2016 Showdown? Evan the Hesitant Needs More Time to De- Former Governor Cide Whether He’Ll Try to Still Undecided on Recapture His Old Job
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V19, N41 Tuesday, July 8, 2014 2016 Showdown? Evan the hesitant needs more time to de- Former governor cide whether he’ll try to still undecided on recapture his old job. “I think it’s less likely a challenge to than more likely,” he said. “I haven’t ruled it Gov. Pence out.” Bayh cited family By MAUREEN HAYDEN as the reason for delay, CNHI Statehouse Bureau during a recent interview WASHINGTON – Evan in the Washington D.C. Bayh is keeping Indiana Demo- offices of McGuireWoods, crats on hold. a law and lobbying firm Party loyalists longing he joined when he left for a political savior to retake the Senate. He’s been the governor’s office have been busy advising the firm’s waiting on Bayh ever since he banking and energy abruptly decided to leave the clients, in addition to U.S. Senate and political life his work with a New three years ago. York private equity firm, For now, it appears, Apollo Global Manage- they’ll just have to keep waiting, ment, and with stint as a perhaps well into this fall. Fox News contributor. Despite a hefty cam- Former two-term Gov. Evan Bayh attended Gov. Mike Pence’s 2013 His twin sons, paign war chest and deep nos- inaugural. He is now weighing a challenge to the Republican, who talgia for his days as a popular may opt out for a presidential bid. Continued on page 4 centrist Democrat, Bayh says he ‘Deadbeat parent’ state By BRIAN A. HOWEY FREMONT, Ind. – In his State of the State address last January, Gov. Mike Pence called for Indiana to become the “most pro-adoption state in America.” But this past week, an adoptive parent who is su- ing the Department of Child Ser- “I’m running for mayor and I’m vices called Indiana a “deadbeat parent” for refusing payment to running for reelection. In light 1,400 families that have adopt- of this weekend, I’m not talking ed special needs children. The Indianapolis Star politics. I’m self-embargoed for a reported that Debra Moss of La- Porte is the adoptive parent who week.” is suing the Indiana Department - State Rep. Ed DeLaney, of Child Services over unpaid adoption subsidies. In calling confirming to HPI he will run the state a “deadbeat parent,” for Indianapolis mayor Moss claimed that the state is Page 2 no better than the birth parents from we invest in expanded educational whom it removes children. Moss’ law- opportunities and infrastructure.” suit, which seeks class-action status, “It doesn’t do us any good claims DCS denied payment to more to have a surplus that’s built on the than 1,400 Indiana families that have backs of Hoosiers, on the backs of adopted special needs children from the less fortunate. And these kids the state’s foster care system. DCS have nobody to speak for them but promised in a contract to pay adoption the state,” Indiana State Rep. Mara subsidies to those families “if funding Candelaria Reardon told WBEZ. “The becomes available,” according to the padding of the surplus that’s been is a non-partisan newslet- lawsuit. touted nationwide, Indiana’s surplus. Both the Star and WTHR-TV ter based in Indianapolis and reported that since 2009, the DCS Nashville, Ind. It was founded has reverted $240 million to the in 1994 in Fort Wayne. state general fund. It is published by In December 2013, with WWWHowey Media, LLC state revenues falling short of projections for four of the previous 405 Massachusetts Ave., five months, Gov. Pence reacted Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN by asking state agencies to revert 46204 1.5% of funds for the following seven months ending on June 30. Brian A. Howey, Publisher Those funds totaled $25 million, while state universities reverted Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington $27 million in operational expenses. Jack E. Howey, Editor “The cost-saving measures we are Mary Lou Howey, Editor implementing today will ensure that Maureen Hayden, Statehouse Indiana remains fiscally sound dur- Matthew Butler, Daily Wire ing these uncertain times,” Pence LaPorte parent Debra Moss has called Indiana a said in a statement last Dec. 13. “deadbeat parent” for refusing funding to 1,400 “Fiscal integrity is the foundation of families of special needs adopted kids. Subscriptions prosperity.” HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 The previous July, Pence and If we actually paid people more and HPI Weekly, $350 then-Auditor Tim Berry announced a had more employees to handle the Ray Volpe, Account Manager $1.94 billion budget surplus, with Indi- workload, you might not have the ana bringing in a structural surplus of turnover that you see.” 317.602.3620 $483 million during fiscal year 2013, Indiana Senate Democrats email: [email protected] which was $93 million more than ex- flagged DCS for significant appro- pected. The surplus has since become priation reversions. In FY2012 and Contact HPI a national talking point for Pence as FY2013, DCS was appropriated a www.howeypolitics.com he seeks traction for a 2016 presiden- biennial total of $1.06 billion from tial race. “Indiana is strong and grow- the state general fund and expects [email protected] ing stronger, and the closeout report $512 million in federal funding. Those Howey’s Cabin: 812.988.6520 confirms the balanced approach that appropriations mark a significant Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 we took in the enacted budget,” Pence decline compared to the FY2010-2011 Washington: 202.256.5822 said. budget, when DCS received a biennial Business Office: 317.602.3620 On Fox News Sunday last total $1.25 billion in state funding and April, host Chris Wallace noted Indi- another $518 million from the federal ana’s budget surplus and asked Pence government. The difference is more © 2014, Howey Politics Indiana. about his presidential ambitions. than $194 million, or a reduction of All rights reserved. Photocopy- “Much of that talk is the result of the more than 18%. ing, Internet forwarding, fax- progress the people of Indiana have In April 2013, Senate Minority ing or reproducing in any form, been making,” Pence told Wallace. “I Leader Tim Lanane cited a DCS report mean the fact is we have the lowest showing that during fiscal year 2011, whole or part, is a violation of unemployment rate in the Midwest, 40 child fatalities due to abuse and federal law without permission we demonstrated the ability to bal- neglect were reported. Three children from the publisher. ance our budget, cut taxes even while were killed in a Hammond house fire Page 3 earlier this year. The three had been in foster care but parents make in our children and will help with that.” The were permitted by DCS to return to a home with no run- Villages facilitated the adoptions of 400 special needs ning water, heat or electricity, according to WBEZ. “Maybe children. Pierce said the next step Indiana needs to pursue the whole system, the laws failed these people,” DCS Di- is restoring the state adoption subsidy. “We’re one of only rector Mary Beth Bonaventura told WBEZ. “Could we have two states that no longer provide a state adoption subsidy done things better? Probably. I think without question of support for particularly those children who have been this is the most important job in the state.” abused and neglected and have some special needs,” Asked how much of the DCS budget has been Pierce said. reverted under the Pence administration, Pence press HPI reached out to family advocacy groups and secretary Kara Brooks told HPI, “The Pence administra- found that they are far more focused on hot button politi- tion increased the appropriation in FY 14 and 15 to cover cal issues such as abortion and constitutional marriage expanded caseworkers and improvements in the hotline amendment. Micah Clark of the American Family Associa- system. DCS reverted $3 million at the end of FY13. Gov. tion of Indiana responded to HPI, “I am not sure that I am Pence demonstrated his commitment to making Indiana the best person to comment as my knowledge of this is the most pro-adoption state in the country in the 2014 leg- extremely thin and I doubt if any comments I could make islative session when he put a ($1,000) adoption tax credit would be very profound. It does seems as though for de- on his legislative agenda and later signed it into law.” cades we have heard numerous stories of DCS going after Brooks added that Gov. Pence “is reviewing the some situations that common sense would say doesn’t legal issues of this matter.” deserve their attention or resources, while they seem to In his second State of the State address last miss many obvious cases of child abuse or endangerment January, Gov. Pence called for an emphasis on adoption. where their help was so desperately needed. The response “Let’s also remember that families come together in many to this criticism is often that case workers are spread different ways,” Pence said. “Like the family of Karen too thin, or lack of resources. Now we have this news Sauer. Karen is a single mom who felt called to adopt. She of those very resources going back to the tax spending adopted her two children, Neven and Dusten, when they machine that is the legislature. It is good when agencies were 11 and 12 years old, after they had both been in can return unnecessary funds, but in this case, one has to foster care for some time.” “Adoption is a beautiful way for families to come together forever,” Pence continued.