11/04/2010 - Compromise Essential as GOP Takes House (Post-Trib)

Opinion | Post Trib

Northwest Indiana's heavily Democratic delegation to the General Assembly will face a difficult, but not insurmountable, task when legislators head to the Statehouse in January. Republicans may have as many as 58 members in the House after seizing control from the Democrats.

With Republicans controlling the governor's office and both the House and the Senate, legislators from the most heavily Democratic part of the state could find it difficult to get things accomplished, especially with the area seemingly out of favor with the governor.

It would be easy for local Democrats to adopt the "woe is me" attitude and simply complain about everything Republicans do. Easy, but wrong.

The NWI delegation has become closer in recent years as its Democratic and Republican members have worked together for the common good. That will have to be taken to a new level, given the outcome of the Tuesday election.

Rep. Chester Dobis, D-Merrillville, the dean of the area delegation, and Rep. Ed Soliday, a moderate Republican from Valparaiso, have worked together quite well for the benefit of the region.

Soliday cautioned fellow Republicans about their approach to the upcoming session.

"I think we need to be somewhat modest in our victory," Soliday said, urging Republicans to seek the advice of minority Democrats.

Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, added, "I have always respected my fellow legislators on the other side of the aisle and I hope they continue to respect me."

Compromise never is easy when one party seizes control. Yet, never has compromise been more necessary than during these difficult economic times. Republicans, for the sake of politics, cannot ignore NWI, which continues -- as Mitch Daniels said six years ago -- to have the potential to be the state's economic engine. And Democrats can't hold the hard line against everything Republicans propose.