Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and New Jersey Gov. John Corzine have asked advice from Indiana counterpart Mitch Daniels about leasing roads as Rendell and Corzine look to solve budget problems, according to the Post-Tribune of Merrillville.
Also, Colorado is discussing leasing its state lottery and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm this week is expected to propose putting Michigan’s lottery into a public-private partnership: Both states raised the idea because Daniels is pushing a lottery lease in Indiana—to fund higher education.
Daniels, a Republican who credits Chicago with launching the trend with its 2005 lease of the Chicago Skyway, is amused that most of the inquiring public officials are Democrats. Much of the opposition to Daniels’ $3.8 billion lease of the Indiana Toll Road last year was mounted by Democrats, led in part by Indiana House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend.
Now House Speaker, Bauer told the newspaper that interest in leases isn’t partisan, but rather is fueled by a “politics of greed.” Daniels is “outsourcing his gubernatorial responsibilities,” Bauer said.
