V13 N31 Governor’s funk in NIMBYlandbuild a Death Star and deploy andImpe-rial Stormtroopers....
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Despite Illiana/Connector retreat, Ivy Tech, session has opportunities By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - It was inevitable. Every Indiana governor is going to have one of those weeks when noth- ing seems to go right. Gov. Evan Bayh had vetoed budgets, overrides and special ses- sions. Gov. Frank O’Bannon could never get his No. 1 priority - full-day kinder- garten - passed even when Democrats controlled the House. This past week was one of those weeks for Gov. Mitch Daniels. He pulled the plug on the Indiana Com- merce Connector and a good portion of the Illiana Expressway after thousands of people from Shelbyville to Valparaiso turned out to rally against the projects in their backyards. “Like you, I have been paying close atten- tion to the vigorous public discussion around my proposal to explore new privately funded bypass roads in Northwest and Central Indiana,” Daniels wrote to legislative lead- ers on Saturday. “After legislative action to date, some forty public meetings, and lots of other open debate, it is clear to me that we are far from the degree of consensus that is necessary before embarking on major public works projects of high local impact. Accordingly, I withdraw the suggestion that any action be taken on an Indiana Commerce Connector, or an Illiana Expressway east of I-65. Either of these ideas might benefit from further research, and I would welcome some form of that if your committees are so inclined. But the people of the affected areas have spoken clearly enough to persuade me that these ideas are, at best, prema- ture.” He was unable to get the IVY Tech board of trustees, Governor’s funk in NIMBYland Thursday, March 29, 2007 V13 N31 See page 3 By MORTON J. MARCUS INDIANAPOLIS - It is not sufficient to be bright and right. You must have the love and trust of the people... and Hoosiers don’t love or trust any- one enough to support change. The system has vast inertia, so great that no administration can do much but move it slightly up or down, left or right. That is the discouraging truth. Since no governor runs as the leader of a ticket with a plat- form, no governor commands the respect (obedience) of his party’s “If you don’t like it, you can vote me off the council.” - Howard County Councilman Stan Ortman after voting for a special income tax, saying he wanted to see the county as progressive on reducing property taxes (Kokomo Tribune) System of ‘vast inertia’ Gov. Mitch Daniels may be rethinking the notion of consensus.
Transcript of V13 N31 Governor’s funk in NIMBYlandbuild a Death Star and deploy andImpe-rial Stormtroopers....
Despite Illiana/Connector retreat, Ivy Tech, session has opportunitiesBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-Itwasinevitable.EveryIndianagovernorisgoingtohaveoneofthoseweekswhennoth-ingseemstogoright.Gov.EvanBayhhadvetoedbudgets,overridesandspecialses-sions.Gov.FrankO’BannoncouldnevergethisNo.1priority-full-daykinder-garten-passedevenwhenDemocratscontrolledtheHouse. ThispastweekwasoneofthoseweeksforGov.MitchDaniels.HepulledtheplugontheIndianaCom-merceConnectorandagoodportionoftheIllianaExpresswayafterthousandsofpeoplefromShelbyvilletoValparaisoturnedouttorallyagainsttheprojectsintheirbackyards. “Likeyou,Ihavebeenpayingcloseatten-
tiontothevigorouspublicdiscussionaroundmyproposaltoexplorenewprivatelyfundedbypassroadsinNorthwestandCentralIndiana,”Danielswrotetolegislativelead-ersonSaturday.“Afterlegislativeactiontodate,somefortypublicmeetings,andlotsofotheropendebate,itiscleartomethatwearefarfromthedegreeofconsensusthatisnecessarybeforeembarkingonmajorpublicworksprojectsofhighlocalimpact.Accordingly,Iwithdrawthe
suggestionthatanyactionbetakenonanIndianaCommerceConnector,oranIllianaExpresswayeastofI-65.Eitheroftheseideasmight benefit from further research,andIwouldwelcomesomeformofthatifyourcommitteesaresoinclined.Butthepeopleoftheaffectedareashavespokenclearlyenoughtopersuademethattheseideasare,atbest,prema-ture.”HewasunabletogettheIVYTechboardoftrustees,
Governor’s funk in NIMBYlandThursday, March 29, 2007V13 N31
See page 3
By MORTON J. MARCUS INDIANAPOLIS - It is not sufficient to be bright and right.Youmusthavetheloveandtrustofthepeople...and
Hoosiersdon’tloveortrustany-oneenoughtosupportchange.Thesystemhasvastinertia,sogreatthatnoadministrationcandomuchbutmoveitslightlyupordown,leftorright. Thatisthediscouragingtruth.Sincenogovernorrunsastheleaderofaticketwithaplat-form,nogovernorcommandstherespect(obedience)ofhisparty’s
“If you don’t like it, you can vote me off the council.” - Howard County Councilman Stan Ortman after voting for a special income tax, saying he wanted to see the county as progressive on reducing property taxes (Kokomo Tribune)
System of ‘vast inertia’
Gov. Mitch Daniels may be rethinking the notion of consensus.
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members.Sincethespoilsaredistrib-utedbythelegislaturemorethanbythegovernor,thelatterhaslittlecandytopassaround. Avisionarydoesnotaban-donanideatotheshort-sighted.Hepushesthevision,knowingthatitwillnotprogressfartoday,butthatitwillhaveabetterchanceinthefutureifthepathisclearedtoday. Thegovernorhasshownlittleabilitytogetpeoplebehindhisideasinadvanceofannouncingthem.WhenheputforwardtheCommerceCorridorwhowasontheplatformwithhim?GoverningrequiressuperiorPR.Ifideasarebold,theirpresentationmustbedifferentiatedfromtheordi-nary.Inbrief,Danielsneedsateamofrealistswhounderstandthelegisla-tureandthepublictoputthroughtheprogramsofhisbrightabstractionists.v
When your backis against the wall,knock down the wallBy ABDUL HAKIM-SHABAZZ INDIANAPOLIS-IhavetogiveGov.MitchDanielscredit.Heisextremelygraciouswhendealingwith
peoplewhodon’tgetit.Publicopposi-tiontotheCommerceConnec-torandportionsoftheIlliana
Expresswaykilledbothideas.LotteryPrivatiza-tionisonitslastleg.Andwhoknowswhatwillhappenwiththebudget.Mitchhasshownalotofdeferencetohisopponents.Iwouldtakeatotallydifferentapproach.First,IwouldbuildaDeathStaranddeployImpe-rialStormtroopers.Well,I’mkidding
abouttheDeathStar. WhatIdothinktheGovernorneedstodoisremindpeoplewhatlifewaslikebeforehegothere.Ifsomelawmakerdidn’tvotefortheexpress-way, fine. Then maybe the roads in that lawmaker’s district don’t get fixed rightaway.Ifsomeonehasaproblemwithschoolfunding,thenmaybetheirdistrictwillgetalittlelessnextyearoraslowpaymentortwoisinorder.Thismaysoundcruel,butsometimesyouhavetoshowpeoplewho’sbossaroundhere.Goodbehaviorisre-warded;peoplewhodon’tgetwiththeprogramarepunished. Nowsuchpowershouldbeusedjudiciouslyandneverusedinanirresponsiblemanner.Butsometimes,whenyourbackisagainstthewall,insteadoftryingtoclimboverit,justknockitdown.v
Two theories onOur Man MitchBy JACK COLWELLSouth Bend Tribune TwotheoriesaboutOurManMitch,eachonewithwidespreadbelief,nowappeartobeasoutdatedasthetheorythatthesunrevolvesaroundtheearth.OnetheorybelievedbymanybackwhenGov.MitchDan-ielswasarm-twistingfordaylighttimeandpeddlingtheTollRoadwasthathewasn’tinterestedinasecondterm.
Thiswasbasedonbeliefthathewasgoingtopushforwhathewanted,nomatterhowmanyHoosiershealienat-ed,becausehehadnodesiretoservemorethanfouryearsanyway. EvensomeofhisfellowRe-publicansinthelegislaturegrumbledthatDanielsdidn’tseemtocarehowmuchheplummetedinthepollsorthedangerthathewouldpullGOPcandi-datesdowninthe2006elections.Hewasn’tontheballotin‘06.Andifhewasn’tgoingtorunagainin‘08,may-beMitchdidn’tcare.Hecares.Now,itiswidelyexpectedthatDanielswillbeontheballotforre-electionin‘08.Whileit’sfartooearly for an official an-nouncement,Danielshasmadeclearthatheexpectstorun. Andwhywouldheraise$2.6millionincampaignfunds,withaneffortlaunchedtogetasmuchas10timesthatamountforarace,ifhewasn’tgoingtorun? Thesecondtheorywithwide-spreadbeliefbackwhenMitchwasintheditchinthepollswasthathewasaone-termgovernorevenifhesoughtre-election.Sincethen,Danielshasbouncedbacksome,especiallyinhisbaseintheIndianapolisarea,andisregardednowaslikelytobeaformi-dablecandidateforre-election. Afactorinthisisthatthe
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whichincludednineofhisownappointees,toslowdowntheprocessthatsawtheappoint-mentofThomasSnyder-amanlackingaPh.D-aspresidentoverCarolD’Amico.FiveDanielsappointees sided with five hold overstoappointSnyder. FormerIndianapolisStarcolumnistRuthHolladaywroteonherblog,“Insiderssaytheprocesswascorruptfromthebeginning,withIvyTechprezGeraldLamkindoingeverythinginhispowertokeepthepostfromgoingtorespect-ededucatorCarolD’Amico.Sotwisted,infact,wasthebehind-the-scenesmaneuvering,thatreferencesD’Amicolistedwerenever even contacted. The fix wasin.Why?BecauseD’Amico,hiredbyLamkinandsuppos-edlygroomedtotakehisplace,rockedthegood-old-boys’boattoomuch.Shewasinsistentoncleaninghouseinaneducationalsystemthathasbecomefartoopoliticalandisashelterforincompetence.Whenkeylegislatorsareonthepayrollaspublicrelationsspeakers,etc.,educationishardly the first priority. D’Amico would have made major changes,andLamkinandCo.didnotwantthat.” This came afterhiscigarettetaxwassnuffedoutearlierthismonth. Through the legislative session - the first with a DemocraticmajorityintheHouse-theDanielsadministra-tionhasappearedtohaveexploreddifferentfootings.Gov.Danielshasbeenmuchmoreconsensusorientedsincethe2006elections;someallieswillsaytoomuch.Notcar-ingaboutitmadethelackofithardtoseein2005-06;nowshiningthelightonitmakestheabsenceofitappeargreater.
Someobserversbelievethatthismightbeascriptedplanofthegovernor,apredictableevolution,toprovethatwaitingforconsen-susisarecipefordisaster.Someexpecthimtoreverttothe“strongleadership”heemployedin2005and2006. SomeStatehouselobby-istsseea“bunkermentality”takinghold in the governor’s office. “He feelsmistreatedbythemedia,soheislessavailable,”saidoneallyofthegovernor.AnexampleofthiswasGov.Daniels’JanuaryStateoftheStateaddresswasnottelevisedintheSouthBendmediamarket.ThereistheIndianapolisStar’sobsessionwithwherehelives. Thoseclosetothegov-ernorsaidheassumedthatthemediawouldgivehimpointsforbeingavailableonaweeklybasis,
buttheoppositeoccurred,so“darkerisbetter.” WiththeIllianaandtheCommerceConnector,thegovernor’sstaffisindicatingthat“he’sdonetakingtheslingsandarrows”andatleastforthetimebeing,itisthelegislaturethatwillhavetoprovidetheleadership. LegislativeDemocratsweretalkinguptheconceptofmasstransitasopposedtoprivatecompaniesbuildingtollwayswithnotaxdollars. TheproblemisthatvirtuallyallAmericanmasstransitsystemslosemoneyandmustbetaxpayersubsi-dized. Democrats controlportionsofthestatewheremasstransit-i.e.theSouthShoreline,IndyGo-losemon-ey and require significant tax subsidies. Democrats have resistedanykindofgeneraltaxincrease,beitoncigarettesorincome.Whiletheyhavescoredpoliticalpointsindeal-ingGov.Danielslegislativedefeats,thereislittletobesaid
Democratwiththebestchanceofbeatinghim,popularIndianapolisMayorBartPeterson,decidedonanothertermasmayor.PetersonwouldhaveneutralizedDaniels’strengthintheIndianapolisareaandtakenadvantageofanti-Danielshostilitythatsmoldersstillinthenorthernandsouthernpartsofthestate. Many factors will be involved inthe‘08raceforgovernor.Thestateoftheeconomyalwaysisafactorinaraceforgovernor,evenifgovernorsreallydon’thavealotofcontrolovertheeconomyintheirstates.Healthofthenation’seconomyandwhicheconomicsectorsareinboomorbustwilldeterminewhichwayIndianaemploymentisheaded.
Thejobpicturehasnotbeenbright,especiallywithwoesoftheautomotiveindustry,butDanielsisseekingtoplayupanewHondaplantnearIndianapolisforwhichgroundwasbrokenlastweek. There will be other ceremoniesinwhichhecanparticipateforhighwayprojectsthatwillbefundedatleastinpartbyTollRoadleasemoney.ButthestartofhigherTollRoadtollsnodoubtwillbeportrayedbyDemocratsas“thegovernor’staxincrease.” No,thesundoesn’trevolvearoundtheearth.And,no,youcan’tcountoutMitch.v
Gov. Mitch Daniels particpating in a groundbreaking at BioTown in Reynolds with Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. (Gov. Daniels Photo)
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whentheinevitable“nowwhat?”leavesthelipsofthatDemocratic voter sitting in chronic traffic jams on the Bor-manExpressway. DuringtheMajorMovesdebate,keyDemocratslikeIndianapolisMayorBartPeterson,formerGov.JoeKernan(whonowlivesclosetotheIndianaTollRoadinSouthBend),andformerLt.Gov.KathyDavis,wereallsilentonthesubject.EvansvilleMayorJonathanWeinzapfeltacitlysupportedtheplanbecauseitwouldextendI-69tohiscity. OnereasonMayorPetersonmayhavedecidedagainstachallengetoGov.Danielsin2008isthathisownadministrationhasbeenatphilosophicaloddswiththeanti-privatizationsentimentsofIndianaHouseDemocrats. WiththeIllianaandCommerceConnectoreitherdeadorheadedforastudycommittee,therearestillplentyofopportunitiesforsuccessthatcouldbesharedbyBauer’sDemocratsandtheDanielsadministration. AsonelobbyisttoldHPR,“Throughoutthisses-sion,thegovernorhaskepthisheadlowandtheywerenotexposingtheirhand.Nowtheyarestartingtoshowwhat’sreallyimportanttothem.Theyarestartingtonarrowdowntheirscope.” Some form of full-day kindergartenisagoodbetforpassage.Abalancedbudgetisacertaintyandtherehasbeenlittletalkaboutthelikelihoodforaspecialses-siontodoso.DemocratshaveslatedtheprivatizationofpartoftheHoosierLotteryforthedustbinandit’shardto
believethatBauerwillletthatberevived,butanumberofDemocratswanttoseeaslotsbillpassandthosewillpossiblybelinkedinthefinal days.
Thegovernor’stoppriorityisthehealthcareplanandtherevivalofthataftertheHousefailedtopassaciga-rettetaxincreasebeganonWednesday.HouseRepublicanspromisedenoughvotestopassa40centhike,withHouseMinorityLeaderBrianBosmasaying,“It’stimetoendthisstandoff.We’reheretocallyourbluff.We’repreparedtomoveforwardwitharesponsibleprogram.” SenatePresidentProTemDavidLongsaidhewantedthe House to pass the plan first. House Public Health Chair-manCharlieBrownsaidhewas“committedtosomethinghappeningthisyear”(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).“If(theSenate)passesacigarettetax,we’llmeetthemincon-ferencecommitteeandtrytoworkoutaplan,”saidBauer.v
2008 Indiana Governor Governor 2008:Republican:Gov.MitchDan-iels.Democrat:SenateMinorityLeaderRichardYoung,JimSchellinger.1996 Results: O’Bannon(D)1,075,342,Goldsmith(R)997,505,Dillon(L)35,261.2000 Results:O’Bannon(D)1,230,345,McIntosh(R)906,492,Horn-ing(L)38,686.2004 Results: Daniels(R)1,302,912,Kernan(D)1,113,900,Gividen(L)31,644.2008 Fore-cast:ThemoveofIndianaDemocraticPartyExecutive
DirectorMike EdmondsontotheSchellingercampaignasafundraiserandcom-municatorlendscredencetothenotionthattheIDPwashardly“neutral”intheearlystagesofthisrace.Attheleast,allthekeyplay-ersunderstandthisnowand
thismoveisbeneficialtoboththeSchellingercampaignandtheparty.Edmondsonhasamuchbettertrackrecordraisingmoneythancommunicating,thoughhisunsuccess-ful2003racefortheIndianapolisCouncilwassomeofthebest,positivedirectmailwe’veseen.Fred YangofGarinHartYang,whichhaspolledextensivelyfortheIDPandGovs.O’BannonandKernanhassignedon.JLT appearstobeundauntedingettingintothefield.CloseassociatestellHPRthatshehasscheduledanumberofJefferson-Jack-sondinnerappearancesandothereventsinthestateinthecomingweeks. Fort Wayne Journal Gazetteedito-rialwriterTracyWarnerwrotethisweekthattheracewas“wideopen”andthatotherDemocratscouldbeexpectedtojumpin.TheblogBlue Indianaobserved:“Firstofall,IthinkthatJimSchellingerwillprovehimselftobeveryadeptatfundraising,nottheleastofwhichbecauseofthehighprofilesupportershehashadsignontohiscampaignalready.Furthermore,IthinkthatMr.Warnerisalittleoffinhisassertionthattheraceis“wideopen”atthemoment.Iamwillingtoconcedethatifahigh-profilecandidateweretojumpinatthispoint,especiallysomeonewithstatewidenamerecognition,therewouldcertainlybesomeroomforcampaigning.Asitstandsthough,theSchellingertrainappearstohaveleftthestationwhiletherestofthefieldwaitspatientlyforasigntomove.RichardYounghasacampaignwebsitethatdoesn’timplyheistakinghisrunseriously,(sowhyshouldwe?),andJillLongThompsonseemsconvincedthatthebestwaytocompetewithSchellingeristogivehimafewmonthsheadstartbeforestartinghercampaign.Idon’tknowaboutyou,butrightnowtheSchellingercampshouldbethrilledbecausewhiletheyaretakingtheirinstitutionalsupporttothebank,nooneseemsallthatinterestedinchallengingthem.”HPRprettymuchagreeswiththisassessment.Primary Status: LEANSSCHELLINGER.General Status:LEANSDANIELS.v
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Politics of marriagereaches critical massBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-"ThemostpowerfulmaninIndianapolitics”-EricMiller(sorryGov.Daniels,SpeakerBauer,ProTemLong,Lt.Gov.Skillman)-surecanmusteracrowdattheStatehouse.Morethan1,000showeduptopresstheIndianaGeneralAssemblytopasstheconstitu-tionalmarriageamendmentandtoendpropertytaxes. Millercalledita“rightversuswrong”situation. ItwasanimpressiveshowofforceanditcameasalleyesshiftedtotwoHouseDemocrats:HouseSpeakerB.PatrickBauer,whohadaSouth Bend Tribuneadaimedathim,andHouseRulesChairmanScottPelath. Pelathhadyettoscheduleacom-mitteevoteonthematter.Hisconcernwasn’toverthe“oneman/onewoman”aspectoftheamendment,butthesecondsectionthatreads:"ThisconstitutionoranyotherIndianalawmaynotbeconstruedtorequirethatmaritalstatusorthelegalincidentsofmarriagebeconferreduponunmarriedcouplesorgroups." IftheamendmentcomesoutoftheRulesandLegislativeProceduresCommitteeitwillgetavote,Bauersaid,"notbecauseofthisad,becauseoftheprocess"(South Bend Tribune).Bauersaidthead"ismeanttobeapoisonousdartatwhoevertheyperceiveastheirenemy."Thelegislatorsaidhisofficereceivedfewphonecallsaftertheadwaspublished. ThebiggestpushagainstSJR7beyondthegayandlesbiancommunityiscorporateIndianawithheavy-weightslikeLilly,CumminsandWellpointactivelylobbyingagainsttheresolution. Tony Murphy, Lilly’s seniorvicepresidentforhumanresources,sentalettertoBauer.“AsaresultofthisuncertaintysomeemployeesmaychoosetoleaveIndianato work in a state where these benefits are perceived not tobethreatened,”Murphywrote.“GiventhegreatlengthsLillytakestoattractandretaintoptalentfromaroundtheworld,weopposeanylegislationthatmightimpairourability to offer competitive employee benefits or negatively impactourrecruitmentandretention.” Murphyaddedthattheresolution“sendsanun-welcomingsignaltocurrentandfutureemployeesmakingIndianaappearintolerant.” CumminsrecruitingdirectorMarkOsowichsaid,“AnythingthatmakesIndianalessinclusiveandlesswelcomingforourcurrentemployeesandforourfuture
employees makes it more difficult for Cummins to compete. ThisamendmentwoulddojustthatbysendingamessagethatIndianaisnottolerantofdiversity.” Thepoliticalcalculusisdicey. The Lilly letter was releasedtothemediabyBauer’s press office, suggesting that the Democrat might besettingthestageforkillingtheamendment. TherewereStatehousewhispersthatRepublicanbackersoftheamendmentwerethreateningtokilllegisla-tionWellpointwasseeking,whichsetsupaclashbetweeneconomicandsocialconservatives.
DespitetheshowofforceattheStatehouse,pollsbothinIndianaandnationallyshowmajoritysupportformarriageamendments,thoughthenum-bersfalloffdramaticallywhenitcomestowhethergaycouplesshouldbeableto have property, benefit and deathbed rights. Thepoliticaltemplatehasalsoshifted significantly since this latest phasebeganin2004aspartoftheKarlRoveWhiteHousestrategytoturnouttheevangelicalright.IthelpedwinPresidentBushasecondterm,butby2006therewereconspicuousdefeatsnationally(RalphReedinGeorgia;theanti-evolutionmajorityontheKansasBoardofEducation)thatsuggestedthat
thepoliticalpendulumhadswungaboutasfarrightasitcouldandwasheadingbacktothecenter.AfurtherpieceofevidenceisRudolphGiuliani’sdoubledigitleadinvirtu-allyeveryGOPpresidentialpoll.InIndianapolisearlierthismonth,onthetopicofgaymarriageandintolerance, Giulianisaid,“Ibelievethewaytodealwithitistohavedomesticpartnerships.Americaisbetterthanthat.AndtheChristianreligionisbetterthanthat.” The issue did little to staveofftheHouseDemocraticMajorityinIndianain2006.YoucanbetthatkeyBauerDemocraticconstituenciesarepressuringhimtokillthemeasure,thoughherunstheriskofsomeattemptforretributionin2008. Yettheissueishardlymonolithic,partywise.ItpassedtheIndianaSenatebyacomfortablemargin.Demo-cratSen.JimLewisandRep.DaveCheathamsignaledtheirsupportthisweek."Marriageissacred,"saidCheatham,whodefeatedRep.BillyBrightlastyear.Brighthadbeenabigproponentoftheresolution."Forthousandsofyears,marriagehasbeenthecenterofthefamily”(Madison Courier).Cheatham,however,counteredwithanotherschoolofthought,tellingtheaudiencethathewasn'ttryingtopreventpeoplefromlosingbenefits,buttryingtodefinemarriage."Let'snotattachmarriagetotheserights,"Cheathamsaid.v
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2008 Presidential Polls Republican Date Giuliani McCain Thompson Romney SpreadZogby 03/22-03/26 27% 13% 9% 9% Giuliani+14%USAToday/Gallup03/23 - 03/25 31% 22% 12% 3% Giuliani +9% Rasmussen 03/19-03/22 35% 15%- --% 8% Giuliani+20%Time 03/09-03/12 40% 20% --% 7% Giuliani+20%CNN 003/09-03/11 34% 18% --% 9% Giuliani+16%
Democrat Clinton Obama Edwards Gore SpreadZogby 03/22-03/26 32% 22% 13% Clinton+10%USA Today/Gallup 03/23 - 03/25 35% 22% 14% 17% Clinton +13% Rasmussen 03/19-03/22 37% 25% 17% -- Clinton+12%Time 03/09-03/12 34% 26% 10% 13% Clinton+8%CNN 03/09-03/11 37% 22% 12% 14% Clinton+15%
Indiana Notes:FormerSen.John EdwardswillappearatanoonFridayfundraiseratRuth’sChrisindowntownIndianapo-lis.Republican Mitt Romney willhostafundraiserattheColumbiaClubonApril5.
Hoosier Support:Giuliani:MarionCountyProsecutorCarlBrizzi.McCain:Gov.MitchDaniels.Romney:AttorneyGeneralSteveCarter;SecretaryofStateToddRokita,JamesBopp,DanDumezich,BobGrand.Edwards:FormerChairmanRobinWin-ston,9thCDChairMikeJones,AnnandEdDeLaney,BruceKehoe,JamesVoyles.
The ‘Elizabeth Effect’By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-DemocraticpresidentialcandidateJohnEdwardswillbehereforafundraiseratnoonFriday.Hisappearancecomesafteraweekofintensescrutinythatcentersofthehealthofhiswife,Elizabeth,whoannouncedaweekagothatherbreastcancerhadmetastisizedintoherbones. JohnandElizabethEdwardsappearedonCBS’ Sixty Minutes lastSunday,ignitingadebateonwhetherheshouldgiveuphiscampaignforpresident.ShetoldKatieCouricthatifthecouplegaveupthecampaign,shewould“stopliving”and“startdying.” “There’snotasingleper-soninAmericathatshouldvoteformebecauseElizabethhascancer,”Edwardssaid.“Notaone.Ifyou’reconsideringdoingit,don’tdoit.Donotvoteforusbecauseyoufeelsomesympathyorcompassionforus.” Washington PostbloggerChrisCillizzanotesthattheEdwardscampaignisonadifferenttrajectorynow.“Just five days removed from the public acknowledgment thatElizabethEdwards’cancerwasback,it’sclearthather
illness-andthecouple’sdecisiontokeepthecampaigngoing-ishavingaprofoundeffectonhowJohnEdwardsisperceived.WitnessaspeechEdwardsgavethismorningtotheCommunicationWorkersofAmericainWashington.” “I have to tell youastoryaboutsomethingthatElizabethsaidyesterday,”Edwardsbegan.“ShewasinCleveland,Ohio,yesterday,speakingtoagroup.Andshe
saidatthebeginningofhertalk,shesaid,‘Youknow,Iturnonthetelevi-sionnowandthereIam.Ipickupthefrontpageofthenewspaper,andthereIam.Iturnonmyradio,andthere’smyvoice.’Andthenshesaid,‘Youknow,Idon’tknowaboutyou,butI’msickofme.’” Edwardsthensaid,“It’sexactlythekindofwomanthatI’mblessedtobemarriedto.Andbothofusbelievesodeeplyinthiscause,whatLarryre-ferredtoasacrusade,whichisexactlywhatitis.ItisacauseandacrusadetoendthetwoAmericasthatwestillliveinintheUnitedStatesofAmerica,
tocreateandstrengthenagrowing,vibrantmiddleclass.” Thusfar,thehugeamountofmediatrainedonthecouplehasnottranslatedtoabumpinthepolls.ThelatestGalluppollhasEdwardsat14percent,justaboutwherehewasbeforethisphaseofthecampaignbegan.v
John and Elizabeth Edwards at Chapel Hill, N.C. last week. They announced that her cancer has returned. (Edwards Campaign Photo)
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2007 Legislative Caucus Senate District 8: Democrat:JimArnold,LakeCountyDeputyProsecutorRobNeary,RobinOshin-ski,LynneKaser,DebraBirkholtz,MichiganCitySchoolBoardPresi-dentJeffJones. 2007 Caucus Forecast: IttookthreeballotsonSundayafternoon,butformertwo-termLaPorteCountySheriffJimArnoldwilloccupytheseatofthelateStateSen.AnitaBowser,whodiedonMarch4(BrianA.Howey,HPR).Arnoldwon35-34onathirdballotoverformerNIPSCOunionpresidentDebra Birkholtz, a figure several party officials thought was thepersontobeatgoingintothecaucus.ArnoldedgedBirkholz 29 to 27 during the first round of voting at the LaPorteCountyComplex(South Bend Tribune).PurdueNorthCentralAssisantVice-ChancellorJeffJones,who'salsopresidentoftheMichiganCitySchoolBoard,wasthirdwith eight votes. Arnold had trailed Birkholz by five votes onthesecondballot.Whentheresultsofthethirdbal-lotwereannounced,Arnold'swife,Lauren,letoutaloudyellandexclaimed,"OhmyGod."Arnoldsaidhewouldrun"withouthesitation"fortheseatinthe2008election.SecondCDChairmanButchMorgantoldHPRthatanArnold-Birkholtzprimaryracein2008isapossibility.Birkholz,55,waspresidentoftheUnitedSteelwork-ersUnionLocal13796outofChestertonfor13yearsbeforeretiringin2005.Shewasobvi-ouslydisappointedyetgraciousinacceptingdefeat."It'sunfortu-nate.Youdothebestthatyoucanandyoureachoutandtalktoasmanypeopleasyoucan.Iwishhimthebest,"Birkholzsaid.Arnold,62,saidhewillgotoIndianapoliswithanopenmindtolistentowhathisconstituentshavetosay(Post-Tribune)."I'lldowhatIthinkisrightforthevotersinSenatedistrict8,"saidArnold,whointendedtoseektheseatin2008.Caucus Status: ARNOLDWINS.
2007 Mayoral Anderson: Republican:MayorKevinSmith.Democrat:KrisOckomon.2003 General Results: Smith(R)8,947,Rock(D)7,821.2007 Forecast: Mayoralcan-didatesmustliveinthecityinordertorunforoffice,andthathasbeenthecatalystforbothDemocraticchallengerstorelocate.AndersonPoliceOfficerKrisOckomonsaidhisresidencystatushasbeenquestionedbylocalRepublicans(Anderson Herald-Bulletin).“It’saploybythemtore-movemefromcontentionintherace,”Ockomonsaid.“Myworkisinlawenforcement,andIwouldnevergoagainstthat.”Ockomon,aformerAndersonCityCouncilmember,relocatedtoChesterfieldseveralyearsagotoallowhisdaughtertoattendasign-languageprogramnotofferedthroughAndersonCommunitySchools.Whenhisdaughterleftforcollege,hedecidedtorunformayorandthatmeantcomingbacktothecity.. Primary Status: TOSSUP. Fort Wayne:Republican:AllenCountyCom-missionerNelsonPeters,MatthewKelty,IvanHood,Wilbert“Duke”Brown.Democrat:TomHenry,FredSteinke,TomCook.2003 Results:Richard(D)27,251,Buskirk(R)19,701.2007 Forecast:Conservatismvs.pragmatism.Values vs. efficiency. MySpace.com vs. my elected sup-porters(Lanka,Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).Thisyear’skeyprimaryraceforthemayorofFortWaynepitstwomenwhohaveworkedtogetherprofessionallyandclaimtobefriends.Theircampaignsuptothispoint,however,showtwocontrastingstylesandplansforwin-ningthatelection.KeltyandPetersarethetwomainplayersinthisyear’sRepublicanmayoralprimary.Whilethreeothercandidatesareonthebal-lot,KeltyandPetershavealmostallof the name recognition and financial supportheadingintotheMay8prima-ry.Inthebroadestsense,accordingtoAndyDowns,directoroftheMikeDownsCenterforIndianaPoliticsatIndianaUniversity-PurdueUniversityFortWayne,Keltyismakinganidealisticappealforthejob,whilePetersisfocusingmoreonthedutiesofamayor.Many–Keltyincluded–havedubbedthearchitecttheun-derdogintherace.Petershasthesupportofalmosteverycurrent elected official and gets plenty of free publicity from hiscurrentpositionascountycommissioner,accordingtoKelty’spresssecretary.TheunderdogroleisoneKeltyandhiscampaignseemhappytoplay.Keltysupporterswearjackets reading “Kelty for Mayor,” he was the first to appear on television – last Christmas – and was the first to an-nouncehiscandidacy.“Atthispoint,thebiggestdifference(inthecampaigns)isMatt(Kelty)isgoingallout,”said
State Sen. Jim Arnold is congratu-lated by his wife after winning the SD8 caucus last Sunday. He replaces the late Sen. Anita Bowser, who died on March 4. (Michigan City News-Dis-patch Photo)
KELTY
Thursday, March 29, 2007Page 8
KevinKnuth,localDemocraticPartychairman.“I’malittlesurprised(Peters)hasn’tkickeditupbynow.”Primary Status: LIKELYPETERS;SAFEHENRY. Gary: Democrats:MayorRudyClay,KarenFree-man-Wilson,ChuckHughes,DarrenWashington,JohnHenryHall,LarryAnderson,Ulysses(Lish)Burnett,LarryEvans,NormanL.Roby,PierreStrickland,TheresaMosesSturdivant.Republican:JaysonReeves,CharlesR.SmithJr.2003 Results:King(D)10,028,Smith(R)1,201.2007 Forecast: Clay, who is fighting to ease Gary's $60 mil-lion budget deficit, has a campaign war chest flooded with steepdonations,aTimescomputer-assistedanalysisof2006campaignfinance reports shows.About44.3percentofClay'sitemizedcontribu-torsgave$1,000ormore."I'mnostrangertothepoliticalarena,"Claysaid."ThepeoplewhosupportmeknowI'lldoagoodjobforpeopleinthecommu-nity."Clayrakedin$163,270.48initemizedcontributions,whicharedonationsof$100ormore.The71-year-oldraisedanother$54,666indonationsoflessthan$100.HisbiggestcontributorwascitycontractorBaker&DanielsLLP,whichdonated$4,000.Thatcompany’slobbyingcontractwaschoppedby80per-centlastDecember,Claysaid.Claywontheendorsement,CaptainJamesReedsaid,with15votes.KarenFreeman-Wilsonreceivedfive,DarrenWashington,four,andChuckHughes,one.HughesisaskingtheIndianaSecretaryofStatetoexpanditselectioninspectiononMay8intoGary(Post-Tribune).ToddRokitaandIndianaAttorneyGeneralSteveCarterannouncedatoll-freephonenumberlastweekforpeopletocalliftheysuspectballottamperingorvoterfraud.InalettertoRokita,Hughessaid,"ThereisrampantfearinthecityofGarythatorganizedeffortsbypeopleinpowerfulpositionsherewillresorttoanyunethicaltactics,illegalorotherwise,toinfluencetheoutcomeofourelec-tions."Status:LIKELYCLAY Jeffersonville: MayorRobWaiz.TomGalligan.Republican: 2003 Democratic Primary:Waiz2,187,Galligan1,708,Muncy252,Ogden166.2003 General Results:Waiz(D)3,711,Raymond(R)2,354,Fisher(L)118.2007 Forecast: TheJeffersonvilleBoardofEthicscriticizedthere-electioncampaignofMayorWaiz,order-ingittoreturnmorethan$3,000incontributionsthatthe
boardruledviolatedthecity'sethicsordinance(Louisville Courier-Journal).TheboardalsosaidthecampaignofformerMayorTomGalligan,Waiz'sopponentintheMay8Democraticprimary,violatedtheordinancebyaccepting$200 from a law firm that includes the City Council's lawyer, GregFifer.Theethicsordinancesetsthelimitonacontri-bution from a firm doing work for city government at $100 foraprimary.Fifercouldnotbereachedforcomment,butGalligansaidhemisunderstoodtheordinanceandwillrefund$100.Waiz,whohas30daystocomplywiththeboard'sdecisionorexplainwhyhedoesn'tbelievehehasto,lastnightdeniedthathiscampaignviolatedtheeth-icsordinanceandquestionedtheobjectivityoftheboard.WaizalsosaidthathewaspleasedthattheethicsboardfoundthatquestionsaboutthepurchaseofInternetdo-mainnamestokeepthemoutofthehandsofhisopponentdidnotviolatetheordinance.Primary Status: LEANSWAIZ. Kokomo:Democrat:CouncilmanGregGood-night,CouncilmanBobHayes,AndyCastner.Republican:MayorMattMcKillip,CouncilmanRickHamilton,TomHam-ilton.2003 Primary Results:Republican:McKillips1,565,Donoghue972,Bolinger327,McKay243,T.Hamilton38.Democrat:Castner1,360,Lushin1,358,Alexander969,El-lis34. 2003 General Results:McKillip(R)5,229,Castner(D)4101,Dunlap(I)832.2007 Forecast:McKillipcalledforstricterregulationsonlocalsexuallyorientedbusiness-es,andsaidthecityneedstogrowitstaxbaseduringhisannualStateoftheCityaddressbeforecitycouncilMonday(Smith,Kokomo Tribune).Duringthe40-minuteaddress,punctuatednumeroustimesbyapplausefromthemayor’ssupporters,McKillipmadeseveralreferencesto“conserva-tivegovernment,”sayinghebelieves“morecanbedonetocuttaxes.”Inparticular,McKillipcriticizedeffortsbyHowardCounty government officials to institute a local income tax increaseaimedatshiftingcriminaljusticecostsawayfrompropertytaxes.“LikeRonaldReagansaid,‘Governmentalways finds a need for whatever money it gets.’ Therefore anewincometaxbeingproposedbytheCountytobestackedontopofourcurrenttaxesisbadforKokomo,’”McKillipsaid.Primary Status: LEANSMcKILLIP;LIKELYGOODNIGHT. Michigan City: Democrat:MayorChuckOber-lie,JoieWinski,JimLaRocco.2003 Results: Oberlie(D)3,316.2007 Forecast:OberliemetwithstatelegislatorsattheStatehouseonWednesdaytoexplaintheneedtorestructurethestate'spropertytaxsystemorallowlocalgovernment an alternative means of financing property taxes(Michigan City News-Dispatch).Oberlietoldleg-islatorsthateventhoughthecityhadremovedallgeneralobligationbondsfromthecity'slevy,reducingpropertytaxcollectionsby13percent,taxbillsstillwentup.“Manyoftheincreaseshavebeencausedbyrecentstatebudgets,”saidOberlie.Primary Status:LEANSOBERLIE.v
Hughes has asked Secretary of State Todd Rokita to monitor the Gary Demo-cratic primary for fraud.
Thursday, March 29, 2007 Page 9
Horning leaves the city forFreedom; won’t run in 8th CDBy BEVERLY PHILLIPS FREEDOM,Ind.-FormerLibertariancandidateformayorofIndianapolis,Indianagovernor,andtheU.S.Con-gress, Andy Horning officially retired frompoliticsin2004afterchallengingCongresswomanJuliaCarsonforasecondtime.HenowlivesinFreedom,Indiana,andworksasaconsultantonmedicalimagingtechnologyprojects. OnApril3(11:30a.m.),Horn-ingwillholdapressconferenceattheStatehouserotundaonthetopicoffairtaxation.HPRheardarumorthatHorningismullingarunagainst8thCDU.S.Rep.BradEllsworth,sowewentstraighttothesourceforthisHPRInterview. HPR:WhereisFreedom,andhowdoyoucometolivethere? Horning: FreedomisinthemiddleofOwenCounty.Itwasapost-WarBetweentheStatesfreed-mancommunitybeforetheKKKchangedthedemographics.ButIloveboththehistoryandnameofthisplace.WelookedforfarmlandinLiberty,FreetownandFreedom,butit’shilly,cheapandprettyhere.We’veownedtheplaceforawhile,butattheendofthe2004racewedecidedthatsincewehome-schoolourkids,andIworkfromhomeasaconsultant,thatwe’dleavethecityhubbub and live in quiet, lush and natural Freedom (figura-tively...toadegree,andliterally).I’mbuildingabarn,andIoftengetonmy1962AllisChalmerstractorinordertoactlikeafarmer. HPR: Whatexactlyistheorganizationyouformedcalled“TheFreedomFarm?” Horning:www.thefreedomfarm.comwastobearuleoflaw-focused427org,butaftersomeinitialinterest,Ihadtosortofignoreit.Thepremise,ifyoulookatthewebsite,istooscary/boldformostpeople,andasaresultI’vedonenofundraisingorpromotionatallinacoupleofyears.I’vehadtoadmitthatwe’renotreadyforruleoflaworfreedom,atleastnotjustyet. HPR: IrecallyouonceburnedacopyoftheIndia-napolisStarinprotest,doyoucurrentlysubscribeorreaditonline? Horning: No,Idonot,andwouldnotsubscribeto the Indianapolis Star. I do occasionally find something usefulonlinebyotherreference(Googleorsomething),butafteryearsofexperiencewiththeNewPravda,Iknownottotrustwhattheyprint.I’vecaughttheminfabrica-tionand/orintentionalomissiontoomanytimes.Youknow
thattheynevercametoorevencalledaboutasinglepressconferenceoreventrelatedtomy‘04campaign?Notone.Isthatamazingorwhat?AndintheirendorsementofJuliaCarsontheyclaimedthatIwouldn’tanswertheirquestions.Judgeforyourselfwhetherit’slikelythatI’mthekindofguywhodoesn’tanswerquestions. HPR:Nowthatafewyearshavepassedsinceofficially changing parties, do you still consider yourself a Republican? Horning:AmIaRepublican?Isupposethatdependsuponwhatthatmeans,andI’mafraidthatIamnotabletotellyouthat.IconsidermyselfaChristian,husband,fatherandmortal,error-andsin-pronehuman.I’manAmericaninthesensethatIsharethedreamofourwiserforefathersandamdedicatedtotheruleoflawundertheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesaswrittenandin-tendedbythosewhowroteit.Asfarasclubmembershipgoes,Ienjoythecompanyoflotsofpeople.Idon’tknowthatanybodyknowswhatitmeanstobeaRepublican;itneverwastheconservativepartythatmostpeoplethink.Actually,theDemocratshavealongerandmoreconsistenttraditionofsupportingtheideologyoffreedom.ButthesedaysDemocratsdon’tsupportfreedomanymoreorlessthan Republicans do. In ‘04 I felt like I was fightingRepublicansmorethanDemocrats,andIdon’tbelievethatmuchhaschangedwiththepartysincetheirshellackingin‘06.Let’squitthepretense.Thepartiesareelectionve-hiclesandnothingmore.Allofusreallyknowthat.We’refoolstohavegiventhemsomuchpowerandtrust,andwe’llberuinedifwedon’ttakeitbacksoon.Bothmajorpartiescontainwonderfulpeople,butvipersleadthem. HPR:WehaveheardrumorsthatyoumayrunagainstCongressmanEllsworthin‘08.Caretocomment? Horning: Run for office? Oy vey. Ellsworth is tall,goodlooking,andsoundslikeadecentman.That’senoughformostpeople,sinceideologyhasbecomeabadthing. If the GOP doesn’t have an epiphany and find some character and faith, then Ellsworth will have the office as longashewantsit.It’sreallyonlyafewpeoplewho’vebeen encouraging me to run. Personally, my finances aren’tgreatatthemoment.I’vestillnotrecoveredfromthetensofthousandsI’vethrownatmypastattempts.It’salittlelatetojumpin,sinceI’venotreallydonethepoliti-calroundsinthe8th.I’vebeenkickingbacktryingtoactlikeourgovernmentdoesn’tbotherme.IdoconfessthatI’dlovetorun.ButI’malsosurethatnobodyhatespoliticsasmuchasIdo.Idespiseandloathethestupid,deadlygamewe’vemadeofpoliticalpower.Wecaremoreaboutsportsthanweknowabouttheforceofoppression,slavery,genocideandwar,andwe’realwaystryingtomakegovern-mentouttobeabenevolentfriendwhenthereisnohistoryofthisinallofhumanity’sgenerations.It’sinterestingthaty’allknewtherumorbeforeIdid,butIguessthat’sallpartofthegametoo.Sheesh.Oyvey.v
Thursday, March 29, 2007Page 10
Sabato’s veep rant & Bayh By BEVERLY PHILLIPS Dr. Larry Sabato,whokeynotedtheHPRFo-rumin2004,wentonarantthisweekaboutthe2008veepstakes. “IfthereisonethingthatweattheCrystalBallcannotcountenance,itisearlyconjectureaboutpossiblevicepresidentialrunning-matesforthe2008major-partytickets,”saidSabato,whoteachesattheUniversityofVirginia.“Thewildrumor-mongeringaboutVPnom-ineesmakesthesituationworse,notbetter,turningthevotersofftopoliticsevenfasterthanmighthaveoccurredotherwise.” Sabatosaidhedecidedto“dosomethingaboutthisde-gradingprocess.Inthisarticlewewillattempttoexhaustthegossip,guesswork,andhearsayaboutVeeps,renderingfurthertittle-tattleunnecessary,andshort-circuitingthisdestructivepastimeformonthstocome.” ThenSabatolaidoutthecriteria.TheVeepshouldbedisciplined,relativelyscandal-free,andcausenomajorproblemsatselectiontimeandthrough-outthecampaign.•TheVeepoughttobeabletocarryhisorherhomestate.• The prior office experiences. • The Veepcouldhelptoreunitethepartybybeingfromanotherfactionthanthepres-identialcandidate.Sabatothensuppliedalist,with U.S.Sen.Evan Bayhgettingthistreatment:“CentristDemocratwhocouldputINandOHinplaysimultane-ously,goodfamilyandmediaimage,broadexecutiveandlegislativeexperi-ence.CannotguaranteeIN,notastrongpublicspeaker,low-wattagepersonality.”
Rock Steady givesParkinson’s a punch FormerMarionCountyProsecu-
torturnedDNAbusiness-manandCEOofStrandAnalyticalLaboratories,hasadded the title of nonprofit founderofaboxinggym.Scott Newmandiscoveredthe therapeutic benefits of thesportinthemanage-mentofhisownParkinson’sdisease.Thephysicalwork-outandstandardtrainingfortheringinspiredNewmantoformRockSteadyBoxing. Allclassesforpeo-plewithParkinson’sdiseasearefreeandunderwrittenbycorporatedonations.Otherclassesforthegen-eralpublic,forafee,includeExecutiveBoxing,Women’sOnly,andarecentlystartedMommy/Daughter
Class.Allclassesaretaughtbyformerprofessionalandamateurboxersandarenon-contact.FoundationExecutiveDirectorKristy Rose FollmarisaformerIndianaGoldenGloveswomen’schampandNABCfeatherweightandsuperfeatherweightchampion.TheboxinggymislocatedonthecampusofPremiereCreditonthecity’seastside.Pre-miere’sPresidentandCOOTodd Wolfedonatesthespaceandprovidedseedmoneyforstart-upcosts,includingafullsizeboxingring.Todonateorsignupforclasses,visitwww.rocksteadyboxing.org.
Weiser assumes new ED post Jenny Hill Weiser,thedaughterofU.S.Rep.
Baron Hill,hasreplacedMike Edmondson asexecutivedirectoroftheIndianaDemocraticParty.Shepreviouslyworkedinfundrais-ingforthestateparty.
Goeglein returns Tim Goeglein,FortWaynenativeandSpecialAssis-tanttoPresident Bush,willgivethekeynoteaddressattheWhit-leyCountyLincolnDayDinneronMay17atColumbiaCity.RSVP:[email protected]
Got a tip for the Boar’s Nest? Send it to: [email protected]
Dr. Larry Sabato speaking at the HPR Forum, 2004. (HPR Photo)
Samantha Wolfe (left) and Jor-dan Kiffmeyer at Rock Steady Boxing class for mothers and daughters. The gym also offers Executive Boxing and Women’s Only training to support free classes for people with Parkin-son’s disease.
Indianapolis Star columnist Matt Tully and HPR’s Brian A. Howey discussed the 2008 pres-idential race with the IU College Republicans at Ballantine Hall in Bloomington on Wednesday. (Indiana Daily Student Photo)
Thursday, March 29, 2007Page 11
Rich James, Post-Tribune-Theexorcism,whichhasbeenintheworksforseveralyears,wascom-pletedWednesdaywiththefederalindictmentofpoliticaloperativeBobbyCantrell.ManythoughtCantrellwastoobrighttogetindicted.He’ssharp,allright--anevilgeniusifyouwill.Cantrell’stwolovesaremoneyandpower.Theformerdidhiminthisweek.Evenifhebeatstherap,he’sdonepolitically.Youmayhaveheardacollectivesighofreliefwhentheindictmentwasun-veiled.ScoresofDemocrats--andRepubli-cans,too--werethrilledtohaveCantrellcutoutofpolitics.Manyinpoliticsloathedhim,butweretoointimi-datedtosayanythingpublicly,fearingretribution.Cantrellwasaguywithfewtruefriends,largelybecauseofhismav-erickpoliticalnature.Healwayssaidhewasneededwherethere was a fight. Butamanwithoutaconsciencedoesn’tfight fair. He thought nothingofjammingaballotorcoercinganillegalvote.Ashasbeenthecasewithmostofrecentfederalindictmentsofpublicofficials -- this was a stroke for good government. A cancer upontheLakeCountysystemhasbeenremoved.v
Sylvia Smith, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette-Picturethis:AconservativeRepublicanwhobackedtheinvasionofIraqandisanavowedcapitalistsittingshouldertoshoulderwithaSocialistwhosepartysaysAmericaisthebiggestthreattoworldpeace…andbedelightedtobetogether…andsaynicethingsabouteachother…anddosoinfrontofjournalistswiththeirTVcamerasandtaperecorders.Sen.RichardLugar(theconservativecapitalist,ofcourse)andErikSolheim(theSocialistLeftPartymemberwhoistheministerofInterna-tionalDevelopmentintheNorwegiangovernment)are,onmostissues,anOscarMadison-FelixUngerpairing.Yetto-gether they hope to reduce the conflict over scarce energy resources,persuadecountriestousetheirenergyincomewiselyandwithmoretransparencyandurgebroaderuseofalternativefuelssooil-richnationsdon’tholdsuchabigclubovercountrieswithoutnaturalresources.It’stempting
todismissthisasanotherexampleofpoliticians’outsizedestimationoftheirownimportance.Butbetweenthem,LugarandSolheimhavealreadyaccomplishedthingsthatseemedimpossible.It’snotanexaggerationtosaythat
bothhavemadetheworldasaferplace.Lugarwastheco-founderofaprogramthatsetasitsgoalthedestructionofleft-over(andinmanycasesabandonedorinsecurelystored)ColdWar-eranuclearweaponsintheformerSovietUnion.WhowouldhavethoughtthattwoU.S.senatorscouldhavebrainstormedthatideaintoreality?Butinthepast16years,morethan7,000nuclearwarheadshavebeen
deactivated,peacefuljobsfor58,000weap-onsscientistshavebeenfound,andtheprogramhasbeenexpandedtoincludechemicalandbiologicalweapons.ForSolheim’spart,heiscreditedwithnegotiat-ingatruceinSriLanka’scivilwar.It’smind-bog-glingthatagovernmentofficial from Norway couldhelpresolvean-other country’s conflict thatlastedtwobloodydecades.SowhenLugarandSolheimsaythey’regoingtoputsomeeffortintotryingtoratchetdownthehostilities
causedbythegrowingneedforenergyindevelopingcoun-triesthatdon’thaveit,well–it’sjustpossiblethattheymightsucceed.v
Lesley Stedman Weidenbener,Louisville Courier-Journal -UnderSen.LukeKenley’splan,thestatewouldtakeoverthefullcostofthosejuve-nileoffendersandatleastsomeofthecostsofservicesfortheabusedchildren.Thatmakesalotofsense.SoiftheGeneralAssemblypassesKenley’sproposal--andthat’samightybigif--taxpayerscouldgobacktothedaysofvoting for local officials in part based on those tax bills. And whentheythoughttheirschoolsweren’tgettingenoughcash,they’dknowitwasthestate--notsomecombinationofstateandlocalleaders--responsibleforthatdecision.Itwouldbeevenbetteriflawmakerstookstepstosimplifytaxbillssothatpropertyownersunderstoodmoreaboutwhichlocalgovernmentwasresponsibleforwhatandwhy.Butthat’sprobablywishfulthinkingforthisyear’ssession.v
Thursday, March 29, 2007Page 12
sponsoredretirementassetswerein-vestedinIPALCOstockatthetimetheIPALCOboarddecidedtoaccepttheAES stock swap. “Without the benefit ofhindsight,theAEStransactionandinvestmentsinAESstockappearedreasonable,”Hamiltonwrote.“Thereisnoevidenceatallthattheindividualdefendantshadanynegativeinsidein-formationaboutAESortheprospectsofitsstock.”
Mayors press fortaxing options FORTWAYNE-FortWayneMayorGrahamRichard,BlufftonMayorTedEllisandWarsawMayorErnieWigginsparticipatedinastatewideeffortWednesdaytopressuretheGeneralAssemblytoprovidemoretaxingoptionsforcities(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).Richardsaidcities,townsandalllocalunitsofgovern-mentshouldbegiventheopportunityto choose other methods of financ-inggovernmentthanpropertytaxes.Thoseincludesalestaxesonservicesorbroaderusesforafoodandbever-age tax. “We want more flexibility at thelocalleveltohavenon-property-taxwaysoffundinglocalgovernment,”Richardsaid.MayorsacrossthestateexpressedsimilarsentimentsaspartofapushbytheIndianaAssociationofCitiesandTowns.Ellissaidsometaxesareavailablebutmustbead-optedcountywide,includingincometaxes.Hesaidifcountiesdon’tfeeltheneedforthosetaxes,citiesandothergovernmentsshouldhavetheoptionofusingthem.
Espich unveils property tax plan INDIANAPOLIS-AtopHouseRepublicanproposedaproperty-taxrestructuringplanyesterday,whileseveralmayorsurgedlawmakerstogivelocalgovernmentsnewoptionstoraiserevenueandreducetheirreli-anceonrealestaterevenue(Smith,Associated Press).Rep.JeffEspichofUniondale,therankingRepub-
licanonthebudget-writingWaysandMeansCommittee,saidhisplanwouldproviderelieftohomeownersonthisyear’sproperty-taxbillsandremovetheburdenofschool-con-structioncostsfrompropertytaxes.Theplanalsowouldgivecountiesayearlyoptionofusinglocalincometaxesinlieuofpropertytaxestocovertherisingcostsofservices.EspichsaidhisideasmaybeignoredsinceDemocratscontroltheHouse,butsaidhefeltcompelledtoputaproposalonthetableaslawmakersgetclosertotheirApril29adjournment.“TheconcernIguessIhaveisthatifIhadtocharacterizeoneissueasmoreimportantthananyotherissuebeforethelegislature,otherthanabalancedbudget,itwouldhavetobesomeformofproperty-taxcontrol,relief,cuts--whateveryouwanttocallit,”Espichtoldreporters.
Senate eyes tyingminimum wage to fed rate INDIANAPOLIS-ASenatecommitteemightconsidertyingIndi-ana’sminimumwagetothefederalrate,aneffortsomelawmakershopewillbeefupsupportfortheproposal(Associated Press).Thebill,initscurrentform,wouldraisethestateminimumwageto$7.50perhourby2008.Thatcouldbehigherthanthefederalminimumwage,whichCon-gressisexpectedtoraiseto$7.25perhourovertwoyears.
Illiana group morphs VALPARAISO-Agroupop-posingtheproposedIllianaExpress-wayishasagreedtoteamupwiththeInterfaithFederationandSavetheDunesCounciltosupportwhattheyarecallingsmartgrowthacrosstheRegion(Times).CitizensAgainstPrivatizedIllianaTollRoadalsoisdistancingitselffromaclaimthatitsupportsa1percentfoodandbever-agetaxtosupportregionalbusing.
v
Long seeks cherrymaster crackdown INDIANAPOLIS-SenatePresidentProTemDavidLongsaidWednesdaythatheplanstoexpandhisproposaltocrackdownonillegalgambling,suggestingthatthestateshouldaddaspecialpros-ecutorjusttohandlethosecases.Long,R-FortWayne,saidtoomanycountyprosecutors view illegalgambling--particularlybybars,clubsandotherretailersusingvideomachineswithnamessuchasCherryMaster--asnotworthpursu-ing.AstateprosecutorbasedattheIndianaGamingCommissioncouldsolvethatproblem,hesaid(Louis-ville Couier-Journal).“Thenumberofthesemachinesinthestatehasexploded,”Longsaid.“Ithinkweneedtodosomethingaboutit.Weneedtodrawalineinthesand.”TheSenateRulesCommittee,whichLongchairs,alreadyisconsideringhisproposaltoprovidenearly$2milliontofund25 excise police officers dedicated toinvestigatingillegalgamblingandincreasethecriminalpenaltiesforpeoplechargedasecondtimewithpromotingprofessionalgambling.
Judge Hamilton drops IPALCO case INDIANAPOLIS-Inalong-awaitedrulingfollowinga2006trial,U.S.DistrictJudgeDavidF.HamiltonfoundIPALCOhadgivenmembersofthe401(k)planaccesstosolidinvest-mentadvicethroughMerrillLynch.That firm had described company stockasthehighest-riskinvestmentamongnineoptionsfromwhichem-ployeescouldchoose(IndianapoloisStar).Despitewarningstoemployeestodiversifytheirinvestments,about64percentoftheworkers’company-
