By Mike Smith
The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS - House Speaker Patrick Bauer suggested Monday that the chamber may not vote on a resolution seeking to have most of Indiana moved to Central Standard Time and observe daylight-saving time.

"It might not (get a vote)," said the South Bend Democrat, who has the power to decide such matters. "I'm not saying one way or the other, really. I'm just studying the situation."

Bauer said the divisive issue had suddenly popped up, he was perplexed as to why "it's back on the table," and lawmakers already have "a lot on our plate."

"I don't see advantages or disadvantages, and I think that's the problem," Bauer said. "Some people are so convinced that a time change is going to bring in jobs and things like that, and other people believe time change will ruin their life. There's not a consistency."

Longtime Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, said last Thursday he wanted the House to vote on a resolution asking the federal government to move most of Indiana to the Central time zone. He said he sensed momentum behind the switch and believed the resolution would pass the House.

But he acknowledged then that he had yet to discuss the idea with Bauer. The speaker said Monday the two have since talked.

Currently, 82 counties are in the Eastern time zone, but 77 do not observe daylight-saving time. Five counties in southeastern Indiana are in the Eastern zone and do observe daylight time. Five counties in the northwest corner and five in the southwestern corner are in the Central time zone and observe daylight time.

Dobis said the resolution would ask the U.S. Department of Transportation, which regulates time zones, to move all but five southeastern counties to the Central time zone. He said the agency would then hold field hearings in the state and consider moving the time zone boundary.

Dobis said he believed a time zone switch automatically would put the state on daylight-saving time.

At least 24 times over the past three decades, legislation to change Indiana's clocks has failed in the General Assembly. Many of the proposals would have kept most of Indiana in the Eastern time zone but have it observe daylight time.

That would mean an extra hour of sunlight during the early-evening hours in the summer.

Bauer said many people in his district oppose a time switch, but he did not absolutely rule out a vote. "Every time you have an action, you have a reaction, so we need some time to let it be chewed on, if you will," he said.