V22, N31 Thursday, April 13, 2017

The vanishing endangered incumbent two districts in New Cook Partisan the single digit range. Index reveals an U.S. Rep. Pete Vis- closky’s 1st CD is +8 Indiana battleground Democratic, and U.S. Rep. ’ 5th for Congress likely a CD is +9 Republican. The previous competi- thing of the past tive district, U.S. Rep. ’s 2nd By BRIAN A. HOWEY CD, went from a +6 – , Republican in 2014 to Jill Long, Frank McCloskey, John a +11 Republican this Brademas, John Hiler, , year. , , Chris Remember the Chocola – the list of Hoosier mem- Bloody 8th? It’s not so bers of Congress who ended their bloody anymore. When political careers in defeat over the Cook came out with past three decades is extensive. its first index in 1998, Unless there are extraor- U.S. Rep. John Hostet- dinary political waves, the way tler, who had defeated Indiana’s electoral process is trend- Democrat Frank Mc- ing, the congressional upset could Closkey four years become a rare event. Earlier this prior, sat in a +2.5 week, the Cook Political Report is- sued the 2017 version of the Cook Democrat Baron Hill debates Republican Mike Sodrel in the Partisan Index and there are only 9th CD. Both experienced upset defeats as incumbents. Continued on page 3 Cold beer curve ball By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – If there’s been a curve ball in this waning session of the General Assembly, it’s been the Ricker’s cold beer controversy. And if key players aren’t careful, this could signal a populist uprising in the age of Amazon, Trump and the anti- “While we are seeing modest regulation fervor that has swept Indiana and the nation. growth in revenues across our There is significant danger state, we must be cautious about for the package liquor store industry and their lobby. As they the fact that projects have not attempt to defend the status quo, they risk an array of col- always mirrored actual revenue lateral damage. For instance, experience.” their attempts to thwart Ricker’s in their legally obtained licenses - Gov. , reaction at two stores in Columbus and to the April revenue forecast Sheridan, they took aim at the Page 2 Indiana Alcohol Tobacco Commission, knew existed years ago, and there will and drew in Gov. Eric Holcomb, who be news and controversy. up until this past month had been “la- When it comes to the three- ser focused” on his five-point agenda tiered alcohol system put in place that didn’t include cold beer. Instead, overnight eight decades ago, these he stepped in to defend the conduct special interests now find themselves of this commission. defending a status quo that seems It created headlines over absurd to the man on the street. the past month and drew populist The Average Joe can go to the Broad sentiments. Look no further than Ripple Brew Pub, the Oaken Barrel or Howey Politics Indiana state Senate candidate Gary Snyder, Big Woods and quaff a couple of pints WWHowey Media, LLC 405 who will challenge freshman Sen. of beer on a Sunday afternoon, then Massachusetts Ave., Suite Andy Zay, when he posted 300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 on Facebook, “As your next state senator, I will not vote www.howeypolitics.com to regulate the temperature of the beer you buy or what Brian A. Howey, Publisher days you can buy it.” Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington That could be the be- Jack E. Howey, Editor ginning of a 2018 cycle trend as Democrats attempt to claw Mary Lou Howey, Editor back into relevance. Thomas Curry, Statehouse Bring the topic up in a room take home a couple of growlers. But Mark Curry, photography of average Hoosier Joe Sixpacks, and our friend Joe can’t go to the 7/11 the notion that you can only buy cold and pick up a six of cold Budweiser. beer at a package liquor store and not While Marsh, Kroger and Subscriptions on Sunday brings derision. This is the Martins have become literal pack- HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 age of Amazon, where people can or- age liquor stores, Joe can’t go in and HPI Weekly, $350 der and buy just about anything, any- buy a cold 12-pack. On Sundays, he Ray Volpe, Account Manager time, anywhere. It will be delivered has to find a brewery or commercial 317.602.3620 to your front door, possibly soon by vineyard, or cross into Michigan, Ohio drone. This is an age where the Inter- or Illinois to buy cold bottled beer. Joe email: [email protected] net has changed everything, from how doesn’t always plan ahead for that Contact HPI you buy your music, shoes, Christmas Sunday barbecue and this cold suds [email protected] gifts and just about anything else. It denial mocks and irritates him. Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 has dramatically impacted the news The 80-year-old three-tier media, higher education, state taxa- system was thrust into place in 1933, Washington: 202.256.5822 tion, mobility, power and transporta- with lessons learned two decades Business Office: 317.602.3620 tion. earlier, when brewers sold directly to Over the past 15 years or taverns creating rampant consumption © 2017, Howey Politics so, not only has the Amazonization of spurred on by saltpeter laced food. Indiana. All rights reserved. America occurred, there has been an Prohibition brought about Al Capone explosion of vineyards, craft brewer- and gangsterism, and when the epic Photocopying, Internet forward- ies and the transformation of grocery social experiment finally fell apart and ing, faxing or reproducing in stores (and their pharmacies) that produced the 21st Amendment, the any form, whole or part, is a has opened up the sale of liquor, wine three-tier system was created to buf- violation of federal law without while perpetrating . . . warm beer. fer the flow of alcohol, create a level permission from the publisher. Add in the anti-regulation en- of consumption control that promoted vironment that began here under Gov. (to some degree) moderation, and Mitch Daniels, continued under Gov. taxation points. , and has been embraced There are some 12,000 points by President Trump, and what’s trans- of access for alcohol in Indiana, and pired is a perfect storm of consumer tens of thousands of suppliers world- demand and an assault on rules and wide. The three-tier system has been regulations. Throw in cunning lawyers enduring because it allows the state who found and exploited loopholes to control access points, regulate and the package liquor store industry tax. Without it, the excise policing Page 3 would become a vastly larger force than is in place today. to be completed in 2018, an election year. The dilemma for the package store industry is that Speaker , Senate President David changing the temperature and Sunday restrictions will put Long and others have described the evolved three-tier them in direct competition with the big box stores. As one system as archaic and “antiquated.” source told me, the more big box stores act like package Bosma told the IBJ, “I really don’t have a problem stores, the more package stores will have to act like the with cold beer. We have to form a consensus over the big boxes. There will be price alterations and potentially next couple of weeks or there’s a potential for 5,000 new specialty product deprivations. hard alcohol outlets ... throughout our state. For some The real story here may be the classic “follow- that would be a great idea. I presume, once this gets into the-money angle.” One observer explained: The wholesal- the hands of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the ers play an influential role, but you can never tell what Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking and some side they are really on. Example: Monarch Beverage/CEO of the faith communities, once they figure out what this is, Phil Terry claims to be “neutral” on the issue of Sunday people will hear something different at home. We aren’t sales, but underwrites the liquor store association run by here to do just the will of what people think ought to be a Patrick Tamm to the tune of $7,000, or $84,000 per year. good idea,” Bosma said. “We’re here to protect the public, So, while claiming neutrality, they underwrite the big- to serve as their representatives, to dive deeply in these gest opponent of Sunday sales to the tune of about two issues, and to try to do what’s best for all people in the average-salaried positions each year. state of Indiana.” What’s the solution? Legislation by House Major- The dilemma is that in this populist environ- ity Leader Matt Lehman last year created a two-year study ment, and in a new age of consumerism that has put enti- committee of the entire Title 7.1 three-tier system. The ties like HHGregg, Payless Shoes, J.C. Penney and Sears key players also include State Sen. Ron Alting and House on the endangered species list, there could be a political Public Policy Chairman Ben Smaltz. That study is expected cost to those who simply seek to defend the status quo. v

number of strongly Democratic and strongly Republican Partisan Index, from page 1 seats.” Republican district. It was +8 In the Hoosier context, in Republican in 2014 and is now a 1998 Cook rated four of our 10 +15 Republican district today. districts in or close to that range: It’s a vast change with Democrat Rep. ’s the maps that were drawn in CD3 at +5.5 Republican; Hostet- 2011, compared to those that tler’s CD8 at +2.5 Republican; came about in 2001 and 1991. Democrat Rep. Lee Hamilton’s The Republican illusion is that the 9th at +3.2 Republican; and current maps are compact, hue Democrat Rep. ’s to county lines and keep com- 10th at +4.4 Democrat. munity of interests intact. But Wasserman continues, the fact is that on the U.S. House “After the hyper-polarized level, Indiana is no longer a 2016 election, there are only competitive state. The same can 72 districts between D+5 and be said for the Indiana General R+5 – less than one sixth of the Assembly. House and a 56% decline since “The most striking 1997. This also represents a House statistic in the last 20 20% decline from just four years years may be the decline of com- ago, when there were 90 swing petitive districts, places where seats.” members have the greatest politi- This is a distinct de- cal incentives to work on a bipar- parture from the maps drawn in tisan basis,” writes David Wasser- 1991 and 2001 by a Republican man of the Cook Political Report. and a Democratic “In 1998, our Partisan Voter Index Indiana House. scored 164 districts between D+5 In 2010, Republican Todd and R+5, more than a third of the Young defeated Rep. Baron Hill House, and greater than both the 52-42%; Republican Larry Buc- Page 4 shon defeated State Rep. Trent Democratic-held seat had a D+7 PVI Van Haaften in a seat vacated by score in 1997, the median Democratic U.S. Rep. 57-37% seat has a D+14 PVI score today. The (who replaced when median Republican-held seat had an he abruptly pulled out of the U.S. R+7 PVI score in 1997; the median Senate race); and U.S. Rep. Joe Republican-held seat has an R+11 PVI Donnelly staved off Republican score today. In other words, the gap Jackie Walorski 48.2% to 46.8% between the two parties’ median dis- in what was the Tea Party wave tricts has grown from 14 to 25 points.” election. Wasserman adds, “This is not In 2006, Rep. Chocola to say redistricting hasn’t had a big lost to Donnelly 54-46%, Ells- impact. Sorting has enhanced parti- worth upset Hostettler 61-39%, san mapmakers’ ability to partition and Hill returned to the 9th CD states into safe seats. And on a net seat he lost two years earlier, de- basis, redistricting has helped bolster feating Rep. Mike Sodrel 50-45%. Republicans’ edge in the House. The That was a Democratic wave number of Republican (R+5 or greater) year, brought on by opposition to seats has grown by 14 as the result President George W. Bush’s of changes to district lines, while the Wa r. number of Democratic (D+5 or greater) In 2002, there were seats has increased by just two. Demo- three tight races, with Hostettler crats also suffer because their voters holding off Bryan Hartke 51-46%, are disproportionately clustered on the Hill defeating Sodrel 51-46%, map.” and Chocola defeating Jill Long The Indiana “Exhibit A” on this are Thompson 50-46%. the two Democratic districts the CD1 The key reason for this confined to Lake and Porter counties, was the 2011 reapportionment, and the 7th confined to Democratic- which Indiana Republicans con- trending Indianapolis. trolled after retaking the Indiana “Overall, there are 241 House House in 2010 with 60 seats. But seats more Republican than the nation- Hoosiers and Americans are also al average, and 194 seats more Demo- self-sorting, moving into enclaves cratic, mirroring the GOP’s advantage in of like-minded people. These two seats after 2016,” Wasserman explains. factors combined and you have If there is irony in the Hoosier the polarization that has created state of polarization, it is that while an inert Washington, D.C. opinion leaders, Common Cause of Wasserman explains, “Of Indiana, and even Republican House the 92 ‘swing seats’ that have Speaker Brian Bosma, have all come vanished since 1997, 83% of the out for an independent redistricting decline has resulted from natural commission, Senate President Pro geographic sorting of the elec- Tempore David Long has prevented torate from election to election, legislation to be heard on the topic. while only 17% of the decline Yet, Long has been an advocate for an has resulted from changes Article V Constitutional Conven- to district boundaries. More tion, complaining that Washington evidence voters are choos- has been too polarized to deal with ing sides with their feet: In issues such as a balanced budget the 2016 election, 78% of amendment or immigration reform. Democratic-leaning seats In essence, Long has perpetuated grew even more Democratic the very forces that have created and 65% of Republican-lean- the Capitol Hill inertia. ing seats grew even more Re- It could have been a publican. As a result, the two function of good government if the parties’ House constituencies Republican congressional majorities have drifted even farther displayed an ability to govern. But apart; whereas the median as the RyanCare debacle revealed, Page 5 soon to be augmented by Trump administration tax reform and we should be open to exploring the experiences and and infrastructure, the GOP can’t. As people segregate and outcomes of states who handle redistricting differently cluster themselves, and as the maps become more parti- than Indiana,” Long said. san, the Republican Party now has a wing that appears to Long has said this before, backing a 17-member be ungovernable. blue ribbon commission in 2009 after then Secretary of Not only that, Republicans hold super majorities State , with the imprimatur of then-Gov. Mitch in the with the House (70-30) Daniels, pushed for an independent commission. WIBC and Senate (41-9), though Long, Bosma and Govs. Mitch reported in November 2009 that Long favored making Daniels, Mike Pence and now then Supreme Court Chief Eric Holcomb have displayed Justice Randall Shepard the an ability to work together and “neutral” chair of the com- actually solve tough policy ques- mission. While the 2011 maps tions. Beyond city halls, Indiana followed Rokita’s guidelines for is on the verge of becoming a compactness, respect for juris- one-party state. Republicans diction lines and communities also hold more than 75% of of interest, he had a distinct county offices, multiple sources falling out with the Senate have told Howey Politics Indi- majority caucus over the issue. ana. The 2011 maps actually were This past winter, Bosma drawn with Rokita living out- and Senate Minority Leader Tim side his 4th CD. That was not Lanane offered a redistricting an oversight. As for Long’s talk bill, but House Elections Chair- in 2009 about moving forward, man Milo Smith refused it a vote obviously, it never happened. in committee. Senate Republi- Princeton University cans killed similar legislation by Prof. Julian Zelizer observed in refusing to hold a hearing. The Atlantic this week, “Par- “We are extremely tisanship has taken its toll on proud of the maps we drew in Washington. While this is not the 2011 redistricting effort, the first period in American where the process was fair, politics where partisan polar- open, transparent and totally ization divided the nation – compatible with the recom- think of the late 19th century, mended guidelines set out by for instance – this is one of the the U.S. Supreme Court,” Long worst periods. There is just said. But those maps were gen- very little common ground on erated with the help of Wash- Capitol Hill. I agree that Trump ington political consultants aid- is a product and not a cause of ing a national Republican effort bitter polarization. As the grid- to gain majorities in legislatures U.S. Rep. (top) with President George W. Bush locked nomination of Merrick across the nation. They were in 2006 in the 2nd CD; Democratic U.S. Reps. Frank McClo- Garland reminds us, politics resoundingly successful. After skey and Jill Long both were defeated in the 1994 tsunami, was pretty bad before Trump the 2016 elections, 24 states will and lower photo, U.S. Sen. campaigns for Brad took center stage. I don’t think be under full Republican control Ellsworth, Baron Hill and in 2006, with all taking there are many straws in the in legislatures and governor’s upset victories. wind though. Partisanship is offices, according to the New not a product of bad feelings York Times. Only six states will now have legislatures and or bad people, but of institutions and political structures, governor’s offices exclusively dominated by Democrats. as well as demographic changes, that push our leaders The result has been polarized congressional dis- apart. All of those remain firmly in place.” tricts, as the Cook Partisan Index reveals, and epic inertia Exhibit B would be the RyanCare fiasco where Re- on Capitol Hill. publicans couldn’t muster 216 votes to repeal and replace Long told the NWI Times that he is open to the Obamacare. The GOP is polarized because the moder- idea of redistricting reform, promising to create a blue ate wing of the party has succumbed to the fringe. The ribbon commission to see if there’s a better way. But for moderate to conservative Blue Dog Democrats where past reforms to be in place by 2021, a constitutional amend- deals have formulated have been decimated. ment would have to be in place by the 2020 election. ”We Zelizer adds, “The only way we really make are a state that embraces positive, common-sense ideas, progress is to reform the way that politics works. Without Page 6 changes to our district- percent in 1992, an accelerating ing process, the Freedom trend that confirms that Amer- Caucus will remain in ica’s political fabric, geographi- place. Without campaign cally, is tearing apart.” finance changes, politi- Of the nation’s 3,113 cians will still be turning counties (or county equiva- to issue-based interest lents), just 303 were decided by groups who will pressure single-digit margins – less than politicians to stick to the 10%, Wasserman explained. party line. We would also In contrast, 1,096 counties fit need changes in non-gov- that description in 1992, even ernment institutions such though that election featured a as media outlets to obtain wider national spread. less partisan news. Those During the same period, changes can’t be legis- the number of extreme land- lated but will have to be a slide counties – those decided product of the producers by margins exceeding 50 per- and editors who make the centage points – exploded from news. 93 to 1,196, or over a third of the nation’s counties. The And Wasserman, writing to FiveThirtyEight, electorate’s move toward single-party geographic enclaves notes the demographic sorting. “If you feel like you hardly has been particularly pronounced at the extremes. Be- know anyone who disagrees with you about Trump, you’re tween 1992 and 2016, the share of voters living in ex- not alone; chances are the election was a landslide in treme landslide counties quintupled from 4% to 21%. your backyard. More than 61% of voters cast ballots in The emphatic Republican legislative majorities counties that gave either Clinton or Trump at least 60% have achieved a party goal. The Pyrrhic victory is that em- of the major-party vote last November. That’s up from pires that can no longer bargain and compromise are ones 50% of voters who lived in such counties in 2012 and 39 with short life spans. v

HOOSIERS SMOKING = $6 BILLION IN HEALTH CARE COSTS AND LOST PRODUCTIVITY

It’s time to change that. | www.indianachamber.com/grassroots Page 7

a Hoosier and a senator, Joe Donnelly has relied on hard McDermott signals work, frugality, and common sense. That approach hasn’t changed when it comes to the resources he needs to defend his record, and it’s produced the second strongest a possible gov run fundraising quarter of his career,” said campaign manager By BRIAN A. HOWEY Peter Hanscom. “This wouldn’t be possible without the INDIANAPOLIS – Hammond Mayor Thomas Mc- help of thousands of hard-working men and women from Dermott Jr. spoke to the 59th Annual Good Government across Indiana who have joined in to help spread Joe’s Day in Logansport on Tuesday, and he sounded like a message that the Senate needs more Hoosier common future gubernatorial candidate. He told students, “I wish I sense.” could go back to high school again,” because he “gets it” Donnelly also responded to liberal Democrats now. Then he told students that by buckling down now, angered by his vote for Gorsuch. He told the South Bend “You could be .” Tribune editorial board that his vote for Gorsuch was the He was introduced by right decision, saying he did not want to continue the Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell, political “warfare that has been going on in the Senate and who observed that McDermott this country. Was that what I was hired to do? And the was the only diver on the nuclear answer is no. You love nine out of 10 of my decisions. So submarine USS Hyman Rickover on the last one, you’re going to burn the house down?” He during the Gulf War. McDermott also noted that he voted against Education Secretary Betsy later told students, I’ve been 20 DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. years of my life either in the U.S. Navy or running a city.” U.S. Rep. is a likely Donnelly chal- Asked about a potential 2020 gubernatorial run, lenger and reported more than $1.6 million cash on hand McDermott told HPI, “That’s a long way off, but I’m an ex- in March. U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita is another likely challenger ecutive at heart. I’ve done a lot of thinking lately about my and posted $1.3 million in cash at the end of 2016. Rokita future and I’ve come to realize has not released first quarter FEC totals. that fact. I’m a boss. Always have The Senate Democrats’ campaign arm is been. I’m not sure how happy I targeting potential Republican candidates would be as a cog in a machine for voicing support for the ObamaCare as opposed to being an execu- repeal effort (Hagen, The Hill). The Demo- tive.” cratic Senatorial Campaign Committee McDermott has talked expanded its healthcare-related website about a potential primary chal- on Monday to include information about lenge to U.S. Rep. , possible 2018 GOP Senate candidates who but appears to be coming to said they backed the American Health Care the same conclusion as another Act. Party campaign operatives from both potential 2020 gubernatorial can- sides are using Congress’s current two- didate. South Bend Mayor Pete week recess to begin testing the waters for Buttigieg has said he is unlikely to next year’s midterm elections. The updated challenge U.S. Rep. Jackie Wal- DSCC website, which was shown first to orski, telling the Huffington Post Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. says The Hill, includes videos or quotes from 13 in March, “Congress has become he’s an “executive” at heart. potential GOP contenders in eight states less attractive for people. I think where President Trump won: Indiana, Flor- a lot of emerging leaders take a ida, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North look at opportunities to run for Congress and decide it is Dakota, Ohio and . In Indiana, GOP Rep. Todd not for them.” Rokita, who is considering taking on Democratic Sen. Joe McDermott is in his fourth term as mayor and Donnelly, called the bill “good legislation.” And another is clearly ready to try something else. The former Lake possible candidate in the state, GOP Rep. Luke Messer, County Democratic chairman has not only been a potent also signaled support for the bill a day before it was pulled power center, but has a clean reputation in an area known from the House floor. for political corruption. And the Washington Examiner reports that an ad produced by American Bridge 21st Century Founda- U.S. Senate: Donnelly reports $2.5 million tion and titled “Trumpcare 2.0: Another Disaster,” accuses Just days after his controversial vote to confirm Republicans of wanting to undo the federal healthcare law Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnel- in order to benefit wealthy Americans. It will also target ly announced he raised $1.3 million in the first quarter of Rokita and Messer. 2017. He now has more than $2.55 million on hand. More Meanwhile, the Republican U.S. Senate field grew than 4,700 donors from across Indiana contributed. “As as Southern Indiana higher education leader Andrew Taka- Page 8 mi entered the race. Takami, has created a potential firestorm for Republican 37, is the director of Purdue moderates during the two-week Easter recess. Polytechnic New Albany, an U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski and Trey Holling- arm of Purdue University. He sworth are taking heat for not hosting town announced his run through halls. a news release Tuesday but WNDU-TV reported that hundreds from will hold a more formal kickoff the community gathered at the South Bend April 20 at The Barn in Floyds Century Center to discuss the state of health Knobs. care in the U.S. Organizers of the event invited “As a Hoosier and a panel of experts to answer people’s ques- American, I don’t understand tions on major provisions of the affordable care how our nation has lost sense act, quality of health care and affordability. of our most basic values. More Although Walorski didn’t make it, the town hall than just conservatives like me went on. ‘We’re extremely disappointed,” said feel this demise in both politics Nicole MacLaughlin, one of the organizers from and beyond,” Takami stated the Northern Indiana Community Coalition for in a news release. “Whether Health Care. “We feel that Congresswoman you’re a CEO of a Fortune 500 Walorski really made a move that wasn’t good company, a mother working for her by not showing up today.” two jobs to make ends meet, Andrew Takami is the newest Republican to Walorski told WNDU-TV, “Whenever I am or a college student trying to join the U.S. Senate field. (News & Tribune home in Indiana, I take the opportunity to meet finance their future, this echo ofPhoto) with constituents and to travel around the district loss reverberates to every corner of our lives. It has impli- visiting local businesses, farms, and community organiza- cations that we have yet to comprehend.” tions. Engaging in constructive dialogue is essential to finding common sense solutions to the challenges Hoosiers Congress: Town hall heat face. That is why I have an open-door policy so I can hear Axios notes that the failed RyanCare health reform Hoosiers’ views and experiences. I look forward to continu- Page 9 ing these conversations.” Snyder hasn’t always been And on health care: “Too a Democrat. The manag- many Hoosiers are facing ing editor of the Internet higher premiums, fewer radio station IndianaTalks. options, and a collapsing com ran unsuccessfully as system under Obamacare. a Democrat for a county I remain committed to council seat in the Novem- repealing Obamacare and ber 2008 general election. replacing it with a patient- That came just months centered health care system after he lost the May 2008 that lowers costs, provides primary for a state repre- real protections, and returns sentative seat in which he control to individuals and ran as a Republican. He families.” also lost a bid for county Hollingsworth told clerk in 2010 as a Re- the Bloomington Herald- publican. Snyder told the Times that when he is in Herald-Press in 2008 that the district, both he and “I’ve always considered his staff are putting to- myself a Reagan Democrat gether meetings and having – socially conservative but dialogues with small groups a pro-middle-class person.” of constituents. He said he thinks that method is the Kansas: Narrow best way to engage with GOP CD victory people and work on solu- On Tuesday night, tions to issues. Although Democrat James Thomp- many constituents have son did not win the first called for a town hall meet- congressional election in ing, he thinks those are less the country since Presi- productive. “No one believes dent Trump was elected. that the answer to solve But he came within seven U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski greets constituents, while she didn’t show Washington’s problems is points in one of the most up at a town hall this past week. to turn up the volume,” Republican districts in the Hollingsworth said. “To me, nation. And Democrats are the answer is always, how do we engage in a productive absolutely thrilled about what that says about their party manner to be able to get to solutions.” in the era of Trump — with good reason (Phillips, Wash- Politico reported that Hollingsworth’s father, Joe ington Post). “If we can make Republicans go into full-on Jr., has admonished the Freedom Caucus. “First, let me freakout mode in a ruby red Kansas congressional district disclose that I am not a resident or voter in your district,” now,” said Jim Dean, director of the progressive group said Hollingsworth, who pumped $1.4 million into a Super Chair of Democracy for America in a statement, “we have PAC to support his son in 2016. “However, I am a con- the power to rip the gavel out of Paul Ryan’s hands in servative donor that has funded over a million in political November 2018.” Maybe. What happens in April 2017 does campaigns for conservative causes. I was contacted today not mean the same thing will happen in November 2018, by a group that wanted to raise money to fund opponents when the entire House of Representatives is up for reelec- against the House Freedom Caucus members... I have tion. But it’s the best evidence we’ve got that right now, chosen not to participate in that cause but instead write voters in traditionally Republican districts aren’t thrilled you directly... [W]hat was done by the House Freedom with Trump. It’s hard to overstate just how Republican this Caucus was almost suicidal to the Republican Party, to Wichita-area congressional district has been: CIA Direc- your group and possibly individually.” tor Mike Pompeo’s old district gave Romney 62 percent in 2012 and Trump 60 percent in 2016. It was the 93rd most General Assembly: Snyder to challenge Zay pro-Trump district in the country. On Tuesday, this district Huntington political blogger and radio talk show swung more than 20 points in favor of the Democrat. v host Gary Snyder has filed to run for the Democratic nomination in Senate District 17 (Kelly and Francisc, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). Snyder wants to unseat Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington, who won the seat in a Decem- ber caucus after his predecessor moved to Congress. But Page 10

ligence and other help that we need in Muslim countries Lugar pans Trump around the globe.” Lugar cautioned that Trump’s insistence that U.S. allies contribute more to NATO and other groups should foreign policy not overshadow the underlying partnership. By MARK SCHOEFF JR. “The administration has to recognize that it WASHINGTON – Former Indiana Sen. Richard cannot allow any doubts in the minds of our adversaries Lugar will deliver a sharp critique of President Donald about U.S. commitment to our allies,” Lugar said. “Such Trump’s foreign policy in a ambiguity is not clever. speech Tuesday night. It is dangerous and A former chairman of can lead to deadly the Senate Foreign Relations miscalculation.” Committee, Lugar warns that The the Trump administration is has defined itself pursuing objectives – such through history by its as building a wall along the “moral identity” and Mexican border, pushing allies generosity, Lugar said. to contribute more to NATO, Those qualities should seeking trade concessions, imbue U.S. foreign removing illegal immigrants policy. and slashing the State De- “Our leverage in global partment budget – that will affairs, and therefore weaken U.S. world leader- our own security, is in- ship. timately connected to “One of the ironies this heroic tradition,” of this is that a president Former congressman Lee Hamilton and former senator at Lugar said. “Once it is who campaigned on his ability the IU global conference earlier this month. gone, it is very difficult to achieve grandiose results is to retrieve.” v offering a vision that is so lack- ing in ambition and so devoid of American heroism,” Lugar said in prepared remarks for a speech Tuesday night at the Foreign Policy Association in Washington. “Many of the Trump administration’s foreign policy goals are simplistic, Trump reverses on NATO prosaic and reactive. These are goals that normally would Jenna Johnson, Washington Post be associated with a selfish, inward-looking nation that is WASHINGTON – President Trump on Wednesday motivated by fear, not a great superpower with the capac- pledged his full support to NATO, reaffirming the United ity to shape global affairs.” States’ commitment to the alliance and saying he no The recent Syrian airstrikes need to be augmented longer considers it “obsolete,” a sharp reversal from his with a more comprehensive foreign policy approach, ac- rhetoric on the campaign trail and during his first weeks cording to Lugar. “The president must understand that in office. On a day when Trump dramatically changed his military power cannot substitute for other forms of lever- stance on several policy positions, his statement about age,” Lugar said. “We cannot bomb our way to security.” NATO stood out given his consistent criticism of the mili- To exert U.S. leverage, Trump must embrace tary alliance and its importance to U.S. allies. For more rather than reject “trade, immigration and alliances,” Lugar than a year, Trump has said NATO is outdated and costing said. Lugar acknowledged that international trade can the United States too much money, suggesting replacing it displace U.S. workers. But he said that problem needs to with an alternative organization focused on counterterror- be addressed through retraining, not by withdrawing the ism and repeatedly using the word “obsolete.” As recently country from trade agreements. as January, Trump continued to stand by this position — Trump’s efforts to curb immigration from Muslim- which alarmed many NATO members.” During a joint news majority countries undermine the fight against terrorism, conference Wednesday afternoon with NATO Secretary according to Lugar. “In a world where dampening the rise General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump professed that his criti- of new terrorists is as important as dealing with existing cisms prompted the alliance to make changes that satisfied ones, the ban on entrants from Muslim countries repre- his concerns--though he did not specify what those were. sents the most obvious recruitment tool against the United “I complained about that a long time ago, and they made States since Abu Ghraib,” Lugar said, referring to a notori- a change — and now they do fight terrorism,” Trump said. ous U.S. military prison in Iraq. “It also makes it more diffi- “I said it was obsolete. It’s no longer obsolete.” v cult to recruit allies, translators, sources of human intel- Page 11

Yet the truth is, we’ve been attacked by the Rus- How to handle sians and we’re not investigating it adequately — which is why the FBI’s investigations are necessary, but not enough. Trump’s Russia mess The FBI’s principal charge is criminal law; what By LEE HAMILTON we need is much broader. However thorough and robust BLOOMINGTON – If we are to rebuild and sustain the criminal investigation mounted by the agency turns public faith in our democracy’s integrity, we need an inves- out to be, by its nature it will be unable to give the nation tigation conducted in the light of day, by people who seek the open and bipartisan inquiry on a broad range of issues the truth and have standing and legitimacy on both sides – not just criminal, but also civil, political, and diplomatic – of the political aisle. that we need in order to move forward. The recent announcement by FBI Director James Getting at the facts ought not to be a political ex- Comey that his agency is investigating links between ercise, but resolving what to do about them surely will be. members of President Trump’s campaign and Russia has What the Russians did was an attack on the heart of our upended Washington. Yet there needs to be an even system; if we are to rebuild and sustain public faith in our stronger and broader investiga- democracy’s integrity, we need an investigation conducted tion to get to the bottom of what in the light of day, by people who seek the truth and have happened. standing and legitimacy on both sides of the political aisle. There are really two ques- In theory, Congress could do this, either with a tions at hand. The first involves select committee or through its standing committees. But Russian meddling in our election there are several problems with this. The first is that it and their attempts to manipulate would be a part-time effort, with members facing conflict- the outcome. They clearly have ing demands on their already pressured time; it would be the ability to affect the public de- impossible for them to give it their full attention. Moreover, bate and public perceptions, and the institution is already bogged down by so much parti- maybe hack the election itself. sanship that it’s hard to imagine an investigation achieving And it’s not just us; they appear the legitimacy it needs. Finally, a number of members have bent on meddling in elections in already made up their minds; they tell us there’s nothing other Western democracies as well. to investigate. This is serious stuff. The Russians are trying to They’re wrong. manipulate the very foundation of representative govern- Clearly, our politics stand in the way of an ment, free elections and the integrity of our institutions. immediate, thorough and open investigation on a critically They want to weaken our system. It’s crucial to under- important question. So I’d suggest that what we need is a stand exactly what they’re up to, the capabilities they fully staffed, well-resourced commission that can look into possess, and how effective they’ve been. There’s a lot we all aspects of the Russians’ involvement in our election. need to understand before we move on to how best to re- What members of the Trump campaign did or did spond as a nation to this Russian effort to subvert America not do with the Russians should certainly be part of it, but democracy. the paramount focus should be to lay out the full extent The second investigation is looking into the of Russian involvement in our electoral system and how to activities of the Trump election team, and whether anyone prevent it from happening again. It’s critical to the success involved in some way colluded or worked with the Rus- of our representative democracy that we understand what sians to affect the outcome of the 2016 election. The FBI happened. A highly visible inquiry by a credible, indepen- has confirmed a list of Trump dent commission would give us the campaign officials who had best opportunity to move forward. contact with the Russians, but v what’s been revealed so far is a lot of smoke and not much Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advi- fire – at least, not yet. sor for the The FBI investigation Center on Representative will move the ball forward Government; a Distinguished on both fronts. White House Scholar, IU School of Global denials and the reluctance of and International Studies; Republicans in the majority on and a Professor of Practice, Capitol Hill to dig deeply into IU School of Public and Envi- the election of a president of ronmental Affairs. He was a their own party has bogged member of the U.S. House of the public investigations down. Representatives for 34 years. Page 12

before the joint committee Wednesday, urging the final Wild week set for budget to reflect the House version more in this regard, including an ITSA representative. It is unclear if the increased projection will sway any cautious minds when budget, roads, beer it comes to increased spending, but it will be an issue to By THOMAS CURRY watch next week. INDIANAPOLIS – Much remains up in the air with The budget proposal could have the biggest just one week of work remaining at the Statehouse, and it impact on the discussion of the HB1002 roads bill which could be dominated by unforeseen debates. Joint confer- was the topic of joint committee on Monday. Roads and ence committees took over the Statehouse schedule this infrastructure will require on average a $1.2 billion invest- week on a number of pieces of legislation, including the ment each year for the next 20 years. Talks between the state budget and infrastructure plan, with the goal of sort- Senate and House have focused on transferring the sales ing out key differences between tax on gasoline from the general fund to road funding. House and Senate versions. Originally, the House plan had called for the sales Wednesday also saw the release tax revenue to be transferred over immediately, which of a crucial budget proposal by would total some $300 million. Senate lawmakers, how- the State Budget Agency which ever, led by Sen. Kenley say that shift would not be wise, foresees more gains than it did in as it would require a cigarette tax increase to fill the hole December. in the general fund. On Monday numerous people testified All this sets up what will likely be a wild week of before the committee, ranging from union heads, trucking work for lawmakers. corporation CEOs and mayors, who discussed their affinity Wednesday’s budget projects a $201.2 million toward the sales tax transfer. Kenley has said previously increase in state revenue over the next two years, up that the tax is unneeded, and a cigarette tax increase roughly $100 million from Decem- has been met coldly in the Senate. While a ber’s report. However, lawmakers cigarette tax increase is likely dead this ses- that pull the purse strings aren’t sion, the debate could be reignited with the ready to go on a spending spree. increased revenue forecast. House Ways and Means Chairman A major talking point of the joint commit- Tim Brown cautioned that “the tee on Monday was local road funding. The second year is much more unpre- House had focused on funding local roads, dictable” when it comes to budget but the Senate gave a more statewide bud- projections. get focus. Huntingburg Mayor Dennis Spin- Senate Appropriations ner and South Bend Mayor Chairman Luke Kenley, who just sent out tweets this week urging lawmakers last month told reporters that to go back to a local road focus, with Mayor he has “no faith” in state budget Spinner pointing out that “85K of IN’s 95k miles are local.” A number of county level projections, also says he will fight Chairmen Luke Kenley and Tim Brown representatives also appeared before the against increased spending after during the April revenue forecast. They and House-Senate committee urging a local the forecast. Gov. Eric Holcomb Gov. Holcomb are urging caution on the bi- road focus, citing that the current levels are chimed in, saying, “We must be ennial budget. (Indiana Public Media Photo) cautious about the fact that projec- too low. HB1002 author Rep. Ed Soliday will tions have not always mirrored have to figure out how to best solve the is- actual revenue experience.” sue as it’s unknown if Senate heads will budge. Although the budget projection is being looked at Tolling was also discussed during the joint session, cautiously, it can still play into a number of conversations after being mostly left out of discussion early in session. in the last week of session. Lawmakers have always said that all funding options are Just hours after the projection was released, a open, but the idea of increased tolling has entered debate joint committee was held on the budget, HB1001. Pre-K in the last few weeks. Some senators remain cautious funding remains one of the most important differences toward the idea, with Indianapolis Sen. Mike Delph not between the Senate and House versions of the bill. Backed voting for the Senate road bill due to his concern that toll- by Speaker Brian Bosma, the House budget increased ing language is too broad. pre-K funding by $16 million, with much of it going to the Soliday on Monday promised a study committee state’s current “On My Way” pre-K program, more than to look at tolling and its possibilities, but that would mean Gov. Holcomb’s requested $10 million. the issue and debate being pushed to next year. If oppo- State senators were less receptive of the increase nents like Sen. Delph and Democrats are able to pick up and slashed it significantly, with a focus on online and more support, tolling could be a major talking point next home school programs. A number of people testified week. Page 13

Cold beer drama quota, the permit was available for $1,000 as specified in Finally, after popping up out of nowhere two the Indiana Code; weeks ago, Ricker’s cold beer sales and the drama it cre- n Once all of the permits have been acquired in a ated was quiet this week. A Senate committee last week specific area, the permits may be sold on the free market voted to allow Ricker’s to continue selling cold beer until for the price the market will bear; its current license ran out, but changed the rule that al- n While it is true that a package liquor store lowed them to get a license in the first place. permit (in Avon) sold for approximately $450,000 at an CEO Jay Ricker has created quite a buzz about the ATC auction, that amount is not the average or even the issue and released a tweet calling Indiana’s law reminis- norm for a permit; the free market dictated the price. For cent of the 1930’s. Social conservative lawmakers have example, restaurant permits, like the one obtained by had few rallying cries this session, especially after the Ricker’s, have sold for over $200,000 recently and liquor quiet death of an abortion bill last month. The publicity on store permits, like the one in Avon, have sold for $1,000; the issue and potential defiant strike from more conserva- n Ricker’s (and all restaurants) are limited in the tive Republicans, as well as many Democrats calling out amount of carry-out space to the lesser of 300 square feet the law, means it’ll come up in some way as lawmakers or 10 percent of the total floor space, so there is no risk of move to close session. their providing a competing selection or quantity of prod- “On behalf of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers ucts with package liquor stores. and Convenience Store Association and Ricker Oil Compa- “We look forward to working with the General As- ny, we support a measured, balanced solution to the cur- sembly to craft a solution that allows Ricker’s to meet the rent cold beer discussions,” said spokesman Tony Samuel, needs of their customers while giving time for the legis- adding that the solution should closely mirror the amend- lature to establish a long-term policy on alcoholic bever- ments adopted by the House of Representatives on April 5, age sales,” Samuel said. “We think the proposal we have including: outlined – the same that the House adopted last week – n Allowing Ricker’s and other impacted permit achieves both goals. As a sign of good faith, Ricker’s has holders to continue operating under their two current res- voluntarily suspended the sale of spirits at the Columbus taurant permits, with the ability to renew those permits; and Sheridan locations while the General Assembly further n Prohibiting the ATC from issuing any new res- studies the issue, even though the permit allows them to taurant permits to restaurants located in a drug, grocery or sell spirits just like any other restaurant.” convenience store until the legislature conducts a compre- hensive study of the issue; Zody urges Holcomb to veto health bill n Removing language currently in HB1496, which Citing an interview with Howey Politics Indiana in sets an arbitrary sales threshold to qualify for carryout cold April of last year, Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John beer sales and likely impacts hundreds of additional estab- Zody issued the following statement upon passage of Sen- lishments; and ate Enrolled Act 404: “On the campaign trail, Governor Eric n Establishing an interim study committee to dis- Holcomb repeatedly asserted he would focus exclusively cuss this issue further through public hearings. on economic issues. In fact, in an interview just last week, Samuel added, Ricker’s has met all of the require- Holcomb said he was “laser-focused” on these issues and ments and obligations imposed on restaurants as specified was “not going to be distracted” by divisive social is- in current law: sues. This week, Holcomb’s pledge will be put to the test. n To keep up with national trends in the indus- Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate have try, and to meet growing consumer demand, Ricker’s has pushed through a divisive women’s health bill, insert- begun offering made-to-order Tex-Mex food, including ing the government between patients and their doctors. burritos, tacos and salads, along with pizzas and deli sand- If Holcomb means what he says, he must veto Senate wiches; Enrolled Act 404.” The legislation “is not on his agenda,” n With these quality food offerings, the two loca- Holcomb’s spokeswoman said, offering no other comment tions meet and exceed the necessary sales and seating except to say he will “consider it carefully” before deciding requirements outlined in current law; whether to sign it, veto it or let it go into law without his n Further, the Ricker’s restaurants comply with all signature. obligations imposed on restaurants selling alcoholic bever- ages, including keeping all alcohol behind a counter and Lawmakers urged to ‘decouple’ tests, evals requiring licensed and trained clerks to serve the alcohol. Indiana legislators were urged Wednesday to Any other restaurant that had applied for the permit in disconnect teacher evaluations from students’ standardized Columbus would also have obtained the permit for $1,000. test results (Miley, CNHI). The issue was pushed by school n All package liquor store, restaurant, grocery administrators during a conference committee of members store, and drug store permits in cities and towns are lim- from both General Assembly chambers discussing House ited, based on a quota set by population; Bill 1003. The current system has been criticized for basing n Because Columbus had not yet reached their full Page 14 teacher performance grants on results from the troubled decouple teacher evaluations from test scores and allow ISTEP+ program, which will be discontinued by mid-2018. local jurisdictions to craft methods of evaluating teachers. Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, said, “Until we get this They say they hope legislation isn’t overly prescriptive and whole testing issue settled out, we ought to look at least gives flexibility to the state school board and Department at a temporary decoupling of the test from teacher evalu- of Education. Lawmakers heard testimony Wednesday but ation. I don’t see how we can judge a teacher’s perfor- negotiations will continue. The Legislature is expected to mance on a test most of us don’t feel is accountable.” The adjourn in less than two weeks. bill is a critical component in determining how students will be assessed as the state begins implementation of the fed- Peeping drone bill passes eral Every Student Success Act, the replacement program Indiana lawmakers are sending Gov. Eric Holcomb for No Child Left Behind. a bill targeting drone operators who use the new technol- ogy for the age-old crime of voyeurism (Associated Press). Teachers push for testing changes The bill by Republican state Sen. Eric Koch of Bedford cre- Indiana teachers groups and some school ad- ates regulations that in part address operators with nefari- ministrators are pushing for further changes to an ISTEP ous intentions who use drones to invade people’s privacy exam bill as lawmakers negotiate a final version of the or capture images of them in compromising positons. v measure (Associated Press). The parties want a final bill to

was afraid that, without increased capacity investment, Trust and the Border domestic prices for my product would rise as Americans would have to compete with foreigners for my product.” “Now,” Eddie says, “let’s look at the other side of Adjustment Tax the story. Goods you buy from abroad require a tax mak- By MORTON MARCUS ing them more expensive to you. And, here’s the genius of INDIANAPOLIS – I go to Econ Eddie, the go-to this proposal, the cost to you of those goods is not de- guy, when the inexplicable needs explication. ductible as a cost of goods purchased. This increases your “The Border Adjustment Tax (BAT) is really taxable income and your taxes.” simple,” he says. “You’re a manufac- “I see it, I see it,” I exult. “Importing raises my turer and you ship something to some tax bill compared to producing in the U.S. It induces me to another country. You get paid for that make or buy domestically what I’ve been importing. That shipment. But you don’t have to re- creates more investment in the U.S. and increases jobs port that revenue on your tax return.” and wages for Americans.” “Ye gads,” I shout. “The taxes “Right,” Eddie says. “Unless, you don’t make those I save are a direct subsidy from domestic investments. In that case, prices for American American taxpayers for me as an consumers will rise, wages might fall, and we’ll get some exporter. It also gives lower prices to pretty high rates of inflation.” companies and people in that other “But that would be counter to economic theory,” I country, if I pass along my savings. say. “Is that possible?” It’s forced charity! Americans can “Well, there are lags and sometimes the world does hold their heads high for their generosity to other, poorer not follow the economics taught in freshman classes,” Ed- nations.” die admits. “But in the long-run,… “Oh, it’s more than that,” Eddie says. “Because you “The long-run?” I say. “This whole scheme is can sell for less, more buyers in other countries will want built on the assumptions of freshman economics. That’s your product. This means you could invest more in Amer- all the economics many economists, business and political ica, hire more American workers, perhaps raise wages or leaders seem to know. The worst part of it,” I continue, increase your dividends, your executive pay, or up your “is a new tax, probably increasing government and private stock price benefiting thousands of pensioners who hold employment to make the whole complex thing work. It your stock in their IRAs.” doesn’t have anything to hold it together but assumptions “But what,” I say, “if I don’t invest and expand about how businesses will behave.” my capacity, but just take the savings in taxes to make my “If you can’t trust economic theory,” Eddie says, life more interesting.” “what can you trust?” v “Economic theory says competition will keep you from doing that,” he tells me. Mr. Marcus is an economist, writer, and speaker “Ah,” I sigh, “saved again by economic theory. I who may be reached at mortonjmarcus@yahoo. Page 15

Roger Parent, South Bend’s mayor at the time, South Bend and pushed hard for the stadium. He wasn’t and still isn’t a real fan; he understood, however, the economic potential for the city. An opposition group, Fair Tax Inc., ridiculed Parent By JACK COLWELL and the proposed stadium, saying the city couldn’t afford SOUTH BEND – With all the enthusiasm at South it and nobody would want to go to bush league games at Bend’s baseball stadium and the excitement over related a dangerous downtown site anyway. Time after time, op- economic development, it will seem strange to many of ponents thought they had fired strike three. But Parent al- the fans who so often pack the place that the stadium ways managed to foul off their pitch to avoid striking out, almost struck out. Naysayers, predicting that a stadium including coming up with creative lease-payment funding. would be a failure, opposed Opponents even asked the prosecutor to consider criminal it all the way to the Indiana charges against Parent. Isn’t fouling off opposition pitches Supreme Court and even sought illegal? criminal charges against city of- While most of the city council was supportive, ficials who built it. there was opposition from John Voorde, on the council If opponents had pre- then as he is now. Voorde predicted the name would vailed, there would not have become “the South Bend Albatross.” Nobody predicted been a record regular season the field would come to be named instead after an Indian attendance of 350,803 for casino. South Bend Cubs games last As debate raged, The Tribune sent me to Peoria season. Instead, zero atten- for the opening game of the 1985 season of the Peoria dance. Nor would team owner Chiefs, then the affiliate of the Chicago Andrew Berlin be pouring mil- Cubs. The purpose was to tell readers what this lions of dollars into stadium ball is like, poor quality bush league junk or something improvements and a major mixed-use residential complex drawing fans and deserving attention. Well, the story around it. He wouldn’t be here, already investing far more didn’t convince diehard naysayers. But it was in a way a than the city spent to build the stadium in 1986-87. preview of what could be in South Bend, even with no The would not have displayed their thought then of snaring the Cubs affiliate. World Series championship trophy at the site. Without a A crowd of 4,871 packed the field in Peoria. Chi- stadium, the Cubs would have no affiliate here. The site cago Cubs broadcaster arrived by helicopter likely still would be the mostly blighted blotch on down- to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in his unique style. town that existed Shawon Dunston, before construction. then Chicago Cubs The stadium has been shortstop, came to a gem since it opened throw out the first 30 years ago, even pitch at the field though some past where he had played out-of-town owners in Class A ball less didn’t always keep it than two years be- sparkling. fore. On the mound Why the op- for Peoria was an position to building it? 18-year-old pitcher There was a “can’t do” named Greg Mad- attitude lingering from dux, who struck out the demise of Stude- a dozen and gave up baker auto produc- no runs in eight in- tion in South Bend. nings. Maybe the kid Former South Bend Mayor Roger Parent helping to open the South Bend Cubs sea- Instead of looking for would have a future. son earlier this week. ( Photo) ways to promote new Wouldn’t it be enterprises and new great to have excite- projects to improve the community, as we see today, many ment like that in South Bend? Now, we do. We almost residents back then didn’t want to risk anything new. The didn’t. We draw far more attendance than Peoria did. And mantra: We can’t afford it. We don’t need it. It will fail we almost drew nobody at all. v anyway. Opposition also involved failure to understand minor league baseball, starting back then to become more Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five de- popular and profitable for owners and communities. cades for the South Bend Tribune. Page 16 Everyone loved Gary Mayor Johnny V. By RICH JAMES MERRILLVILLE – There probably isn’t another Johnny V. pounding the political paths anywhere in In- diana. He was one of a kind. And everybody liked Johnny Visclosky. But Johnny V. is what everyone called him. He passed away a week or so ago at the age of 101. He was mayor of Gary in the early 1960s when Mayor George Chacharis went to prison. Johnny V. (pictured, right) was city controller at the time and became mayor because there because of Johnny V. The saying goes that if everyone wasn’t a deputy mayor. He who knew Johnny V. voted for Pete, it would be impossible chose to serve only until the to beat him. next election and gave way to A. Martin Katz. Visclosky plans to run for a 17th term in Con- Gary was a huge vibrant city at the time with gress next year. For the first time, he will be alone. He some 180,000 people calling the Steel City home. There shouldn’t have too much trouble. He learned from a mas- was little crime and anyone wanting a job simply had to ter. v knock on the door at U.S. Steel. Johnny V. stayed active in politics, helping people in his beloved Gary. And every- Rich James has been writing about state and local where he went, people glad-handed the man who knew government and politics for more than 30 years. He how to make things happen. is a columnist for The Times of Northwest Indiana. While he may have been mayor, he came to be best known as the father of U.S. Rep. Peter Vis- closky, D-Merrillville. Visclosky was elected in 1984, defeating incum- bent , who once served as a state senator, and Lake County Pros- ecutor Jack Crawford in the Democratic primary. Hall had been picked in a caucus to replace Adam Benjamin, who died Labor Day weekend in 1982. Visclosky found Benjamin’s body in his Washington, D.C., apart- ment. It was Johnny V. who engineered his son’s first campaign and had a hand in most of the 16 that have followed. There are those who think that Visclosky won in 1984 and every two years since Page 17

Mike Allen, Boston Axios: President Trump cam- his moral compass, intoning prior to one of the presiden- paigned as an ardent and unapologetic nationalist, but tial debates, “We pray for his family and look forward to in less than a week Trump has morphed into a guy who the opportunities he has to show what is in his heart [in could almost be mistaken for a conventional Republican tomorrow night’s debate].” Whereupon he vanished. president. In the past six days, President Trump has: Fired His calculus was transparent: Pence would await Trump’s 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian government airbase to performance before defending him, poised to resign from respond to Bashar Assad’s chemical weapons at- the ticket — or replace Trump at its head. But Trump sur- tack on his own citizens; Belittled Steve Bannon vived. “Proud to stand with you,” Pence tweeted, in an interview with the New York Post; Stood in then attacked for moral turpitude. the White House next to the Secretary General That’s Pence. His public persona reeks of smarmy of NATO and declared the alliance is “no longer sanctimony — every untruth, evasion, and vacu- obsolete”; Hosted China’s President Xi at Mar- ous bromide delivered in a portentous pipe organ a-Lago and said they had great “chemistry” and voice accompanied by squints, nods, and shakes “bonding”; Told the Wall Street Journal he no longer plans of the head which, Pence clearly imagines, convey a pious to label China a currency manipulator, despite repeated gravity. The effect is that of an unctuous church elder campaign promises to do so “on day one.” (“They’re not selling pyramid schemes to credulous parishioners, never currency manipulators,” Trump said.); Promised to repair doubting he is doing God’s work. v the world during his presidency, not just America: “The world is a mess,” Trump said in the East Room press con- Paul Krugman, New York Times: Does anyone ference Wednesday. “By the time I’m finished, it’s going still remember the Carrier deal? Back in December Presi- to be a lot better place to live in because, right now, it’s dent-elect Donald Trump announced, triumphantly, that he nasty”; Talked with deep feeling about a foreign humani- had reached a deal with the air-conditioner manufacturer tarian crisis; Jettisoned Vladimir Putin, whom he’d resisted to keep 1,100 jobs in America rather than moving them to criticizing until now. “We might be at an all time low with Mexico. And the media spent days celebrating the achieve- Russia,” Trump said on Wednesday. Cautionary note: ment. Actually, the number of jobs involved was more like Trump has been all over the policy map when it comes 700, but who’s counting? Around 75,000 U.S. workers are to issues he hasn’t given much thought to (social issues, laid off or fired every working day, so a few hundred here healthcare, Ex-Im Bank). But nationalism has been con- or there hardly matter for the overall picture. Whatever Mr. sistent in his speeches since the late 1980s. Let’s see how Trump did or didn’t achieve with Carrier, the real question long this version of Trump lasts. v was whether he would take steps to make a lasting differ- ence. So far, he hasn’t; there isn’t even the vague outline Brian Howey, HPI: Since last July when he joined of a real Trumpist jobs policy. And corporations and inves- the Trump ticket, Mike Pence has chucked long-held tors seem to have decided that the Carrier deal was all stances on issues like free trade and Muslim bans. Now as show, no substance, that for all his protectionist rhetoric President Trump evolves (or flip-flops), it will be fascinat- Mr. Trump is a paper tiger in practice. v ing to see how Pence responds. Will he flip and flop with him? Go with the flow, or end up on a policy island?v Michael Warren, Weekly Standard: Last week’s strike on the Syrian airfield from which Bashar al-Assad Richard North Patterson, Boston Globe: launched his latest chemical-weapons attack on his own Mike Pence exudes myopia. His fealty to the NRA is craven people has somewhat overshadowed President Trump’s and comprehensive. He questions climate change and the meeting with Xi Jinping, the president of China. The sum- theory of evolution. He tried to bar Syrian refugees from mit at Mar-a-Lago last Thursday and Friday was the first entering Indiana. In the cul-de-sac of his mind, he plays chance for the leaders of the world’s two largest econo- to the only audience he knows — people who think like mies to get acquainted and, perhaps, talk frankly about him. By 2016, his reelection campaign was flagging, his the security and economic challenges facing both nations. normally polite constituents booing him in public. Locals But the Trump administration has been pretty quiet about were stunned when, bereft of attractive options, Donald what agreements, concessions, or potential deals it got Trump reluctantly offered him a shot at power. For from the Xi meeting, particularly regarding the growing Pence, this was a gift from God; for others, a revelation of nuclear threat from North Korea. Trump himself tweeted character. Shamelessly, he combined obsequious testimo- cryptically on Tuesday morning that he had “explained nials to Trump as leader, family man, and Christian with to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. transparent calculation. Particularly revealing was Pence’s will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean oscillation between toady and schemer in the wake of the problem” and “North Korea is looking for trouble. If China “Access Hollywood” tape. At first, he crowed that Trump decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve was “still standing stronger than ever.” But as revulsion for the problem without them!” That suggests that, at least on Trump’s serial groping mushroomed, Pence rediscovered their first meeting, Trump and Xi didn’t decide on much.v Page 18

to take during the campaign. The shift to discuss trade later this month (Hoo- Trump abandons on Syria enraged some of Trump’s sier Ag Today). The duo is scheduled multiple positions campaign supporters who had em- to travel to Tokyo on April 18. The braced his isolationist foreign policy. U.S. officials will meet with Japan’s -fi WASHINGTON — Presi- nance, foreign, and industry Ministers. dent Trump is abandoning a number Carson to probe Japan is the top export market for the of his key campaign promises on U.S. pork industry, and the National economic policy, adopting instead United Airlines Pork Producers Council has urged the WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. many of the centrist positions he Donald Trump administration to begin Andre Carson (D-IN) is a member of railed against while campaigning as negotiations on a free trade agree- the House Transportation and Infra- a populist (Washington ment with Japan. structure Committee. In a Post). Trump will not statement, he told 24-Hour label China a “currency Buncich proclaims News 8 he would be looking manipulator,” he told the into the incident. “As a mem- Wall Street Journal on his innocence ber of the Transportation and Wednesday, despite a Infrastructure Subcommittee WASHINGTON — Lake campaign pledge that he on Aviation, I am trying to County Sheriff John Buncich broke would apply the label on his first day get all the facts possible so that we his months-long silence Wednesday in office. He also said he was open to learn what actually happened, and, following his November indictment on reappointing Federal Reserve Board in what order the events unfolded. In federal corruption charges, calling the Chair Janet L. Yellen after saying last the coming weeks, I will be looking claims “absurd” and pledging to fight year that the central banker should into the details of what went wrong to (Napoleon & Lyons, Post-Tribune). “I be “ashamed” of what she was doing ensure that this type of unfortunate have long wanted to issue a statement to the country. And he embraced the situation does not happen again.” of my innocence to allay any concerns Export-Import Bank, a government that you may have and to maintain agency that he mocked last year and your confidence in the Lake County that has long been despised by con- Chinese plant will Sheriff’s Department. But, on the ad- servatives who labeled it crony capital- bring 441 jobs vice of my attorneys, I have remained ism. silent,” Buncich wrote in an open letter The statements represent a GREENFIELD — A China- to Lake County residents. Buncich move toward the economic policies of based auto-parts manufacturer has said he had expected the case to be more centrist Republicans and even at chosen Greenfield as the site of resolved by now, but since it’s contin- times align with the approach of for- its first U.S. production facility—an ued until August, he wanted to speak mer president Barack Obama. Should $80 million plant that is expected to out and assure residents the work of he follow through on the newly articu- employ 441 workers by the end of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will lated positions, it would suggest that 2021 (Indianapolis Business Journal). continue without disruption. the candidate who ran as the ultimate BeijingWest Industries Co. Ltd., which outsider is increasingly adopting a designs and manufactures brake and O’Reilly to Vatican more moderate economic agenda. The suspension systems, plans to break reversals come amid a period of rapid ground on the 276,514-square-foot as Fox investigates evolution for Trump on both foreign facility in Greenfield’s Progress Park and domestic issues. Trump’s com- this summer and launch production in NEW YORK — Bill O’Reilly mitment to repealing the Affordable August 2019, state officials announced left Fox News this week for a long- Care Act has wavered. On Wednes- Wednesday. The Indiana Economic planned vacation to Italy and the day, he said repealing the Affordable Development Corp. is expected to Vatican, with his fate in the hands of Care Act needed to be Congress’s offer BWI North America Inc up to a Murdoch family calculating the risks main priority after scrapping the ef- $4.55 million in conditional tax credits and rewards of keeping him on or fort several weeks ago. On the global and up to $200,000 in training grants forcing him out of the network. Fac- stage, Trump’s reversals have been based on the job-creation plans. ing a boycott by advertisers, unrest even sharper. Last week, he ordered inside the company, protests outside airstrikes against the Syrian military, Pence to travel Fox News headquarters and public even though he promised during the calls for human rights investigations campaign to keep the United States to Japan into company culture, Rupert Murdoch out of conflicts in the Middle East. He and his sons, Lachlan and James, are is also adopting the Obama admin- WASHINGTON — Vice Presi- reckoning with the fallout of a sexual istration’s call to oust Syrian leader dent Mike Pence and Commerce Sec- harassment scandal that has once Bashar al-Assad, a position he refused retary Wilbur Ross will travel to Japan again engulfed Fox News.