So opponents of local government consolidation don’t want to consider it because of the economic crisis. I was waiting for that one. Whenever somebody in the legislature doesn’t want to do something, they always cite some other pressing need that’s more important.

As soon as Governor Mitch Daniels announced his plan to reorganize county government and get rid of townships, a modified version of last year’s Kernan-Shepard report, House Speaker Pat Bauer immediately shot down the idea, saying that legislators need to spend all their time on salvaging Indiana’s economy, balancing the budget, and keeping critical state functions such as schools afloat. Why? Are our senators and representatives collectively unable to do more than one task at a time?

I suspect the real reason for deep-sixing any reform package is that too many members simply oppose the idea for various reasons. Because they once held the lower-level offices that would be eliminated. Because their friends and supporters now hold them. Maybe because they genuinely believe getting rid of the offices is a bad idea. But don’t use the economy as an excuse.

I once had a colleague, who’ll remain nameless, who always got in a huff when lawmakers worked on bills she thought less important at a time when there was something more pressing on the agenda, such as property taxes or schools. What I never succeeded in getting across to her is the old “Too many cooks spoil the broth” theory. All 150 legislators can’t work on the same issue. If they did, trust me, it would NEVER get solved. You have to leave things to the experts, in this case the fifteen to twenty percent of the House and Senate membership who specialize in money issues. True, they have to report to their caucuses regularly and make sure they’re taking into account the general sentiment of their fellow members. And of course, before any final vote, the entire membership must educate itself about the bill and reach an informed decision. But everyone can’t be involved at every minute. And that leaves the other lawmakers time to consider other important issues. Like local government reorganization.

Yes, the experts will have to spend 24/7 on budget. But the legislature as a whole really can walk and chew gum at the same time.