been standing — many with small children — for an hour or more. Much to our surprise, the speaker decided to make them wait a little longer, while he honored a political crony from South Bend.

Then he disappeared.

He handed the gavel to a stand-in and remained absent while we honored the fallen soldiers without him. I don’t know what he was doing, but whatever it was, I doubt it was more important than what we were doing in the chamber.

It was disrespectful to the soldiers who gave their lives, and to their families, who deserved our complete attention, and the speaker’s presence.

The speaker sets the tone in the House. We may have political differences, but respect should be nonpartisan.

Rep. Ed Clere represents District 72 in the Indiana House of Representatives. He may be reached by phone at 800-382-9841, by e-mail at h72@in.gov or by mail at the Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St., Room 401-7, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

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