Thursday, Jan.18, 1996 • Volume 2, Number 17 Page 1of8 '96 events could 1• • I .1 •••••.... I u.-.. erode party power THE ----· Slating can be blessing, curse for county chairs RUSHVILLE - Republican Rush County Chairwoman Jean Ann Harcourt calls her precinct officials the lifeblood of the political HOWEY process. Yet, the modem dilemma since the demise of political patron age in post-Watergate Indiana remains: How does a chair reward the people who perform hundreds of hours of grassroots politicking? POIJTICAL "I've thought about slating," said Harcourt, who also serves on the Republican National Committee. In an era when county chairs can no longer reward volunteers with jobs at the license branch, the highway department or a state reservoir, slating would be a way to REPORT thank the hard work with a sharing of power; to help make the vital decisions of what party member goes on the ballot. The Weekly Briefing On Indiana Politics The dilemma for party !lfficials in 1996 goes further than slating. The whole power structure centered on the county chair is The Howey Political Report is published 40 times a year by NewsLink,Inc. The Howey Political Report is an independent, under scrutiny and,after'96,may be in dispute. The roots go back to non-partisan newsletter analyzing the political process in the late 1970s when Dan Quayle left the party structure to run candi Indiana. It neither endorses candidates nor advocates positions date-driven campaigns. He was followed by successful politicians like of public policy. Wm Moses and Evan Bayh. Brian A. Howey In 1980, about 50 Democratic county chairs publicly support editor and publisher ed John Hillenbrand Ill for governor. State Sen. Wayne Townsend was Howey Political Report Office: 317-685-0883 a late entry in the race, and Hillenbrand barely defeated him in the POBox44168 Fax:317-692-1032 primary, calling into question the true impact of the chairs.Except Indianapolis, IN 46244 CompuServe: 75141,51 for the Democratic Ohio River counties, Democratic county chairs Subscription information: $250 annually for 40 have seen a decline in their clout, best personified by Terre Haute Mayor Jim Jenkins bucking the Vigo County party and Bayh's reliance editions via fax or first class mail. C'all 317-685-0883. on air war politics as opposed to grassroots party development. © 1995, The Howey Political Report. All rights reserved. This year, two-thirds of the Republican county chairs are Photocopying faxing or reproduci.'tg in any form, in whole or in backing Rf>..x Early for goverr.or in his race against the anti-establish part, is a violation offederal law and is strlttly prohlbitd without the written consent of the editor. ment Steve Goldsmith.Should Early lose - and particularly if he loses counties where he has backing of the chair - a similar trend of weak
continued on page 8 INSIDE F E A T U R E. S
uln the time of Napoleon, a defeated leader • HPR's tribute to Bill Schreiber page3 might spend his retirement exiled on an island.In· • HPR Interview: An~ Delaney pages4-5 the modern state legislature, he might come back • .Hudnut says he's still undecided pages • Horse Race: Campaign updates page6 as a lobbyist .... u -Dan Bemard,Evansvil/e Press, on former Speaker Michael K. Phillips • Columnists Ullman, Pulliam, Dieter page7 Thursday,Jan.18, 1996 lPage 2 of 8
lilllVl(JllR Prom page! has evolved well beyon i the original intentions 1 ~~ ~ l l ening the local party apparai us could em1. e. that had roots in the 1 : M election debacle. llJC II •'.ID These high stakes h<.1:,~ not been lo:st 011 The entire tick:· . .lad been drubbed in Q 1 Devil's Dictionary the 1~ounger, progressh 1e parit1' chairs. They arr the LBJ landslide, usli<"1 ing in L.Keith Bulen as constantly searching for mec:1rnisms that c~.n chairman in 1965.m ·: ·1:ated th 1e &epublican By Jlnrbrose Bierce stren ;then the human fabric of !he party, and Action Council which ·1, ,._,, design,ed as a "Big Dissemble, n. To put a dean shirt one cf those options is slating. Tent"mechanism to br1 ng all constituencies to upon the character. There are anrrm1fily tw1J1 very differ,;nt the table and broaden ·1 h1~ ticket whl]e dosing forms of slating in motion him: in Indfa:1a. lr1 the door on the so-call1 :d "smoke-fiUed room" DO!I· n. Akind 01f additiom1l o~ Allen County, Republkans used an extremely politics. sutisidiary Deity designe1l to passive, benign form of slating that senres lhe Bwm picked a •11ating committee that irat·dl the overffow and s11011lus of purpose of giving prednct o lldalls a pemption included elected offic i 1 ~ , party appointees and ;·he w11rld's wnr.;hip. of p101wer.Prior to ilie 1994 congressional prima fund-raiser.s. It ensurd tJb.at a tickelt could ry, all candidates were invit•ed to formally include such diverse fa1 :tiions as those of Father ll>e!:tlny,n. Atyrant's autlhooity for address precinct officials 011 a Saturday mom· Larry Voelker, a milden 11te priest from lthe south afo:~ ar.d ill fu.-:.l'~ exa!se ro rrail- in wa; side, and libertarian co: is ervative State Rep. Bob ure. ing March.But no vote taken.Instead, precil1lct volunteers wi~re armed with firstlhru1d Jones. By 1967, slating mII owed Richard Lugar to Wendellisms information on the candlida1tes and their prnbHc win a mayoral nomin a11 ion over pos;t-World War By Wendell Trogdai, lndlcrnapl),1fs News performances. Whal tl1at did wis allow them t,o, II-era Mayor Alex Clar 11 . go ba(k into their n:eighborhoods and "~al.k up~· Today, party acr. 11.ists like larry Landis Wa:1hi111gtcn ~hould fuliow th~ the candidate that impressed them the most. maintain that "the or.lg: n.al idea has been stood lead of the riew tOWl'I$ of 1\voru 1 The winner usf that raoe, Mark Souder, as on its head~'The post- 11 fl1tergate reforms sowed andl Monrovia.They're bo lh man it turns out had in place the b(:st grassroots the seeds for an end 'lie, .kense brnnch patronage aging to operate withoU1l b11Jd· organization of the field and L11at allowed him to a dozen yea.rs later.And 11,farion Cou111ty moved get:s. emerge from a five-person ~'rimarywith a dec:i from one, huge multi-·n ember Indiana House sive vktory. district to smaller multi. -member distrkts,and Q Hill,1ry Rodham 1ainton's ~·o Dk Earlier this we1~k. con1trciversy flared' in finally, one-man distrk s would have been out earlie1·.., Marion County, which has a much m:ire: in 1t1 tu All of this, alo 11:,. with the Baby lBoom ~ad she not lost the manus.1ript tionalized slating process tha: its critics bebeve era explosion of televi:11 on, has creat,ed a fur itwo years. continued cm page 8 Page 3 of 8 Thursday,Jan.18,1996
PERHAPS ... WE WANDER TICKER By Brian Howey T A P E Schreiber's perspective, it created a political PLAY OF THE WEEK: Sen. Catching a glimpse monolith; a virtual one-party system that sub Richard Lugar's TV ad dued the existing natural political currents. cam at Bill Schreiber's paign in Iowa in which he Twenty years later, this political percep points to his backing of the long strange trip tion has been borne out. The Democrats could 2nd Amendment,but also only raise a feeble opponent against Mayor INDIANAPOLIS - John Gregg was jubi notes his support of the Stephe~ Goldsmith in the last election despite lant. assault weapons ban. The ad dramatic changes that in normal circumstances It was two days after the 1990 election campaign features this tag would have called for a vigorous contest. which had propelled the Sanborn Democrat htto line: uBeing a conservative Prior to '75, he was treasurer for Robert the position of Indiana House Majority Leader. doesn't mean you have to lose F. Kennedy's tragic 1968 presidential campaign. He pulled Bill Schreiber into a back room at the your common sense." It is .A:fter his mayoral race, he vrorked for U.S. Rep. Statehouse and emotionally basked 1n his new aimed atusoft"Bob Dole sup Andy Jacobs, House Speaker Michael K.Phillips position. porters in Iowa likely to attend and O'Bannon. He penned a play on Vice ' "I said, 'Schreiber, I got elected Majority the Feb.12 caucuses. President Alben Barkley. Leader!"' But more dramatically, Schreiber was the "Congratulations, Bud:' Schreiber kind of person who could have profound impact responded before asking this question: "Do you State Rep. •••Chet Dobis became on another even with little contact. That's where know who was Majority Leader under Dick the first Democrat to I fall int.o. place b~hind. Bill Schreiber's legacy. Bodine?" announce a campaign for lieu The political busmess is full of those who bristle • "No,"said Gregg. tenant govemor.Frank'n Chet with towering egoes,leap to add insult on top of "Then hold the thought," Schreiber now there's a sexy ticket ... assault, and take advantage of those who exhib admonished. · it weakness . . . He had other wisdom for Gregg,such as Attorney General Pam Carter Schreiber once worked on a campaign attaimng that all important majority in the responded to a recent HPR for a legislator who had had a past scrape with Indiana House. "Inasmuch as your goal is to artide in which Republicans the law. The allegations were exploited by the have 51 horses:' Schreiber reminded him, "you suggested she would be vul opponent and this is how Schreiber responded. may find after the election that you've rounded nerable to defeat since she A TV ad was devised showing a photo of up a few cows:' had small majorities in Marion the candidate's family. The opponent's allegation Bill Schreiber - humanitarian, Democrat and Allen counties in 1992. was raised, and mud splattered the photo.A sec political strategist, playwright, father, friend, ' Carter responds that she has ~nd allegation ... more mud.A third allega- Deadhead- died at age St on Jan.11, three been the only modem tion .. _.mud. months after he was diagnosed with cancer. Demoaat to carry Marion "He has been described as a political Why is he so important to Hoosiers? County at all in a first election. strategist," Jacobs said. "Fair enough, but not From an immediate standpoint, he is the Carter notes that Gov. Evan enough. He seemed like the very essence of life architect of Lt. Gov. Frank O'Bannon's 1996 elec Bayh did not carry Marion itself.' tion strategy. The plan is still in place, but its County in his 1986 race for sec O'Bannon calls him a "man without ran execution will be tougher in Schreiber's retary of state nor in his 1988 cor, admired even by his opponents." absence. The shoes will be hard to fill. race for govemor.uNot only is "In defeat,he was resolute.In victory he From a historic perspective, Schreiber that astounding, it's unusual/ ~as magnanimous;' said O'Bannon,adding that ~as a r'.11'e ~dividual that could operate either Carter said. he wore power like an old cloak.He accepted m the hmehght, or behind the scenes. He was everything but intolerance:' . the 1975 Democratic nominee for mayor of The Chicago Tribune~ Sue Ellen The last time I saw Schreiber was the he lashed out at Richard G. Christian writes in a front page .ndi~apol_is, wher~ . day at An.dy Jaco.bs' house when the congress ugar s Umgov which combined the govern Wednesday artide on Sen. man announced he wouldn't seek re-election. ments of the city and Marion County. From continued on page 8 continued on page 5 Thursday,Jan.18, 1996 Page4 of 8 1 1 Delan e~,, ~f ~) 1 eHev~es 10th CC) ~,.esists
nationa~ tr1ends ~due to coh~1::~sion 0 INDIANAPOLIS - It's be,en 12 years :since a way to meet those cifl •I obligations absent the Ann Delaney's histork run for lieuten<.lllt gov· Congress acting. But I I· ink that is !;oing to ernor. She announced for the 10th CD on wreak enough havoc 01 .he financial markets Tuesday with her cute grancldaughter in tow. that they will hesitate 11 • do that.I think what
HPR discussed that in?ending rac1! plus this budget debate is g1 i tg to be a bout is the a number of trends that will n1ake 1996 a fasci next election. natilllg year. HPR: I sense th: it unless you're a federal HPR: Why are ·mu rmming for Con,gress government employ1e ~, I· is budget showdown as opposed to the attorney general's racie? hasn't really affected lo J many Americans other 1-IPll Delaney: Well, the 10th Congressicim.aJ 111~ than being a daily irrit:< at news time.At what INlERV~EW seat i~ something ti11at I have looked at for ~~ears point do you believe 11L s issue will move front lllll .11'411:]~ and y;ars. I didn't know when or if Andy would and center with the av:· -c1ge voter? step down. Delaney: It's ;u:t eady gotten there. HPR: How will your experiences as chaJr Puttmg the federal ernji' lnyees aside, I think the 0 'Since that's tl111~ of the Democratic State Com r.tittee translate budget debate has imp, c ted so many people down into a Congressional racd directly and indirect! I' I bat it has really raised ~ssue, I don't s1~~~ a Delaney: n helps in the primary contest the awareness. I really i:- o First we suffered ~udget a1greement and in some districts, ]t may be more of a liabil inconvenience of the b1i c get shutdown, but now ity. This district leans Democra1ic so it will be they are so much mon: aware of it, even 30 days ~E!irng reached at much less risky for the generall 1election than ago.I think it's raised tJ e level of public scruti · all! between mow virtually anywhere elst: with ilhe possible e:t:,;p ny on the debate,certan 1Jy, whether it's affected· tion of Pete Visclosky's di.strict them or not. CJ 1ari1d the electkm HPR: Obviou:sly we ar,e awaiting tlJ see HPR; Vlrtll you lb e running against some UI how tll1e budget crisis in w·ashington is resohied. of the planks in the (m 11tract Witlh America? oee I Wlhat's your read on the natio::uiJ dynaimic and Delaney: There'! :no question some of the potential impact iit may have on this race! the issues 0111 how the b 1fanced budget was done = Ann Delaney Delaney: The odds are pretty good tliat will be debated back and forth, absolutely.As for it's going to be a Democratic ~ ·:::ar. The issuf i: whether the Contract will be debated back and no longer whether the]·e will be a balanced bud forth depends on the H1 :publican opponent. getln fact, both sides have reco,5nized and pro HPlR: How doe:;: Speaker Newt Gingrich
posed a balance budget, ever ·~,'ithin the arbi·· factor in your campai~ 1 >lans? trnry ~mmber of se¥en years The quesfon now Del.ruler; He's !:I ilJl a very prodigious is about what programs are cut.Basica1y,it's the fund-raiser for Republi, ;ans. So I assume .if he's issue of how tlie balan.:ed budg,rt is used to c:ut willing to come back ~1 .o Indiana whether it's in certai ·1 programs becailJ'.se of .deological irea the 4th or the 8th or tb 1: 10th, whoev,er the sons, not because of financing those progr;ims. Republican 'candidate i.:! will welcome him.As Since r:lhat's the issue, I don't 3,ee a budge~ agree· far as his public popul'1 ·il'y,every poll shows his ment being reached at all be l'l'ieen now and the negatives ar1e much hi.~.! .. er than his positives. election. The RepubHca.n freshmen took. so Part of that is person;uq-driven.BuL part of 0 B...... • I .1 much !heat over the government shutdown, I that is ideologically dd ren. People h;m thought B--&.r.-..111• • don't ~hink we'll see ihat happen again.And [ for some time that so 11 • )f the measures passed [Jiii-iil really 10pe - really hope - tha1t we clloPlt see the by this Repuiblican Corq :1,~ss go too far, whether -- government fall down on its debt obligations. it's gutting the Environr 1mtal Protection Jlll>R: That is a i~ery real ~ossibility... Agency or slashing stu,J e·1t loans, or threatening Delaney: Right.It's a distinct possibilitjr. the quality cif care for Jv edicare, that most of the [) In fac11., they have had threats made to impeach provisions that back bw ·e gone too far.And that the Secretary of the Tre'asury for trying to figure will continue to be a pn blem for them as long Page 5 of 8 Thursday,Jan.18, 1996 as their ideology stays constant. think a candidate running in the 1Oth can run HPR: Has this Republican Congress had on his or her own merits a lot easier than run an impact on the Democratic Party? Have there ning in a district with 18 or 22 counties and TICKER been any good things, like members having to vastly different interests between urban and p live under their own laws and that type of rural areas. Certainly Marvin Scott came closer T A E thing? in '94 than any Republican candidate had come 0 Delaney: One of the things coming out in awhile. Yet, it wasn't that close. I think that's Richard Lugar, But for all his of this Congress is that it's helped to define the because a candidate in the 10th can relate so aedentials, Lugar isn't break differences between the two parties. Part of easily to voters. ing into the big time. The what happened in 1994, despite complacency on HPR: You were last on the ballot in 1984. problem: Lugar is made for the the part of Democratic incumbents, was the How have politics changed since then? fireside chat, not the 15-sec realization on the part of some voters that the Delaney: Voters have gotten a lot more ond soundbite.He is a candi Democrats were in charge. They didn't think independent in these last 12 years.Party affilia date two generations late." there was that much difference between the two tion has diminished in importance. I think Still,Lugar's campaign office parties philosophically.And one of the things that's true pretty much across the board. I don't in Washington received a call that has come out of this Republican control of think there's a district that hasn't felt the Wednesday morning from an this Congress is that it has crystalized the differ increased independence of voters. Illinois voter pledging $1,000 ences ideogically. I think that's t~ the Demo BPR: Indiana has only elected two to the campaign based on the crats' advantage. females to Congress - Katie Hall and Jill Long. Tribune artide. HPR: What did you learn from the '94 Do you feel you're still cutting new ground? campaign? Delaney: Those issues at that level have Senate Finance Committee Delaney: In part, the lesson there is that gone by the wayside. We've elected only two Chairman Lawrence Borst tells when there's a national tide sweeping, it doesn't members of Congress, that's true.But w~ve the Evansville Press that the matter how good the Democratic candidate may elected a woman attorney general, a woman agreement reached between be or how well funded, they'll go the way of that secretary of state, superintendent of public Gov. Bayh and legislative national tide, whatever it is. But those historical instructure, state treasurer. Ther~s been a lot of Republicans comes down "on realignments happen only periodically. change in that regard. Voters are looking beyond the side of caution. "Borst said HPR: President Clinton runs about as that that while the agreement will well in the 10th CD {47 percent in 1992; HPR: How far ls Indiana away from immediately cut taxes on Dukakis 51 percent in 1988) as anywhere in electing women along demographic lines? license plates and property Indiana.How will he impact your race? Delaney: The one study I saw if we kept taxes, it won't dedde on a col Delaney: I don't see him as having that gaining seats in the legislature, in 50 years we'd lege tuition tax aedit until big of an impact The difference between the be an parity. We've got a long way to go in that after Congress makes decisions 10th and other districts in Indiana is that it's a regard. on block grants to the states. relatively cohesive district One media market; HPR: If Bill Hudnut gets into the race, And Borst couldn't resist one it's obviously all contained in Marion County. It's will his residency be an issue? little jab at Bayh, reminding 0 a much easier district to run in than any other Delaney: No. Republicans tried that reporters that Evan wanted a ..c.fistrict in.thes~t~. It is easier for a candidate to against Ev~·Bayh,,and itba~fired. Voters will tax inaease"last time around. be well known than in any district in the state. I make that decision for themselves. How was Bayh's State of the State address reported around Hudnut says he's still pondering 10th CD run the state? The banner head CHICAGO - Bill Hudnut has ruled out a terian friends last Sunday in downtown Indy line in the Jan.11 Evansville run for mayor of Indianapolis, and he told HPR and indicated he would need $350,000 to make Courier was typical: "Bayh he hasn't decided on a 10th CD run. the race, sources tell HPR. Those sources indi hails Indiana's direction: "It's still sort of up in the air~ Hudnut cated that believe Hudnut will run for Congress. Harmony reigns; GOP in step." . said Tuesday. "I'll know by the end of this "It's not an easy decision~ Hudnut said. month. The big question I have to ask is this "But I love being in Congress and I love poli The Indiana Chamber of consistent with my personal and professional tics." Commerce's Legislative Report I situation?" As for being mayor again, he said, "I newsletter called the tax pact Hudnut huddled with a group of Presby- don't think so.I did that for 16 years?' between Bayh and Repblicans continued on page 6 Thursday,Jan.18, 1996 Page 6 of 8
Watch for c:;o~~ 11 gub1~rnnatorial race to hea\l u1[p1; 0 TIC~ill1~ ~egisla .. or~ ba~rning 01Ut 1of Dem 7th CID 1 prim~~Jir'Y
T A P E ff Lt. Gov. Frank O'Bannon keeps key Democrats are baillin Ji out of the g~1~.:a;r •I[] speaking as he did at Tuesday's memoriall ser Democratic primary. Mm.11 re,en GrOJPJPY from vfoe for Bill Schreiber, he willl be even more tlhe Terre Haute Tribune-S' -ar talked with Pat shock to ma111y lobbyists a~ di formidable than hi.! su:pporlr:!:.! have be;-n Ralston ("Terre Haute b u iore concerned witlh legislc1tors (especially Den 1l· suggesting. tlhe governor's race than (ongress"),S1t.ate Sen. aats who were not consult O'Bannon used a me~aphor of a giant Vi Simpson ("l don't sec rnnning for Congress ed). "The Report added, "Onie tree falling, with the smaller trees "snapping is necessarily a higher off ce"),and Sta:1~ Sen. staff i11sider told the India J1J;~ back into position:' . Sue Crosby ("The though! of going to Chamber that, after determin "The silence;O'lBannnn intoned with ing th,eir JPriorities, the his So1Jthern Indiana drawl,"is more complete Republican leaders essentti ;a liy and oppressive than any silence before:' told the governor that he HORSJ~:~r R A ( E • On the campaign finance front, tbe could ,either get on the tr2ii11 or ~•••::n ~tln••~~lll ~ O'Bannon Po.- India..'1a Commiuee announced get ru,n over by it" Finally, it $2.2941 million cash on hrnd <.it~r raisir.,g Washington is about as m1inviting as it could predicted,°Onlytime will tiern $1.76 million in 1995. "It is more than any be") and didn't find mudi interest. whether this plan holds Democratic candidate for gov,emor in Indiana lll Still in the 7tt, CD Demorerattic mix together and becomes law, but has eyer had in the 1bank the yeall' before tlu! are State Sen.Mike Geq1, I·' tells Il!PR signal:; we're gettling at thi§ r.o electio 1; said Tom New, campaign manager. sources he's disinclined it .. .1 I llil but hasn't point indicate that it will." That compares with a $3 million ruled it out, and State R1~p Sheila Klinker, · warchest that Indianapolis Mayor Stephen who's giving it real thou gt t,, and Terre Haute AP's Mike Smith quotes StG'~e Goldsnith has, and $1.ll million for Rex Councilman Bill Thomps( n, who will decide Rep.Joseph O'Oay,D 0 Early, who raised $1.r69 million in 1995 and in two weeks. Evans\~lle,as viewing the 1taJ~ spent $575,000. Georgf! Witwer raised [II In the 8th CD, fo r:mer New York pact this way:"l'm not $286,(} )0 in 1995. Yankee Don Mattingly wa1.! ;i1pproached by opp11s1!d to what they say r·f1ey ~Goldsmith teUs Mary Reth some Evansville and DC ][; emocrats to mn as are go:ing to do. The oppos!1~ on Schneider of the Indianapolis Star/News ltha~ a Democrat, but declined .. er nathon I have is that I was not he will announce his ca.ndidBLc)' for governor Weinzapfel officially kickr:~ f off his campaign involv1~d and the people il1i 1rn1y on Feb.5.But HPR forei:asts that the cam in Posey County's St. Phil:i] 1, 1:t town founded distridt were not being 1re~1re paign fireworks may be·gin as rearly as next by his family. He accused 111.S. Rep. John sented." week on the GOP side. Hostettler and Sp,eaker Ni~ 1/'t Gingrich of • Republican George 1Nitwer will believing in the "surviva[ i: f the richest." U.S. Rti11. Steve Lar~·ent unveil a property tax r1eductio 1 plan at a • State Democmt i: Chairman Joe appeared with U.S. Rep. Mark · Statehous~ press conference ·~1-_i;;rsday morn Andrew has yet to givE him Gen.Sherman Soudet before 500 Repub ing. Thie Witwer campaigr_ sa d his ]plan will speech on the attorney g1er e!ral's race. licans in Fort Wayne on go "far beyond the recently announced bl-par. Democratic Executive Dirr: cltor Mike Harmless Wednesday, taking the place tisan prnperty tax reduction~'' tells HPR that Andrew has been in con~act of angry House Speaker Newt "I Another burst of runors ce::itered with potential candidates. )tate Rep.Jesse Gingrich. Largent i,tressed i":hat on whether U.S.Rep.Le1e Hamilton might join Villalpando from Griffidh i; reported to be House Republicans should bt• Andy Jacobs and John M[yers on the growing giving the race some thou,1;ht. given the latitude to mC1Jke House retirees list. No dice, says Holly Ba: