Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Speaker Bauer

Rep. Pat Bauer (D-South Bend) was officially sworn in as the Speaker for the Indiana House of Representatives today. Bauer spoke very briefly about the most important issues the legislature needs to address during the next two years. They included: property tax reform; affordable health insurance for everyone; fully funding education; and hearings on privatization. Today's atmosphere seemed amorous between Republicans and Democrats--perhaps the only time it will be that way during this session.

The only miscue today came when Speaker Bauer, reciting the oath to the House's new clerk, stated "Clerk of the Court" instead of "Clerk of the House of Representatives." An embarrassed Bauer quickly corrected himself. He then tossed the paper on which the oath was written to the Parliamentarian as if it to imply it was the Parliamentarian's fault.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see nothing has changed there. Bauer is still an idiot.

Don't get too comfy in that Speaker's chair big boy, 2008 will be here before you know it.

Anonymous said...

Or maybe he just was making light of a situation. Do you treat everyone with disrespect? Pat Bauer is very passionate about his state and his people. He cares about human rights. He wants to see that our children all have the same chance at education. Isn't it time to put party aside and work towards a better Indiana?

Anonymous said...

I need to add this to my previous comment. I blog alot and I would like to know why many bloggers feel the need to just insult others. I have met Pat Bauer and he is not an idiot. I urge those who like to cast insults to go to the state house and watch a few sessions. Listen and learn. You should be awed by the process and the people who govern our state.

Anonymous said...

I've met Pat Bauer, and I agree, he's not an idiot.

He's a troll.

I fail to understand why he's the one Dems choose to be their leader. He's got a tin ear politically, he's not personable, not camera friendly, gives terrible sound bites that the opposition salivates over, and he's out of touch with the entire state with the exception of his little trollish corner.

Can someone explain it to me? Who does he have pictures of?

Anonymous said...

Isn't what you said about Bauer true for most of the representatives at the state level. Old, out of touch part-timers who refuse to help advance Indiana in any signifigant way. We still fight about things in the legislature that have been passed years ago in other states. When will Indiana get on board and consider full-time legislature and real politicians.

Anonymous said...

7:34--awed by the process? Are you joking?

I went three times last session. The Senate was orderly, polite, subtle and effective.

Judging from the persons who went to the podium, the House was a collection of Village Idiots. Lousy grammar, lousy suits, lousy focus on real issues...and yeah, it DOES matter how you present yourself and how you look. If many of them would quit wearing their little brother's suit after they've gained 40 lbs. it might be different.

It never really changes. They just rearrange the deck chairs.

And these geniuses are deciding whether the Constitution should be amended so I can marry my partner? (Which duplicates existing state law)

Please.

Anonymous said...

I don't have anything negative to say about Pat Bauer. I think he will do a fine job as speaker.

But a new toupee might not be a bad idea.

Jeff Cox said...

"Isn't what you said about Bauer true for most of the representatives at the state level. Old, out of touch part-timers who refuse to help advance Indiana in any signifigant way. We still fight about things in the legislature that have been passed years ago in other states."

This is true. We fight about things in the legislature that have been passed years ago in other states because Pat Bauer doesn't want them passed. See, e.g. daylight time.