One of Gov. Daniels' pet projects, the elimination of township government, is all but dead in this session of the General Assembly, and Sen. Connie Lawson, who led the fight on the governor's behalf, has an explanation:
Lawson blamed the defeat in large part on a lack of political will.
There's only so much political will a legislator is willing to expend," she said. "It's difficult to change because we know the people who are operating our township governments. It's always difficult to put aside personalities."
I think that slightly misstates the problem. Township officials are exercising their clout. Legislators are paying attention to people with clout. So it isn't that there's a lack of political will. Political will is being expending in great quantities, just not in Lawson's or Daniels' direction.
