Trumpublicans Face Impeach Risks President Trump Will Survive Trial, but History Shows GOP Could Face a Brutal Election by BRIAN A
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V25, N18 Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 Trumpublicans face impeach risks President Trump will survive trial, but history shows GOP could face a brutal election By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – President Trump doesn’t look to be in much danger of losing his office this winter. But if history teaches us anything from past 20th Century impeachment efforts, his reelection is on thin ice next Novem- ber and his Trumpublicans may face harrowing losses outside of Indiana. The latest polling comes for CNN and Monmouth that had 49% favoring impeachment, with 51% in CNN and Pew Research and 50% in Monmouth backing his removal from office. This doesn’t appear to be enough to dislodge any of the 53 Senate Republicans from voting for his acquittal (Sen. Mike Braun predicted acquittal on Chief Justice John G. Roberts, a native of Long Beach, Ind., heads to the Senate Wedneday), but it bodes ill for his reelection and impeachment trial of President Trump, admonishing both sides on the first day. the party’s prospects this November. is enough polling on this to establish a trend: Washington That 69% in the CNN/SRS Poll (including 48% Post/ABC News: 71% supporting witnesses to 22% who of Republicans) want witnesses in the Senate trial is also Continued on page 3 fascinating and portends ominously for the GOP. And there Notice is the basis By LINDA CHEZEM MARTINSVILLE – Yes, Indiana, better than believ- ing in Santa Claus, we can trust some of our legislators. Last week, I had a casual conversation with an intellectu- ally honest and smart legislator. We were discussing plan- “I thought our team did a very ning and zoning and local government. He made this reassuring good job. But honestly, we have and remarkable statement in his typical low-key fashion: “Notice is all the material. They don’t have the basis of everything.” the material.’’ I heard no sleigh bells or angels nor did I see stars in - President Trump, at a the sky. We wrapped the con- presser in Davos, bragging that he versation because he has a lot of work to do and I try not to be has withheld evidence sought by overly tedious. The representa- House Democrats for the impeach- tive’s words started to display on the screen in my head like a ment trial. Page 2 skywriting airplane circling the track. In the criminal justice world, As I have been in meetings and doing Miranda warnings are given, and other fun stuff like writing contracts rights are better protected. Why then this week, questions about proper would we settle for less when our notice keep appearing. civil constitutional rights are at risk This Hoosier representative and we have committed no crime? Howey Politics Indiana was right. His words should be re- Hoosiers appear to accept WWWHowey Media, LLC played at the start of every legislative opacity in lieu of transparency and c/o Business Office session. We need strong and intel- accountability. We voters need to PO Box 6553 lectually honest strategies to assure issue a wake-up call to all who would adequate notice. The usual political run for office this year, from court- Kokomo, IN, 46904 platitudes such as the nauseatingly house to schoolhouse to statehouse. www.howeypolitics.com overused word “transparency” are Voters should want to know what not adequate. Some days, I want to decisions our government is making Brian A. Howey, Publisher scream “hypocrite” at the officials who and how taxpayer money is being Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington pontificate about saving money and spent. Public notice has to be public then tout their transparency in the to be adequate notice. Mary Lou Howey, Editor next sentence. The foregoing paragraphs Susan E. Joiner, Editor The past masters of the wal- could serve as an introduction to nut shell game are in this notice game many topics of voter concern. Pas- Subscriptions bigtime. “Let me give you a web site. Oh, you cannot HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 find that consulting contract? HPI Weekly, $350 Oh, we are moving things Lisa Hounchell, Account Manager around.” Notice by U.S. mail (765) 452-3936 telephone is nice; while certified mail is (765) 452-3973 fax expensive, it may not always [email protected] be effective. When the mail is not picked up, there is no Contact HPI actual notice but the local [email protected] governments proceed as Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 though the failure of notice was a refusal of notice. Washington: 202.256.5822 No amount of convenience sage of ordinances and planning and Business Office: 765.452.3936 nor money is worth letting our con- zoning matters are the most egre- stitutional rights slide away under gious local problems, but the state © 2020, Howey Politics the flag of fiscal stringency. We must agencies do not deserve a pass on Indiana. All rights reserved. be alert to the threats to property their lack of meaningful notice. Some ownership and livelihood by govern- good work is underway to devise a Photocopying, Internet forward- ment, quasi-government, and private solution for the blending of electronic ing, faxing or reproducing in any entities. The single most important and print notice requirements. The form, whole or part, is a violation right that protects us from medieval need for a solution that supports the of federal law without permission serfdom is the right to own property. local gathering and reporting of the from the publisher. The Magna Carta started this owner- actions in the local communities is ship right but notice rights need more under-recognized, but imperative. work. More will be revealed after this legis- Jack E. Howey The non-elected of us also lative session. editor emeritus should be engaged in the notice is- But in the meantime, any 1926-2019 sues and must ask how might we legislator that wants to encourage protect the rights of ordinary people? better notice and information for The first answer is to assure adequate voters should vote “No” on these two notice. If a person does not receive bills: adequate notice of proposed actions 1. HOUSE BILL No. 1310: that impinge on one’s rights, then all Public notice requirements. Provides rights are meaningless. We cannot that a political subdivision may not defend our rights against threats of pay more than $300 for each inser- which we know nothing. tion of a public notice. Provides that Page 3 if: (1) the cost of a public notice that is required to be any adverse impact of the development on the agricultural published exceeds $300; or (2) a public notice corrects a nature of the neighborhood. That same information should previous public notice that contains an error or omission; be published electronically on web sites normally used by publication of the public notice on the political subdivision’s the community and in print media used by that govern- Internet web site satisfies the requirements applicable to mental unit for legal notices as displayed advertising, just the publication of such notices. like a political campaign ad, not the fine print cheap sec- 2. HOUSE BILL No. 1003: Education matters. tion. Eliminates the requirement that an annual performance To protect our constitutional rights, voters will report for a school corporation must be published in a have to demand adequate and meaningful notice require- newspaper. Makes conforming amendments. ments for government and other actions. Without notice, In contrast, the House Bill 1339 requiring the rights become meaningless. If we cannot defend our county legislative body’s approval of purchasing property rights, then we stand to lose them. The good news is that for redevelopment in an agricultural zone is a step in the Indiana has a few legislators that understand rights are right direction. In addition to the notice requirements in everything to a free people. And that “notice is the basis place for redevelopment purchases, a requirement should for everything.” v be added that that the landowners and residents of the area must be given a binding description of what the Chezem is a former Indiana appellate court judge. proposed development entails and a neutral evaluation of She practices law in Martinsville. Little wonder that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Impeachment, from page 1 is leery of allowing additional witnesses like former nation- don’t; Quinnipiac: 66% to 17%; and Morning Consult/Po- al security advisor John Bolton or Rudy Giuliani henchman litico: 57% to 24% Lev Parnas that could add sensational testimony into this Political Wire’s Taegan Goddard obseved, “By stew. repeatedly blocking Democratic amendments Why does this analysis portend to a GOP disaster, yesterday, Republicans are going against the particularly when our June 2016 warn- clear will of the people. ing of a blue wave reversed its course “An even bigger risk for Republi- when the final WTHR/Howey Politics cans is that additional evidence will almost Indiana Poll in November 2016 had certainly come out about the president’s Trump with an 11% lead in Indiana? wrongdoing. Late last night, new emails were Because President Trump is in released showing budget officials had already territory that President Nixon avoided laid the groundwork to freeze military aid the until the very end when his GOP base day before the president’s fateful phone call support collapsed, and President Clin- with Ukraine’s president. There will be more. ton never experienced. And the campaign ads will write themselves. In 1998-99, President Clinton Republicans are abetting a cover-up.” enjoyed wide popular support. Gallup House Intelligence Chairman Adam put his job approval at 60% in the Schiff, one of the House managers, warned summer of 1998 at a time of stained Tuesday, “The facts will come out in the blue dresses, while the commander- end.