General Assembly kicked off session

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The 2010 Indiana General Assembly kicked off Tuesday afternoon with Democrats promising action on property tax caps.

The planned action on the property tax caps will be the best example of change from a year ago. The Democrats who control the Indiana House blocked a vote on the caps in 2009.

First day speeches usually include a call for bi-partisan cooperation along with the identification of priorities (Tuesday it was jobs and property tax caps) as Minority Leader Brian Bosma followed tradition.

"The House Republicans are here to work with the majority to accomplish those important goals," he said.

And there will be some cooperation. A leader of the Democrats promised a vote on property tax caps.

"It's moving," said Majority Leader Russ Stilwell of the property tax cap legislation. "The process is working. It's deliberate. We've all heard from our constituents pro and con."

The bill that includes the permanent property tax caps will be up for amendment on Thursday. A final vote in the Indiana House could come as soon as next Monday.

But as soon as the House went into recess Tuesday Democrat Matt Pierce of Bloomington predicted that cooperation will have its limits.

"If you look at the past track record chances are," said Pierce, "A short session in an election year, it's going to be pretty political."

Democrats control the House with 52 of the 100 seats and Democratic leader Stilwell called for cooperation, too.

"Let's try not to have a 52-48 vote this year," he said.

Republicans, including Tom Saunders of Lewisville, didn't buy it.

"Both sides are going to try to get some votes on the board they can use against each other in the upcoming election," Saunders said.

Even House Speaker Pat Bauer questions the prospects for a bi-partisan approach.

24-Hour News 8’s political reporter Jim Shella asked, “"How long will that last?”

"Uh, let's see," he said. "What day is today?"

It's just the first day.