V24, N34 Thursday, May 23, 2019 Myers near entry; Macer ponders Democratic gubernatorial race begins to take shape; preference for a consensus candidate begins to emerge By BRIAN A. HOWEY SPEEDWAY – State Rep. Karlee Macer has represented a co-called “red district” since 2012, out-performed Hillary Clinton by a substantial margin in 2016 and has now joined the conversation about the future Democratic gubernatorial nomi- nee for 2020, while former Indiana health commissioner appears to be on the brink of entry. State Rep. Karlee Macer in Speedway Wednesday, and Dr. Woody Myers at the Indiana Demo- memorial service for the late Sen. Birch Bayh. (HPI Photos by Brian A. Howey) cratic Chairman John Zody recently convened Jonathan Weinzapfel. a handful of potential candidates, including Macer, My- At this point, Myers seems to be at the most ad- ers, 2012 and 2016 nominee John Gregg, 2016 lieutenant vanced stage, telling HPI Wednesday morning, “I’m pretty governor nominee Christina Hale, former congressman Baron Hill, and, sources tell HPI, former Evansville mayor Continued on page 3 Brooks & Equality Act By CRAIG DUNN KOKOMO – Members of Congress are frequently targeted for ridicule for what the electorate believes is unforgivable inertia. They are chastised for being cowards on a variety of issues. Many in Congress have learned how “There is no reason in the to avoid politically difficult votes by killing bills in committee or by greatest country in the world inserting poisonous amendments into legislation to make passage ... that anybody, in any circum- impossible. stance, should remain isolated The truth is that votes are the best way for the voting public in the burden of taking care of a to reconcile what is said on the loved one who served.” stump during an election and what the officeholder truly believes. The - Actor Tom Hanks, celebrating very best politicians are so skilled Hidden Heros in Indianapolis at the Potomac two-step that they can have people with diametri- with former Sen. Elizabeth Dole Page 2 cally opposed beliefs think that their support of the Freedom Act. I’m sure elected representative supports their that it was a difficult decision to cast position. a “yea” vote with the knowledge that I knew a congressman once a very vocal and hostile group of your who received large contributions from constituents would be angry. All truly both Jewish and Muslim supportive meaningful legislation, particularly PACS. Now that is a real skill! instruments of social change, involve Sometimes, no matter how impassioned support and opposition. hard you try, a vote will be scheduled Congresswoman Brooks’ 5th District is that you can’t avoid. The day comes no exception. Temperatures run red- Howey Politics Indiana when you bow to the crowd or show hot on both sides of the issue. WWWHowey Media, LLC leadership and legislative bravery. In the final analysis, Con- 405 Massachusetts Ave., Recently, such a vote was taken in the gresswoman Susan Brooks cast her Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN United States Congress. The legisla- vote in line with her belief that funda- tion in question was the Equality Act. mental rights should be extended to 46204 The Equality Act would amend all Americans. I applaud her for her www.howeypolitics.com Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Brian A. Howey, Publisher federal anti-discrimination Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington law for the workplace, to clarify that discrimination Cam Carter, copy editor based on sex would also Joel Weyrauch, copy editor include discrimination Mary Lou Howey, Editor based on sexual orienta- Jacob Curry, Statehouse tion and gender identity. Jack Howey, editor emeritus The legislation would also ban discrimination based on these protected Subscriptions classes in areas including HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 public accommodations and facilities, education, HPI Weekly, $350 federal funding, hous- Ray Volpe, Account Manager ing, credit, and the jury 317.602.3620 system. email: [email protected] This legislation is another in a long cultural war that is being waged Contact HPI in nearly every state and [email protected] in the halls of Congress and the courts leadership and bravery. Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 on a daily basis. By now, we all know Social media has not treated who the opponents are on both sides. the congresswoman as kindly as I do. Washington: 202.256.5822 Religious conservatives who believe Brooks has been steadily skewered Business Office: 317.602.3620 that any protections extended to LG- by religious conservatives for her BTQ persons represents a loss are pit- perceived failure to protect religious © 2019, Howey Politics ted against social liberals and moder- rights. I learned long ago that reli- Indiana. All rights reserved. ates who believe that the Constitution gious conservatives view any changes and protection of basic rights should to civil rights laws as a zero-sum Photocopying, Internet forward- extend to everyone. It is a bloody war game. Every change has a loser and ing, faxing or reproducing in that promises to continue for a long, a winner. There is never a win/win any form, whole or part, is a long time. situation. Unfortunately, when you are violation of federal law without When the Freedom Act was a conservative of any type, change permission from the publisher. voted on by the House of Representa- generally feels like a loss. tives on Friday, May 17, every Demo- All of the basic rights and crat and only eight Republicans voted freedoms that we hold dear today in favor of the legislation. Fortunately, were the subject of vicious legislative one Hoosier representative, Susan battles for years before they were Brooks, had the courage to vote in passed by Congress. Remember, we Page 3 fought the Civil War over whether it was proper to own group, from millennials to the elderly, supports these laws. another person. We battled over whether to extend voting Even a majority of white evangelical Protestants, who are rights to black men. We marched, protested and rioted typically conservative on LGBTQ issues, support these over women’s suffrage. We argued about whether it was measures, along with every other religious group tracked just or not to allow children to work. It is only natural that by PRRI. In Indiana, 65% support extension of basic civil we fight with each other on the subject of LGBTQ rights. rights to include LGBTQ. Let’s take a closer look at the Freedom Act: The problem is that 80% of the noise surrounding Should a business be allowed to discriminate against the issue of LGBTQ rights is being made by 10% of the someone because they are gay? Should a hotel, motel or public. This noise and deep pockets of some of the loudest apartment dwelling be allowed to deny lodging or housing noise-makers has petrified some lawmakers into avoiding to someone who is gay or transgender? Should a bank or any contact with the toxic issue. Republican legislators mortgage company be allowed to deny credit to someone on both a state and federal level try to avoid, at all costs, who is gay or transgender? Should a person be denied dealing with the issue and when forced to take a stand, an education solely on the grounds of sexual orienta- generally take the path of least resistance. tion? Should a person be kept from serving on a jury This is why the supportive vote on the Free- because of their LGBTQ status? dom Act by 5th District Congresswoman Susan Brooks People, these are basic human rights we are talk- is so laudable. She demonstrated courage in the face of ing about. much vocal opposition, swam against the tide and cast a What do the polls tell us about the temperature of vote for what is right. The people of Indiana, regardless of the American public on this issue? According to the Public whether you agree with her or not, should at least ap- Religion Research Institute, a majority of people in every preciate that she is not just another “vote the party line” state believe that these basic rights should be extended representative. to include people of LGBTQ status. PRRI found majority History will show that Susan Brooks was an in- support across all sorts of different groups. About 79% sightful civil rights leader. v of Democrats, 70% of independents, and 56% of Repub- licans say they favor these laws. A majority in every age Dunn is the forrmer Howard County Republican to make way for Evan Bayh, who subsequently lost to Dem Gov, from page 1 U.S. Sen. Todd Young. Weinzapfel is the former two-term close. I’m very excited about the number of people who mayor of Evansville, briefly considered a frontrunner in have talked me to and have taken the steps to make sure the 2012 race that was ultimately won by Republican Mike the mechanics are in place,” he said. “There are a lot of Pence. problems I believe I can solve. I’m very close to making a Both Myers and Macer represent a new chapter decision to enter the race.” in Indiana Democratic politics Macer met with HPI with neither having run statewide at Charlie Brown’s Pancake races. and Steakhouse here Wednes- Myers ran for Congress day morning while in an following the death of U.S. exploratory mode. “I haven’t Rep. Julia Carson in the winter made a decision,” she said. of 2008, losing a Democratic “For me, personally, it’s inter- nominating caucus to current U.S. esting to have an opportu- Rep. André Carson. nity to be at the table for this Myers served as Indi- discussion.