An opportunity for Bauer to reach out (11/22/06)

The word "bipartisan" has gotten quite a work-out since the election.

That's understandable, what with Democratic control of Congress and Democratic control of the Indiana House, President Bush and Gov. Daniels are going to have to reach across the aisle if they want to accomplish anything in the next two years.

But bipartisanship works both ways.

And Indiana Democrats would be wise to borrow a page from the GOP's platform if they're sincerely interested in positive change in the Statehouse.

We're talking about the proposal from then-Speaker Brian Bosma to remove the redistricting process from partisan politics.

Bosma made the suggestion last year, raising eyebrows in Republican circles by venturing that the people would be better served by an independent commission and judicial oversight in creating boundaries for legislative districts.

For generations, the process has been partisan politics at its worst. And in an age of sophisticated computer databases, it has gotten even worse.

Gerrymandering has become so commonplace both parties accept it as long as they get their turn to draw the lines now and then. What Bosma proposed would end all that.

It wasn't a Republican idea. It wasn't a Democratic one. It was simply a matter of trying to provide better, more open government. If incoming-Speaker Pat Bauer wants to strike a bold note of bipartisanship and offer some real leadership, we can think of no better step than to push the idea forward.

Call it Bauer-Bosma or call it Bosma-Bauer. No matter who gets top billing, Hoosiers would come out on top. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]