Dems: Jobs plan missing in Daniels' speech

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Democrats in the General Assembly found little fault with the contents of the governor's speech but took issue with what he left out.

• Read the entire text of Daniels' State of the State Address

Party leaders say a favorable tax climate is not enough to attract jobs. They want the state to spend more money on bridge and road projects.

The Republican governor's positive message about a state with more stable finances than most was lost on members of the opposition party who hope to make jobs a campaign issue.

"Basically, his message was, 'Look, if you're not out of work and down on your luck, be glad you don't live in Illinois'," said Rep. Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City).

Even a Republican leader expressed concern that Mitch Daniels painted a picture that is too rosy.

"Perhaps he could have cautioned just a little bit more," said House Minority Leader Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis). "The state's finances do concern many of us and I know they concern him."

After a speech that included praise for Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly, the Democratic House Speaker called it positive and then attacked the governor's proposal for non-political redistricting as a partisan idea.

"I don't know where he is coming up with that," said Rep. Pat Bauer (D-South Bend). "I think he thinks they're gonna lose the House is what I think."

And the Republican leader of the state Senate wanted credit for the bi-partisan passage of property tax caps.

"I really do believe it was the Republicans who put us in this position today by continuing to press the issue," said Sen. David Long (R-Fort Wayne.)

But the primary criticism came from those who want more job creation, including Senator Minority Leader Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington).

"I heard no hope for people who are unemployed. I heard no vision for the future of this state," she said.

Yet the governor's message was that the future depends first on dealing with problems facing state government today.

So far, the public seems to accept the governor's approach.

In a Realtors' Association poll released just Monday, his approval rating is a relatively high at 65 percent. The State of the State Address will, in all likelihood, do little to change that.