V21, N9 Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015

American massacre: We’re on our own Indiana State Police advise on surviving atrocities; no political solution on horizon By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – A genera- tion ago, Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith warned us of a coming era of “super predators,” the children of crack addicts suffering Day One from maladies such as fetal alcohol syndrome, who would eventually ter- rorize the population. In Goldsmith’s footprints came Mayor Bart Peterson, who at- that not only do they desensitize our children to violence, tempted to make violent video games a political and policy but they also teach some techniques of violence. I think issue. He was reacting to kids growing up in isolation and it’s important to emphasize that in addition to what we can with little, if any, adult supervision, playing games like keep our kids away from with this ordinance, we’re rais- “Grand Theft Auto,” where the individual could gun down ing attention to an issue that I think is vitally important. dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of rivals, bystanders, cops Most parents have no idea about the images their children and whoever appeared on the screen. Peterson explained in 2000, “There are some Continued on page 3 special things about video games that are unique. One is Digging in on civil rights By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – If Gov. Mike Pence were to pick up the phone and call his predecessor, Purdue President Mitch Daniels, for his advice on the coming civil rights showdown, the words of wisdom might be disappointing to many. “Too many times in the last few It would echo back to 2010, when then-Gov. Daniels years an issue becomes the was still in the midst of the issue. Some of our core beliefs Great Recession that nearly tanked the U.S. economy and begin to take a backseat to those destroyed his state’s auto sector. Daniels called for a “truce on issues.” the so-called social issues. We’re - House Majority Leader going to just have to agree to get along for a little while,” until Matt Lehman, in HPI economic issues are resolved, Interview, page 6 he said. Page 2

While Daniels allies such as Tim Lanane said on Tuesday former Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle when he made public draft legislation, are urgently advocating a civil rights “There’s no room for shortcuts or half extension showdown, Pence is faced measures, all Hoosiers deserve equal with a real doozy, that includes a protection under the law. LGBT Hoo- tough reelection bid, glaring infra- siers can be married legally over the structure needs, a public health emer- weekend and be fired for it Monday. gency that has prompted more than That simply does not represent who 20 counties to seek needle exchange we are as Hoosiers, or as human be- programs, and a teacher shortage. All ings.” is a non-partisan newslet- of this must be grappled with during a n Chris Paulsen of Free- short session of the General Assembly dom Indiana has said, “It’s an easy ter based in Indianapolis and next January through mid-March. solution: Four words and a comma. Nashville, Ind. It was founded The other element to what No one is asking for special rights. in 1994 in Fort Wayne. is seen as the “bright shiny object” We’re just asking lawmakers to ensure It is published by for the news media, is that WWWHowey Media, LLC many of the major parties angling over extending civil 405 Massachusetts Ave., rights to sexual orientation Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN have already ruled out the 46204 concept of compromise. While conservative law- Brian A. Howey, Publisher makers have told HPI they should be exploring the Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington “Utah compromise,” Oes- Jack E. Howey, Editor terle, Senate Democrats, Mary Lou Howey, Editor Freedom Indiana, and the Maureen Hayden, Statehouse Family Institute’s Curt Smith Mark Curry, photography are all digging in, essentially saying fair treatment of groups of citizens that “compromise” is off the table. who have historically been treated Bear witness: unequally, and we hope they’ll act Subscriptions n Curt Smith told the quickly in the upcoming session.” HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 Indianapolis Business Journal It’s worth noting that some HPI Weekly, $350 over the weekend: “I don’t see how of these interests aren’t dealing from Ray Volpe, Account Manager these principles can be reconciled or a position of strength. Smith and the compromised. I think they’re just at family groups, along with legislative 317.602.3620 odds. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try Republicans, put the most pro-family email: [email protected] to put on our thinking cap. It doesn’t governor in an almost untenable po- mean we need to be anxious or fatal- litical situation by pushing the RFRA Contact HPI istic or resigned, but the principle of legislation just as he was headed www.howeypolitics.com religious freedom versus sexual orien- into either the presidential race or a tation as a new protected class – you reelect. Lanane presides over a tiny [email protected] just can’t square those things. It’s one 10-person caucus that has virtually no Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 or the other.” clout beyond the bully pulpit. Washington: 202.256.5822 n Oesterle told the Indy- In the “Utah Compromise,” Business Office: 317.602.3620 Star that the so-called “Utah Compro- the state benefitted when it brought mise” was “a horrible half-solution.” together its version of the Chris n Bob Williams, senior Paulsens, Curt Smiths and Bill Oester- © 2015, Howey Politics Indiana. vice president for NCAA Commu- les to forge a path that steered the All rights reserved. Photocopy- nications, told the IndyStar, “No one state away from the kind of contro- ing, Internet forwarding, fax- is asking for special rights. We’re just versy that gripped Indiana last March ing or reproducing in any form, asking lawmakers to ensure fair treat- and April. whole or part, is a violation of ment of groups of citizens who have If you’re Gov. Pence, Speaker historically been treated unequally, Brian Bosma and Senate President federal law without permission and we hope they’ll act quickly in the David Long, you can’t help but notice from the publisher. upcoming session.” that all parties are digging in. Instead n Senate Minority Leader of coming to the table, picket lines are Page 3 forming. There is an overt politi- marriage. cal subplot to all of this. If you’re Translate all of this into the politi- Bosma, who spent considerable time cal realm, and if you’re Gov. Pence or with Olympic diving gold medalist a GOP legislative leader looking to de- Greg Louganis at the height of the fend super majorities, this is an issue RFRA fiasco last April and found that stands to inflame a good part of common ground, the idea that this the base. If you’re Democrats, it’s the process begins with polarization as perfect campaign cycle wedge issue. opposed to a spirit of cooperation And if no one is willing to com- has to be duly noted. promise at the on-set, the so-called Bosma, meeting with the Daniels option would be to defuse press for the first time in months the entire issue, put it into a summer on Tuesday, made comments that study committee, and endure a week seemed to reflect this. The speaker or two of bad headlines. denied that he or anyone in the Speaker Bosma speaks with reporters on Tues- The danger in that strategy would House majority caucus were in discus- day. (HPI Photo by Mark Curry) be a full revolt by the business com- sions with Pence about a civil rights munity, the state’s sports economic expansion. “Most of our discussions internally and exter- sector and a potential Greg Ballard primary challenge. The nally have been about road funding and what is the most NCAA could move its headquarters, a jewel of modern important issue on dealing with infrastructure needs that Indianapolis, and not schedule future Final Four basketball have become quite apparent, in a responsible fashion,” tournaments here. Major corporations like Cummins and Bosma began. “No doubt we’ll talk about civil rights statue Lilly could steer future expansions elsewhere. More con- and other issues. But it’s not the most important. We have ventions could flee Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Evans- a teacher shortage going on right now. There are many ville. Those would all be headline generators. other issues that may not be as fun to write about it.” Allies of Gov. Mike Pence have been urging him to Bosma also mentioned his internal polling that he “get out front” of the coming civil rights extension issue. described as a “dead heat,” adding it showed “Hoosiers Senate Democrats beat him to that punch on Tuesday, and are roughly divided on the issue.” The April Howey Politics the ensuring alignment suggests a vivid politicization of Indiana Poll showed Hoosiers favored the expansion by a the process. The window to pass an expansion in 2015, 54-34% margin. keeping it out of the 2016 cycle headlines, is quickly clos- It is on this level that things get shaky for Indiana ing. Republicans. They were all shocked at the backlash of Don’t be surprised if the word “truce” enters the RFRA, while HPI and Ball State polling last year revealed a lexicon in the coming weeks if no one wants to negotiate. significant trending away from their long-held positions on v

self in an unfolding massacre. Massacres, from page 1 “In today’s society, unfortunately, we have to be prepared,” Perrine said. For a Hoosier in a massacre situa- are seeing and hearing because they don’t share in these tion, you first “run,” the second option is to “hide,” and the things.” third is to “fight.” A decade later when a toddler in Gold- smith’s tenure is now in his mid-20s, these warn- ings are metastasizing into common place threats in our cities and towns, in our schools and movie the- aters with 294 mass shootings in the United States for far this year. It comes in a country that is awash in guns. With just 4.5% of the world’s population, Americans own half the civilian guns. And a seminal moment was reached in the wake of the massacre at Umpqua Community Col- lege in Oregon, the 45th school shooting in 2015 in the U.S. Indiana State Police Trooper John Perrine was asked by WISH-TV about how to protect one- Page 4

Perrine explained further: “While you’re hiding, you’re going to prepare yourself for the third option. Every person has the right to fight for their life and it’s just that. If the first time you ever think about how you’re going to react to a violent encounter is when its actually happening, your thought process is way behind.” The United States government is essentially duck- ing a key duty as stated in the Preamble of the United States Constitution, which explains the federal mission is “to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” In the wake of the Umpqua massacre, not a single statement came out of the 11 Indiana Congressional offices. Gov. Mike Pence ordered flags lowered in honor of the nine murdered Oregon college students and 12 wounded, but issued no statement. Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump explained, “The strongest, the most stringent laws are in almost every case the worse places. It doesn’t seem to work. It’s a tough situation.” Jeb Bush reduced it down to “stuff happens.” Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson did react to Oregon, summing up the current inertia: “There is no doubt that this senseless violence is breathtaking, but I never saw a body with bullet holes that was more devas- tating than taking the right to arm ourselves away.” U.S. Rep. Todd Young, in his quest for the U.S. Senate, frequently reminds us that he’s “pro gun and pro life,” but the pro life trumps the lives of those of us already here. Once you’re out of the womb, you’re on your own. Democrat contender Hillary Clinton, appearing with a Sandy Hook mother, asked on Monday, “How much longer can we just shrug?” She called for an expansion of background checks for those who seek to buy firearms. Proposing a mix of legislative and executive action, the former secretary of state is seeking regulations that would tighten loopholes for online sales and gun-show sales, The problem is there is no political will. block sales to domestic abusers and the mentally ill, and Gun control has worked, but it has come in Aus- hold gun dealers accountable for where they land. tralia, a “frontier” society similar to America, but without U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who has co-au- the constitutional right to bear arms. After the Port Arthur thored the Manchin-Toomey background check legislation, massacre in 1996, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe today, “We shouldn’t call it launched a successful “buy-back” scheme that took some gun control. We’re not doing that. This is the prevention of 650,000 guns out of circulation, CNN reported. High- irresponsible gun ownership.” caliber rifles and shotguns were banned, licensing was There is political support. A CBS News Poll this tightened and remaining firearms were registered to uni- summer showed 88% favor background checks on ”all form national standards. In the years after the Port Arthur potential gun buyers.” Pew polling found 85% favored massacre, the risk of dying by gunshot in Australia fell by making private sales and gun show sales subject to back- more than 50% - and stayed there - CNN reported. A 2012 ground checks and 70% want a government database to study by Andrew Leigh of Australian National University track all gun sales. The CBS Poll found 52% thought strict- and Christine Neill of Wilfrid Laurier University also found er gun laws would do “a lot” or “some” to help prevent the buyback led to a drop in firearm suicide rates of almost gun violence, but 47% thought they’d help “not much” 80% in the following decade. or “not at all.” And there is cynicism that any changes will With the U.S. population awash in guns – the work. CNN found that Americans, by 60-40%, said they Washington Post reported there are now more guns in the thought stricter gun control laws would not reduce gun- population than people – with 33,000 Americans dying by related deaths. gunfire annually, with 100 murders of Indianapolis thus far Page 5 this year, and with U.S. politi- discuss previous attackers like cal figures more fearful of the the Dylan Klebold of the Col- National Rifle Association and umbine massacre and James being “primaried” than the Holmes of the Aurora theater random murder of their con- shooting and now Harper-Mer- stituents in schools, churches, cer as a martyr, a hero and most shopping malls, streets and disturbingly, a “warrior” for the movie theaters, the conclusion cause. They have developed an I am drawing is that we’re all increasingly organized doctrine on our own. that blends white supremacist The United States beliefs with garden-variety nihil- government is no longer in a ism, the so-called “men’s rights position to provide “domestic movement” pick-up culture, and tranquility” and the general others to form an ideological welfare of its students, teach- toxic sludge of byproducts from ers and citizens in general. Western Civilization. And thanks In the wake of the to the NRA they can arm them- Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks selves for considerably less effort that kill under 5,000 Ameri- than it takes to adopt a cat from cans, the U.S. instituted an the animal shelter. array of security measures That last sentence seems aimed at thwarting external. absurd, but when I adopted There has been no correspond- my beagle last winter from a ing internal security alignment Plainfield rescue center, I had to even as 33,000 Americans provide an array of documenta- are killed by gunfire annually, tion, including medical records and mass shootings spike (see for my current beagle, and was lower chart to the right for the approved only after a home visit. 2015 tally). On Sunday morning, as We are at the random I enjoyed an omelet at this city’s mercy of the super preda- beloved Shapiro’s Deli prior to the tors that Goldsmith warned us Colts game, I watched a long line about, the very people Pe- of people festooned in terson had targeted who wall blue and white, wrapping themselves off from society around the cafeteria. and are drawn into a fantasy And a chilling thought world where they kill dozens, occurred to me: This is hundreds, perhaps thousands the proverbial soft target, in any given week. They are outside of the stadium enabled, sometimes by par- security perimeter, vul- ents who actually provide nerable to a grievance them support and weaponry, collector who decides as occurred with the Newtown earlier in the week that shooter. And they are “griev- he’s had enough. ance collectors,” who hold Between bites, I scanned searing grudges against the folks appearing outside rest of us in our pursuit of happiness. the windows. What would I do if a 26-year-old man (a A blogger at the Gloucester Clam, picked up by youngster in Goldsmith’s day) dressed in fatigues, a the Daily Kos, writes: The most recent attacker, Christo- backpack and sunglasses, appeared holding a long, paper pher Harper-Mercer, follows the strict pattern of highly ag- wrapped package? grieved men trapped in a cultural paradox from which they Since 2001, we have long feared al Qaeda and cannot escape. His and the other attacks like it, congruent now it’s ISIS, but the real threat we now face comes down to sporting military-style clothing, are an attempt from within. While our government ramped up security at to call “society” to task for leaving them behind. To these airports and at the nation’s vital infrastructure in the wake men, who perceive they are not receiving the level of of these external threats, here on Meridian Street, we are respect to which they feel deeply entitled, it’s nothing less all on our own from this more prevalent domestic danger. than a revolution. When you read their posts online they Run. Hide. Fight. v Page 6

the protocol in that you’re supposed to talk to the author. Lehman talks of core He sees me in the hallway, wags his finger in my face and says, “Don’t you ever do that again.” I was scared. HPI: Yeah, one of those freshman moments. principles, keeping Lehman: A freshman moment with Craig Fry. HPI: Got it. Understood. agenda moving Lehman: He was chairman of the Insurance Com- mittee at the time so I went up to his office and knocked By BRIAN A. HOWEY on the door, and I said, “Rep. Fry, we started off on the and MARK CURRY wrong foot. I’m going to have to work with you. I don’t INDIANAPOLIS – A week ago, State Rep. Matt know how long both of us will be here. I can’t start my ca- Lehman thought he was going to be dealing with insur- reer with you the way we started.” He looked at me, “Matt, ance issues in 2016. On Tuesday, he became majority I’m going to tell you right now just always be honest with leader of the Indiana House Republicans in the wake of me and don’t go behind my back and you and I will get Jud McMillin’s shocking resignation six days go. along fine.” And you know what? Craig Fry became one of On Tuesday, he defeated State Rep. Sean Eberhart my best friends in that General Assembly. We didn’t agree to lead the caucus. House Speaker Brian Bosma touted the on the political issues, but we could talk to each other. Berne Republican’s “less combat- There was respect. At the end of the day, I took that and ive, more collaborative” style. have used that as example when I mentor people coming “Matt is measured. He is a in. You’ve got to be honest. Don’t play games when you’re calm person,” Bosma added. “He down here. I’ve learned that not just from Craig Fry, but a seeks to find solutions. He is not lot of people in our caucus. At the end of the day, all you a flashy person and that’s what really have is your reputation. I learned early on if you’ve our caucus needs right now. He is stable and well thought of, uniquely well thought of by our caucus.” On Wednesday afternoon, Lehman con- ducted his first HPI Interview as we look to the future: HPI: How did the majority leader option present itself to you? Lehman: A week ago this time, no one saw this coming. So when all of this came down, I was out in San Diego at a conference and at 4:30 in the morning my phone rings from a colleague telling me what’s going on. Then I chatted with the Speaker for a little bit. He said that we had a good bench and you are one of them and he asked me if I had any interest. He encouraged several of us to put our names out there. Then I started getting calls from caused a problem, fix it. Overall, there have been a lot of colleagues who were saying, “Hey, your name came up to people over time who I’ve watched. I watch people and the top of my list. Interested?” I said I was. I think this is try to read people. I’ve watched the Speaker and I think a good time for me. It’s a good time for the caucus. I put he’s done a very good job with reaching across the aisle. I my name out there and I was successful. came in with the minority so I saw how that worked. I felt HPI: You’ve been in the General Assembly for the minority wasn’t given a lot of voice. Brian has done a seven years now. Who are some of the leaders who have very good job with that. All viewpoints matter. Everybody made an impression on you, one way or another? should have their time to be heard. A lot of people have Lehman: Funny you ask that question that way, come and gone. I got here when Jeff Espich was here. I’ve Brian. On one of my first days, I heard from Craig Fry. You known Jeff for years. He was the elder statesman. And remember Craig Fry? there was Bill Crawford. Elder statesman. Just watching HPI: Sure. Covered him when I was with the these guys operate as statesmen, as opposed to people Elkhart Truth. like myself who could get a little excited about stuff. I’ve Lehman: Craig Fry was one of the first persons had a lot of my predecessors who I have great respect I had a bad experience. I had an amendment on a bill of for, model things the way they do. I sat next to Suzanne his in my very first session in the first week I was there. I Crouch one term and she said, “Be an expert on issues, was brand new at this. I did not speak to him about that but you’re not an expert on everything.” amendment. I just offered it. I guess that goes against HPI: Do you have a good relationship with Senate Page 7

President Long? Lehman: (laughs) Well, there are times when Lehman: Yes, David and I have a really good I get a little passionate about issues. I’m a pragmatic relationship. David and I are both from Northeast Indiana. person. I’m kind of a long-term thinker. I’m not a chess I’ve gotten to know him, we share a lot of town hall meet- player, but I use that analogy. I try to plan moves ahead. ings together since I represent a portion of Allen County. I If we do this, what’s it going to do down the road? If we’re have great respect for David. going to do this, what’s it going to do six years down the HPI: And how well to you know Gov. Pence? road? So I think it’s helped me to form, not a brand by any Lehman: We’ve got a long-term relationship. Gov. means, but I’m not the type to be up on the rostrum and Pence was my congressman prior to running for governor. make speeches that will be in textbooks down the road, I have a good relationship. but I will try to develop a consensus and make sure our HPI: What prompted you to run for the General agenda we set is moving forward. I don’t get too excited Assembly in the first place? about things. I try to process things. That actually is what Lehman: I’ve always been a political, history we need a lot more of. kind of guy. I’ve always been fascinated by our structure HPI: As majority leader, you’ll play a role in de- of government, our government. I talk to quite a few kids fending the super majority and the caucus in the upcom- and I tell them all the same thing: I hope they get to do ing elections. Talk about your political role. what I’m doing. My dad was a milk salesman, my mom Lehman: We have to make sure we’re sticking was a homemaker. There are some cultures you have to with our core principles. We are conservatives and we earn your way into the government. In ours, you have the have all sorts of branches of that within our party. I’m not passion to serve and I wanted to serve. When the oppor- a labels guy, but I can say we’re all conservatives. Some tunity came up in 1994 to serve on our county council, and of those things we agree on that are our core principles: said, “Yeah, I want to do that.” I beat the incumbent and Limited government, living within our means, we want to was on the council for 14 years. Mike Ripley was my pre- see the taxes are fair and as low as they can be, and we decessor in District 79 and he had been there for 10 years want to keep the government out of our daily lives and and he called me up one day and said “Hey, I think I’m go- businesses and everything else. We’re going to have a big ing to move on and do you think you have any interest?” I issue this session which is going to be road funding and in- think it was a good move for me. frastructure. We’re going to have to look at that and move HPI: I didn’t know you were on the Adams Coun- money, whether it’s with the gas tax to road funding, do ty Council. County councilmen deal with all sorts of issues we look at the gasoline tax as a whole? There’s a lot of across society, from corrections, to public defenders, to things out there we’re going to have to discuss. It’s going public safety. Talk about being a county councilman. Did it to be my role to make sure the voices are heard from the lay a good foundation to be in the General Assembly? 71 members of our caucus. And that when we decide on Lehman: When I talk to new people coming in, a strategy and approach, that I help to get it across the I say, “Hey, what’s your path?” A lot of people who come finish line. out of county government, and city government to a HPI: My colleagues in the press are getting excit- certain extent, I think they’re very good legislators. When ed about the civil rights expansion. But this state is facing you’re very new to this process, you try to figure out how some pretty daunting health and infrastructure problems. I things work and what’s your goal. On the county level, see Allen County is preparing for a needle exchange. Talk you’re right, you work on so many facets of government. about how you will prioritize these issues? You’re dealing with multiple departments, corrections, the Lehman: Too many times in the last few years an highway department. It’s a good way to get acclaimated issue becomes THE issue. Some of our core beliefs begin on how to you handle other people’s money. Taxpayers’ to take a backseat to those issues. They don’t get the play money. It was a good for me to have that experience. The they should or the excitement. I’ll give you an example, last six years I was president of the council. That helps the Regional Cities unveiling yesterday, that has the po- you as you have to set an agenda, work on the budgets tential to really be a game changer for some of the areas and it puts you in a position where you kind of have to of our state. That’s an issue that was part of the budget. learn that process. We’ve been blessed with some very A lot of people didn’t talk about Regional Cities because of good council members and commissioners. It was a great the whole RFRA thing. I think you’re right, there are things training ground, figuring out the best ways to spend we have to make sure we are just bound to one or two money and work on policy and be good stewards. issues. We need to take a look at the big picture and say HPI: Does that make you a more pragmatic Re- “What are we going to do today that will impact Hoosiers publican, as opposed to someone who would come in with tomorrow?” Infrastructure is one, and public health is an- an ideological viewpoint? Talk about your brand of Republi- other. The Rolls-Royce announcement was a big thing and canism. we need to do more and more of that. v Lehman: I’m finding now in a lot of the press releases that I’m not flashy. HPI: That’s a compliment, right? Page 8

Sept. 28 and 30. Gregg has not reported a large donation Rokita mum on since Sept. 23. But he has maintained a large donation lead of $210,000 to $190,000 since the mid-year reports were filed on June 30. attorney general race Pence campaign spokesman Robert Vane has By BRIAN A. HOWEY moved to the Indiana Republican Party. The move appears and MARK SCHOEFF JR. to be coordinated between Gov. Pence and his Republican INDIANAPOLIS – Soooooo, will he or won’t he? chairman, Jeff Cardwell. “Robert is a trusted and valuable What are U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita’s political plans for 2016? advisor to our effort,” Pence said in a statement. “I look Perhaps only the shadow knows. forward to continuing our work together as he expands Howey Politics Indiana has been pressing Rokita his role throughout the coming months.” And Cardwell on whether he truly is looking at an attorney general added, “We are excited for Robert’s added role as the convention run in May 2016. If he does, the sane political Indiana Republican Party spokesman. He will be a valuable option will be to announce he’s ally to promote the GOP brand and defend Gov. Pence, not seeking reelection in CD4. To our Senate nominee, and our entire slate of candidates seek the nomination, then run at from misleading Democratic attacks. Robert and his ability convention would be akin to politi- to correct the record and promote Gov. Pence and the cal suicide, and Rokita knows this. Republican team’s pro-growth agenda will be a welcome Sources close to Rokita addition to the team.” say the congressman still has time to “sort out” a potential attorney Pence, Democrats spar over mailer general run. In the meantime, Capitol Hill sources say A mailer accusing Gov. Pence is neglecting roads that Rokita is involved in the leadership races of Major- and bridges while costing lives, has Indiana Democrats ity Leader Kevin McCarthy for speaker and Tom Price for and his campaign sparring. majority leader. And he’s been active on the policy front, “Governor Pence can throw out any statistic he working on a K-12 bill. wants, but it doesn’t address the state’s existing infra- A Rokita attorney general run would be fueled by structure that sadly achieved a D+ rating by the American what multiple Republican sources tell HPI as bad blood Society of Civil Engineers,” said Drew Anderson, commu- between him and former attorney general Steve Carter. nications director of the Indiana Democratic Party. “With The two served together at the Indiana Statehouse when the I-65 bridge closure, State Road 156 slide off, and $71 Rokita was secretary of state. Sources tell HPI that at the million wasted on faulty asphalt as examples of Indiana’s 2008 Republican Convention, Rokita toured the nine con- failing roads and bridges, Mike Pence has put our state’s gressional district caucuses, and made a searing pitch on ‘Crossroads of America’ reputation in jeopardy. Pence can behalf of Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas over Greg Zoeller. be late to the game all he wants, but Hoosiers already The pitch basically said that Carter was a bad attorney know they can do better than having him as Indiana’s general and Zoeller ran Carter’s operations. governor.” Rokita has done a lot to stir emotions at the State- Indiana Republican Party spokesman Robert Vane house. His advocacy for redistricting reform inflamed many reacted, saying, “Just when you think the Indiana Demo- Senate Republicans. They pushed back when they drew crat Party and its desperate allies can’t get any more Rokita out of the 4th CD he now represents (he lives just vicious, they prove you wrong. Their latest mail piece outside the district lines, as did former congressman Chris actually politicizes personal tragedies without remorse Chocola). and proves once again they will say anything to attack Carter is preparing to regain the office he held for Mike Pence. It’s shameful. Since he took office in 2013, two terms after Zoeller opted to seek the 9th CD. Two oth- Governor Pence and the General Assembly have budgeted ers, State Sen. Randy Head and Elkhart County Prosecutor $1.26 billion in additional state funds for transportation. Curtis Hill, are also weighing bids. It Rokita opts into this In fact, INDOT plans to invest nearly $3.2 billion in bridge race, it would not only ignite a huge free-for-all in the 4th and pavement preservation over the next five years, which CD, which would become the third open congressional seat represents a 58 percent increase from the previous five in the state, but it would add a spectacular story line to years.” the 2016 Indiana Republican Convention. U.S. Senate: Critical FEC reports coming Governor: Pence closes big donor gap The next the third quarter FEC reports will be The Mike Pence for Indiana campaign has closed critical to all of the Senate campaigns, with perhaps the big donation fundraising gap with John Gregg. Pence Republican Eric Holcomb and Democrat Baron Hill having reported a $25,000 donation from Scott Niswanger of the most to gain from a good report. Both posted under- Tennessee on Oct. 5, and $10,000 donations from Robert whelming numbers in the second quarter, $150,000 for Kersey, C. Neal Burnett and Barnes & Thornburg between Page 9

Hill and $200,000 for Holcomb. Robust numbers for both of the rumor in an HPI interview on Sept. 30 (Schoeff, will add a more competitive tone for Holcomb’s effort as HPI). “I’m not going to run away from this job to run for he competes with U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (who posted the Senate.” $600,000 in June) and Todd Young ($1 million). A good Stutzman called for “common sense” leadership report for Hill could keep Hammond Mayor Thomas McDer- while meeting with Clay County Republicans Saturday mott Jr. out of the race. night (Phillips, Brazil Times). Is Speaker of the House John Young and Stutzman have not determined whom Boehner responsible for the lack of action in Washington they will back to succeed John Boehner as speaker. Cur- and will his resignation mean Congress, the Senate and rently Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Reps. Jason the White House will be better able to work together? Chaffetz and Daniel Webster are seeking the post. Young “I don’t think John Boehner was the reason bills weren’t campaign spokesman Trevor Foughty told HPI, “Todd is being passed,” Stutzman said. He points at the Senate, looking forward to hearing from the candidates for speaker and said lack of action can be attributed in large part to when he returns to Washington this week. Above all else, the Senate’s filibuster rule. Because Republicans have 54 he wants a speaker who will not just talk about conserva- of the 100 seats, they could not reach the 60-vote thresh- tive principles, but will actively work to advance them into old to break debate and call for a vote often enough. law. He’s continuing to evaluate them all through that Stutzman said this is not a Constitutional rule but a Senate lens.” U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, who is running against tradition to avoid cutting off discussion too soon. “I think Young for the U.S. Senate, has also not publicly backed a there’s plenty of blame to go around among the White candidate. Stutzman Chief of Staff John Hammond IV told House, the Senate rules and then just the leadership style HPI, “I don’t believe he’s decided yet, but I will not get to we’ve seen over the past several years by all three leaders, speak with him about this until late tonight or tomorrow.” frankly,” he said. Stutzman repeatedly called for “respon- On Thursday, the Freedom Caucus, of which Stutzman is a sibility” and “common sense” in Washington. He describes member, announced it was backing Webster. himself as a conservative with friends in the Tea Party but Stutzman (R-3rd CD) wants a provision to defund says he is a Christian first and a common sense conserva- Planned Parenthood in the next appropriations bill that tive. “I associate with people who want to get things done Congress will have to approve when current government and just use common sense,” he said. When asked who he spending expires on Dec. 11. But he says there’s a major would like to work with in the White House, Stutzman said impediment in the chamber he wants to join, the Senate. he likes Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson and Marco Rubio. He A candidate for the seat of retiring GOP Sen. Dan Coats, said he was pulling for Scott Walker and would like to see Stutzman said that Senate rules requiring 60 votes to a Midwestern governor win the nomination. When asked move legislation – known as the filibuster – could allow about Donald Trump, he said that Trump has some good Democrats to preserve Planned Parenthood’s federal sup- qualities but some things about Trump concern him. “But, port. “The filibuster rule needs to go,” Stutzman said in an he has brought a new sense of debate to the Republican HPI interview on Sept. 30 (Mark Schoeff Jr., Howey Politics Primary,” Stutzman added. Indiana). “The filibuster rule protects senators from cast- Former American Legion Commander Bob Spano- ing tough votes.” Stutzman wants “majority voices” to hold gle has endorsed Eric Holcomb’s U.S. Senate bid (Howey sway in the Senate. He’s not concerned that Republicans Politics Indiana). “I’m writing today to urge your immedi- may want to employ the filibuster to block legislation when ate support of a veteran and defender of our freedoms, they’re in the minority. Stutzman said that the Indiana Eric Holcomb, who is a conservative Republican running Senate, where he once served, works fine without a similar for the United States Senate,” Spanogle wrote. “He will procedure. “It’s an abused rule in the (U.S.) Senate.” be a new fresh voice running for the open seat in Indiana Rep. Stutzman issued the following statement and he needs our support to win. When my friend Eric today following the adoption of H. Res. 461, which estab- says he wants to make America safer, stronger and freer, lishes a Select Investigative Panel of the Committee on I know he means it. That’s why I’m supporting his candi- Energy and Commerce. “Planned Parenthood’s practices of dacy for the United States Senate. He’s the type of person harvesting the bodies of innocent babies rightly sparked we need in Washington, D.C., representing and reflect- outrage and concern from Americans all across the politi- ing our values. Will you support a veteran who will fight cal spectrum. Important questions remain and it is critical for a safer, stronger, and freer America? A veteran of the that the legislative branch get all the answers it can. This United States Navy and member of the American Legion bipartisan panel is the appropriate and necessary vehicle Post 0711, Eric understands the tough challenges we face to determine the truth about the practices of organizations at home and abroad. He’s been to Israel, looked down like Planned Parenthood and how we can improve impor- at war-ravaged Syria from the relative calm of the Golan tant legal protections for children and unborn babies.” Heights and gazed into Lebanon, a country playing host to And Stutzman once again dismissed talk of resign- Iranian-backed Hezbollah snipers seeking any opportunity ing his House seat in order to concentrate on his attempt to wreak havoc and terror.” for the Republican Senate nomination to replace Coats. “I John Dickerson was trying to talk former Lt. Gov. don’t know where that was coming from,” Stutzman said Kathy Davis into a run for the U.S. Senate seat being Page 10 vacated by Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Coats when she leave little time, focus, or energy to campaign for Indiana’s turned the tables on him (Bloomington Herald-Times). 3rd U.S. House seat,” he said in a statement. After that, Dickerson, who spent his career advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for 9th CD: ‘Old Bulls’ gather for Zoeller the Arc – most recently as executive director of the Arc of Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s campaign raised Indiana from 1983 until stepping down in July – and had close to $35,000 Monday night during a White River been planning an early retirement, instead decided to try cruise. The drawing card were former Indiana Republican and spend at least the first six years of retirement mak- Chairmen Gordon Durnil, Rex Early and Mike McDaniel ing a difference on Capitol Hill. Politicians in Washington (pictured below). Also on the bill was Krieg Devault man- currently aren’t following the process that’s designed to aging partner Deborah Daniels. Zoeller is seeking the 9th make the country work well, and they’re “throwing word CD nomination, running against State Sens. Brent Waltz, games around” and speaking in sound bites rather than Erin Houchin as well as Jim Pfaff and Robert Hall. really discussing the issues facing the American people, he said. “We aren’t talking about the important issues when we’re sitting throwing rocks at each other,” Dickerson said. People in D.C. have told Dickerson he needs to raise at least $10 million to have a successful campaign. He called that figure “obscene” and said he intends to focus on a grassroots effort.

3rd CD: Brown signs tax pledge State Sen. Liz Brown has signed the taxpayer protection pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (Howey Politics Indiana). The pledge reads: “I, Liz Brown, pledge to the taxpayers of the state of Indiana, and to the American people that I will: Oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/ Mayors or businesses; and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar Elkhart: Neese assails Moore leadership by further reducing tax rates.” “I want to congratulate Sen. Elkhart mayoral hopeful Tim Neese took aim at Brown for signing the taxpayer protection pledge. Until Mayor Dick Moore’s leadership style in arguing why he you take tax increases firmly off the table, real and last- should be elected at a candidate forum Thursday (Van- ing spending restraint is impossible,” said Grover Norquist, denack, Elkhart Truth). As is, the attitude in City Hall, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “The American Neese said, is “if it’s not my way there’s no compromise.” people are tired of the tax-and-spend policies coming from The Republican, a former state lawmaker and head of the Washington and they are looking for solutions that cre- Solid Waste Management District ate jobs, cut government spending, and get the economy of Elkhart County, said he would going again. Signing the pledge is the first step in that seek opposing views as mayor, process.” “Washington has a spending problem and new not yes-men. “I want to work with taxes aren’t the solution to the mess D.C. politicians have people who will actually challenge created,” said Brown. “Lower taxes provide an incentive to me,” he said. He later returned employers to create more jobs, thus boosting our economy to the theme, saying he’s “bet- and strengthening our communities. We need new leaders ter equipped to compromise with in Washington who understand that more spending and people.” Moore, 81, said he’s not ready for retirement. “I higher taxes are only going to hurt our nation. I signed want the third term. I want to do it again,” he said. He Americans for Tax Reform’s pledge on the very day that focused on infrastructure projects completed during his they asked me to because I’m ready to go to Washington tenure – the Lerner Theatre, actually launched under prior and fight for lower taxes.” administrations, Main Street improvements, downtown Scott Wise said today he would suspend his bid lighting and beautification. And he noted more in the for the 3rd District U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. hopper including improvements and beautification along Marlin Stutzman (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). Wise, of North and South Main Street to match the roadway in the Columbia City, a former member of the Whitley County city center. “We’re still going,” said Moore. Horse Race Council, ran for the 3rd District seat as a Republican in Status: Leans Neese. 2008 and as the Libertarian Party candidate in 2010 and 2014. He received 4 percent of the vote in both races as a Fort Wayne: Harper rips “tax and spend” Libertarian. “Wise still believes dramatic change is neces- City Councilman and mayoral challenger Mitch sary in Washington, but has found his career and family Page 11

Harper on Thursday criticized the city of Fort Wayne’s 2016 Evansville: Poster operating budget (Gong, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). maker ‘identified’ Speaking at his campaign headquarters on the city’s An admittedly overzealous volunteer for Demo- southwest side, Harper, a Republican challenging Mayor cratic mayoral candidate Gail Riecken has taken credit for Tom Henry in the Nov. 3 municipal election, said the city’s crafting a Fall Festival campaign poster so controversial growth has been stymied by what he described as bad that Riecken accused Republicans of creating it to embar- budget practices that are unsustainable. “It’s been said by rass her (Langhorne, Evansville Courier the administration that this is a & Press). Witness accounts, descriptions flat budget. It’s not,” Harper said. and submitted photographs led the Harper charged that spending for Courier & Press to a man who identi- 2016 has increased by $7 million, fied himself as Michael Howard Ray, a raising total city expenditures 66-year-old retired contractor, Vietnam- from $210 million to $217 million. era Navy veteran, lifelong Democrat The budget also allows for what and “off-and-on” resident of Evansville. Harper called a structural deficit Ray said he had suffered brain damage of about $2 million and adds as a result of an auto accident. Asked $8.5 million in new debt. He also if the brain damage has any relation to took the opportunity to criticize a the poster, he said, “We’ll see.” There is 2013 property tax increase, say- some question about Ray’s true iden- ing that it did not pay for more tity. Jason Ascher, Riecken’s campaign police officers and infrastructure manager, said Ray introduced himself improvements or close a $9.2 to him as Michael Townsend. Ray said million budget shortfall as city of- the Riecken campaign “must be talk- ficials had stated it would. Harper ing about someone else.” Shown a voted against the increase in photograph of Ray, Riecken said she June 2013. “When we increased recognized him as a campaign volunteer the levy, the people who got hit named “Michael,” but she refused to with the property tax increase provide a last name. “I’m not going to were people who owned modest out somebody,” Riecken said. “It’s done, homes in the city of Fort Wayne, it’s over with. It’s done. I had nothing to a lot of them who have been do with it. The Democrats had noth- having to pay, on relatively lim- ing to do with it. Horse Race Status: ited incomes, increases in utility Leans Winnecke. charges from the city, folks who have to deal with other expenditures when they have to sit down each month and have to work out how they’re going Terre Haute: Firefighters endorse Bennett to pay their bills,” Harper said. Republican Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett was In an email, Henry’s campaign described Harper’s endorsed by Firefighters Local 758 on Tuesday. Bennett budget characterizations as inaccurate, stating that total is facing Democrat Vigo County Councilman Mark Bird. departmental budgets were $192,165,393 in 2015 and Bennett picked up the FOP endorsement last week. Horse are $192,342,401 in the proposed 2016 budget (Fort Race Status: Leans Bennett. Wayne Journal Gazette). “We’ve increased our investment in public safety by 18 percent, made record investments South Bend: Public safety dominates only in neighborhood infrastructure and revitalized our down- debate town,” Henry said. All of this led to a friendly environment Housing, public safety, transportation, and eco- for job growth, with over 5,000 new jobs created since nomic development took center stage Tuesday during the 2011 and an over 45 percent decrease in unemployment.” first and only mayoral debate between incumbent Demo- The Henry for Mayor campaign released its third crat Pete Buttigieg and Republican challenger Kelly Jones TV ad of 2015, “For All Of Us.” The spot highlights some (Blasko, South Bend Tribune). Said Buttigieg, “While I of Mayor Henry’s crucial investments in public safety: An don’t feel that we should be turning back the clock by any 18% increase in public safety investment, the combina- means in our police department … I do certainly believe tion of city/county 911 operations, and the creation of the more community policing, and particularly encouraging Gang and Violent Crimes Unit, all of which contributed to officers to get out of their cars and interact with residents making Fort Wayne safe, with property crime down 17%, … will help officers more effectively do their jobs.” Horse car thefts down 43%, and homicides down 50%. Horse Race Status: Safe Buttigieg. v Race Status: Likely Henry. Page 12

Another 23 states already have some sort of com- Redistricting study mission involved in redistricting, though the make-up and independence of those groups vary. In Arkansas, for example, a commission composed finds support, but of the governor, attorney general and secretary of state oversee redistricting. In California, a 14-member citizens many skeptics commission of Democrats, Republicans and independents, and culled from thousands of applicants, works with uni- By MAUREEN HAYDEN versity researchers to draw the lines. CNHI Statehouse Bureau Tim Storey, who’s spent 30 years studying the INDIANAPOLIS – Public watchdog Julia Vaughn topic for the non-partisan National Council of State Legisla- and her allies spent a decade convincing lawmakers to tures, said he’s often asked which model works best. rethink how they slice up the state’s voting districts. That “The answer is no one really knows,” he said. was the easy part. “There no definitive political science on it yet.” Harder will be crafting However, it’s safe to say that reform gets messy. details of a plan that could take In the past five years, maps drawn in 40 states, the work of political map-drawing including those with redistricting commissions, have faced away from politicians inclined to court challenges. bend boundaries in their favor. That includes Arizona, where voters approved an “I can see reform in the independent redistricting commission in 2000. distance,” said Vaughn, head of Earlier this June, the U.S Supreme Court ruled the Common Cause Indiana. “What I can’t see is whether it Arizona commission is constitutional, clearing the way for will be window dressing or real reform.” other states to use similar groups. But Arizona’s electoral On Thursday, Indiana stepped deeper into what’s maps are back in dispute with Republicans now arguing become a national debate over who should draw the maps that they were drawn to give Democrats better odds of of legislative and congressional districts. getting elected. A dozen member study committee, reluctantly Storey said he isn’t surprised by the ongoing legal created by the Republican-controlled Legislature this year, fight. “Politics and redistricting are inseparable,” he said. met for the first time in what may be a two-year process “The outcome of a line-drawing process, whether toward change. you give it to legislature or an independent commission Much of the conversation among eight lawmakers or a group of kindergartners with their crayons, is always and four non-legislators focused on whether Indiana needs going to have major reform at all. political implications,” As in most he said. states, Indiana’s Con- In Indiana, sup- stitution leaves it to porters of reform lawmakers to adjust make a similar district boundaries, argument for a more required every 10 independent process. years after the U.S. Map-drawing, they Census counts the note, has long-term population. implications. Tom Sugar, Study committee a Democrat and one member Ted Boehm, of the non-legislators a retired state Su- on the committee, preme Court justice, likened the process to said leaving the work letting elected officials to legislators yields pick their own voters. too much partisan State Sen. Brandt Hershman, the committee’s power and and too little voter engagement. Republican co-chairman, questioned that premise. “My Last fall, a University of Chicago School of Law fear,” he said, “is that we’re making some assumptions, study that followed redistricting after the 2010 census bolstered with some political rhetoric.” found Indiana’s districts to be among the most politically Whatever the committee does next, it won’t contorted in the country. be in isolation. At least 20 states engaged in similar efforts The study cited the 2012 state legislative races this year, looking at various ways to reduce or remove in which Republicans won 58 percent of all votes cast in politics from the work of crafting voting maps. House races but took control of 69 of the 100 seats to Page 13 claim a super majority. In 2014, Republicans took 71 of incumbents and their partisan interests. the 100 seats. Downs said he’s skeptical that Indiana’s study In addition, it’s up to lawmakers to draw lines for committee will deliver major reform. Indiana’s 50 state Senate districts and nine Congressional “I think what we’ll see is some tweaks around the seats, that are now dominated by Republicans. edges,” he said. Critics of the process say they’re just as To get much more than that, reformers will have troubled by results of the 2014 general election, in which to incite voters to push lawmakers. Indiana posted the lowest voter turnout in the nation, with “It’s hard to get people to care about redistricting,” just 28 percent of eligible voters participating. he said. “It’s not sexy by any stretch of the imagination.”v Few races were competitive, giving voters little incentive to show up. Maureen Hayden covers the Indiana Statehouse Political scientist Andrew Downs, director of the for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach her at Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, said Democrats [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @Mau- and Republicans are both guilty of map-making to protect reenHayden

or personalities, but a referendum on ideas represented Redistricting facts by those parties and personalities. Winning this year is desired, but establishing ideas in the minds of citizens is the longterm goal. That’s how, in the 1960s, John Kennedy open to interpretation and Barry Goldwater shook up conventional politics. By MORTON MARCUS Indiana voters, in 2014, turned out in record low INDIANAPOLIS – Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, was numbers when half the members of our House of Repre- a beautifully bright day in the Capital City. At the State- sentatives ran unopposed. When political parties decide house, the Interim Study Committee on Redistricting held they cannot win and do not put forth candidates to estab- its first meeting. Thus began a process likely to determine lish ideas, they lose, this year and into the next decade. the services, taxes and regulations for every business and When election districts are drawn to give one household in the state. party overwhelming odds to win, voters will be less in- As expected, some elected clined to appear at the polls. But is that thought supported members of the committee ques- by the data? Are persistently weak turnouts destructive to tioned the need for changing the way democracy? These questions may be beyond reasonable congressional and legislative districts expectations for the Legislative Services Agency (which in Indiana are drawn. That makes provides support to the committee) to offer definitive sense since it is the self-perpetuating answers. General Assembly which benefits from As I talked about these matters in several counties the current system in which the party during the past week, I found great interest among mem- in power (whichever party that is) bers of the public. However, there is overwhelming skepti- draws the lines every 10 years after cism about politicians yielding any part of their power over the federal census. the redistricting process to a non-partisan commission. Likewise, it was to be expected that the public If Hoosiers are to achieve non-partisan redistrict- members of the committee stressed the need to reexam- ing throughout the state, they must overcome the sloth ine the current system, which results in low voter turnout induced by skepticism and become active supporters of when there is little competition in Hoosier elections. For change. If a more responsive legislature is important to instance, 44 of the 50 state senators in the 2014 General you, open discussions about non-partisan redistricting with Assembly won by landslides in excess of 55 percent of the your neighbors and legislators. And contact the Interim votes. Study Commission, Indiana Common Cause, or the League Both sides called for facts. But facts are of of Women Voters with your thoughts. v little consequence when we disagree on the interpretation of those facts. The temperature is reading 40. Dad says it’s Mr. Marcus is an economist, writer, and speaker cold, wear a jacket. The kid says it’s not cold; no jacket or who may be reached at mortonjmarcus@yahoo. sweater needed. com. What do we want from elections? Some people, particularly elected people, and the people who support and are, in turn, supported by them, want to win. Oth- ers want an election to be a contest, not between parties Page 14

elected to Congress, or as governors. Rutherford prepares Many people seem sympathetic to the Libertar- ian caucus. Former Gov. Mitch Daniels, for instance, has acknowledged his own Libertarian streak. “But if people to challenge for U.S. don’t think you can be elected, they won’t spend much time on you and won’t vote for you,” said Rutherford. Libertarian chair The national Libertarian Party has some assets, including ballot access in 40 states for its candidates. Its By BRIAN A. HOWEY presidential nominees usually quality in between 46 and INDIANAPOLIS – Mark Rutherford believes it’s 50 states. But he describes the party as “hiding in plain time for the Libertarian Party to become a real, political sight” because of its inability to build the party infrastruc- party that can actually help get its ture and funding to give its nominees a shot at winning. candidates elected. For that reason, “It’s moribund,” Rutherford said of the national LP. “It’s not Rutherford is putting a team to- getting better, it’s not getting stronger and it’s not taking gether to seek the Libertarian Party advantage” of widespread dissatisfaction with the national chair next May in Orlando. It could Republicans and Democrats who are polarized in Congress. involve a challenge to current Chair- If Rutherford prevails next spring, he said he man Nicholas Sarwark of Phoenix. will be making a “ton of phone calls” and reaching out to “We already have the policy “people who have the resources to make it work. I have to developing apparatus,” Rutherford make the case of why we’re different and why we should said of CATO Institute, Reason Mag- be getting our people elected.” azine and Fee.org. “What we need He acknowledges it will take time. Seven years is a political organization to help ago, the Students for Liberty was created and now has get like-minded candidates elected. 300 chapters, many on college campuses. So there is a The ultimate goal of the party is to wave of recent college graduates who are getting careers get people elected. We’ve had excellent opportunities but started and, within the next decade, find themselves with we’ve lost them because we couldn’t get people elected.” the experience and rationale to work within the Libertarian Rutherford’s push comes as both the national Re- Party as a way to challenge Republicans and Democrats. publican and Democrat parties are unpopular with voters. Rutherford acknowledges hearing people lament that they An NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll taken in late September “don’t have a political party” because the GOP or Demo- put the Republican Party’s approve/disapproval at 29/45% crats have “left them behind.” while the Democratic Party stood at 41/35%. It’s happened this way before. At the height of the “The way I look at it, we’re in the middle of the Barry Goldwater and, later, the anti-Vietnam movement, political spectrum,” said Rutherford, an Indianapolis attor- Indiana University was home to a developing conservative ney who has been the state party chairman, as well as a movement headed by R. Emmett Tyrrell and Tom Charles member of the national party board. “But we’re not doing Huston that eventually created the American Spectator what is needed to get the middle elected.” and fueled the 1980 Reagan Revolution a decade and a In Indiana, only a couple of dozen Libertarians half later. v have been elected to office, includ- ing city and town council members in Greenfield, Gosport, Silver Lake and Universal City; a town judge in Hager- stown; and a smattering of township officials. The party regularly nomi- nates a gubernatorial ticket, secretary of state and congressional candidates, but none have ever captured more than 10% of the vote. Its gubernato- rial ticket and secretary of state win enough votes to automatically qualify for the ballot. Nationally, Libertarians have been elected to the legisla- tures in New Hampshire and Alaska. While independent Jesse Ventura was elected governor of Minnesota, there have been no Libertarian nominees Page 15

But in a Rolling Stone interview, Trump worked to define Evolving qualifications presidential by exclaiming “Look at that face!” when Fio- rina appeared on television. Trump, it seems, was attempt- ing to make the case that Fiorina is not presidential based for president on her gender. By PETE SEAT That moment recalls the admonishment of youth INDIANAPOLIS – In the mind of Dr. Ben Carson, in which we were told to never judge a book by its cover. a Muslim is not qualified to be president. In the mind of Yet, that’s in large part how we determine presidential Bill Kristol, Ben Carson is not qualified to be president. suitability in the television era. Whereas prior to the boob And in the mind of André Carson, one of two Muslims in tube we waged contests of wit (in most cases), we now Congress, if his fellow followers can’t be president, maybe engage in contests of appearance. neurosurgeons like Ben Carson shouldn’t be either. The New York Times reported in 2012 that Mitt Regardless of what any of these men believe, all Romney’s debate preparations, while also helping him three are highlighting an age-old debate about the un- bone up on issues and lines of attack, also taught him regulated stipulations of what “how to keep his composure, look presidential.” The good constitutes a person who is news for Romney was that with his well-coiffed salt-and- “presidential.” pepper hair, he looked the part. But that wasn’t enough, So what, exactly, makes he still fell short. one presidential? The constitu- Another 2012 Republican aspirant, Jon Huntsman, tional requirements are simple also looked the part. If the man never spoke a word you and to the point. An individual could easily point at him in a “pick the president” line-up. seeking the presidency must Yet, he barely made it out of the starting gate. Even so, be a natural born citizen of the television’s impact has been so pronounced (think back to United States, no younger than the Kennedy-Nixon debate of 1960) that I’m left to wonder 35 years old and a resident if the medium had existed in the 1860s, the awkward look- of the country for at least 14 ing one-term congressman from Illinois who went on to years. That’s it. Oh, and con- save the Union would have stood a chance. trary to Dr. Carson’s personal Another president from Illinois, Barack Obama preference, no religious test can be used to determine has himself evoked a myriad of questions regarding what eligibility for that or any other office. is presidential and what is not. From the moment he was Beyond that, Americans have concocted vari- sworn into office, our nation’s 44th president has gone ous criteria that we believe makes one fit for the highest well out of his way to broadcast his message through less office in the land, including governing experience, legisla- traditional means, which has evoked the ire of his critics in tive accomplishments, leadership ability and a compelling both the Republican Party and the media. message and vision for the country. It’s important to note, He’s shown up on ESPN to discuss his NCAA however, that said criteria are evolving and what is un- bracket at length and in great detail multiple times. He’s presidential today is presidential tomorrow. bantered with YouTube sensations. He’s traipsed around For instance, until John F. Kennedy, being Catholic Alaska with television host and adventure seeker Bear wasn’t presidential. Before George W. Bush, having a mas- Grylls. None of these public relations stunts would have ter’s degree in business administration wasn’t presidential. been viewed as presidential prior to 2008, but now, de- And prior to Barack Obama, being black wasn’t presiden- pending on whom you ask, they are standard operating tial. Heck, we still live in a world in which being a woman procedure for a commander-in-chief. isn’t technically presidential either, that is, until we elect And depending on the results of the 2016 presi- one. dential election, we could find ourselves adding to the Among the intangible qualifications is that of definition of presidential again. We could make Cuban- temperament, one that is being used against Donald American presidential. We could make Indian-American Trump in an attempt to dislodge him from atop Republi- presidential. We could make reality television host presi- can primary polls. In the second GOP presidential debate, dential. Who knows, we might even make neurosurgeon speaking of Trump, Carly Fiorina said, “I also think that presidential. v one of the benefits of a presidential campaign is that the character and capability, judgment and temperament of Pete Seat is senior project manager at the India- every single one of us is revealed over time and under napolis-based Hathaway Strategies. He was previ- pressure. All of us will be revealed under pressure.” ously a spokesman for President George W. Bush, By raising the issue of temperament, she tried to U.S. Sen. Dan Coats and the Indiana Republican turn Trump’s great asset, his disdain for political correct- Party. He joins Howey Politics Indiana as a regular ness, into a liability. Trump, naturally, disagreed by saying columnist. he has a “great temperament.” I guess that settles that. Page 16

dom” act controversy. Pence counts on changes, too, for Pence-Gregg II will a bigger win, with a record he extols and expectation that party brands will be different. Will Republicans this time have a more popular be different from 2012 nominee for president to provide coattails for Indiana By JACK COLWELL statewide candidates? Or will it be the other way around, SOUTH BEND –Those voters aren’t owned by a with a Democratic presidential nominee proving more candidate. Those 1,275,424 Indiana voters providing the popular than President Obama was last time in Indiana? narrow winning total for Republican Mike Pence for gover- Will Republicans avoid having someone on the nor in 2012 aren’t all still his for reelection in 2016. state ticket like Richard Mourdock, the perceived goofus Those 1,200,016 Hoosiers voting instead for for the Senate who dragged down totals for Pence and Democrat John Gregg in his surprisingly strong challenge other Republicans in 2012? Democrats hope that the state to Pence last time aren’t all still his as he tries again. GOP ticket will again provide an easy target if Congress- It’s not, as some Demo- man Marlin Stutzman wins the Republican nomination for crats hope, that Gregg for victory the Senate. They note that Stutzman, like Mourdock, is a needs only to sway just a small Tea Party favorite who attacks moderates and is backed by number of voters to switch the Club For Growth. They would like to see him as a fall this time as they look askance target. But could anybody be another Mourdock? And what at Pence’s record and add to of the image to emerge of the Democratic nominee for the Gregg’s 2012. Nor is it, as some Senate. Could anybody do as well as Donnelly for the Sen- Republicans hope, that Pence ate last time? starts with his 2012 supporters Gregg won’t be able to sneak up, unknown and and to win bigger needs only to untouched by any negative TV, as he did at the start last sway some voters lost as they time. Many factors are beyond the control of Pence and looked askance at a perceived Gregg, including control of all those who voted for them goofus on the GOP ticket for senator last time. last time. v It’s a mistake to look at votes for a candidate in the last election and assume that candidate will have those Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five de- voters again in the next. cades for the South Bend Tribune. Every election differs from the last. Different is- sues. Different outlooks on how things are going, on party brands, on campaign appeals. Different motivation for vari- ous segments of the electorate to get to the polls or stay home. If you think a candidate can count on past voter support in a new campaign, look no farther than Iowa, Get rid of regressive where Rick Santorum won the most votes in the 2012 Re- publican caucuses and now gets 1 percent in polls there. payroll taxes Closer to home, former Republican Congressman Chris Chocola clobbered Democratic challenger Joe Don- By MICHAEL HICKS nelly in 2004. Just two years later, Donnelly clobbered MUNCIE – The Great Recession is now a full six Chocola right out of Congress. Who would have thought years behind us, but many of its effects continue to linger. after their first match that polls would show Chocola being One of these is in the way we pay unemployment com- hurt in the second encounter by voter displeasure over the pensation taxes, which is one of the Toll Road sale and time issue? most regressive tax burdens borne Issues come and go. by low-income workers. To under- In the campaign for governor next year, stand this, you must first compre- neither Pence nor Gregg starts out owning the 1.2 million hend one of the most byzantine or so voters each won in 2012. Yes, each will start with a federal tax programs ever devised. party base, with the Republican voter base larger than the Let me try to explain. Democratic base in Indiana. But what will sway voters in The slide into the Great Recession the middle ground, the independents and the Rs and Ds caused well more than half of states who don’t always vote a straight party ticket? to borrow from the federal govern- Gregg counts on changes since the last race to ment to help pay unemployment win, and not just the change in trimming the size of his claims. This debt is supposed to be moustache and being less folksy this time. The biggest paid back as the economy recovers. Indiana will be able to change is that Pence has a record as governor this time, pay off that debt sometime next year, but there is a catch. and Gregg hammers at that, especially the “religious free- Businesses are levied a tax to pay off this debt, Page 17 but each year the state owes a balance to the federal businesses tend to have a more specialized, better-com- government causes the businesses in a state to face an pensated labor force. That makes them less likely to get escalating tax. The tax grows by 0.3 percent annually and stuck with the cost of the tax, and more likely to benefit so in 2015 it is already large. The extra tax stops once the from it down the road. But that isn’t the only problem; the amount is paid off, but there’s another catch. tax is unfair in more fundamental ways. Businesses pay these federal taxes, which are The federal unemployment tax is a flat tax on the different from the state unemployment taxes most of us first $7,000 of income. So, a retail worker making $10 an are familiar with. The federal tax levies a flat rate on the hour pays twice the share of his income as a manufactur- first $7,000 earned by each new employee, each year. The ing worker who makes $20 an hour. So, the federal unem- state tax levies a tax based upon an insurance-like formula ployment tax is a terribly regressive tax, but there is more. to collect money from firms that are more likely to lay off Because the tax is charged to each new worker, anyone workers. Firms that rarely lay off workers pay much lower who changes jobs pays it twice in a year. That is almost rates. That means the federal tax has two problems the always lower-wage workers. state taxes don’t. Indiana can end this federal tax in 2015 by Though businesses pay the tax administratively, it paying off the debt early with general fund reserves. We’ll is the workers, not the businesses, who actually bear most still have to build up our unemployment trust fund re- of the burden of this tax through lower wages or fewer serves. But, by my estimate, paying off this debt early will working hours. This is called the “incidence” of taxation. add something like 5,100 jobs and $220 million incomes The reason for this is that the state tax is levied more in 2016. More importantly, it’ll eliminate one of the most heavily on firms that frequently lay off workers, and these regressive taxes now facing low-income Hoosier workers. v

have similar political and military backgrounds. U.S. Rep. McDermott continues Marlin Stutzman also is seeking the nomination. Unfortunately for McDermott, U.S. Sen. Dan Coats isn’t seeking reelection. McDermott said he likes the con- to eye Senate race trast between himself and Coats – a youngish guy on the By RICH JAMES move versus an older career Washington, D.C., politician. MERRILLVILLE – If you want to know if Hammond He said he definitely would be running if Coats was seek- Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. plans to run for the Demo- ing reelection. cratic nomination for U.S. Sen- If McDermott should opt to seek the Democratic ate next year, just ask him. And nomination, his problems will begin at home. Lake County he will tell you that, yes, he is Democratic Chairman John Buncich held a fundraiser dur- continuing to think about it. Just ing the summer and essentially endorsed Hill, who was last week he said that he will in attendance, for the nomination. John Gregg, the likely make a decision following the Democratic nominee for governor, also was on hand. Nov. 3 general election where McDermott’s largest problem at home is that he is seeking a fourth term as he isn’t particularly liked by Gary where Democrats make mayor. He is heavily favored to up the largest block of voters in the county. win that election. Following the 2010 Census, it was learned that McDermott did say there Hammond had overtaken Gary as the most populous city are a couple of factors that will in the county. McDermott was overjoyed and let just about weigh in on his decision. On the everyone know it, much to the dismay of Gary residents Democratic side, McDermott and politicians. And during Gary’s push for legislative au- contends that neither announced candidate, former U.S. thority for a land-based casino, McDermott was the most Rep. Baron Hill and John Dickerson, the former head of a vocal opponent, contending that would hurt Hammond’s disabilities education organization, “has gained the trac- highly profitable Horseshoe Casino. tion” needed to win the nomination. McDermott went so And when he recently was county Democratic far as to say active Lake County Democrats have no idea chairman, McDermott pretty much gave Gary the cold who is running for the Senate nomination. shoulder. v Which Republican candidate appears to be leading the field in November also will impact his decision. Rich James has been writing about state and local McDermott said it would be easier running against former government and politics for more than 30 years. He Republican Party Chairman Eric Holcomb than U.S. Rep. is a columnist for The Times of Northwest Indiana. Todd Young of Bloomington. McDermott said he and Young Page 18

firm. Again, these sordid tales of conflict of interest played Indiana Republicans out on the front pages of the Indianapolis Star a few years ago but Brian Bosma and his House Republican Caucus were insistent that McMillin was “their kind of guy” and and Rep. McMillin belonged in leadership. By SHAW FRIEDMAN The capper – far apart from McMillin’s idiotic LAPORTE – What is it about the modern Indiana sexual escapades which apparently proved his undoing – Republican Party that folks there would not only welcome was McMillin’s naked use of power to try to punish those an obviously ethics-challenged Judd McMillin into the fold, in a state agency he’d been in conflict with while repre- but promote him as “leadership senting private law firm clients. That’s right, he chose to material” to be the second high- retaliate against the DNR by trying to strip some of their est ranking GOP member of the law enforcement powers that had long been held by DNR Indiana House as majority leader? conservation officers. McMillin represented private law With the Indianapolis Star firm clients who had been arrested on 18 different charges last Friday chronicling McMillin’s brought by DNR officers and he actually introduced a bill controversial 10-year run, Republi- to strip money and authority from the agency. (Personal to can leaders had to be blind not to lawyers in the House GOP caucus: You’re under an affir- see the train wreck coming, with mative duty under our Code of Ethics to report misconduct one serious transgression after like that, not laugh about it over drinks at Shula’s!) another following this guy. This So how did his colleagues in the House GOP wasn’t some barely detectible, caucus handle his transgressions and obvious misuse of faint odor coming from him. Judd his official position? Did they take him to the House Ethics McMillin had the foul stench of an Committee or refer him to the Disciplinary Commission ethics impaired politician following him like that cloud that that regulates lawyer misconduct? Nah – let’s promote this followed the Peanuts character “Pigpen” ever since McMil- guy to the second highest ranking position in the Indiana lin’s scandalous resignation as a deputy prosecutor in Ohio House. Clearly, this ain’t your father’s Indiana GOP. a decade ago. Can anyone imagine that Republicans like Dick Is the only criterion for membership in the high- Lugar, John Mutz or Ed Simcox would have tolerated the est levels of the IN GOP Club these days that you’ll blindly repeated ethics breaches and stench of impropriety from a vote to support “voodoo economics” colleague or worst yet, promoted – consisting of endless tax cuts for the him? How can Brian Bosma and largest corporations and the wealthy the leadership of the Indiana Re- while slashing funds for roads, pub- publican Party claim any commit- lic schools, public safety and social ment to government ethics when services? With that criterion, Judd’s an they not only enabled this serial “A-lister” and warmly welcomed into ethics violator but promoted him? the fraternity, apparently. Polling shows that eth- Sure, McMillin proved his ics and transparent government bonafides for the voodoo economics matter to Hoosier voters. Our caucus when he chose to vilify food job as Hoosier Democrats is to stamp recipients last year by demand- make sure that voters know there ing all of them be drug-tested. He is a desperate need for balance showed his true colors however, op- and that the absolute power that posing Democratic Rep. Ryan Dvorak’s comes from “super majorities” in amendment to his bill that would have both chambers is not conducive ensured that all recipients of government benefits, includ- to good government. Yes, gerrymandering has made the ing legislators, be drug-tested. Couldn’t have that, now hill steeper to climb, but Democratic candidates should could we, Judd? We certainly couldn’t have some wealthy make a point of standing up for open, transparent gov- government vendor or supplier drug-tested. Heck, they’ve ernment that serves the people, rather than backroom, earned their right to suck at the government teat rather closed-door deal-making and sleazy politics represented by than what Judd views as some shifty, undeserving welfare the likes of ex-Majority Leader Judd McMillin. recipient. Clearly, the Indiana GOP is no longer capable of Ethics? Who needs ‘em, right, Judd? Like policing its own. The voters need to do it for them. v sitting on a riverboat grants committee and steering grant awards to a company he started in 2010. And one lousy Shaw Friedman is former legal counsel for the In- turn deserves another as he apparently steered more diana Democratic Party and a longtime HPI colum- grant money to another firm represented by his small law nist. Page 19

Dave Bangert, Lafayette Journal & Courier: not a perfect response and that the issue is riddled with Mitch Daniels has the ear of national leaders the way few complexities, and then let’s ask that one basic question. do, as evidenced by how far conservatives, in particular, Can we do better? Not perfect, just better. If the answer is will bend to get the governor-turned-university president’s yes, then let’s at least try. Can the city of Indianapolis do views on higher education, debt and beyond. So why not better than suffering through 105 criminal homicides, the on this one, when he speaks about “this disappearing vast majority of which involved guns, through the first nine middle” in an age of threatened federal shutdowns, hail months of the year? Can the nation do better than not Mary budgeting and dysfunctional (read: absent) legisla- responding in any meaningful way to mass shootings that tion of consequence? The answer was disheartening, have claimed young adults at college campuses, young bordering on depressing, when Daniels and former U.S. children at an elementary school, parishioners at a church, Rep. Lee Hamilton, an Indiana Democrat, joined C-SPAN soldiers at military bases, and so many other victims at founder Brian Lamb at Purdue University Monday for a so many other locations that it’s hard to keep them all discussion about the state of democracy and its future. straight? v Disheartening, not because they didn’t nail the problem. They did. Disheartening because, as they outlined their John Krull, Statehouse File: Indiana Gov. Mike takes on a Congress frozen by its own polarization, their Pence wants to make nice with the state’s business com- discussion kept circling an implied warning: We’re in for munity. That may not be easy. Pence is up for reelection a lot more of this. That is, until we realize we’re a nation next year. Normally, a conservative Republican governor that can’t shake the consuming need for confirmation who hates taxes with the same level of animosity other bias. “A term you hear all the time, and rightfully so,” said people reserve for cancer could count on enthusiastic Daniels, Purdue’s president. “And not just in support from business leaders. But these are the space we’re talking about here, in public not normal times. Many business leaders believe policies and public affairs. It’s a problem in Indiana’s divisive and highly publicized battles science and other places. … It’s very, very over a proposed constitutional amendment ban- easy now to fortify your biases and prejudices, ning same-sex marriage and the Indiana Religious and deny yourself, really, troubling, disturb- Freedom Restoration Act damaged the state’s ing, challenging information or opinion.” The image. They also think it made it hard for them remedy? “Certainly, a start could be if national leadership to recruit talent to and make deals outside Indiana. Two would more forcefully call for more open-mindedness and things about Pence’s role in those debacles concern busi- coming together around at least a few goals,” Daniels said, ness leaders. The first is that he didn’t listen to them “that might be a start.” Good luck with that. v while the fights were going on. Many of the state’s largest employers lined up against the same-sex marriage ban. Matthew Tully, IndyStar: There is one funda- They tried to warn the governor – and legislative leaders mental question we need to ask about the epidemic of gun – that it was likely to be a costly battle that would slow violence that has produced, and that will continue to pro- growth in Indiana. They don’t feel that they were heard. duce, a daily stream of tragedy and heartbreak across this The same happened with RFRA. A lobbyist for one of the country. Can we do better? That’s it. That’s the question. state’s most prominent companies told me he and the That’s where we need to start. Let’s put aside all of our company’s lawyers sat down with the governor’s people divisions and disputes for a moment and ask that question. and legislative leaders. The lobbyist and the lawyers from Can we do better? It is an essential question because the this heavyweight employer warned the elected officials answer will tell us whether we are up to the challenge of and their staffs that there was a big problem with RFRA trying to do better. It will tell us whether we are willing to and the damage could be great. “They brushed us off,” explore the vast middle ground on this issue, and whether the lobbyist told me. “They didn’t want to hear it.” The we can come together to both encourage and demand second thing that troubles business leaders about Pence is action. Unfortunately, it is not clear what our collective that he still doesn’t seem to get it. His public statements answer would be. Many of the statements by leading dismiss the RFRA fight – and its resulting damage – as a politicians and special interest group advocates, as well blip, little more than a fading memory. Business leaders as emails I receive with regularity, make it seem as if we tell a different story. They say the damage is both deep need to resign ourselves to the reality that, no, we cannot and lasting and they see no way to solve that problem do better. Stuff happens, and that’s the way it is. So in the without first acknowledging that we do, in fact, have a wake of yet more mass shootings around the country, and problem. Even former Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice amid a relentless stream of individual shootings here, let’s Randall Shepard – not exactly a wild-eyed liberal – told me put aside debate-killing questions about whether every when we were on the air a few days ago that RFRA and act of gun violence can be stopped, or whether this mass its legacy could do quite a bit of lasting harm to the state shooting or that mass shooting could have been prevented “unless we manage it very well.” v by this or that law. Let’s accept the reality that there is Page 20

she hopes to have the system in place tion for private health care providers Fiat-Chrysler by May’s presidential primary.. that demonstrate knowledge of the mental health needs of military per- strike avoided Fiscal leaders hear sonnel. The Senate passed the $612 billion defense bill by a 70-27 vote, DETROIT — Fiat Chrysler local tax options with Coats and Donnelly supporting INDIANAPOLIS – Legislative has avoided an expensive strike at the legislation. The House approved fiscal leaders considered a uniform law its U.S. plants after reaching a tenta- the measure last week by a 270-156 Wednesday that would allow coun- tive labor agreement with the United vote.. ties and municipalities to adopt their Auto Workers union (Associated own food and beverage tax (Kelly, Press). UAW announced Courier & Press Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). the agreement just after But restaurants pushed back 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, bought by Gannett against the idea, which could EVANSVILLE - The Evansville which was the deadline be considered in the 2016 Courier & Press, the Henderson Glean- the union had set to reach legislative session. Right er and other Journal Media Group a new deal or possibly now, individual counties or newspapers will soon have a new go on strike. The Italian- communities come to the owner. Journal Media Group properties American automaker confirmed it had legislature seeking permission for local will become part of Gannett. The deal reached a new tentative agreement elected officials to adopt a food and is expected to close in the first quarter with the union but said in a statement beverage tax. Each request requires of 2016. “We will continue our mission that the company cannot discuss the a special bill to be passed by lawmak- of serving the community,” said Jack specifics because the deal is subject to ers. The Interim Committee on Fiscal Pate, publisher of the Courier & Press member ratification. A spokeswoman Policy received a report Wednesday and The Gleaner. declined further comment. UAW, which showing that 13 counties and 14 represents around 40,000 FCA factory municipalities levy the tax. Most of workers at 23 U.S. plants, said in a Legislators revisit them are at 1 percent, though Marion post on its website that its bargaining County and Orange County are at 2 big box taxation committee had “secured significant percent. In all, $87 million was collect- INDIANAPOLIS - A panel of gains.” Local union leaders will vote on ed in food and beverage taxes in fiscal lawmakers is grappling with a growing the proposed deal Friday at a meeting year 2015. Allen County collected controversy over how property tax val- in Detroit. If the leaders approve the more than $7 million. Hoosier cities, ues of so-called “big box” stores – like tentative agreement, UAW will release towns and counties want legislators Walmart, Kroger and Walgreens – are details and the ratification process will to pass a uniform law allowing local assessed (Smith, Indiana Public Me- begin, a UAW spokesman said. adoption of the taxes and allowing dia). The big box assessment issue is the revenue to be used for a variety a complex one, but roughly boils down Hamilton Co. eyes of functions. “Cities and towns should to this: should big box stores be taxed iPads for voting be able to control their own destiny according to their value as used by on this issue,” said Justin Swanson of their current owner or by their value if the Indiana Association of Cities and sold? Counties and county assessors NOBLESVILLE - Tired of Towns. say it should be the former, the so- flipping through pages and pages called “value in-use.” But the big box of names to sign in at your polling Donnelly provisions stores want to be assessed by how place on Election Day? There’s an app much they could get for their stores if for that (Sikich, IndyStar). Hamilton in Defense bill they’re sold – typically a much lower County Elections Administrator Kathy FORT WAYNE - The defense amount. And a series of Indiana Tax Richardson wants the county to switch authorization bill approved Wednesday Court rulings have been using the big to an increasingly used electronic poll by the U.S. Senate contains provi- box stores’ preferred method – so book system. But several Hamilton sions introduced by Sen. Joe Donnelly, much so that Allen County Asses- County Council members aren’t sure D-Ind (Francisco, Fort Wayne Journal sor Stacey O’Day says she’s stopped they’re ready to sign off on the idea. Gazette). His proposals, aimed at appealing. “I mean, I have to pick She is asking the council for about reducing military suicides, would train my battles and I don’t think that I $414,000 to buy 220 iPads, polling Defense Department medical provid- can spend tax dollars – my tax dollar software and related equipment. She ers in suicide risk recognition and money – on that knowing what I feel also would need $30,500 in each management, encourage the Penta- the end result’s going to be,” O’Day of the next two years for software gon to instruct physician assistants in says. upgrades. If the request is approved, psychiatric care and create a designa-