CFO control belongs in local hands

Years ago, then-State Sen. Larry Macklin made a profound observation about the Indiana General Assembly.
Macklin, a Decatur Democrat who in those days had a men’s wear shop and these days works on economic development for Adams County, had gone to the Statehouse as the successor to Blackford County’s Wayne Townsend. And Wayne had briefed Larry on what he was getting himself into.
The biggest division when it came to Indiana’s legislature was not between political parties, Macklin observed. Republicans and Democrats in those days were pretty good at finding common ground whenever possible.
No, said Macklin, the biggest division was between lawmakers from rural districts and those from urban districts. They simply saw the world differently.
That observation echoed this week as news columns from here to Indianapolis were filled with talk about Senate Bill 249.
The bill would have effectively removed all local control from questions of citing the very sort of large agricultural buildings — dubbed “factory farms” by their detractors and “21st century agriculture” by their supporters — that are now at the center of local discussion and debate.
That discussion is still underway and is likely to go on for at least a few months more.
But if those involved can agree on one thing, it’s this: These are local decisions to be made by local people.
The last thing that’s needed is to shift the discussion to the halls of the Statehouse.
Better that the conversations take place in the courthouse among folks who know one another’s names, folks who will live with the consequences of whatever decisions might be made.
For now, fortunately, it looks as if Senate Bill 249 is a non-starter. Too many people from rural and small town Indiana spoke out and spoke out quickly.
But it’s a reminder that Larry Macklin was right and that if rural and small town Indiana is going to protect its interests, then party labels aren’t important. —J.R.