Governor Previews Legislative Goals Pence Will Focus on Jobs and Education by BRIAN A

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V19, N13 Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 Governor previews legislative goals Pence will focus on jobs and education By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence’s second Indiana Gen- eral Assembly agenda will feature legislation on jobs and education. In an exclusive interview with Howey Politics Indiana on Wednesday, Pence held a stuffed manila folder he said contained much of his agenda. “I could tell you everything, but then I’d have to kill you,” he joked. Pence said he would unveil more details in early December when he gives what he calls “a major address that will outline our agenda.” But, he added, “I can tell you in very broad strokes a couple of things. My focus is going to be on jobs and schools. We’re going to continue to drive toward the six office 10 months ago, the Roadmap has had a prominent goals in our Roadmap for Indiana and our advanced poli- station in his Statehouse office on an easel. cies about that.” The priorities include: The Pence “Roadmap” began as a 2012 campaign 1.) Increasing private sector employment: As brochure outlining his policy priorities. But since he took Continued on page 3 Pence will seek reelection By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence plans to seek a second term in 2016, with senior administration officials dousing any notion of a potential presidential run. “Gov. Pence, through his newly “Follow the money,” a senior Pence administration official told Howey Politics Indiana on created education agency, the Wednesday. Center for Education and Career While Pence has a national political action committee that could raise fed- Innovation, is undermining the eral election money, the source told exceptional work done every day by HPI that all of the governor’s fundraising activity is related to his Indiana the Department of Education.” gubernatorial campaign. “He will seek a second term,” the - Supt. Glenda Ritz HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

source said. Obama. The revelation comes just as But the presidential specula- the activities around the 2014 Indi- tion can have repercussions. When ana General Assembly session begin Pence pushed his 10% income tax cut, to pick up next week. The General there were several comments by legis- is a non-partisan newsletter Assembly convenes for its annual lative leaders that played the proposed based in Indianapolis and Organization Day on Tuesday. cut as part of Pence’s broader political A shadow factor in Gov. plans, centering on 2016. Nashville, Ind. It was founded Pence’s initial 2013 session was one The senior administration in 1994 in Fort Wayne. that dogged former Govs. Evan Bayh official told Howey Politics that all of It is published by and Mitch Daniels, Pence’s fundraising in WWWHowey Media, LLC which was specula- 2012 has been in his 405 Massachusetts Ave., tion on whether he Indiana gubernatorial will seek the presi- campaign account. Suite 300 dency. The source said that Indianapolis, IN 46204 Pence Gov. Pence has received flirted briefly with a number of invitations Brian A. Howey, Publisher a 2012 presidential to speak in early presi- Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington run in the winter of dential primary and cau- 2011. That came cus states of Iowa, New Jack E. Howey, Editor along with a tan- Hampshire and South Mary Lou Howey, Editor dem exploration by Carolina, and most have Maureen Hayden, Statehouse Gov. Daniels. With been turned down. Matthew Butler, Daily Wire social conservatives If Pence hits that Sarah Palin and Mike circuit, the speculation Huckabee opting out on a 2016 presidential Subscriptions of the presidential race, conserva- run would intensify. In turn, that kind $599 annually tives such as Dick Armey, Jim Ryun of scrutiny during an Indiana General Ray Volpe, Account Manager and Club For Growth encouraged Assembly session can result in specu- ' 317.602.3620 Pence, then the third ranking House lation on his ulterior motives. Republican, to consider a White House That was often the case email: [email protected] candidacy. during Gov. Bayh’s two terms. The Sources tell HPI that in order worst kept secret in town was that Contact HPI to keep two Hoosier Republicans from Bayh had presidential ambitions. He www.howeypolitics.com running, Daniels helped clear the was a regular on quadrennial veep- decks for Pence to get the gubernato- stake lists and keynoted the 1996 [email protected] rial nomination. That resulted in Lt. Democratic National Convention in 'Howey’s Cabin: 812.988.6520 Gov. Becky Skillman ending a brief Chicago. Bayh finally launched a 'Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 campaign of her own, citing a “minor presidential campaign in 2006, only 'Washington: 202.256.5822 medical” condition. to abruptly end it in December of that In February 2011, Pence year when it became clear that Hillary 'Business Office:317.602.3620 announced in Pendleton that he would Clinton and Barack Obama were going conduct a multi-month “listening tour” to dominate the nomination process. © 2013, Howey Politics Indiana. that resulted in his official gubernato- There have been a couple All rights reserved. Photocopy- rial run that May. Later that month, of stories focusing on a Pence presi- ing, Internet forwarding, fax- Daniels stunned Hoosier Republicans dential run this year, but most of the ing or reproducing in any form, when he announced that he, too, gathering 2016 field has been focused would not seek the White House, cit- on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, U.S. whole or part, is a violation of ing his family “female caucus.” Sens. Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Rand federal law without permission Pence’s name has come up Paul, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (who from the publisher. v in Indiana circles about a potential will address the Indiana GOP Fall Din- 2016 candidacy. The White House will ner later this year) and former Florida be open after two terms by President Gov. Jeb Bush. v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

Bond Buyer Magazine just named the East End Bridge at Pence priority, from page 1 the top and most innovative project in the country. We’re measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Indiana going to finish that under budget and ahead of schedule.” Department of Workforce Development. Pence continued, “I’m committed to finishing I-69 2.) New investment with emphasis on manu- all the way to Indianapolis. Very shortly we’re going to facturing, agriculture, life sciences and logistics: As open up that bypass around Kokomo on 31. My inclination measured by investment (known as “total deals”) reported is to look at other infrastructure needs around the state by the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana Univer- and see where we can enhance infrastructure in the short sity; term as we finish the longer term projects.” 3.) Improving math and reading skills of Pence said he was “excited” about his Blue Rib- elementary students: As measured by I-READ3 and bon panel on infrastructure and said that when he brings ISTEP+ results from the Indiana Department of Education; those stakeholders together, he asks, “What does infra- 4.) Increas- structure look like in 20 years? In 30 years? In 50 years?” ing graduation rates: The Pence legislative agenda will include expanding Measuring by Indiana’s early learning programs. “I will tell you that we have been non-waiver graduation making a very careful study of early learning. I have been rate from the Indiana studying a number of pre-K programs around the state. I Department of Educa- was in Evansville last week and (have seen those in) North- tion; ern Indiana and a couple in Central Indiana. We’re going 5.) Improv- to have some proposals to expand access to quality early ing the quality of the learning for disadvantaged families.” Hoosier workforce: As And the governor said he will be “leaning into” ca- measured by the Ameri- reer pathway issues. “We’ll have a proposal on focusing on can Community Survey making college more affordable,” he said. “We made a little and STATS Indiana; progress on that last session.” 6.) Improving On the education front, Pence said there will be the health, safety and proposals “promoting more opportunities for our teachers. well-being of Hoosier We’ve got a couple of very fresh ideas about promoting families, especially innovation in the classroom, for high performing teachers, children: As measured by the Kids Count Data Center making sure that we’ll have some ideas on charter schools, from the Annie Casey Foundation. making them more economically viable.” With some specificity, Pence talked of a “couple of A couple of obvious things not on Gov. Pence’s broad strokes that I haven’t mentioned anywhere publicly.” short list here are issues relating to the health of Hoosiers, “We’re going to have some proposals for tax reform as well as what House Speaker Brian Bosma has identified that are specifically focused on spurring new investment as the “skills gap.” and making Indiana more competitive with a particular eye In an interview with HPI last summer, Bosma toward our neighboring states,” the governor said. “We are observed, “We have to take substantive action to address deep into a tough competition for jobs. We’re holding our two items: The skills gap, which is a consequence of almost own in Indiana. We have actually added jobs in the Hoosier a million Hoosiers not having the high tech skills to suc- state, and we have significant encouraging numbers in the ceed in today’s high tech economy, and what I believe I area of manufacturing. As I’ve been in these discussions coined as the ‘opportunity gap’ which is having high growth pitching Indiana and talking Indiana, I know what our opportunities for our high achieving graduates here, or competition says about us and we’ll have some proposals high opportunity students, from our high schools to, more for tax reform that is specifically designed to ensure that importantly, our colleges.” we’re going to make sure Indiana is competitive with our “This is the biggest issue we’ve got here – the op- neighboring states.” portunity gap,” Bosma said. “It’s the high potential students He noted the 2020 Fund was included in the out of our high schools and universities. It’s not just that current biennial budget. “It was $400 million in highway we’re losing kids. We had a debate this year on the tax funding,” Pence said. “That will take legislation for us to de- burden and the right tax to cut. And the governor correctly ploy those resources. We’ll be going to the General Assem- identified that the tax burden on Hoosiers has increased bly with a plan to put those resources to work. Roads mean over the last 30 years, compared to other states. The jobs, and I don’t just mean road jobs. I was pleased when source of that increase was not higher taxes, it was a de- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 4 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

crease in our per-capita income. We went from having 94 or 95 percent of the average per-capita income in the 1970s to, in the mid-80s, as a percentage of per capita income.” When Bosma joins legislative leaders at Monday’s Indiana Chamber preview session, the speaker will almost certainly be talking about these gaps. As for the relative unhealthy state of Hoosiers, Pence’s initial focus has been on the 7.7 per 1,000 infant mortality rate. Much of the rest of this part of a potential agenda is wrapped up in the Af- fordable Care Act, which rounding Obamacare. has had an unprecedented disastrous rollout, placing the “We are collecting the information and identifying entire program in jeopardy. what are the root causes here,” Pence said, adding that Gov. Pence said that his administration is in talks infant mortality and childhood poverty “weigh heavy on my with the Centers of Medicaid/Medicare Services and the heart.” U.S. Department Health and Human Services about using “On the broader question of health care, I the Healthy Indiana Plan for his Medicaid expansion. Asked strongly stand by Indiana’s decision on not having a state- if the bad Obamacare rollout will influence negotiations based exchange,” Pence said. “My decision was based with HHS, Pence said it is too early to tell. entirely on our analysis in the immediate days following “I saw you post that question,” Pence said of the my election that for the some $25 million to operate the HPI website. “I am preoccupied about this question of exchange, we would gain very little control over and above infant mortality in Indiana. I’m very, very pleased with the what Hoosiers would gain if the federal government oper- start that we’ve had, the first-ever summit. I’ve tasked Dr. ated the exchange. Other than enrolling people in Medic- VanNess with very specific objectives in this arena. I am aid, the state exchanges haven’t had much more success convinced if we can continue to break down silos, have than the federal exchange.” greater collaboration that we can, like states like Texas has “It’s a flawed idea,” he said of the ACA, which has done, we can impact of that. We can reduce the heartbreak enrolled just 700 Hoosiers. “I do think Obamcare was a in Indiana. The numbers in Indiana have got to change.” mistake. What is happening to millions of Americans and Dr. William C. VanNess II is commissioner of the tens of thousands of Hoosiers, losing the health insurance Indiana Department of Health. they like, was completely predictable. And was predicted by But the same elements, a lack of access to pub- many of us who argued against this policy when it passed lic health facilities and insurance coverage, not only impact through Congress on party line votes.” infant mortality but an array of other health metrics. That “The real health care reform is driven by consumer includes the gap between the 50,000 to 100,000 who could driven health care and transparency,” Pence said. “Both of end up in an expanded Healthy Indiana Plan, while the which are being modeled every day here in Indiana.” v uninsured pool in Indiana is estimated to be 900,000. Asked if a future priority would be bridging that NEXT WEEK: Looking into Indiana health care solu- gap, Pence seemed open to the idea, but not in this short tions. legislative session, particularly with so many questions sur- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 5 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

remaining board members huddling with attorneys from Ritz dismisses SBOE as Greg Zoeller’s office . According to the press account, Ritz “abruptly left the room while the other members of the Pence calls for cooperation board remained to consider their legal options. At issue was a resolution the board wanted that would have allowed By BRIAN A. HOWEY staff of the governor-created Center for Education and INDIANAPOLIS – As Gov. Mike Pence called on Career Innovation to review Common Core standards in ad- the State Board of Education to work “in a responsible and dition to the Indiana Department of Education.” effective manner” Wednesday morning, Supt. Glenda Ritz At a news conference a few hours later, Ritz said abruptly adjourned a board session and left the meeting. she was elected as Indiana’s chief education officer to be The events happened just hours after Ritz said in a letter to an advocate for public education, to coordinate education the Indianapolis Star that Gov. Pence was orchestrating a policy and to serve as a “check and balance” to Gov. Mike “power grab.” Pence and the state Board of Education. Pence told Howey Politics Indiana in an exclusive “Gov. Pence, through his newly created education interview late Wednesday morning, “We are going to have agency, the Center for Education and Career Innovation a substantive and thoughtful response (CECI), is undermining the exceptional work in the newspaper tomorrow.” done every day by the Department of Educa- The governor added, “I will tion,” said Ritz. tell you my expectation on the State Ritz said the rift is causing “great, un- Board of Education is that they do the necessary conflict in education which does work the law requires them to do and nothing to serve Indiana’s children.” Ritz said they discharge their responsibilities in a a resolution written by CECI staff “improperly responsible and effective manner. I just inserted State Board of Education staff work- think we’ve got real momentum in edu- ing for the governor’s new education agency cation in this state. I am determined to take over the academic standards review to continue to work in good faith with process.” the superintendent, with the Depart- On Tuesday, Ritz charged that the “Politi- ment of Education, with members of cal struggles began immediately after my the General Assembly to make sure we election. In the 2013 legislative session, large continue to build on the progress that we’ve made.” amounts of state money were taken from the Department In his letter to the Star, Pence said, “CECI consoli- of Education through the budget process. Pence used this dates the education and workforce responsibilities of the money to help form, by executive order, a new agency governor in a way that removes barriers that exist for our called the Center for Education and Career Innovation students, workers and employers. It does so without tak- (CECI). When he formed this agency, the governor pledged ing any authority away from the Department of Education. that it would work alongside me.” Education in Indiana is a shared responsibility. I take my Ritz added, “Writing the letter of action for responsibility to continue the progress we have made in the State Board of Education outside of a public meeting our schools very seriously, but I do regret that the Depart- without my knowledge to take the calculation of A-F grades ment of Education and the superintendent have misunder- away from the Department of Education, was in violation stood my sincere desire to work with them on behalf of all of state law. The lawsuit I filed was about stopping what the children of Indiana.” is not right: Illegal actions by the State Board of Education Pence cited the NAEP scores released last and CECI.” week and said they put “Indiana solidly on top in terms of She concluded her letter by saying, “I must not progress made in fourth and eighth grade reading. It was tolerate a power-grab of the Department of Education’s a tremendous affirmation of the reforms, the accountabil- authority and ability to conduct business for Indiana ity, the expanded education opportunities that Indiana has students. Last November, Hoosier voters said very clearly been advancing in recent years. Hoosiers should be encour- that they want me to fight for public education in our state aged despite misunderstandings that emerge within the and to serve as a check and balance to the governor. It is Statehouse.” now clear that Gov. Pence is not seeking a power-grab, but But as Pence spoke to HPI, the meeting Ritz rather a complete takeover of education. That is the real chaired with the State Board of Education “imploded,” ac- threat to our children.” cording to an account in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. HPI asked Pence how he could change what is ob- WTHR-TV reported the meeting ended in “chaos” with HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 6 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

viously a poisoned relationship between the Democratic su- The Republican governor added, “I am encour- perintendent and the board that was appointed by him and aged that last week’s State Board of Education with last former Gov. Mitch Daniels. He responded, “I will tell you my year’s A to F grading system was resolved and it passed expectation on the State Board of Education is that they do unanimously on completing the work on last year’s A to the work the law requires them to do and they discharge F grades. I’ve been very clear that the delay in produc- their responsibilities in a responsible and effective manner.” ing the A to F grades for the 2012-13 school year has Pence explained, “The State Board of Educa- been working a hardship on our schools. Teacher pay tion is comprised of some extraordinary talented men and raises have been delayed. I’ve insisted the State Board of women, Republicans, Democrats and independents, who Education get the work done. I was pleased that, while it volunteer their time and take their duties under the law didn’t get much attention last Friday, the resolution passed very seriously. I am grateful for their service. I am hopeful unanimously. It’s time for that work to be completed in a as we continue to move forward, and as the State Board collaborative and cooperative way.” of Education fulfills its statutory responsibilities, and the But just minutes later, Pence board appointee Department of Education discharges its responsibility, that Andrea Neal told the Journal Gazette, “The breakdown of we will see the policies advance that will continue to build trust is serious” as members mulled over how to respond. on the momentum that’s been developed.” v

concerning to many legislative Republicans is that the Internal GOP debate state has a persistent 8% jobless rate, and faces multibil- lion dollar issues surrounding the Affordable Care Act and the Pence administration’s course to reject more than $10 simmering over marriage billion in federal Medicaid money. This comes as an array By BRIAN A. HOWEY of health metrics, ranging from obesity and diabetes to a INDIANAPOLIS – With the constitutional marriage “deplorable” infant mortality rate and skyrocketing statistics amendment looming just over the horizon, the Indiana on meth lab busts and sexual assaults on teenage girls, will Republican Party is hardly one happy family living in a big need to be addressed. tent. Gov. Mike Pence told HPI on Wednesday that he Multiple sources are telling wants the General Assembly to act. “You know where I Howey Politics Indiana that a stand,” Pence said distinct majority of the Indi- when asked wheth- ana Republican Central Com- er it is a priority. “I mittee opposes HJR-6, the think it’s important resolution that would place that we let Hoo- the marriage constitutional siers decide. I have question on the November 2014 ballot. every confidence In addition, there is a roiling debate in the majority that the people of House and Senate caucuses, sources tell HPI. While there Indiana can take is not a “tipping point” near where the issue could be side- up this issue, hear lined, there is an ongoing, often emotional, internal debate all sides, respect all over whether the GOP would suffer at the ballot box if the viewpoints. At the referendum moves forward. end of the day I Sources say that both House Speaker Brian Bosma think we should let and Senate President David Long are under relentless pres- Hoosiers decide and sure from advocates of the referendum and those oppos- I’ll continue to sup- ing. That will come to the fore next Monday when the topic port efforts of the will almost certainly come up at the Indiana Chamber’s General Assembly annual legislative preview luncheon, both during the event to send this ques- and the inevitable press scrum that follows. tion to the people of Then on Tuesday – Organization Day –the topic Indiana.” State Rep. Sean Eberhart became the will almost certainly garner the most attention. What is The Ball fourth House Republican to oppose HJR- State/WISH-TV Poll 6, calling the second sentence “bigotry.” HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 7 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

conducted by Princeton Research showed opposition to the ready beginning to comply with federal regulations regard- amendment increased from 54% in 2012 to 58% this past ing same-sex marriage. On Oct. 3, the Indiana National month, while support held steady at 38%. Another 4% said Guard began issuing identification cards to its members on they were undecided. The poll’s margin of error was plus or orders from the Pentagon. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck minus 4.8 percentage points. Hagel identified Indiana as one of nine states that did not Prof. Joe Losco of BSU’s Bowen Center observed immediately comply with that order when it was to be the amendment’s chances “depend a lot on voter mobiliza- instituted on Sept. 3. The Internal Revenue Service is also tion next year.” Opposition was at 77% among Democrats changing tax-related rulings on a federal level that states and 40% among Republicans. will ultimately have to recognize. In the April 23 Howey Politics Poll, 50% favored There are two scenarios emerging in the legisla- the amendment and 46% opposed. This compared to an ture. Sources tell HPI that the mood within the Senate Ma- October Howey/DePauw Indiana Battleground Poll that jority Caucus is to deal with the issue in the opening days – showed 48% favored the amendment and 45% opposed. if not hours – of the General Assembly, which commences Last June, Bosma told HPI, “It will take 95 percent Jan. 7. The second is to delay dealing with the issue until of the energy and 50 percent of the coverage,” but he after the Feb. 10 primary filing deadline, when incumbents added that it won’t be “so over-arching” that other prior- will learn if they have opponents in the May 6 primary. ity items won’t get done. “Opinions have changed and Another option would be to delete the controversial evolved.” second sentence, which essentially starts the entire process Bosma also said that “If I had my druthers, Part B over again, putting off a potential referendum to 2020. Op- would not be there. I think the first part is very clear. Part ponents of the referendum believe that public opinion will B raises a question. But virtually every statute raises some overwhelmingly shift against the measure by then. question.” Proponents of the referendum are spreading the Sources say that Bosma is under intense pressure word that past legislative supporters will face primary chal- from referendum advocates such as Curt Smith, Micah lengers if they opt to change their votes. But Mike Gentry Clark and Eric Miller from the family advocacy groups to of the House Republican Campaign Committee tells HPI pursue the final placement on the ballot. that it has been “unusually quiet” on the challenger front. But Republican Sens. Luke Kenley and Pete Miller, HRCC likes to launch its candidates in November of the along with Reps. Ed Clere, Jud McMillin, Sean Eberhart and year before an election, giving them a full year to mount a Ron Bacon have made public statements indicating they campaign. Primary challenger candidates are more likely to will not vote for HJR-6. There are at least a dozen other surface in January and through the filing deadline. House Republicans, sources tell HPI, who are debating There have been rumblings of a potential Tea Party whether to support the measure again. Others are con- challenge to State Rep. Rebecca Kubacki, R-Syracuse, and cerned about switching from a yea to no vote. The default another against State Rep. Jerry Torr, R-Carmel, fueled by position will likely be the “let the people decide” option. opposition to mass transit. Last week, Eberhart told the Shelbyville News that Torr, several sources say, is opposed to the amend- the second sentence in HJR-6 – “Provides that a legal sta- ment and has said that if HJR-6 ends up in his House Rules tus identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for and Legislative Procedures Committee it won’t pass. unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized” – is Others close to the Republican Central Committee essentially “bigotry.” say there is widespread concern that HJR-6 will impact the Rep. Bacon, R-Boonville, called the second sen- party in the 2014 and 2016 elections. “How many groups tence “a step too far.” Rep. McMillin said that it would of people are we going to piss off?” one influential Repub- be irresponsible to install an amendment to the Indiana lican asked HPI. “We can alienate gays, the business and Constitution when the U.S. Supreme Court could “rule on academic communities. And if it fails next November, it’s something that may alter our ability to do that.” still the law. Is that a way to spend our political capital?” Sen. Miller, R-Avon, added, “It’s already illegal. What’s to be gained other than ostracizing a whole sec- Two seeking open HD33 tion of the population? If we’re trying to attract the best At least two Republicans are lining up for the and brightest people to work in Indiana, this doesn’t help. caucus to replace State Rep. Bill Davis in HD33. One is It’s not just putting out a sign to gays and lesbians saying, economic development consultant Greg Beumer, who owns ‘You’re not welcome.’ It sends a signal to a lot of talented Beumer Consulting. His wife is a Randolph County commis- young people that we’re not a welcoming place.” sioner. Society and parts of Indiana government are al- The second is Randolph County Repubican Chair- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 8 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

woman Claudia Thornburg, who is a deputy county clerk. activities: Mike Gentry of the House Republican Campaign 1. An itemization of the total costs of this year’s Committee told HPI that a couple of other potential candi- state-funded mailings to constituents in Senate District 39 dates are exploring a run. from or on behalf of Senator John Waterman. 2. An explanation of the source of voter email ad- Bassler takes aim at Waterman mailings dresses used for email messages sent by Waterman, the State Sen. John Waterman’s Republican primary Indiana Senate or the Senate Majority Campaign Commit- challenger is targeting his franked mail as a campaign is- tee communications to voters in Senate District 39. sue. Eric Bassler called on Waterman and Senate officials 3. A copy of the Indiana Senate’s data privacy to provide information on taxpayer-funded political mail- rules and procedures for the collection and use of con- ings and the collection and use of citizen data for political stituent data and, if no such policy exists, a statement purposes. clarifying what rules and procedures will be put in place “Within the last month, Senator Waterman has regarding the use, sharing or dissemination of Indiana mailed out at least three overtly political mailings to voters citizens’ data by the Indiana Senate and its agents. in the district at taxpayer expense,” explained Bassler. “On “I have two concerns about all of this,” explained top of that, several email communications have been sent Bassler. “First, how much are taxpayers paying for Senator to voters promoting Senator Waterman.” Waterman’s political mailings? These are dollars taken from Bassler has asked Senator Waterman to provide in- families trying to feed kids, coal miners paying mortgages formation on three issues related to these taxpayer-funded and retirees on fixed incomes. It is a blatant waste of taxpayers’ money.” “Second, I am deeply concerned about the collection and use of citizens’ private data by state government- especially because this data has been used for political purposes,” continued Bassler. “We need to protect Hoosiers from the political abuses of their data and privacy.”

Sen. Landske has lung cancer State Sen. Sue Landske announced Wednesday she has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Landske, R-Cedar Lake, will begin treatments immediately at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She and her doctors are confident that she will make a full recovery. Landske has no plans to step away from her official duties in the Indiana Senate, and plans to continue serving her constituents in northern Indiana. “Understandably this is a very personal issue,” Landske said. “However, I’ve worked hard throughout my tenure at the state Senate to be upfront and honest with my constituents, and in that spirit I wanted the public to know about my health condition. I’ll continue to serve Hoosiers as long as I’m healthy enough to do so, and plan on taking each day one step at a time. I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers and want to thank all of you for your support during this time.” On Aug. 2, she officially announced, “I am running again.” “I am just a lawmaker, not an administrator, but I can help walk people through the process to achieving what they need. I have a fantastic staff in Indianapolis that work very hard for this area,” Landske said. v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 9 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

conclusion. I remember a TV station general manager jok- It’s blastoff time for ing - sort of - that he might have to hold a bake sale or car wash in the station parking lot to make up for some of the lost political advertising. Bock vs. Walorski With congressional Republicans hitting new By JACK COLWELL lows in favorability after their failed strategy to force SOUTH BEND – Blastoff. defunding of the Affordable Care Act with a government The 2nd Congressional District race is starting off shutdown and threat of default on the debt - and now with in a way to gladden the hearts of TV station general man- Bock’s candidacy - Democrats are enthused. They see a agers and owners. real race, a real chance. On the day last week when Notre Dame admin- But it’s way too early for Democrats to count on istrator Joe Bock officially announced candidacy for the a win or the TV execs to count on big revenue from 2nd Democratic congressional nomina- District ads. tion, the National Republican Con- The Obama administration’s inept roll out of the Af- gressional Committee blasted him fordable Care Act is erasing more and more of the Demo- for votes involving taxation that he cratic advantage from the Ted Cruz strategic debacle. cast in 1991 and 1992 as a Missouri Walorski heads toward a million dollars in fundrais- state legislator. ing by the year’s end. Bock starts calls to folks he knows, The Republican organiza- asking for $500 or a little more or less. tion no doubt began research on Republican-drawn redistricting gives Walorski a big advan- Bock as soon as it was reported tagae. that he was planning to run. They And will Bock become a formidable candidate like dug up something to blast him as 2012 Democratic nominee Brendan Mullen? Bock will first “the mad taxer” on the day he an- face a Democratic primary challenge. Dan Morrison, who nounced. darn near upset Mullen in the 2012 primary, plans to file The Democratic Congressional Campaign Commit- again. In a surprise showing, Morrison won nine of the 10 tee blasted too, saying Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, counties in the district. Mullen did just well enough in win- the Republican incumbent, faces “a tough re-election fight” ning St. Joseph County to obtain the nomination. and “will be dogged by her history of supporting tax in- The alphabet helped Morrison. He was listed ahead creases (national sales tax) and working to privatize Social of Mullen on ballots in all counties. In the counties where Security.” neither was much known, a lot of voters just picked the The Democratic organization already had extensive first solid sounding name. material gathered from Walosrki’s two races for Congress, Mullen’s strategy of saving money in the pri- losing in 2010, winning in 2012. It also has her votes in mary and assuming he could win without a better effort to Congress. Her “No” vote on the bipartisan agreement to get known district-wide was almost fatal. It cost him early end the government shutdown will be referred to just a momentum, especially in the counties he also lost in the few zillion times. fall. All this makes the TV execs smile. Alphabetically, Bock is before Morrison. But Morri- Why? son had more than the alphabet last time. He did things his Well, when Democratic leaders searched for way, not attracting much news media attention but using months without success for someone they regarded as a yard signs and door-to-door campaigning. He will do it his formidable challenger to Walorski, it seemed she might way again. have a virtual free ride in 2014. And that would mean a The blastoff? lack of those political ad blitzes that bring huge revenue to Each side finds the other’s taxation stuff silly. Silly the stations. Viewers don’t like them, but the TV stations or not, will something stick? v do. The last really noncompetitive congressional race Colwell has covered politics for the South Bend Tri- was in 2008, when Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly bune over five decades. was seen as a sure winner and Republicans couldn’t find a formidable challenger. They recruited a little known Goshen businessman named Luke Puckett, who had no chance. There was no big TV spending on a race with a known HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 10 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

safely to and from school, and with the school buses that Band parents, mayor help was al-ways something we could rest assured would happen. But the voters have spoken and they soundly defeated the bus referendum. Most of the people on the south side Goshen school referendum are absolutely convinced that the school board has made By MAUREEN HAYDEN up their mind that Muncie Southside as a high school is go- CNHI Statehouse Bureau ing to be part of the elimination ...” INDIANAPOLIS – Never underestimate the power Other school districts have learned that the of high school band parents. hard way, in the five years since the Indiana General As- That may be one of the lessons coming out of the sembly capped property taxes and changed the way school special elections held earlier this month when voters in four districts can levy taxes for construction and operating ex- Indiana communities were asked to penses. Of the 88 school referenda since 2008, just slightly raise property taxes to provide more half have passed. Those asking for money for building funding for their local schools. costs – like Goshen’s referendum – fared worse than those Three of those referenda went that asked for operating expenses. down to defeat. The fourth sailed Ball State University economist Michael Hicks points through with no organized opposition. to several reasons, including concerns of voters who shot Michigan City voters said no to a down referenda that their school leaders had failed to make $5 million request to close a budget tough and politically unpopular decisions about spending gap in their schools’ general fund; priorities as revenues were decreasing. Mishawaka voters said no to a $28 Hicks also makes this argument: After 1973, when million request to repair their aging the father of property tax relief, the late Gov. Otis Bowen, schools, and Muncie voters said no to a made it so much harder for local government units to $3 million request to keep the schools buses running. raise tax levies, most local leaders gave up. They stopped Meanwhile, voters in Goshen – a city of 32,000 pitching the idea of more revenue as an investment worth people of relatively modest means -- said yes to a request making the community. “The experience with an informa- for $17 million to be spent, among other things, on a big tional campaign is lacking in local government,” Hicks said. new school pool, bigger and better band rooms, a new “We’ve now had two generations of local leaders who lack baseball field, and a remodeled cafeteria to accommodate that expertise.” an increasing middle-school student population. Goshen may be the exception. While Kauffman How did that happen? helped champion the tax increase for his community’s Here’s where those band parents come in: In Gos- schools, he credits recently retired Goshen superintendent hen, they were part of a broad coalition of school support- Bruce Stahly for helping create trust with voters. ers who convinced voters that paying more taxes would be In 2010, as Goshen schools were feeling the crush a wise investment in their community’s future. of capped property taxes and a cut in school funding from Goshen Mayor Allen Kaufmann was part of that the state, Stahly created a citizens task force that spent coalition, too. Earlier this week, contemplating the Goshen months studying the school district’s finances. The task vote, the three-term mayor credited a well-organized effort force’s recommendations were supported by Stahly and ad- to gain voters’ trust, which was years in the making, for the opted by the school board. (Kauffman followed the model outcome. to create a citizens’ task force that looked at city finances.) “You can’t just presume these things are going to Stahly also earned the trust of parents: As the Gos- happen,” said the three-term Democratic mayor. hen schools absorbed an increasing number of low-income This contrasts with Muncie, where first-term students and immigrant students just learning English, the Mayor Dennis Tyler favored the referendum that would Goshen schools were also winning state and national ac- have kept the school buses running, but did little to help colades, including those for their arts and music programs it pass. The seven-year referendum would have imposed and their International Baccalaureate diploma program. a tax rate not to exceed 39.39 cents for every $100 of as- Senior citizens are notorious for voting against sessed property value, the Muncie Star Press reported. school referenda that raise taxes, apparently believing they Tyler hadn’t taken a public stance on the referen- have no skin in the game. But among the supporters of the dum, but had spoken in favor of it. “Of course I’m disap- Goshen schools referendum: Residents of a large retire- pointed,” Tyler told The Star Press. “As mayor you’re always ment community in Goshen. They’d been assured by Gos- concerned that your children are going to be escorted hen’s new superintendent, the well-liked Diane Woodworth, HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 11 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

that they could have access to the new school swimming from their response. “It was easy to get money for a long pool. period of time,” Kauffman said. “And it was easy to raise Stahly and Kauffman are no fans of the property the tax rate and whatever you didn’t have money for, you tax caps that have caused communities and school to lose just raised property taxes to do it. So in a way, we do have millions in revenue. But other school districts may learn to become better sales people.” v

prove. Obama also gets negative ratings on health care Obama’s poll dive could policy (37% approve, 59% disapprove). In January, views of Obama’s handling of health care policy were mixed (45% approved, 47% disapproved). be difficult to recover In October 2012, as Obama was fending off the By BRIAN A. HOWEY challenge from Republican Mitt Romney and despite a high COLUMBUS, Ind. – The perils of the second term jobless rate and tepid recovery from the Great Recession, of President Obama are beginning to be realized, as a new Howey Politics Indiana highlighted the book by Fort Wayne Pew Research Poll shows his job approval in free-fall a year author Alfred J. Zacher, “Presidential Power in Troubled after his reelection. It comes as his signature achievement Second Terms.” – the Affordable Care Act – has staggered out of the gates Zacher wrote, “Historically, the second term be- and the jobless rate is up to 7.3%. Obama’s overall job approval is at 41%, down 14 points since last December, with 53% disapproving. The latest national poll by the Pew Research Center, conducted Oct. 30-Nov. 6 among 2,003 adults, finds that Obama’s second-term job ratings have followed a similar downward trajec- tory as those of his prede- cessor, George W. Bush. A year after his reelection, 36% approved of Bush’s job performance, down from 48% in De- cember 2004. In contrast, the two prior presidents who won reelection – Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan – enjoyed positive ratings over the course of the next year. At comparable points came a time of trial or triumph. Vision, leadership, cour- in their fifth year in office, 58% approved of Clinton’s job age in the face of adversity, honesty, and political skill performance while Reagan’s job rating stood at 62%. embodied in the character and temperament of a president The new survey finds that majorities disapprove of interplay to affect his leadership through the four long the way Obama is handling four of five issues tested, with years of a second term. The ability of a president to survive terrorism the lone exception (51% approve, 44% disap- and sometimes triumph through what can be the fire of prove). For every issue, including terrorism, his ratings are the second term tells much about the American people lower than they were earlier this year. Just 31% approve of and their idea of what a president ought to accomplish. the way Obama is handling the economy, while 65% disap- The public will approve and even applaud innovation in a HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 12 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

president; but this must conform to dent’s downfall. George W. Bush never the following deep-seated convictions topped 50% after March 2005 and which appear not to have changed spent most his remaining tenure mired significantly from the founding of the in the low to mid-30s, thanks in part to nation, namely those implicit in the the unpopularity of the Iraq War. His ap- Declaration of Independence, the proval further declined near the end of Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and his presidency, when the financial crisis the writings of the founders.” of 2008 left the economy in tatters.” In Zacher’s view, of the “In fact,” Roarty said, “no presi- 20 presidential second terms prior to dent in the last 60 years has watched Obama, only nine could be viewed as his approval ratings bounce back during successful, and one of those – Presi- their second term. Either they didn’t dent Abraham Lincoln – lasted only make it to another stint in office (Ford, five weeks before he was assassinat- Carter, and George H.W. Bush), never ed. The successful second terms in- dipped in the first place (Eisenhower clude Presidents George Washington, and Clinton) or were removed from Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, office at the nadir of their popularity Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Failures (Nixon). Lyndon Johnson recovered somewhat, but only included Presidents Thomas Jefferson, U.S. Grant, Franklin after announcing he would not seek another term. Ronald D. Roosevelt, George W. Bush, Richard Nixon, Lyndon John- Reagan dropped from the low 60s to the high 40s amid the son and Harry Truman. Iran-Contra scandal, and his popularity never recovered Of Obama, Zacher observed, “There can be no entirely until his last months in office. But it also never fell question that Obama lacks experience in government as to lows experienced by Truman or Bush.” a governor, as a long-term member of Congress or in any “In a second term, once a president’s numbers phase of the business world. Further, his background in ac- decline, they never come back up,” Ed Goeas, a Republican ademics and as a community organizer offers no evidence pollster, told reporters last week during a breakfast hosted of someone who has the fire in his belly to be a leader. by the Christian Science Monitor. “There’s a good reason Obama obviously had to learn all that was to be required for that: They don’t have a reelection campaign going on. to be a President through on-the-job training. Only Lincoln They don’t have the air cover on air. They’re not putting came into office with so little experience.” back together a campaign in contrast to the opposition.” Obama’s biggest problems are the economy with a Obama, however, has defied conventional wisdom jobless rate of 7.3% and the tortured rollout of the Afford- in his decade on the national stage. The first African-Amer- able Care Act, for which he apologized on Thursday. The ican president not only toppled Democratic frontrunner seeds of his unpopularity have come with Obamacare and Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primaries, carried Indiana and the lack of bipartisan support when the law passed Con- North Carolina in the general election, then won reelection gress in March 2010 by party line votes. with a jobless rate over 7.5% in 2012. Former Indiana congressman Lee Hamilton, In March 2012, Howey/DePauw Indiana Battle- who heads Indiana University’s Center on Congress, told ground pollster Fred Yang of Garin-Hart-Yang, observed an IU-South Bend lecture the “ram it through” nature of at DePauw University, “When you look at all the historical the Affordable Care Act ensured that it would be a lasting numbers, there’s really no way Barack Obama should be partisan issue. Hamilton called consensus building with reelected. The right direction for the country has increased compromise and respect “the most important political skill tremendously in our last national poll. It’s at 33%. We were there is.” in the teens in 2011. We’re feeling good as Democrats Alex Roarty, writing for the National Journal, ob- because the right direction of the country has increased served that Obama’s approval will not likely bounce back. dramatically. But it’s at 33%. That’s a tough number. If “Historically, presidents whose approval plummets in their you’re an incumbent and two-thirds of the people aren’t second term don’t recover,” Roarty said. “Such was the happy with how things are going, that’s a problem.” case for Harry Truman back in 1950, according to Gallup When the dust settled, Obama won a 51-47% surveys. After reaching a high of 46% in July of 1950, the win over Republican Mitt Romney and an Electoral College 33rd president’s approval never rose above 35% during the victory of 332-206. last two-and-a-half years of his presidency. The precipitous In talks with Republicans over a “grand bargain” drop coincided with America’s involvement in the Korean to deal with debt, deficits and an archaic tax code, Obama War. Another war helped bring about a more recent presi- appears to lack that “fire in the belly” many Americans HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 13 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

thought they detected during his meteoric rise during his ergy producer in 2015, bypassing Russia and Saudi Arabia, 2008 presidential campaign. the International Energy Agency announced. It is expected He has found traction on Syria, which is disman- to be energy self-sufficient in the next generation. tling its chemical weapon arsenal after the U.S. threatened If somehow, some way, Obamacare does what it is to bomb, and the administration is in serious talks with Iran designed to do, there is his silver lining playbook. over defanging its nuclear arsenal. The combat mission in But today, the polls are leading indicators that Afghanistan ends next year, and the U.S. economy is begin- another failed second term is materializing before our eyes. ning to accelerate with a surprising 2.8% third quarter v growth. The U.S. is poised to become the world’s top en-

sage of a resolution to put a constitutional ban on same- Not the time to sex marriage on the ballot in 2016. Indiana already has a law that bans same-sex marriage. Proponents of that measure want to make it harder emphasize our negatives to repeal the law by placing the ban in the state’s constitu- By MORTON J. MARCUS tion. Worldly wise companies and institutions have said, INDIANAPOLIS – What is the number one com- “No!” They know how Indiana is viewed from elsewhere plaint of Hoosier employers? The labor force is outdated. already. Why make things worse? We do not have enough workers with the training and From outside the Hoosier Holyland, we look experience to compete with other states and nations. Some like a retrograde southern state. We were late to integrate employers would supplement that concern with the high our schools. We opposed (and still do) federal aid for a percentage of applicants who cannot pass drug tests. long list of infrastructure and social projects. We celebrate Our schools, by virtually every measure, are inad- an agricultural heritage that has been in relative decline for equate. They have produced a generation of ill-equipped, 100 years. under-educated adult workers. We delayed multi-county and interstate banking There is an epidemic of obsolescence in our towns until our banks were swallowed by banks from our neigh- and cities that is easily seen in downtown areas, roads, boring states. Only lately we recognized the importance of bridges, civic and governmental manufacturing and logistics in our economy. organizations. It is as though we Specialists in Hoosier Hype tell companies how are still in the 20th century fighting business friendly we are. They don’t mention the fact that to retain the conditions of the 19th we are unfriendly to those who work. They talk about our century. low workers’ compensation taxes without any mention of When we have a chance to join the resultant inequitable benefits for injured workers. with progressive movements, we re- With all the negatives stacked against Indiana, sist. Instead, we embrace regressive we must commend successive administrations for keep- initiatives. Examples: ing those good-cheer press releases coming. Although the n Replacement of property tax gains cited and the honors awarded are mainly trivial, the revenues by an increased sales tax flow of carefully crafted happy news is energetically main- that helps the wealthy, tained. n A repressive voter registration Same-sex relationships have become an in- law and rejection of improved voter creasingly important touchstone of contemporary thinking. access methods, For some these relationships are sinful; others find them n Antiquated child care oversight and child protec- acceptable. The latter view is becoming dominant in the tion services, Western world. n Rejection of expanded Medicaid for approxi- The companies and institutions who know that mately 300,000 Hoosiers, world do not want to see us pile more on the slag heap of n Acceptance of a right-to-work law. our negatives. v Now a group of companies and institutions have the courage to come forth and say: “Enough is enough!” Marcus is an independent economist, writer and Led by Lilly, Cummins, the Indianapolis Chamber of Com- speaker. Contact him at [email protected] merce and IU, a coalition formed to block legislative pas- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 14 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

tion efforts. A study by the Congressional Research Service The Tea Party and the found that subsidiaries of U.S. corporations operating in the top five tax havens (the Netherlands, Ireland, Bermu- moochers and takers da, Switzerland and Luxembourg) generated 43% of their foreign profits in those countries in 2008, but had only 4% By SHAW FRIEDMAN of their foreign employees and 7% of their foreign invest- LaPORTE – It’s been hard to watch in recent ment located there. Who are the scammers? Come on! weeks as Tea Party radicals in the Republican Party led Nah, better to inveigh against the so-called a charge against food stamp benefits for the poor, many “undeserving poor.” John Kasich, the Republican governor of them using homespun bromides claiming the “value of of Ohio finally spoke up for moderates in his party when he work” and “self reliance” would be decried this effort among some of his fellow Republicans: taught to those these food stamp “I’m concerned about the fact,” said Kasich, “there seems recipients mercilessly kicked off the to be a war on the poor. That, if you’re poor, somehow rolls. The Tea Party radicals readily you’re shiftless and lazy.” describe those receiving govern- Too many Tea Party Republicans have blinders on ment assistance as takers and when it comes to seeing who the real moochers are. Food moocher for having to rely on food stamps are far from an extravagance. The average alloca- stamp benefits. tion is $1.40 per person per meal. (Try it some time.) A Never mind the fact that of the few years ago, this program, which was largely responsible 930,000 Hoosiers who rely on food for taming hunger and malnutrition in the deep south and stamps, most are children and while Appalachia and provides a basic level of subsistence for 306,000 are unemployed adults, many of our most desperate fellow citizens, was renamed there is a work requirement already the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP to attached and some 115,000 adult perhaps help change the image perpetrated about a bunch food stamp recipients are working. of freeloaders who were undeserving or didn’t want jobs. The number of those who are “scamming” the This hostility to the poor has resulted in the almost system is relatively small and belies the rhetoric. The U.S. unbelievable refusal by many state governments – includ- Agriculture Department reported earlier this year that only ing our own – to participate in Medicaid expansion that 2.8 percent of all food stamp benefits had been provided would almost all be paid for by the federal government and to people who were ineligible or had received a larger would benefit hospitals and the local economies. payment than they should have, and it said the majority of When will we see criticisms from the Tea Party Re- overpayments had been the result of inadvertent mistakes publicans ever turn to scofflaw multinational corporations by caseworkers or recipients. who are walking away from their obligations to this state, As for Tea Party radicals’ oft-repeated claims of this nation and its citizens? At a time of record corporate food stamp recipients allegedly selling food stamps for profits, U.S. corporate tax dodgers are parking more of cash, the department reports that such trafficking involves their profits offshore, taking advantage of tax loopholes only 1 percent of benefits. and questionable shelters and dodges to shield billions I’m a former deputy prosecutor who used to from U.S. and state taxes, according to a March 2013 prosecute welfare fraud and I can attest to the fact from analysis by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. time spent on the frontlines that the incidence of pros- The nonprofit, nonpartisan Multi-State Tax ecutable fraud is miniscule. The fact that the program has Commission based in Washington, D.C., estimates a loss more than doubled from $38 billion some 10 years ago to to Indiana every year of $340 million due to multi-state $82 billion is explained by the fact this country has in that corporations sheltering Indiana earned income in offshore time suffered under a horrible recession surpassed only by tax havens or using techniques like transfer pricing to shift the Great Depression. A study published by the National revenues to lower tax states. Bureau of Economic Research in August found that most You’d think Tea Party Republicans who claim to of that increase in food stamp rolls was attributable to the be concerned over deficits and spending not matching up recession. with revenues ought to be screaming bloody murder over But the facts don’t get in the way of those Tea the truly “non-deserving” among us who are not paying Party Republicans who are utterly blind and unwilling to their fair share in taxes. address real instances of “welfare fraud,” the corporate How about the CEOs who head banks that received kind that is sucking the life out of this country’s tax collec- total taxpayer bailouts of more than $2.5 trillion from the HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 15 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

Federal Reserve and Treasury and nearly caused our econ- American public should not have to make up the balance as omy to collapse? Those same CEOs who outsource tens corporations avoid paying billions in U.S. taxes.” of thousands of Hoosier jobs to China and other low-wage Truly, who are the takers and the moochers? I countries, forcing their workers to receive unemployment would respectfully submit there are far more residing on benefits. Wall Street than those receiving paltry food stamp benefits. How is it possible that some highly profitable v Fortune 500 companies are exploiting tax loopholes that allow no taxes to be paid even in years when billions are Shaw R. Friedman is a LaPorte attorney who is for- reported in profits? As Arizona Republican Senator John mer legal counsel to the Indiana Democratic Party. McCain told the New York Times last May 21, “The general

the Borman Expressway, meaning some Hammond busi- Critical Illiana decision nesses – largely restaurants – would be hurt. But one of the primary reasons for building the Illiana is to draw traffic off Interstate 94, one of Indiana’s busiest highways. Mc- coming in next month Dermott said he also has concerns the Illiana would draw By RICH JAMES folks from the northern part of the county, adding to the MERRILLVILLE – Northwest Indiana next month problems of sprawl from north to south. will make the area’s most critical transportation decision While the Illiana would be confined to Lake since the completion of the Cline Avenue extension 30 County in Indiana, the NIRPC representatives from Lake, years ago. Porter and LaPorte counties, which is NIRPC’s fingerprint, At issue is the proposed 47-mile Illiana Expressway will vote too. that would run from Interstate 65 There is a general feeling that some Porter County just north of Lowell to Interstate 55 representatives will oppose the Illiana because of a fear the near Wilmington, Ill. The highway, highway would be extended in the future into Porter and which would be built as a toll road, LaPorte counties, connecting to I-94 near Michigan City in has been approved by transporta- LaPorte County. When the Illiana was on the front burner tion planners in northeast Illinois several years ago, the plan was to run it from Illinois to and awaits the same consideration Michigan City and Porter County residents were adamantly in Indiana. The Transportation Pol- opposed. icy Committee of the Northwestern Although Republican Gov. Mike Pence is a sup- Indiana Regional Planning Commis- porter of the Illiana, many south Lake County Republicans, sion will make a recommendation including state Rep. Rick Niemeyer of Lowell, are opposed. on the Illiana at its Dec. 3 meeting. v The vote will be advisory, with the key vote coming Dec. 12 when the Rich James has been writing about state and local 52-member NIRPC board meets. government and politics for more than 30 years. He It will be a highly contentious vote, based on the is a columnist for The Times of Northwest Indiana. comments at public forums over the last year. South Lake County residents are unified in opposition to the highway, which would run between Lowell and Cedar Lake. Oppo- nents argue that it will destroy property values and create drainage and air pollution problems. The stance of Thomas M. McDermott Jr. is inter- esting. At least publicly, he hasn’t made a decision. McDer- mott is mayor of Hammond, the county’s largest city, and chairman of the powerful Lake County Democratic precinct organization. His voice carries more weight than most in the county. McDermott said the Illiana would divert traffic off HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 16 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

sion, but let’s examine the facts: What didn’t the President Obama’s Justice Department authorized the sale of guns to Mexican drug cartels who then used the weapons to murder American DEA agents. The President president know? claimed he had no knowledge of this until he read about it By CRAIG DUNN in the newspapers. KOKOMO – In the summer of 1973, television Our ambassador to Libya was deeply concerned viewers who wished to escape re-runs were treated to the about the deteriorating situation in Benghazi and pleaded great drama of the United States Senate Watergate hear- with the State Department for beefed up security. A des- ings. Throughout the long and seemingly endless hearings, perate plea for assistance came from the ambassador and one could often hear Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker Jr. was ignored. The ambassador and three security men died plaintively ask one of the most famous questions to ever at the hands of terrorists. The President claimed he had no pass the lips of a politician, “What did the President know knowledge of this request for assistance. and when did he know it?” The IRS systematically targeted conservative advo- In the face of the current administration’s numer- cacy groups and misused its considerable power to impede ous scandals of Fast and Furious, Benghazi, IRS politiciza- and punish the groups. The IRS official in charge of this tion, NSA domestic and interna- area, Lois Lerner, took the Fifth in front of Congress. Dur- tional spying and Obamacare, ing this timeframe, IRS officials made over 146 visits to the and the President’s feigned lack White House. The President said that he knew nothing of it of knowledge of any details, I am and condemned that it happened. moved to ask the most salient The National Security Agency launches a massive question of our time, “What domestic eavesdropping program targeting our telephone didn’t the President know and conversations along with our internet activity. In addition, when did he know that he didn’t the NSA targets world leaders for electronic surveillance. know it?” When the spy practices are revealed to the public, the I don’t want my president President denied knowing anything about it. taking time out of his day to deal As the disastrous and misnamed Affordable Care with the minutiae of scheduling Act is rolled out, we learn that we may not be able to keep tennis court time for his staff our current insurance plan, may not be able to keep our such as Jimmy Carter was wont own physicians, may not be able to get coverage, may not to do. Further, I don’t want my be able to even sign up and may not be able to afford the president taking time each day to draw up his enemies list, affordable. The President repeatedly claimed that we could a la Richard Nixon. I damn sure don’t want my president keep our current plans and physicians and that signing up stashing interns in the knee well of his desk like Mr. Hillary would be cheap and a breeze. He now states that he didn’t Clinton once did. The presidency is an important job and know that these things were false. I want the man occupying the oval office to be competent As I ponder the incredulity of the President’s and have a reasonable command of the world around him. ignorance, I harken to the words of one of my spiritual ad- Which brings us to President Barack Obama: I visors, Gomer Pyle. He said it pretty clearly, “Fool me once, swear, if they ever do a remake of Hogan’s Heroes, the shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Frankly, I’ve part of Sgt. Schultz must be played by Barack Obama. I lost count of exactly how many times that our President know nuthink! I see nuthink! I hear nuthink! Is it really has asked me to suspend reasoned thought and believe plausible that we have twice elected a man, who MSNBC that he just didn’t know. I liken this to when my oldest son would have us believe is the smartest man who ever lived, was 10 years old. You could follow his muddy footprints all who knows absolutely nothing about what is going on through the house, up to his bedroom to where you would around him? I implore you, Chris Matthews, stop your find a pair of mud clogged shoes and he would respond to tingling leg for just a moment and ask the question, “For my complaints with, “Don’t ask me who tracked mud in, God’s sake Mr. President, what do you do all day?” I didn’t do it.” Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that We are left with an ugly question that begs an said, “The buck stops here.” Obama’s sign says, “What answer which can only be adequately determined by main- buck?” stream media. Is the President terminally ignorant and It is almost laughable the derision and scorn that inept or is he a pathological liar? All of the above may be Justice Samuel Alito received for shaking his head and an acceptable answer. I’ll let you draw your own conclu- mouthing, “Not true” during a State of the Union speech HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 17 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

delivered by President Obama. Congressman Joe Wilson Richard Belzer’s book, “UFOs, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies encountered equal contempt for audibly saying, “You lie” You Don’t Have to Be Crazy to Believe.” In his book Belzer during another Obama speech before Congress. While states, “If you tell a lie that’s big enough, and you tell it both of these examples may speak to the decline of civil- often enough, people will believe you are telling the truth, ity in American politics, they do serve as examples of the even when what you are saying is total crap.” I could have rare occasions when the President has been called out for quoted Joseph Goebbels on the same subject, but the me- telling whoppers. I never thought that I would state that dia gets its panties in a knot when you do that. Nancy Pelosi is more honest than President Obama. How- Regardless, and no matter how more palatable ever, her admission that the Affordable Care Act needed to Richard Belzer may be than Goebbels, the outcome is the be passed so that we could know what was in the bill is far same. President Barack Obama tells big fat whoppers and more truthful than the President knowing since 2010 that expects a gullible and uninformed American people to swal- Obamacare, in reality, would look nothing like the snake oil low it hook, line and sinker. that he sold the American people during its passage. Score So far it’s worked. v one for Nancy! Somewhere along the fuzzy developmental path Dunn is chairman of the Howard County Republican of Barack Obama, he must have stumbled upon comedian Party.

Scott Rasmussen, Real Clear Politics: Wash- political class has resisted. Government has grown ever ington’s political class fundamentally misunderstands the more centralized. In fact, the federal government today role of politics and government in American society. They directly controls a far larger chunk of the nation’s economy act as if government is the central force in American life than it did just a generation or two ago. That disconnect and that its decisions guide the course of the nation. In his- exists partly because politics and government always lag torical reality, societal trends embrace new technology and behind. It’s also partly because politicians are not thrilled the deep currents of public opinion lead the way. Govern- with riding the new wave that disperses power away from ment follows along a decade or two behind. the political class. The disconnect cannot continue. Sooner A quick review of our nation’s history shows that or later, the politicians will concede and the government the first 200 years were characterized by chang- will catch up. Simply put, a one-size-fits-all cen- ing technology and expectations moving us to tral government cannot survive in the iPad era. v a more centralized nation. The trend towards centralization was everywhere. Rather than small Ezra Klein, Washington Post: President businesses serving a local community, big cor- Obama’s second term began with two clear porations made their appearance. Oil, steel and projects. The first was to successfully launch the railroad companies operated on a scale never Affordable Care Act. “If we don’t get that right, before seen. The Sears catalog became a fixture nothing else matters,” Obama would tell his staff. The sec- in millions of homes and trains delivered the exact same ond was to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Today, products on the exact same terms to millions of distant both efforts are in tatters. The Affordable Care Act contin- households. Government, of course, played a role in all ues to struggle, and despite the White House’s insistence to of this. Sometimes it helped move things forward, and the contrary, there’s mounting skepticism that HealthCare. sometimes it was an obstacle to progress. But government gov will be functioning smoothly come December 1st. The never drove the process. Society changed and government result is a real challenge to the law: Congressional Demo- adapted. As society became more centralized, so did the crats are defecting and considering legislative “fixes” that government. Politicians were happy to ride the wave of could undermine the law once it is functional. Meanwhile, societal trends as it brought them more power and money. Speaker John Boehner hammered a final nail into the coffin But the trends changed starting in the 1970s with the of immigration reform on Tuesday. Speaking after a closed- launch of cable television networks. That gave individu- door meeting of House Republicans, he ruled out a vote on als more choices in the 1980s, and the Internet expanded comprehensive immigration reform. “The idea that we’re those choices in the 1990s. Now we’ve reached a level of going to take up a 1,300-page bill that no one had ever personalization powered by more than 100 million smart- read, which is what the Senate did, is not going to happen phones. The culture of individual choice and customization in the House,” Boehner said. He also warned that “We have is so strong that no two of these smartphones are alike. no intention of ever going to conference on the Senate bill.” We have different apps, music and more. Over the past 30 v years, as society has moved away from centralization, the HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 18 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

federal mandate that people must own have lost the health care plans they Just 701 Hoosiers insurance, but struck down a provision liked than have enrolled in new plans sign up via ACA forcing states to expand Medicaid. under Obamacare,” said U.S. Sen. Dan Coats. “These numbers are yet anoth- INDIANAPOLIS — Just 701 er sign that this law is not working for Indiana residents chose a health Dems threaten to Hoosiers and Americans nationwide.” insurance plan through the feder- U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski said, “The ally run online exchange during its abandon ACA writing is on the wall with Obamacare. glitch-plagued WASHINGTON — Anxious So far, a mere two percent of Hoosier first month of congressional Democrats are threat- applicants have selected an insurance operation, the ening to abandon President Obama plan through the health care exchange federal govern- on a central element of his signature website. This report does not specify ment announced health care law, voicing increasing how many individuals have actually Wednesday (As- support for proposals that would allow purchased these selected plans. After sociated Press). Americans who are losing their health years of preparation, this is simply Figures released insurance coverage because of the unacceptable to our families.” U.S. by the U.S. Department of Health Affordable Care Act to retain it (New Rep. Marlin Stutzman said, “Today’s and Human Services also showed the York Times). The dissent comes as numbers from the Obama Administra- insurance exchange had nearly 16,000 the Obama administration released tion confirm that ObamaCare is failing completed applications from Indiana enrollment figures on Wednesday the American people. Despite Presi- from Oct. 1 to Nov. 2. Those appli- that fell far short of expectations, dent Obama’s promise that they could cations sought coverage for nearly and as House Republicans continued keep their health insurance, millions 32,000 people, and more than 19,000 their sharp criticism of administra- of Americans find themselves in the of them have been found eligible to tion officials at congressional hear- heartbreaking situation of being forced enroll in a plan through the exchange, ings examining the performance of off plans they wanted to keep and figures showed. More than 11,300 the health care website and possible pushed into a system that just won’t people have been found to be eligible security risks of the online insurance work. President Obama can no longer for Medicaid, the state-federal health exchanges. In addition, a vote is defend the indefensible.” plan for needy people, or the federally scheduled Friday in the Republican- subsidized Children’s Health Insurance controlled House on a bill that would Program, the figures showed. Those allow Americans to keep their existing $600k for Mounds people might still be awaiting a state health coverage through 2014 without determination of eligibility. The HHS Lake reservoir penalties. The measure, drafted by figures did not indicate how many Representative Fred Upton, the Michi- MUNCIE — The next phase of Indiana residents selecting a health gan Republican who is the chairman funding for the Mounds Lake reservoir plan have started paying premiums. of the Energy and Commerce Commit- project will be supplied by the state Indiana Family and Social Services tee, is opposed by the White House, of Indiana — to the tune of $600,000 Administration spokesman Jim Gavin which argues that it would severely (Muncie Star Press). Proponents of the said the agency had no comment undermine the Affordable Care Act years-long effort to build a 2,100-acre Wednesday on the Indiana numbers by allowing insurance companies to reservoir from the heart of Anderson released by HHS. More than 500,000 continue to sell health coverage that in Madison County to near Daleville uninsured Indiana residents are be- does not meet the higher standard of in Delaware County on Wednesday lieved to be eligible to purchase plans Mr. Obama’s health care law. announced that funding had been through the federally run exchange secured for a phase 2 feasibility study under the health care overhaul. Indi- of the project. The Indiana Revolving ana, like more than 30 other states, Indiana GOP Loan Fund has approved a $600,000 opted to have the federal government grant to cover the next steps of the run the exchange for Indiana rather blast Obamacare project. “I think the state’s going to be than operate its own. Many questions the perfect partner to advance this to still remain unanswered about the WASHINGTON - Indiana Re- the next level to determine the feasi- status of expanding Medicaid cover- publicans seized the paltry Obamacare bility of this project,” project adminis- age for Indiana residents. The U.S. numbers and blasted away at the law. trator Rob Sparks told The Star Press. Supreme Court upheld last year the “Across the country, far more people