V16, N22 Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 Tea Party takes aim at Lugar GOP civil war Tea Party members could rival one sign a let- ter asking on national scene Sen. Rich- ard Lugar By BRIAN A. HOWEY not to run - The for reelec- civil war bubbling up within tion in the Republican Party 2012 at an pits the upstart Tea Party organizing movement against one of the convention most dynamic political opera- in Sharps- tions in Hoosier history - the ville on political campaign of Richard Saturday. Green Lugar. (AP Photo) This divide mirrors what Americans saw on Tues- day night following President Obama’s state of the union address. House Budget Chair- man Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., gave the official Republican rebut- tal, saying the “days of busi- ness as usual are over” and that “spending cuts must come focusing on the Tea Party Express lens. The Bachmann ad- first” while U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., gave a dress came just days after she said in Iowa that the Found- disjointed blast of what called “Tea ing Fathers had ended slavery. Party fury” while looking past the Fox pool feed camera and Continued on page 3 It’s the economy, stupid

By RUSS STILWELL BOONVILLE - “It’s the economy, stupid” was a phrase widely used during Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign against President George H.W. Bush. “I do not believe we can repair the “This is the first audience I’ve basic fabric of society until people who are willing to work have work,” been with lately where they’ve Clinton said. waved using all their fingers.” Along with thousands of other Hoosiers I watched Gov. Daniels de- - Supt. Tony Bennett, liver his State of State message just a making remarks before the screening short couple weeks ago. I even con- cluded that he delivered a powerful of ‘Waiting for Superman’ Tuesday speech with a specific list of things to HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

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Subscriptions do. I was impressed. But then I took pher who said, “it’s tainted money. $350 annually HPI Weekly the time to actually read the speech. ‘Taint yours, and ‘taint mine.” (It was, It wasn’t about jobs and the economy. in fact, Mark Twain.) $550 annually HPI Weekly and The included all I’ll bet the bankers in our HPI Daily Wire. the clever references such as how state liked that ‘tainted money’ line 'Call 317.627.6746 “Hoosiers are waiting tonight for a when they realized the Gov planned national economic recovery.” He elo- on taking $200 million of their contri- quently spoke of building one of the butions from the insurance trust fund Contact HPI best job climates in the country (think that protects Hoosiers from possible Howey Politics Indiana he should review the WTHR “Where bank meltdowns! 6255 N. Evanston Ave. are the Jobs” investigative reporting But one should always save Indianapolis, IN 46220 every once in a while?). the best for last, just like Gov. Daniels www.howeypolitics.com He continued, “Breaking the did in his annual address: Education all-time record for new job commit- Reform. [email protected] ments isn’t enough. Adding new Every Hoosier governor has 'Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 jobs at twice the national average attempted educational reform in every 'Washington: 703.248.0909 isn’t enough. It could not offset the possible fashion since the beginning of 'Business Office: 317.627.6746 terrible drag of a national economic time. Some got it right and some just tide that continues to leave too many didn’t get it! I think Gov. Daniels is boats suck in the muck.” somewhere in the middle. © 2011, Howey Politics Indiana. Seems that “national econo- Last week, I asked a normal All rights reserved. Photocopy- my” has singled out our Hoosier state hard-working small business owner a ing, Internet forwarding, fax- in spite of our state’s Herculean ef- question about public school reform. ing or reproducing in any form, forts! She doesn’t give a hoot about edu- whole or part, is a violation of And with that he took off and cation policy or the sport of political spent the remainder of the evening jousting. The question was simple: federal law without permission talking about cutting taxes, his pro- “Why do some kids do well and others from the publisher. v posed budget and education. And he seem to fail in our public schools?” quoted that famous Hoosier philoso- She thought for only a second HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

or two and very expertly explained to me why some kids do ployment insurance trust fund with lower benefits? well and others poorly. She noted why most private school But I did hear a lot about education reform. Let’s kids seem to do very well and why charter schools get high pass charter school reform and let scores of new entities marks. All of this from a person who does not give these start new charter schools and continue the drain on our issues a thought or two throughout the course of a year? public schools. She began, “It isn’t rocket science. Kids that have Let’s eliminate some of our most challenged a stable home life with supportive parents that instill an en- teachers because they happen to teach students from pub- vironment of education and learning will do well in school. lic schools that accept students from all walks of life. Kids from poorer neighborhoods whose single parent (or Let’s send our kids to private schools with public parents) work dead-end jobs and don’t find the time to money, and let the public schools teach only those who help with homework, or are just to worn out from putting are physically, emotionally and mentally challenged! A real food on the table, will not fare very well. Education reform recipe for success not to mention constitutionally question- begins at home.” able! She gets it better than most of our school experts. Seems the legislators listened. Just last week they It’s about jobs and the economy! passed enabling legislation that dictated the start date for Solid meaningful jobs for Hoosiers always should local schools cannot begin until after Labor Day regardless be our number one priority. With good jobs come stable of what the local school officials think. I bet that will really homes, supportive parents and better educational achieve- get them test scores up, won’t it? ment for our kids. They held hearings on a massive increase in char- But I didn’t hear the governor venture into our ter schools. And more change is sure to come. dismal state jobs numbers. And I can’t blame him either. I At the end of the day in all probability, things won’t wouldn’t want to talk about these figures if they occurred change much if the real issues in the 2010 election aren’t on my watch. addressed. Clinton got it right. It’s about jobs and the I didn’t hear him talk about our 300,000 long- economy. term unemployed Hoosiers. I seemed to miss any men- The quicker someone begins a serious dialogue tion of our nearly 10% Hoosier unemployment rate that about jobs for Hoosiers, the quicker we will have quality consistently ranks as one of the worst in the nation. And education and a better place for all Hoosiers to call home. I missed how he intends to help the nearly 1 in 5 Hoosiers After all, it’s the economy, stupid. v who are unemployed or underemployed. Think maybe the House majority can fix this when they tidy up the unem- Stilwell is a former Democratic state representative.

“showed us a strength of unity.” To defeat Lugar, “All we Tea Party, from page 1 need is 700,000 votes,” she said. “We also know that the very founders that wrote Greg Fettig of the Hamilton County tribe, said the those documents worked tirelessly until slavery was no has 35,000 people. more in the ,” Bachmann said. “Each of them have 10 people in their sphere of Last Saturday, 180 Hoosier Tea Party members rep- influence,” Fettig said. “That’s 350,000 people. They will resenting 70 tribes gathered at a church vote as we will vote. If we don’t unify, we might as well go near Sharpsville to forge an anti-Lugar home.” confederation. They sent a letter - one Saturday the blueprint to defeat of 899 Sen. Lugar received on Mon- Lugar was forged and by June, after the day - thanking him for his service while confederation determines what exactly it asking that he drop out of the 2012 officially is (a PAC? A foundation?), they U.S. Senate race. Monica Boyer, a Kos- will invite Lugar and potential challengers ciusko County Silent No More Tea Party - State Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, Indi- activist who lost a recent school board ana Treasurer Richard Mourdock, former race after getting only 11 percent of State Rep. Jackie Walorski - to make their the vote, sees strength in her move- pitch, then unify behind one challenger. ment. Other challengers may stay in the race, “We’re excited today,” Boyer Monica Boyer of the Kosciuscko County but the members of the Tea Party vow not told the press, saying the event Silent No More Tea Party. (AP Photo) to split its vote as they did in the 2010 HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 4 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

Republican U.S. Senate primary that Sen. Dan Coats won that caused each of us, as an obligation of citizenship, to with 39 percent. participate in the process. That is why we found common purpose with these new voices – they seemed to be say- Friday night in Carmel ing what we’d been saying for a long time. It seemed that On Friday night, 420 Lugar supporters gathered what they believed was the essence of what we believe as at the Ritz Charles in Carmel where they donated nearly Republicans. And, here in Indiana, a handful of people are $400,000 to his campaign. The Lugar political organization intent on organizing that anger and frustration into a cam- has its roots dating back to L. Keith Bulen days - ironically paign. To do what? The answer … to take Dick Lugar out.” a GOP insurgency itself in the mid-1960s. It counts a young who managed the senator’s first reelection Right wing complaints campaign in 1982. Except that the Tea Party - which originally stood It followed a Lugar mailing to 500,000 registered for “Taxed Enough Already” - has diverged into a right wing Republican voters, appealing for their financial support and list of complaints. They are against the Dream Act. They the ballot petition drive. By the time Sen. Lugar arrived in opposed the Supreme Court nominees and So- Carmel for the fete, the nia Sotomayor. They op- campaign had gathered posed the START Treaty. 8,400 signatures. That “With the votes rose to 8,867 signatures we follow, we believe it by Wednesday, with the shows he is not a conser- campaign gathering them vative,” Fettig said. at a clip of 536 a day. As the Tea Party “Tonight we are met in Sharpesville, Lugar on the precipice of what was being honored by will be an important LaPlaza, a Latino group and tough battle,” said which hailed his backing Mark Lubbers, who ran of the Dream Act, legisla- Lugar’s 1996 presidential tion that would natural- campaign. “And I am ize the children of illegal determined to see that immigrants. everyone face this real- “I told them I ity and that none leave merited their support and here tonight complacent. hoped I would have it,” Our hearts must be in Lugar said at the event. this. We can harbor no The Indianapolis doubt about the rightness Star reported that he of our cause. We must U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar at a press conference with then Sen. Barack Obama. expressed some bewilder- meet righteous opinions ment that they see his re- with righteous opinions. cord as liberal, saying he’s And, we need to see this been a champion of small coming battle for what it is, which is more than just Dick business, voting over the years to cut taxes and spending. Lugar’s reelection.” “But this particular Tea Party group is interested In the Lugar world view, the Tea Party movement in the Dream Act and the START treaty,” Lugar said. “It is is the result of a bad economy and what Lubbers called unusual. They are attempting to find particular policies they the “giant, absurd over-reach of Obamacare” that jolted object to that are not related to spending and controls.” citizens into a Howard Beale (“I’m as mad as hell and I’m “It is the Dream Act, START, the last two justices,” not gonna take this anymore”) reflex. They learned what Fettig said. “Those justices almost sealed it for everyone in Howard Beale discovered in the legendary film “Network.” the Tea Party. Kagan was the last straw.” “It feels good to get to the end of your rope, to In the Tea Party world view, “if they don’t live by throw off the silence and literally be empowered to fight the Constitution, that does not count.” back,” Lubbers said. “Especially when you find yourself part Fettig said that Sotomayor would take race in ac- of something – to have friends who are as angry and as count in her rulings. frustrated as you are. We welcomed these fellow citizens “Justice is blind to color,” Fettig said. “Kagan said into the fray. They had been stirred by the same spirit she would look to international law.” HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 5 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

Kagan and Sotomayor had Republican support aliens who were brought here as children to earn citizen- beyond Lugar. Republicans Judd Gregg, Lindsey Graham, ship by getting an education or serving in the military,” , and Susan Collins voted to confirm Kagan. Lubbers said. “Our opponents falsely call it amnesty. Since Collins, Snowe, Gregg, Graham, George Voinovich, Mel when is it amnesty to bestow citizenship in return for join- Martinez, Christopher Bond and Lamar Alexander voted ing the Marines and getting shot at in Kandahar defending for Sotomayor. Half of the Democrats and independents the American flag?” had backed Chief Justice (though not U.S. In 2000 and 2004, it was the Latino vote Sen. Evan Bayh, which infuriated the Tea Party activists), that helped George W. Bush win two very close elections. but only 9 percent voted for Justice Samuel Alito in 2006, It is the fastest growing voting block in . In 2006, which was the last straw for many conservatives when it Republicans like U.S. Reps. John Hostettler, Mike Sodrel and comes to voting for nominees of Democratic presidents. Chris Chocola of Indiana advocated strict immigration laws. All three lost that year. In 2008, President Obama won 67 Lugar isn’t backing away percent of the Latino vote, a 36 percent increase over their Since the spike in the Tea Party’s aim at taking out support for in 2004. Obama won 77 percent of Lugar, the senator hasn’t backed away from any of the hot the Indiana Latino vote as this voting block went from 3 button issues that certainly will be used against him. He re- to 4 percent of the Indiana electorate between 2004 and newed his long-time call for an assault weapons ban in the 2008. It will be even bigger in 2012. wake of the assassination of federal Judge John Roll and Obama increased his support among Catholics five others, along with the wounding of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle from 16 to 32 percent. Four in 10 Catholics are Latino. Said Giffords. His ardent backing of the START treaty probably Notre Dame Associate Prof. David Campbell, “Latinos are saved it in December. He accepted honors for his work on the face of the Catholic population going forward.­ Latinos the unsuccessful Dream Act literally while the Tea Party swung to Obama.” tribes met in Sharpesville. Mark Halperin of Time Magazine told the Bulen Lubbers reminded the Lugar faithful: “Faced with Symposium in November 2008 that Republicans “have to this, I am in awe of the calm, confident, humble attitude of be spooked” about their Latino losses. the Senator. He is as unchanging as ever in the face of this State Sen. Mike Delph, who has been critical of challenge. While other Republicans have twisted them- Lugar over immigration issues, now has a “Draft Mike selves into political pretzels to get in line with this political Delph” website that features photos of Lugar with then- threat, the senator has held true to his views – not in defi- Sens. Obama and . “ is running ance, as has been reported by the media, but as an act of for re-election in 2012. His voting record is far worse than ultimate integrity. And he is as cheerful and as gracious as the one Dan Coats was running from – and he’s running on the first day any one of us met him for the first time. You it. He has a mixed voting record on abortion. He’s for bail- can feel his determination. His resistance to shallow cliché outs. He’s one of the few Republicans who voted to confirm politics. He has always been guided by a comment made both of Obama’s leftist Supreme Court nominees, Sonia by Edmund Burke – who, as any true conservative knows, Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. He’s not only pro-amnesty, is the father of the modern conservative movement. Faced he was a co-sponsor and biggest supporter of the most with a situation not unlike ours today in the parliamentary recent attempt at amnesty! Delph’s supporters are already election of 1774, Burke said: ‘Your representative owes more passionate than Lugar’s,” the website claims. “We’re you not only his industry, but his judgment; and he betrays already more mobilized. Soon, we’ll have the entire Tea you, if he sacrifices it to public opinion.’ “ Party unified behind him. If we come together as early as Lubbers also addressed the age issue. possible and form a truly united front, we can’t lose. If we “The day after the 2010 election, while most of the hesitate or allow ourselves to be divided, we will lose. If we senators under 70 went on vacation, what was Dick Lugar fail to inform people about what Dick Lugar truly believes doing? Flying to Africa to secure biological weapons. Why? and what he stands for, we will lose. Please join us in sup- Because there is no one else with the energy and the expe- porting Mike Delph for U.S. Senator in the 2012 election. rience to do this. And why is it important? Because any one How To Help: 1. Email Mike Delph and ask him to declare of these strains if weaponized would make 9-11 look like a his candidacy early picnic.” Lubbers asked Republicans to “show me a way for our presidential nominee in 2012 to get 270 Electoral Col- Dream Act and Latino vote lege votes without winning a lot of Hispanic votes? It can- And Lubbers put the Dream Act into a political not be done. You want four more years of Barack Obama? focus. Be against the Dream Act.” “The Dream Act proposed one thing – enable illegal Thus, there lies the vulnerability of the Tea Party HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 6 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

movement. The nomi- Perhaps the big- nations of Joe Miller in gest risk for Lugar be- Alaska, Sharron Angle yond a publicized health in Nevada and Christine problem is the nagging O’Donnell in Delaware 9.5 percent jobless rate and their subsequent afflicting Indiana. Within defeats probably kept the context of a bad the U.S. Senate in the economy, defeat lurks for hands of the Demo- every incumbent. cratic majority. The Can Lugar be sharp right bends may defeated? bring tangible benefits , in closed primaries or Bob Garton, Larry Borst, Utah-style conventions, Homer Capehart and but will leave many other previously invincible independents (and leaders - perhaps even Latinos) in other camps Evan Bayh - would answer in the general. Sen. Lugar drops off his nomination petitions in 2006 at the Indiana State- yes. But the seeds of Mourdock house in an election he ran without a Democratic opponent. (HPI Photo) those defeats laid with a was quoted as having lack of understanding the internal polling show- potency of the challenge. ing a confrontation with Lugar as “winnable.” They join the While the Tea Party tribes are flexing their muscles, the legion of push polls conducted by past potential Lugar chal- Lugar brain trust has full understanding of the threat. v lengers (i.e. David Johnson and Tim Roemer) which also uncovered Lugar vulnerabilities that were never exploited. Indiana Republicans will be seeking to retain the Long wants immigration message governorship, two new congressional seats and the Indiana House. There is profound risk of jettisoning the most pro- By LAUREN CASEY lific Republican vote getter of all time in Lugar. The Lugar INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Senate President Pro campaign will find a rock solid base of Republican support. Tempore David Long hopes all 50 states - including his own But it also has a reservoir of independent voters - some 40 - pass immigration legislation. percent of the Hoosier electorate - which can be resourced “It’s important to send a message to Washington,” in the 2012 primary. That pool will stand out even more if said Long this morning. Hoosier Democrats successfully coalesce around a single He said that illegal immigration is a huge national gubernatorial nominee and President Obama runs unop- security issue and that it is a “national disgrace” that posed in the primary. Washington continues to not do anything about it because The Lugar political operation sees 67 weeks be- constitutionally, immigration is a federal issue. tween now and the primary. The goal will be, as one opera- A bill that would require all state documents to tive put it, “to win every week. The Tea Party’s assumption be printed in English, authored by Rep. Suzanne Crouch, is that we will just stand pat, and we won’t.” R-Evansville, passed the Indiana House of Representatives There is talk that the Tea Party will seek support 63-26 on Monday. from Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks and Chris Chocola’s Club Long said that he agrees that English should be for Growth. The risk there is an influx of outside money supported as Indiana’s dominant language, but that the impacting an Indiana Senate race. That is fodder for the issue is where to draw the line. He also said that no citizen incumbent. would move out of the bottom level of poverty in this state “This has become a national race,” Fettig said, cit- without mastering English. ing Freedom Works, the Tea Party Express and potentially Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, authored an Arizona the . “Today this is a national race.” style immigration bill, which currently rests in the Senate In the 2010 time frame, the Tea Party was able to Committee on Pensions and Labor. In regards to Delph’s raise fantastic amounts of money for O’Donnell and Angle, bill, Long said that it is important how the legislature deals who at one point had $14 million gushing in during the with an individual’s Constitutional Rights. He does not month of October, but was still unable to unseat the unpop- believe that this bill would lead to racial profiling.v ular Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, R-Nev. HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 7 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

But media reports in the last week have portrayed Pence should seek Pence as “torn” about coming back to run for governor or seeking the presidency, which just about everyone ac- knowledges would be a long shot. He says his decision will the presidency be made on where best he and his family can contribute. By BRIAN A. HOWEY My concern about is that being gover- NASHVILLE, Ind. - Mike Pence should run for presi- nor of Indiana wouldn’t be the crowning achievement. It dent. would be a stepping stone. And for eight years between I write this not being flip or condescending, for 1988 and 1996, Gov. Evan Bayh also saw the office as a Congressman Pence and I have a long, friendly history. He stop on the path. Bayh was a decent governor, but many began his radio show about the same time I began pub- saw many of his decisions as governor within the context of lishing Howey Politics Indiana back whether it would further his presidential ambitions. in 1994. I appeared on his radio I personally think Evan Bayh would have been a show often. In 1997, Pence and better governor if he had just governed - and governed Peter Rusthoven convinced Harrison boldly - and allowed good public policy to evolve into good Ullmann over drinks at Claude & An- politics. In Gov. Mitch Daniels, we see this kind of leader- nie’s after a Pence TV show taping ship result in not only mold-shattering public policy, but it to hire me at NUVO Newsweekly. has gone a long way in creating the presidential buzz that It has been fascinating to watch surrounds him now. Pence rise from a twice-defeated Indiana is in better financial shape than most congressional candidate, to his states coming out of the Great Recession of 2009-11. But heading the Indiana we’re still mired in a 9.8 percent jobless rate and many Foundation, to his IPR article “Con- Hoosier families are suffering. We need our next governor fessions of a Negative Campaigner,” to begin his 10-year to be focused on one key thing: job creation. Not job cre- congressional career that brought him into leadership. Be- ation for himself, but for the tens of thousands of Hoosiers cause Pence has established a staunch conservative credo caught in the throes of this tepid economy. and has used his ample communication skills to establish Daniels acknowledged in December that eight himself in the presidential conversation, he now is faced years would never be enough to right the state’s decades- with an epic dilemma. long slide into mediocrity. The job will require intense He has a wide open path to the Republican Indi- concentration, particularly over the next decade when the ana gubernatorial nomination. Or he could seek the 2012 economy continues to globalize, when competition (and Republican presidential nomination. opportunity) from Asia will grow more intense, and the po- Mike Pence should go for the latter. He should run tential impact of the Affordable Care Act will become more for president. apparent. The Indiana governorship is normally the crowning Indiana will need a policy making executive with achievement for a Hoosier politician. There have been a few - Thomas A. Marshall, Thomas A. Hendricks, Doc Bowen, Henry Lane and to some extent Evan Bayh - who parlayed a gubernatorial win into the vice presidency, a presidential cabinet position or the U.S. Senate. There have been others who have sought the Indiana governorship - President Benjamin Harrison for example - and were denied, yet were able to achieve higher office. With Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman out of the race, Pence is not only the odds-on favorite to win the GOP nomination for gov- ernor, but he would be an early favorite in the general election. It would appear to be U.S. Rep. Mike Pence with freshmen (from left) Reps. Marlin Stutzman, Todd Young, an easy decision. Todd Rokita and Larry Bucshon. (Photo by Trevor Foughty) HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 8 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

his eye on ... Indiana. Elkhart that day that if his stimulus plan failed, he’d likely If Mike Pence comes back to run for governor, he be a one-term president. Pence put it like this: “What the will have his eyes on Indiana, and Washington as well. American people are tired of is runaway federal spending. I He says he’s more “Flat Rock than Potomac” - a believe the American people rejected that under Republican reference to rivers near and far. But I wonder how a politi- control, and I believe that’s the reason why support for this cian who has become so adept at working Capitol Hill will stimulus bill is collapsing by the hour. The American people feel when he comes back to the Indiana Statehouse and know we can’t borrow and spend and bail our way back to has to deal with B. Patrick Bauer. Dan Quayle was pre- a growing economy.” sented with that very scenario in 1995 and couldn’t pull the So there is historic continuity between Pence and trigger. It takes a special person who’s played in the Major Obama as opponents -- even more so with Pence since he Leagues to be willing to toil on stood up against some of the unfunded Bush bush leagues and buses in Cov- era follies. Pence has been a long-time critic of eleski Stadium. our last two presidents and represents the es- Wouldn’t a Pence presi- sence of the Tea Party movement. dential bid be tantamount to This is why Pence is so torn. He knows political oblivion? that there is a historic calling at hand that may Well, ask Barack never come his way again. His rhetoric has Obama. When Sen. Obama been consistent and now the events of his time made the decision to seek are sliding into his zone. It may never happen the presidency in 2006, David again. He could use the presidential campaign Plouffe gave him an unvarnished to be a major player on the epic stage, or he reality check: he had no better could be a bit player as Indiana governor, keep- than a 10 percent shot at suc- ing his powder dry for a day that may never cess. There was a prohibitive fa- come. vorite in Hillary Clinton standing There is even political cover in such a risky U.S. Rep. Mike Pence appeared on a Po- in his path, as well as a yet-to- strategy. If Pence runs and doesn’t win the litico webcast Wednesday but declined be-tainted former vice presiden- presidential nomination, he probably will know an offer to announce his political future. tial nominee in . before the Indiana filing deadline. He could run We know how that story for the presidency, give it his best shot, and still turned out. We also know that obscure outsiders named keep his congressional seat if he fails. He certainly would Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were staring at bleak odds in make many vice presidential short lists. 1974 and 1991 when they were faced with similar decisions Congressman Pence, history is calling. v against supposedly better situated competition. Most see Pence as a congressman and note that only James A. Garfield was able to go from the U.S. House Pence decision to the White House. But there is a real opportunity in this presidential race for Mike Pence. The social conservatives ‘by end of the month’ are beginning to coalesce around him. His credo - “con- servative but in a good mood about it” - would have broad By BRIAN A. HOWEY appeal. INDIANAPOLIS - We await word. There is no front runner. And the closest thing to From Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., who is supposed to it is former Massachusetts Gov. , who is so announce his decision sometime between now and Monday flawed as a candidate, particularly with his own brand of on whether he will run for president or governor. health reform. The rest of the field - the Huckabees, Palins, And from Gov. Mitch Daniels, who may be presi- Barbours, Gingrichs and Pawlentys - all have with big dential timber. downsides. Our governor is equivocating on whether to go. Those in the tightest of circles wear poker faces The ambitious Pence may never see a more open and don’t reveal their cards or return phone calls as of this road to 1600 Ave. than he has right now. writing. So here’s what I think is happening: From the very beginning of the Obama presidency Mike Pence: Pence said on a webcast - from that day in February 2009 when the president was Wednesday, “We’re going to meet our deadline by the in Elkhart and the congressman was doing a town hall end of the month. We are sorting out where we can have in Columbus - Pence has established himself as a ring- the best opportunity to serve our conservative values that ing voice in the Republican opposition. Obama said in brought us to Washington in the first place.” HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 9 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

When I talked with Pence’s Chief of Staff Bill Smith influence on heading off the fiscal crisis that we’re heading on Tuesday, he indicated that Pence had not made a deci- for like an iceberg in this country,” Daniels said. “So, I hope sion. But whatever his decision will be will come by Mon- there will be a little more attention paid to that. It seems day, which is Jan. 31. Pence’s staff did not return phone the president didn’t do that last night.” calls Wednesday and today. I don’t know this for a fact, but I suspect the WISH-TV’s Jim Shella was reporting on a “Pence for governor has not been amused with the Pence POTUS Governor” Facebook page, though there is no content and dalliance because the Armey-Ryun Draft Mike movement it isn’t clear it was a Pence-sanctioned page. mucks up the whole Draft Mitch narrative. There is also The Associated Press reported today that Pence the growing feeling that Daniels has been so coy, so “aw- “doesn’t seem to be signalling to party leaders around the shucks” about it that the whole facade is getting old and state whether he’s made a decision.” It also noted that a has allowed Pence to rush into the vacuum. He needs to state ethics law passed last year could throw a wrench into give a vivid signal soon - May 1 after the General Assembly any immediate campaign for governor since it prohibits any sine die could be too late. Watch the Conservative Political political fundraising by candidates for statewide office until the Legislature completes its session in late April. It’s possible that Pence could say whether he’ll run for president and leave the rest until later, something HPI speculated on last week, pointing to a possible presi- dential exploratory committee. That would give Pence more time to assess. “By saying what they won’t do, it will probably tell us what he will do,” said Mike McDan- iel, a former state Republican chairman. “If he is going to run for governor, I’m sure there’s no hurry for him to actually say it.” What do I think is happening? It appears that Pence has been torn between a date with potential presidential destiny and a somewhat sure thing in a gubernatorial run. Perhaps it’s as simple as trading retreats in Williamsburg for Lincoln Day Dinners at Nel- son’s Golden Glo Port-a-Pit Hall in Wakarusa (OK, I used that same line in 1995 with Dan Quayle). Some in the GOP have to be wondering why - with the path to the Gov. Daniels checks out a book at Klondike Elementary School in Republican gubernatorial nomination cleared - does he West Lafayette on Wednesday and admitted he didn’t watch President tarry? Perhaps it goes beyond making the presidential Obama’s State of the Union address. (HPI Photo by Megan Banta) race. Perhaps he’s thinking that a gubernatorial run ef- fectively preempts the other, better potential opportunity in 2012: a place on the GOP ticket. After a gut check, I think Pence comes to his senses, takes the sure thing (the Action Committee speech on Feb. 11 for Daniels to make governor’s race) and prepares for a 2016 presidential bid a clearer declaration about where he’s at. Had Daniels when there likely will be an open White House. But I might signalled vivid intentions sooner, the whole Pence for presi- think something entirely different tomorrow. dent thing would have been been rendered moot by now. Gov. Mitch Daniels: President Barack Obama If Pence chooses the presidential option, that certainly delivered the State of the Union speech Tuesday night, but complicates things for the governor. Obama’s potential presidential rival - Gov. Daniels - said What do I think is going to happen? I suspect the he was too busy watching Ohio State beat Purdue, 87-64, First Lady is not fully on board with a national campaign. to hear the president speak (Sarah Seward, HPI/Franklin). But she wasn’t fully on board with the gubernatorial run “You caught me. I didn’t watch it,” Daniels said during a and has gradually embraced her role. But running for stop at Klondike Middle School in West Lafayette Wednes- president is so much more intense and that their personal day. life veil will be lifted. I think that Daniels really wants to Daniels said he read accounts of the speech and make the run, in part due to the same historic call tugging was disappointed. “There were some hopeful notes I read at Mike Pence, but the family dynamic may be delaying a about in last night’s speech, but maybe still not enough clear signal. v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 10 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

8. Education Supt. Tony Bennett Time to ponder the 9. FSSA Commissioner Anne Murphy 10. Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman 11. U.S. Rep. Dan Burton 2011 HPI Power 50 12. U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly By BRIAN A. HOWEY 13. U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth INDIANAPOLIS - With four new members of Con- 14. House Minority Leader Brian Bosma gress, more than a dozen new Indiana General Assembly 15. State Sens. Luke Kenley and Brandt Hershman members and significant changes in the Daniels administra- 16. OMB Director Ryan Kitchell tion, there will be significant changes in the 2011 Howey 17. Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel Politics Indiana Power 50. 18. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard The Power 50 has been published every year 19. Commerce Secretary Mitch Roob since 1999. The list is designed to weigh and rank the 50 20. State Rep. Randy Borror Hoosiers who will most likely have the biggest impact on 21. U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky the coming year. It gauges not only current standing, but 22. State Rep. Kreg Battles and State Sen. Connie Lawson expectations. 23. Secretary of State Todd In 2011, the top Rokita newsmakers will come 24. State Rep. Ed DeLaney from the Statehouse on the 25. Treasurer Richard Mourdock: 26. Fort Wayne Mayor Tom biennial budget process, V15 N18 Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 redistricting, education and Henry local government reforms. 2010 Power List invited to Tea Party 27. U.S. Rep. Mark Souder Partisanship will 28. Earl Goode We also have municipal grip Indiana elections, so there will politics in 2010 29. Marty Morris By BRIAN A. HOWEY 30. IMA President Pat Kiely be a change of the guard and MARK SCHOEFF JR. INDIANAPOLIS - After 31. ISTA President Nate Schnel in many cities across the a year of economic crisis and turmoil - beginning with the possibility of a second Great lenberger state. Depression and ending with the closest brush to a terror attack 32. Chamber President Kevin As always, HPI since 2001 - 2010 has arrived in what could be the most par- tisan environment in memory. The Tea Party movement is the wild card in Indiana politics in 2010. Here is a scene from the April Brinegar invites readers to weigh Politics in America and 15, 2009 Statehouse Tea Party. (HPI Photo by A. Walker Shaw) Indiana is as polarized as we’ve 33. House Majority Leader Russ in. Feel free to nominate ever seen it. A recent NBC/Wall Hoosier Tea Party leaders. What we’ve discovered are Street Journal poll showed that despite the bitter divide tribes of disaffected people lashing out. There are close to Stilwell those you think should be between Republicans and Democrats, neither party is in a dozen Tea Party websites based in Indiana, but no visible good standing today. Only 35 percent viewed Democrats or charismatic leadership. A couple of Republican Indiana positively and a mere 28 percent liked what they saw of House candidates - Jim Lucas of Seymour and Wes Robin- 34. Senate Minority Leader Vi on the list, or give us your the Republicans. But 41 percent have positive feelings of the Tea Party movement. Simpson own list. We will form the HPI spent a good part of this week looking for See Page 3 2011 list based on feedback 35. Budget Director Chris Ruhl Legislative timelines from our readers as well as 36. Indiana Republican Chairman By KATIE COFFIN Murray Clark HPI contributors. Send your INDIANAPOLIS - As the Senate convened for the first time in 2010, President Pro Tempore David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said he expected the legislature to be in a 37. Indiana Democratic Chairman nominations to: bhowey2@ “dead sprint” this short session and that he hoped for a “What’s so wrong with the “prosperous” year for the state. Leadership in the House Dan Parker gmail. has also implied that this could be an even shorter short system right now is it costs $1.20 session. Normally the Power While there are some reasons why legislators roughly to give away a dollar. We 38. Mike Gentry, HRCC would want to call it quits early, among them being the ought to devote the money we looming elections, some aren’t buying into the hype. 39. Kristen Self, HDCC 50 list is published on the Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, said he would be “sorely disappointed” if the General Assembly hurries save to the poor people.” first Thursday of the new out of session in the middle of the greatest economic - State Rep. Ed DeLaney, on 40. Betsey Burdick and Eric downturn since the Depression. He said he does not fore- his bill to abolish townships year. But with the prospects Holcomb that Mike Pence will be 41. Mike Sodrel and Todd Young making announcement this month, we decided to push this 42. Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi year’s list back to Thursday, Feb. 3. 43. Matt Greller, Indiana Association of Cities & Towns Here is the 2010 HPI Power 50 list: 44. Greenwood Mayor Charles Henderson 1. Gov. Mitch Daniels 45. U.S. Rep. Andre Carson 2. U.S. Rep. Mike Pence 46. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott and Lake Sheriff 3. U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar Rogelio Dominguez 4. U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh 47. Attorney General Greg Zoeller 5. U.S. Rep. Baron Hill 48. Ways & Means Chairman William Crawford 6. Speaker B. Patrick Bauer 49. Farm Bureau President Don Villwock 7. Senate President David Long 50. State Reps. Scott Pelath and Jeff Espich v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 11 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 Bill would limit teacher contracts to wages, benefits

By SUZANNAH COUCH INDIANAPOLIS - Contract negotiations between teachers’ unions and their school corporations would be limited to salaries and benefits such as health care under a bill approved by a state Senate committee Wednesday. This strips away teachers’ ability to negotiate other Biden talks electric issues such as how evaluations are conducted and layoffs are determined, which textbooks are used and what items cars in Greenfield teachers receive for their classrooms. The Senate Pensions and Labor Committee heard By MIKE ROBERTSON from supporters and opponents of the proposal, which is a GREENFIELD - Vice President made a key part of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ education reform agenda, visit to Indiana on Wednesday to tout the role of clean during a hearing Wednesday morning. energy in the automotive industry’s future. Author Sen. Luke Kenley, R-No- Biden made a visit to Ener1 Inc., which designs blesville, presented Senate Bill 575 to the and creates energy solutions for large-format lithium-ion committee. “Teachers should be highly battery technology. Those batteries are used primarily in respected, valued and rewarded financially electric and hybrid cars. “The future starts off with hybrid for the important contribution they make automobiles, battery-operated automobiles, and partially to our society,” Kenley said. “But it is not battery-operated automobiles,” Biden said. the goal of the system to satisfy the em- Biden’s remarks come as President Barack Obama ployee at the cost of failure of the system.” and some federal lawmakers renew their push for clean But Sen. Timothy Skinner, D-Terre Haute, said the energy. bill “silences teachers’ voices.” Biden said the impact of clean energy solutions Jefferson High School special education teacher Di- would be economic as well as environmental. ana Koger said she is against Kenley’s proposal. Koger said “Right now were importing $400 billion of oil a the bill would allow school boards to make final decisions year,” Biden said. “Imagine if we had that money to invest on salaries if no decision is made with the teachers in 30 in our own country.” days. Koger said this could mean a cut in salaries. Obama addressed the issue in his State of the Koger said collective bargaining helps ensure Union address Tuesday. “With more research and incen- teachers have the textbooks they need, the free time it tives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, takes to prepare for classes and other items it takes to suc- and become the first county to have a million electric cessfully run a classroom, such as intercoms. vehicles on the road by 2015,” Obama said. She encouraged the committee members to Biden said government incentives may be the only follow her around her high school to show that the unions way to drive that number up in any significant way. work within schools. “I’m not lazy, I’m not overpaid and I “We propose a change of what is now an existing deserve what I have,” Koger said. $7,500 tax credit to an immediate $7,500 rebate, where John Ellis, the executive director of the Indiana you get a check for $7,500 for those who invest in battery- Association of Public School Superintendents, said he sup- operated automobiles,” Biden said. ports Kenley’s bill. He said many Indiana superintendents The issue of clean energy is being addressed have told him they would like to see teacher collective outside the Obama administration, as well. bargaining eliminated. On Tuesday U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar introduced Sen. Richard Young, D-Milltown, told Ellis he is the “Dual Fuel Vehicles Bill of 2011,” which would provide concerned that teachers would have no say in how their vehicle owners a choice in fueling options in the future. subject matters are taught, and could face repercussions if “In order to rapidly decrease our dependence on they complain about working conditions. imports of foreign oil, we must expand domestic energy Ellis said that the bill does not outlaw discussion; production from strategic resources like biofuels and from it just removes those conversations from the collective unrecovered domestic oil reserves,” Lugar said. v bargaining process. Teachers would be protected if they HOWEY Politics Indiana Page12 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

were to discuss work conditions with a superintendent or the state Department of Education. Medicaid to rise despite cuts The bill passed on a 7-2 vote. Kenley said he hopes By JESSICA WRAY the bill will not undergo significant changes as it advances INDIANAPOLIS – State officials say even though through the legislative process. v they plan to shed some of the optional services that are currently offered, they need more funding for Medicaid Vote centers on a fast track overall. Michael Gargano, secretary of Indiana Family and By SHELBY SALAZAR Social Services Administration, told the House Ways and INDIANAPOLIS — A measure that would allow Means Committee on Wednesday that Medicaid enrollment counties to use centralized polling places is on the fast is growing while state finances are tightening. track to final passage, clearing an Indiana House panel on The state expects to spend $1.7 billion on Medicaid Wednesday after gaining the state Senate’s approval last in each of the two years that will be covered by Indiana’s week. next budget, he said. “As you look at this bill, please keep in mind this Indiana is losing about $600 million in federal is not a mandate,” said the bill’s author, Rep. Randy Truitt, stimulus dollars devoted to Medicaid over the last two R-West Lafayette. “This is an opportunity, or a potential, for years. Therefore, though the Daniels administration is only true government modernization.” seeking a $135 million increase in Medicaid funding over A voting center is a location where any person who the next two years, that’s actually new state spending that is registered to vote in that county can cast their ballot, amounts to $294 million for fiscal year 2012 and $438 mil- regardless of the precinct in which they live. lion for 2013. “That’s what we’ve sent to the budget com- Truitt told the House elections committee that the mittee,” spokesman Marcus Barlow said. bill will help counties save money because voting centers State lawmakers said there is little doubt Medicaid require fewer workers and less equipment. It will also funding should be increased in the next two-year budget. make voting more convenient for several groups of people, “The increases are needed because we’re definitely including the elderly, he said. seeing more people that are needing services, said Rep. Voting centers have been tested in the “pilot” Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis. “The more money that we’re counties of Tippecanoe, Wayne, and Cass. Officials in each able to put in as a state, the more money we can leverage of these counties said they cannot imagine going back to from the federal government, which is always good.” traditional precinct polling locations. Gargano told the committee that FSSA, as part Linda Phillips, the county clerk in Tippecanoe of the governor’s recommendation, proposes to eliminate County, testified to positive results that voting centers have optional Medicaid services such as chiropractic, podiatry had. She has found that more people are coming out to and dental, for about $13 million total potential savings in vote, including rural voters. fiscal year 2012, which begins July 1, 2011 and ends June “More rural voters actually voted in voting centers 30, 2012. than their rural precincts,” said Phillips. The federal government has tight regulations on Voting centers in Tippecanoe County were set up in Medicaid, and one of the only areas that state governments nursing homes as well, which Phillips said drew more posi- have the ability to cut within are optional Medicaid services, tive feedback. Senior citizens found it was more convenient he said. and appreciated the chance to vote in person again, she That proposal has met some resistance from Ways said. and Means Chairman Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, and espe- Officials from Cass and Wayne counties echoed cially Democrats. “I think we’re going to have concerns, in Phillips, saying their counties experienced similarly positive particularly the impact it’s going to have on people that are results. using Medicaid, the potential loss of services that are being “The big convenience is that you can’t show up at provided,” Pryor said. the wrong polling place,” said Julia Vaughn, policy director Medicaid is not the only program to see large for Common Cause/Indiana. increases in enrollment. The Healthy Indiana Plan covers None of the proposed amendments by Rep. John uninsured adults who do not qualify for Medicaid. There Barlett, D-Indianapolis, Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, are more than 42,000 people enrolled, with more 55,000 and Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh D-Crown Point, passed. Each people on the waiting list. failed in a 5-8 vote, with Democrats voting yes and Repub- Seema Verma, the FSSA official who runs the plan, licans voting no. The bill passed, 10-3. told the committee that spending has exceeded revenues, and that FSSA has had to draw from HIP surplus funds. v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 13 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan.27, 2011

city is featured in a full-page ad placed in The Chicago Welcome to Tribune and Springfield and Peoria newspapers. In the ad, featuring an attractive view of the India- Indiana ... Suckers napolis skyline, Ballard tells Illinois business execs: “As you consider the effect of large, new state By JACK COLWELL tax increases on your company’s bottom line and ability SOUTH BEND - Because the Illinois General As- to hire, I invite you to take a serious look at Indianapolis. sembly decided - finally - to pay its bills, Indiana politicians The nation’s 13th largest city is right next door, offering swoop like vultures to claw away jobs. the same Midwestern work ethic and conveniences - but in This isn’t the most noble or effective job creation a much more stable, affordable and pro-growth economic plan for Indiana. environment.” Purdue economic development expert Ed Morrison Billboards in Chicago may follow. calls the effort “hopelessly out of date” and “out of step Whether or not Illinois businesses are lured, the with what the global competitive reali- publicity about this back home in Indiana will be a plus for ties are.” Ballard, who is running for re-election as mayor. However, it follows the Golden Comparing state tax rates is tricky. Rule of state cooperation: “Do unto your For example, Marion County (Indianapolis) has a neighboring state before it does unto hefty county option income tax tacked on to the state rate. you.” So, an Illinois exec could find the total Indianapolis indi- Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is glee- vidual rate higher than the new Illinois rate. Then there’s ful over the Illinois decision to pay down that extra restaurant tax for Lucas Oil Stadium and Indiana its crushing debt and balance its budget Convention Center expansion. with corporate and individual income Also, according to The , the Illinois tax increases. corporate income tax formula enables more than two-thirds Daniels sees it as an opportunity of corporations to avoid payment of that tax. to lower Indiana’s high unemployment rate by scavenging Still, total tax paid in most of Illinois no doubt is jobs from a tax-happy neighbor. higher than what is paid in most of Indiana. In a Chicago radio interview, Our Man Mitch But taxes aren’t the only thing considered in decid- quipped that having Illinois as a neighbor “is like living next ing where to locate. door to ‘The Simpsons,’ you know, the dysfunctional family Indiana economist Morton J. Marcus wrote in a down the street.” Howey Politics Indiana column that the state shows “dan- Not a bad laugh line for Daniels, whose satirical gerous neglect” with service cuts, education woes, streets humor will be featured as the Republican speaker at the and roads “in poor to dismal repair” and ancient sewerage Washington Gridiron Dinner. He will trade quips with some systems. guy from Illinois who now resides in the White House. Marcus also noted that Indiana is avoiding But was that any way for Mitch to talk about Illinois paying its bills for underfunded pensions and the $2 billion government, what with the most recent former Illinois owed to the federal government for unemployment com- governors so prominent in the news? Former Gov. George pensation borrowing. Ryan, disgraced, is trying to get out of prison. Former Gov. “Nevertheless, this is the Indiana to which we hope Rod Blagojevich, impeached, is trying to stay out of prison. to attract Illinois residents and businesses,” the economist Ryan and Blago declined to pay their adminis- wrote. tration bills. The Illinois debt climbed amid “creative” bud- Illinois once was known as “the sucker state,” with geting and bragging about no income tax increase. Illinois various reasons cited for the nickname, some fishy. had the lowest individual income tax rate in the nation, just With that nickname in mind, the appeal to Illinois 3 percent. businesses execs perhaps should include: “Welcome to Now, it goes to 5 percent. The Illinois corporate Indiana, Suckers.” v rate goes up also by a couple percentage points in this day of fiscal reckoning. Colwell has covered politics over five decades for It’s the corporate hike especially that inspires The South Bend Tribune. Indiana politicians to urge Illinois businesses to take a hike across the border in quest of a rate that’s a little lower. A letter from Indianapolis Mayor Gregory Ballard, urging Illinois business leaders to consider moving to his HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 14 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

coordinating governmental functions. In the case of town- In Indiana if it’s ships, we are instructed to abandon their activities to the counties. broke, throw it out Likewise, large inner-city school corporations are under attack. The fact that such schools are the deposito- By MORTON J. MARCUS ries for society’s poorest and most afflicted populations is INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana’s new policy is “If it is well understood, but not forgiven. Instead of seeking to broken, throw it out.” We applied that policy to township improve these schools, we rush to put them out of busi- assessors and now we are applying it to township govern- ness. ment. Soon we may do the same to urban school districts. A proposal before the legislature offers vouch- When something is not working as it should, what ers for use in private schools. For students from house- do you do? Kick it or bang it, think- holds with less than $42,000 income, the vouchers would ing a good jarring will restore proper be worth 90 percent of the per-pupil state aid formerly functioning? Examine it, diagnose the received by the school the student leaves. Statewide, such operation of its parts, seek to fix the vouchers would average more than $6,000 per student per faulty mechanism? Rid yourself of the year. In the Indianapolis Public Schools, the amount would offending thing and get a new one. be in excess of $7,800 per student for private tuition. Or, do without whatever the thing was The amount of the voucher (and the commensu- intended to do? rate decrease in state aid to the public school) goes down Not long ago, similar homes in the as the student’s household income rises. For a student same Indiana county were assigned from a household with income from $42,000 to $84,000 very different values. Assessments the voucher is 50 percent of per-student aid, falling to 25 seemed arbitrary and subjective. Township assessors’ of- percent when the student comes from a household with fices were ripe with opportunities for nepotism, excessive income between $84,000 and $105,000. This insidious spending, and sweetheart assessments. The legislature’s idea presumes a school with poor students can give up a solution: get rid of township assessors, except in a few larger part of its state aid than can a school with a wealthy instances. clientele. County assessors assumed the responsibilities of This program destroys the public school econo- township assessors. Most often the township assessors my. If 10 students leave an elementary school, how much were hired into the county assessors’ offices. Those town- less money is needed to run that school and its buses? Will ship assessors who ran low-cost, efficient, and equitable the heating costs decline for the building? Will fewer teach- operations were bundled in with the inept and the crooks. ers be required? Rather than carefully auditing the activities in each We don’t like the performance of inner-city township assessor’s office, Indiana schools so we devise a program to destroy them. We don’t chopped down the institution. We approve of the behavior of town- did not expose the crooks or offer ship officials, so we legislate them up the inept for public scrutiny. out of existence. We don’t feel Worse, when the scythe cuts comfortable with the assessment through, the healthy plants fall of our homes, so we dismiss town- with the diseased. ship assessors. Now township trust- If it doesn’t work, break it. If it ees and their advisory boards is broken, throw it out. Never fix face their turn. Again there are anything. Will that be the next charges of mismanagement and motto on our license plates? v malfeasance. Instead of investi- gating, exposing, and prosecuting, Marcus is an independent we will eradicate township govern- economist, speaker, and ment. writer formerly with IU’s Kel- Yes, too many local ley School of Business. governments infest Indiana. We do not, however, establish criteria for consolidating governments or

HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 15 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

rently Head of the Election Law and Government Ethics Sabato, Howey combine Practice at Bryan Cave LLP Dr. Diana Owen, Associate Professor of Communi- on 2010 election book cation, Culture, and Technology at Georgetown University Dr. Jack Pitney, Crocker Professor of Politics at ‘Pendulum Swing’ Claremont McKenna College Dr. Seth Masket, Associate Professor of Political Sci- CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Vir- ence at the University of Denver ginia Center for Politics released its latest book, Pendulum Dr. Sam Hoff, George Washington Distinguished Swing, drawing on the collective wisdom of nearly two Professor of Political Science at Delaware State University dozen of the nation’s top political analysts, journalists, and Dr. Susan MacManus, Distinguished Professor of academics for comprehensive analysis of the 2010 midterm Government and Int’l Affairs at the University of South elections and the subsequent policy implications. Florida This timely publication by Center for Politics Dr. Paul Green, Arthur Rubloff Professor of Policy Director Larry Sabato and a national team of contributing Studies at Roosevelt University experts delves into the overlooked details of the 2010 elec- Brian A. Howey, Editor of Howey Politics Indiana tions. Looking back at the titanic political shift in Washing- Dr. Caroline Tolbert, Associate Professor of Politi- ton, DC and around the nation, the authors explore how cal Science at the University of Iowa with assistance from: that shift could affect the 2012 presidential election. The Amanda Keller, graduate student at Univ. of Iowa book is the newest in an ongoing Dr. Laurie Rhodebeck, Associate Professor of Politi- annual election series developed by cal Science at the University of Louisville the Center for Politics and published Dr. Paul Herrnson, Director of the Center for Ameri- by Pearson/Longman publishers can Politics and Citizenship; and Distinguished Scholar- (www.pearsonhighered.com). Teacher at the University of Maryland College Park “The 2010 midterm elec- Dr. Thomas Schaller, Professor of Political Science tion was one of the most significant at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in modern American history. The Dr. Agnes Bain, Professor of Government at Suffolk voters spoke emphatically and what University they said will have great conse- Dr. Michael Traugott, Professor of Communication quences for years to come. This is Studies; and Research Professor at the Center for Political an election that deserves extensive Studies at the University of Michigan treatment, and that is what we have Jo Mannies, Senior political reporter at the St. Louis tried to deliver in Pendulum Swing,” Beacon Sabato said. Jon Ralston, Political columnist at the Las Vegas Separating political myth from reality, Pendulum Sun and host of the TV program “Face to Face with Jon Swing tackles topics such as the Tea Party, campaign Ralston” finance, health care, the economy, the role of the media, Dr. Dante Scala, Associate Professor of Political Sci- each party’s political strategies, and how those factors con- ence at the University of New Hampshire tributed to the Republican wave last November. Dr. Jeffrey Stonecash, Maxwell Professor of Political Howey wrote about the Indiana U.S. Senate race. Science at Syracuse University Contributing authors include: Jonathan Riskind, Washington Bureau Chief of the Dr. Alan Abramowitz, Alben W. Barkley Professor of Columbus Dispatch Political Science at Emory University and senior columnist Joe Hallett, Senior Editor of the Columbus Dispatch for Larry Sabato’s “Crystal Ball” Dr. G. Terry Madonna, Director of the Center for Rhodes Cook, Editor of the Rhodes Cook Letter and Politics and Public Affairs; and Professor of Public Affairs at senior columnist for Larry Sabato’s “Crystal Ball” Franklin and Marshall College Dr. Thad Beyle, Thomas J. Pearsall Professor of Steve Peoples, Former political reporter for the Political Science at the University of North Carolina Providence Journal; now National Political Reporter for Roll Isaac Wood, Director of Communications at U.Va.’s Call Center for Politics and Editor of the “Crystal Ball” John O’Connor, Political columnist at The State Dr. Michael Cornfield, The Michael Cornfield Com- newspaper pany; Adjunct Professor of Political Management, The Jay Root, Political reporter at the Associated Press George Washington and George Mason University research, pragmatic analysis, and innovative educational Michael Toner, Former Chairman of the FEC; cur- programs. v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 16 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

Doug Ross, Times of Northwest Indiana: On serious look at Indianapolis. The nation’s 13th largest city Wednesday, I watched while Cass Township officials began is right next door, offering the same Midwestern work ethic making funeral arrangements for the township government. and conveniences -- but in a much more stable, affordable Aware of the increasing calls for elimination of township and pro-growth economic environment.” I’d say the good government, Trustee Tim Guse and the township board mayor got his foot in the door. While Ballard was acting, began the estate planning for their beloved dependent, Northwest Indiana was, well, holding a meeting. That’s Wanatah School. “If we wait, we might not have any op- not surprising. Northwest Indiana holds lots of meetings, tions, and then what happens?” Guse asked Wednesday largely because the region lacks a leader -- a go-to guy during the township board meeting. LaPorte County’s when a command decision is needed. The NWI Forum, the Cass Township is the last in Northwest Indiana and one Construction Advancement Foundation and the South Shore of a tiny handful in Indiana where the township govern- Convention and Visitors Authority were the local agencies ment still runs the local school. Because Wanatah School who huddled to discuss the Illinois tax situation. Don’t get is kindergarten through eighth grade, the township’s high me wrong, I’m glad they took the initiative to meet. But school students are given vouchers from the township to something is missing in Northwest Indiana -- a rather big attend school elsewhere. The status quo is popular, but void, if you will. The Forum, CAF and the CVA are just three pressure to eliminate township government is forcing the of a multitude of organizations across Lake, Porter and township to seek consolidation with Dewey Prairie Con- LaPorte counties. While each of those three agencies has solidated School Corp., which operates LaCrosse School. its own mission -- or some would say turf to protect -- they LaCrosse High School has one of the smallest enrollments don’t represent the totality of Northwest Indiana. v in the state. Combined with Cass Township, the new school district would have fewer than Gary Gerard, Warsaw Times-Union: 500 students. That’s a far cry from the 2,000 This week, in a largely symbolic gesture, the students the bipartisan Indiana Commission on United States House of Representatives re- Local Government Reform — commonly referred pealed the health care measure passed by the to as the Kernan-Shepard commission — would last Congress. I say it’s symbolic because the require as a minimum size for school districts. Senate likely will not pass the bill, and even Guse acknowledges this. “This (merger with in the highly unlikely event that it did, the bill Dewey Prairie) could potentially be a steppingstone,” Guse would surely be vetoed by President Obama. Nonetheless, said. But for now, it allows Cass Township residents to I think the discussions of the healthcare bill remain valid. keep their beloved school, the center of Wanatah’s social There are lots of reasons - constitutional and otherwise - to life. “We don’t want to be a ghost town,” Guse said. “We oppose the flawed health insurance law that is commonly want to grow and thrive.” Next step is to enter into formal known as Obamacare. But I want to focus this week on consolidation talks with Dewey Prairie school board officials something that has not been at the forefront of the discus- and approve a joint resolution for the merger between Jan. sion. Aside from all its other flaws and foibles, Obamacare 31 and Feb. 2. That sets up the opportunity for a petition constitutes one of the largest tax increases in history. drive to challenge the merger. If 20 percent of Cass Town- recently published a comprehen- ship’s registered voters oppose the merger, it would be on sive list of tax hikes in Obamacare. I’ve been watching both the ballot May 3 for the referendum that even the township sides of the debate. One side says Obamacare will reduce officials pushing for the merger want. And if the merger is the deficit. The other side says Obamacare will increase shot down at the polls? Expect the Indiana General As- the deficit. One side says it will create jobs. The other side sembly to address this issue next year. That’s the value of says it will kill jobs. I frankly don’t know who to believe. approving the merger now, even before knowing whether But based on this information from ATR, I think we can be township government will be eliminated. v pretty sure of one thing about Obamacare. It’s going to cost us. Rich James, Post-Tribune: When the state of Illinois raised its personal income tax by 66 percent and Andrea Neal, Indianapolis Star: A public school corporate income tax by 46 percent a week or so ago, teacher I know makes the claim that teachers would con- Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard sprang into action. In less sent to performance pay for their profession if state legisla- than a week, Ballard had full-page ads running in three tors accepted merit pay for theirs. As a practical matter, the Illinois newspapers, including one in Chicago. “Dear Illinois two careers aren’t comparable. Teachers work full-time and business leader,” Ballard said in the ad. “As you consider can be assessed on results achieved by students in indi- the impact of large, new state tax increases on your com- vidual classrooms. Legislators are part-time and their work pany’s bottom line and ability to hire, I invite you to take a product comes from majority rule. v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 17 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

Daniels says highway under budget, head of schedule

By SARAH SEWARD LOGANSPORT - Gov. Mitch Daniels met with Indiana Depart- ment of Transportation officials here Wednesday and reported that the Hoo- sier Heartland Corridor was under budget and ahead of schedule. The Hoosier Heartland Corridor is a high priority project funded by the federal stimulus package and Major Moves According to Will Wingfield of staff member that everyone in the that aims to connect Lafayette, Ind. INDOT, competition among construc- office had been “back-stabbing him,” to, eventually, Toledo, Ohio, via State tion companies for work on the project according to an affidavit from FBI spe- Road 21. has made the project cheaper. cial agent Robert Dane. The employee “Of all the 200+ projects that Daniels said the importance of tried to rationalize with Keiling, but he the Major Moves effort has made this project lies in it building economic continued to threaten her, saying, “I possible, this may be my very favor- growth as well as making State Road am going to come and back stab you. ite,” said Daniels, “and it’s way ahead 21 safer. “More than anything the I mean literally come down and stab of schedule and it’s under budget so Hoosier Heartland is a great example you.” The woman told the FBI that we’re going to keep pushing ahead of how public investment in quality she thought the threat was directed at with it because of the way it’s going to transportation infrastructure trigger her, the rest of the staff and Donnelly, link some of our great towns starting job growth and economic growth,” D-2nd. Keiling regularly calls the Don- in Lafayette, Delphi, Logansport and said Daniels. The project also will nelly headquarters and the FBI’s South Peru and Wabash.” The project began make safe what Daniels calls “one Bend office to discuss current events in 2008 and was supposed to finish of the most dangerous roads in the in the media, and is “routinely irratio- in 2015, but Gov. Daniels reported state.” nal, confrontational and uses vulgar Wednesday that it would be finished language,” Dane wrote in his affidavit by 2013, at the latest. He cited out of The FBI and St. Joseph County police the box thinking from workers as the Man arrested after Monday night arrested Keiling at his reason for the early completion date. home and booked him into the county “The schedule has been ac- threats to Donnelly jail, where he was held without bond. celerated dramatically over the last few years. These guys are doing a SOUTH BEND - Federal au- great job,” said Daniels. He added that thorities have charged a Granger man $18.75 million in federal money was with threatening U.S. Rep. Joe Don- Bill would tamp granted for work on the highway but nelly and his South Bend office staff since the project is progressing at a (South Bend Tribune). Brett Keiling, referendum speech faster rate than anticipated, it will cost 46, of the 10000 block of Anderson INDIANAPOLIS - An Indiana 3.77 million dollars less than expected. Road, called Donnelly’s downtown House committee on Wednesday ap- South Bend office Monday and told a proved a measure that would prohibit HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 18 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

teachers and other school employees added Wednesday, the Department of and curtail mining across much of the from advertising a position on a school Education would be required to keep country. referendum, including discussing it in a list of unused school buildings. The class or wearing a button that men- list would have to be updated annu- The job and production losses are tions the issue (Casey, HPI/Franklin). ally. Charter schools looking to acquire outlined in an Office of Surface Min- Rep. Cindy Noe, R-Indianapolis, said the space would have to submit a ing Reclamation and Enforcement she introduced House Bill 1238 to ad- request to the DOE and enter into a document obtained by The Associ- dress complaints from taxpayers that lease. The charter school also would ated Press. The rules are supposed to school referendum advertising hurt have to use the space for classroom replace Bush-era regulations aimed the education of their children. She instruction, not storage. Sen. Luke largely at Appalachian surface min- said the bill would make operational Kenley, R-Noblesville, asked about the ing (Associated Press). The document referenda more consistent with current procedure for when the charter school outlines changes that OSM estimates state law regarding capital refer- is finished with the building. would slash more than 9,000 jobs and enda. Joan Laskowski, vice president production from surface and under- of legislation for the American Civil ground mines in 22 states. OSM had Liberties Union of Indiana, said the bill Goodnight reports no immediate comment. But mining might violate the Constitution.“I am states and the mining industry say concerned that this bill would violate $212K cash on hand they’re deeply disappointed. ,” said Laskowski, KOKOMO - Kokomo Mayor who said she is speaking for herself, Greg Goodnight’s campaign reported not the ACLU, which has not yet $212,709 cash on hand at the end of Economic outlook arrived at a position. The bill would 2010, including $81,528 raised last brightens in survey allow superintendents or designees to year. On Friday, January 21, 2011, promote the referenda only at commu- Mayor Goodnight formally filled his pa- WASHINGTON — Employers nity organizations if invited to speak. perwork declaring his candidacy as a will hire more workers this year, and “We are trying to provide transparency Democrat for a second term in office. the economy will grow faster than so that neither side [of the issue] has envisioned three months ago, accord- the upper hand,” said Noe. ing to an Associated Press survey that Henry says Fort found growing optimism among lead- ing economists. But unemployment Charter schools Wayne is strong will stay chronically high — nearly would get buildings FORT WAYNE - Even while 9 percent by year’s end, the latest suffering through a national recession, quarterly AP Economy Survey shows. INDIANAPOLIS - A Senate Fort Wayne is in a strong position to A majority of economists say it will be committee Wednesday approved a grow, Mayor Tom Henry said Wednes- 2016 or later before unemployment bill that would allow charter schools day. Henry gave his fourth State of drops to a historically normal rate of to seize unused public school build- the City address in front of a packed around 5 percent. Economists have ings (Casey, HPI/Franklin). The Senate auditorium at the downtown Allen become more confident 19 months af- Education and Career Development County Public Library. “Yes, we have ter the worst recession since the Great Committee also debated and amended experienced the full impact of one of Depression ended. Lower Social Secu- bills that would give school systems the country’s worst recessions, but I rity taxes and higher stock prices will the right to issue first-year teachers can report today that the city’s fiscal embolden Americans to spend more short-term probationary contracts and standing is sound,” he said. and help power the economy, they that would allow high school seniors to say. “People will finally recognize that graduate a year early. The committee an economic recovery is under way,” approved Senate Bill 446, 8-0. The bill Obama seeks to said Lynn Reaser, a board member of would allow charter schools to seize the National Association for Business unused school building space from the curtail coal Economics. “This won’t be a recovery traditional public corporations. Sen. seen only by economists.” Scott Schneider, R-Indianapolis, and CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Sen. Carlin Yoder, R-Middlebury, co-au- Obama administration’s proposal for thored the bill. With the amendments protecting streams from coal mining would eliminate thousands of jobs