Indiana adopting Central Standard Time with DST?

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Since this was just discussed in another thread I thought I'd mention this news item.

Indiana Governor-elect Mitch Daniels announced today that he intends to push for Indiana to adopt Central Standard Time with Daylight Savings Time. This would put Indiana on the same time as Illinois year 'round and one hour behind Ohio and Michigan. It would also leave Arizona as the only state among the contiguous forty-eight not to change their clocks twice annually.

 

[jinman]

Gary, I like daylight savings time because I have a long commute and it gives me time at the end of the day to get things done before dark. When we "Fall back" to normal time, it means I get a few minutes of daylight in the morning before going to work. I hate leaving in the dark and getting home after dark. For my two cents, I like it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

It would also simplify my life. I'm in the N.W. corner of the state, we are always on the same time as Chicago up here. But go a few miles east or a few miles south of us and for the summer months those places are on the same time we are. . . in the winter months those places are "on New York time" while we stay on Chicago time. People coming to business meetings out of Chicago to our place inevitably show up an hour early or an hour late (and then blame it on traffic or road construction /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif). My truck drivers end up getting yelled at because they depart our facility at the same times each day to run their routes, but 1/2 the year our customers to the south & the east mysteriously get "late" deliveries and the other times they get "early" deliveries . . . but when we adjust our shipping schedules we also get complaints saying "I was expecting you earlier/later." /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[RobS]

I'm one of those "few miles west" of you Bob. Work in Indiana but live in Michigan. Prior to moving to Michigan I liked Indiana not changing. Saved me a lot of time on clock setting. Now it's a royal pain though and having Indiana on CST/CDT would be a pain year 'round for us. Ultimately, we're probably the minority in the state (those of us bordering Michigan/Ohio) but I'd prefer they went to EST/EDT. Is Kentucky Eastern or Central? Either way, it's good for the state but my vote, even though I don't get one as a non-resident, would be for Eastern /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

You north of the border types... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I think the governer elect said he isn't committed to either CST or EST yet, but wants us to go with one or the other and observe DST all year so that we are at least consistent with the rest of the country(except AZ).

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> 'I think the governor elect said he isn't committed to either CST or EST" </font>

I saw the clip of that speech and he specifically said 'Central Standard Time" and "Daylight Saving Time." I've already gotten some calls and emails from others who heard the same thing. That's even been the movement in the state legislature in the most recent session.

For what it's worth, I never heard one word about his position on time zones OR daylight savings time until AFTER the election. More importantly, just because he supports it doesn't mean it'll happen even though he has a Republican majority in both houses. I'm of the opinion that this is not so much a party line vote as a geographic vote.

What we know as 'the region' (the area around Chicago)already does what he proposes having statewide. The bulk of the state doesn't, of course, and is probably relatively divided on the issue. What I don't know is how deeply the sentiments are in that group or if there is a clear cut majority opinion. Obviously, the areas around Louisville and Cincinnati would favor DST. The difference there, of course, is that they favor it with Eastern time. Central time with DST would put them an hour different from where they work, shop, find entertainment and news all year long. I guarantee you that those folks are upset about this.

As for me, I'm not sure I care all that much. I'd like the late news on at ten all year long (and hope that would be the case). For me that would probably mean I'd get to bed earlier and get my morning started sooner. I haven't bothered to calculate how DST would affect that but I believe that in the summer months it would be darker later in the AM (sunrise at 6AM+ instead of 5AM+) and light later (sunset at 8PM+ instead of 7PM+). Personally, I think I can live with that without any problem. Of course, I'm not driving to work at 6AM, either. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

While it might be tougher doing with people on the East coast, I think that being an hour behind them would outweigh the confusion of being on the same time part of the year and an hour behind the rest of it.

I think after years and years of defeated proposals to go to EST with Daylight Saving this could well happen here. I'll support it if only to make us consistent with 46 other contiguous states. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MossRoad]

I hadn't heard his comments about CST. Either way, as long as it gets us in sync with at least one time zone all year, I'd be happy. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Well, in true flip-flop tradition, our governor-elect has already changed his position and he hasn't even been sworn in yet. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now he's standing firm on Daylight Saving Time but not so firm on the time zone to join. The last position I heard and read today (not to be confused with his 'current' position as of this point in time) is that he believes Central time would be best and least problematic for the most citizens but that he's open to Eastern time as the most important thing is that we adopt the Daylight Savings Time with whichever time zone we choose.

My guess is that when his announcement hit the news he got more than a few calls from supporters and Statehouse members who were not excited about his strong statement supporting Central time.

I'd think that anyone who could get himself elected governor (even though he spent more than anyone in history to attain that office here) would know how to do this. First you come out with a statement saying you intend to support Daylight Savings time with no comment on the time zone. Then you have an 'unnamed source close to the governor-elect' leak that you're going to support Central time. Then, if the idea gains acceptance, you come out supporting that very thing. If the idea is panned by most or many, as this one was, you state (accurately) that you made no statement to that effect and that you intend to research the matter thoroughly before you make any commitment.

Come on, Mitch... you just won the most hotly contest gubernatorial race in the nation. The least you can do is act like you know how to do this. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[DannyD]

What, I hate this time thing, give me est/dst all the time. I work in most of KY and parts of IN, I can figure out well enough what time someone else is on. Someone needs to buy the dud a couple of clocks, set one for each time zone.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

In addition to tractors I like Swiss watches and 2 of my favorites have dual time zone features. One is a Breitling Duograph that has a regular analog 12 hour face and then has a 24 hour military time ring with an extra hand. It is designed for pilots who fly cross country, and I got it because I travel a lot, with the push of one button I can tell time in two time zones. I find that in Indiana it is useful for 50% of the year so I can keep track of South Bend and points east without having to think! The other watch is a AP/Gevril with multiple hour hands, it is even more straight forward on tracking dual time zones. What that watch is too dressy to wear on the tractor, it is often on my wrist at work or when traveling. Living in Indiana and doing business in both time zones can really screw you up when you make appointments and don't pay attention to the time zone your customer is in at the moment you make the appointment, or worse yet, when you make an appointment BEFORE the time changes for a time AFTER the time change! It always pays to call first to confirm! But dual time zone watches are a great help to businessmen who have to deal with the screwy state we live in.

I haven't found too many dual time zone watches that look like regular watches without 2 separate faces. But there are a few of them.