OPINION: Hurry up is unnecessary

Morton J. Marcus is an economist formerly with the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. His column appears in numerous Indiana newspapers.

          Herbert Humbler, a Hoosier more modest that most, points out a new trend in Indiana. “I’m not sure, but it seems to me,” he says, “that we are into an era where ordinary caution so typical of Indiana is being forsaken for accelerated action. That is not the Hoosier way.”

          “Hmmm,” I hum, biting into my almond covered bear claw. “Indiana is certainly not known for speed, except at the Indy 500. The turtle could be our state animal.”

          “I am inclined to think,” Herbert resumes his meditation, “it is true. Look, for example, at the right-to-work (RTW) legislation. It carries an emergency provision so that it would go into effect in March rather than as usual with new or revised laws in July. What, I wonder, is the hurry?”

          “Proponents of the bill,” I say, “must feel that it is necessary to get the law on the books so that the benefits can be realized sooner than later.”

          Herbert blows on his coffee seeking to bring it to a more drinkable temperature. “That may be, but laws last for a long time. If RTW is truly going to bring jobs to Indiana, those benefits are not going to be felt right away. No. I imagine, in fact, just passing RTW would send the signal proponents want firms and site selectors to receive.”

          “How is this a trend?” I ask. “Are there other hurry-ups going on?”

          “The frenzy in Indianapolis to get things done before the Super Bowl is truly amazing,” Herbert says with uncommon zest.

          “Oh, the smoking ban,” I say.

          Another cooling blow on the coffee by Herbert before he says, “That’s one of many efforts to make Indiana seem to be in tune with selected groups in the rest of the nation. Isn’t it strange that a state that poses as a place of independent thought is so intent on being accepted by outsiders? Suddenly Indiana will be an RTW state. In the blink of an eye, Indiana is to be acceptable to bar-hopping health advocates.”

          “Are you suggesting Hoosiers are abandoning their traditional conservative behaviors?” I ask.

          “So it would seem,” he says. “Hurry-up has been Governor Daniels mode of action since he took office. Wasn’t it on his first day in office that he abridged the negotiating rights of state employees? He leased the toll road so that we could improve infrastructure sooner rather than later.”

          “Those were not necessarily bad moves given the political circumstances in Indiana,” I said. “Smoking is a serious health problem and a statewide smoking ban has been a long-time coming. Where’s the unwarranted rush?”

          “It’s not the governor here, but a set of Marion County council members that are linking a smoking ban to the Super Bowl. That I find curious,” Herbert says. “I’m not questioning the action. The idea, however, that it must be done in a short period of time, on the presumption that an influential set of visiting boozers will approve, seems dubious.

          “It’s the long run that counts,” Herbert continues. “Legislation should not be focused on today’s pressures. It needs, I would think, to be carefully considered, cautiously crafted, and geared to resolving long-term problems.

          "RTW legislation is not something that will resolve current unemployment problems. A smoking ban isn’t something you push through to meet a football schedule.”