V 11, No 20 Friday, Jan. 21, 2005

Daniels revolution off in controversy New governor ignores advice on tax hikes, DST By BRIAN A. HOWEY in Indianapolis A tax increase. A pitch for Daylight-Saving Time. A moratorium on school bonding and construction. “The survival of liberty There were about 300 eyes peering out from behind the crusty edge of the rut in the Indiana House chamber last Tuesday night, squinting at the new horizon. in our land increasingly They belong to Indiana legislators and what they saw during Gov. Mitch Daniels’ first depends on the success State of the State address of liberty in other lands. was something The best hope for new. Something bold. peace in our world is Despite the expansion of free- warnings from Republican leg- dom in all the world.” islative leaders –– President George W. such as Senate President Bush, second inaugural Robert Garton Gov. Daniels ignored the warnings of legislators and proposed a tax increase and House and Daylight Saving Time in his first Stateo fhte State address. (HPR Photo) The Howey Political Report is published Speaker Brian by NewsLink Inc. Founded in 1994, The Bosma, Daniels included a tax increase: 1 percent on the wealthiest 5 percent for one Howey Political Report is an independent, year. In doing so, House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer suggested to reporters non-partisan newsletter analyzing the political afterward that the new governor was “an economic girlie man.” process in Indiana. Imagine the House Republicans embarrassing their party’s first governor in a Brian A. Howey, Publisher Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington Writer generation by going to the mat to stave off a small, temporary tax increase for the Jack E. Howey, Editor richest Hoosiers. Democrats decried the flat-lining of education spending for a year. But when Subscriptions: Gov. Daniels said that money should be going for “instruction, not construction,” how $350 annually HPR via e-mail; is the ISTA going to argue that? $550 annually HPR & HPR Daily Wire. What the election began, and the inaugural address by Gov. Daniels contin- Call 254-0535. ued last week, fully reverberated at the Statehouse this week: a revolution is under way. Things are going to be dramatically different. And who is going to stand with the The Howey Political Report new governor, and who will abandon him? PO Box 40265 Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265. Indeed, the most complicated part of the governor’s plan may be how the school funding formula is recast. And who is willing to stand up and defend the status www.howeypolitics.com [email protected] Indianapolis Office: 317-506-0883. Tax Pledge List is Antiquated p. 4 Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535. Washington Office: 202-775-3242. Howey: Peyton & The Shining Twins p. 6 Business Office: 317-254-0535.

Columnists: Colwell, Carpenter p. 7 ©2005, The Howey Political Report. All rights reserved. Photocopying, Internet for- Ticker: Bosma pulls plug on stadium warding, faxing or reproducing in any form, in whole or part, is a violation of federal law plan; Appeals Court uphold marriage p. 8 and is strictly prohibited without consent of the publisher. HOWEY Political Report Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 quo as the best way possible. sion. That phrase angered some Democrats, who felt that his message was too grim. In proposing the one thing he was Underestimating Mitch warned not to -- a tax hike -- Daniels took his case directly to What should not be underestimated here is the strate- the masses. "I ask the most fortunate among us, those citi- gic and tactical abilities of Gov. Daniels, who ran President zens earning over $100,000 per year, for one year, to pay an Reagan’s White House political arm and came back home to additional one percent on the income they receive,” the Indiana to fashion the most extraordinary statewide campaign Governor said, sounding almost like a Methodist minister. in a generation. Along the way, Daniels built an impressive “With this money, we will achieve a balanced budget not two rapport with the people in small towns and big cities scattered years from now but in the year immediately ahead, and bring across the prairies. This is a governor our savings account to a level near the minimum standard of who will take these potent abilities and prudence." develop a consensus on any given Daniels added, "Let me issue that many legislators will feel all stress that this surtax must be tem- too acutely in the coming months if porary, and one time only. I will veto recalcitrance, obfuscation and obsti- any attempt to raise general taxes on nance sinks their teeth into the brittle our citizens, and any attempt to skulls of legislators. extend for even one day the one The other dynamic is that the temporary measure I reluctantly pro- center of Indiana’s political universe is pose tonight." no longer on the third floor of the The most compelling moment Statehouse. Gov. Daniels showed his after the speech was when President tactical skills with this part of his Garton and Speaker Bosma talked speech: “Local government is too with reporters in the House cham- President Garton and Speaker Bosma answer ques- hamstrung by top-down state control, bers. Asked by a reporter if the 1 per- tions following the speech. (HPR Photo) and consequently stuck with an unbal- cent income tax hike for people mak- anced and unfair dependence on the taxation of property ing more than $100,000 was a plan owners,” he said. “Having tied much of its own budget to local to “soak the rich,” Garton appeared to be genuinely support- spending, a bankrupt state government has desperately ive. “One percent is not soak the rich,” Garton said. “We’re sought to control local decisions from the top down, a affecting 5 percent of the population.” doomed exercise in balloon-squeezing that has squeezed For his part, Bosma seemed conciliatory, particularly property taxpayers worse than anyone else.” after he told the Indianapolis Star he was awaiting the plan You could envision just about every mayor, every from the governor’s “rocket scientists.” The governor’s new county commissioner, city and county councilman nodding team was not amused, with sources inside the administration their heads on that one. What Daniels is doing here is book- telling HPR that they were seeing “culture clashes” between a ending legislators. Many local officials are already aggravated legislator who used their space in the center of the Hoosier at legislative attempts in 2003 and 2004 to try and cap local political universe to wimp out and pass unsound budgets. spending as a knee-jerk response to the property tax Bosma was singing a different tune Tuesday, saying reassessment. the 80/20 split between cuts and revenue enhancements for Legislators going home for their weekend “Third 2006 is “a great balance,” but added, "We will look to every House” meetings are not only going to find constituents ask- alternative before House Republicans support a tax increase, ing them why they shouldn’t be backing their new governor, even a temporary one.” but local officials, who are sick of the pass-the-buck mentality How much of what Bosma and Espich were doing that pervades the Statehouse. was posturing, giving some of their newest members cover, as opposed to drawing a line in the sand remains to be seen. There was some surprise when on Wednesday, OMB Construction and cadence DIrector Charles Schalliol laid out the spending plan that The Daniels speech was coherent, well constructed, included no cuts. “You really do not have cuts,” said Sen. Vi paced and delivered with sound rationale and composure. Simpson, D-Bloomington, eventually said, noting that the "The wolf is not at the door, he is inside the cabin," O’Bannon and Kernan administrations had physically cut the Daniels said, playing off a phrase used by former House base budgets of all state agencies. This time, Schalliol said Speaker John Gregg during the 2002 tax restructuring ses- HOWEY Political Report Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 reductions were made in “what would have been” a larger Forum on Oct. 1, “To arrive at the backside of this election state budget, but added, “We do not have cuts.” with a far greater sense that will have to become greater still When pressed by reporters after his presentation, in the future, that this endless game of you’ve got yours now Schalliol acknowledged the money isn't needed to pay for I’ll want mine that pervades every interest group, every uni- government programs (Indianapolis Star). Daniels said he'll versity, everybody for him or herself. That has led to the make his case to both lawmakers and the public that the tax unconventional things we are determined to do.” increase and budget cuts are necessary. Part of that case, In the State of the State address, that became: Espich acknowledged to HPR, is that by the end of this bien- “Tonight, I want to underscore some issues in our educational nium, the United States could be halfway through the typical system that must be faced squarely, because they threaten to 10-year economic cycle. “It does beef up the bottom line,” undermine not just the effectiveness of the system but also Espich told HPR Thursday morning. “That’s a good goal, to the public confidence on which it depends,” Daniels increase security. I’m sure that’s in the back of his mind. It’s a explained. “As it should be, public education is the number responsible thing to do.” one expense of state government. We have more than dou- The hard part for legislators was the tax hike. And bled our spending in just over a decade. When we have there are a couple of myths that have become conventional restored the state’s financial solvency, these increases must wisdom. One is that any tax increase is an automatic death continue. But the way in which we deliver these dollars is knell for legislators. There are some cases, such as House broken, and indefensible. It produces senseless outcomes Speaker J. Roberts Daily’s defeat in 1986, but that was four like providing more and more dollars for districts with fewer years after he helped push through the 1982 tax hikes to and fewer children. It is so confusing that no one can explain cover a massive deficit. State Reps. it to a taxpayer. This formula has Linda Lawson, D-Hammond; David been jury-rigged over time in Orentlicher, D-Indianapolis; and back rooms into a complicated , D-Merrillville, are living mess based not on principle but proof of that. So are members of on a bare-knuckles scramble of the Indianapolis School Board who every district for itself. pushed through a $200 million bond Especially at a time of fiscal cri- issue four years ago and another sis, when there is no new money $250 million bond last month. to distribute, the way in which we Republicans like to remem- share the funds available must ber President Reagan’s tax cuts of House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer called the governor be as fair as possible. I ask this 1981, which ignited the home com- an “economic girlie man’ (HPR Photo) Assembly to replace today’s puter technological revolution. And Rube Goldberg formula with a they know the tax increases by President George H.W. Bush fair, principled system openly arrived at.” in 1990 led to his defeat two years later. But those tax hikes And, Daniels said, “Another major defect of the status actually ignited 10 years of growth and the dot.com economy. quo is the imbalance between classroom and non-classroom If your logic and rationale are sound, and you take spending. Too many of the $9,500 we now spend on each your case and explain it to the people, they’re smart enough student are swallowed up by purposes unrelated to the only to know the difference between gratuitous spending and the result that counts, readiness for life.” need to take care of business. Reaction was not entirely predictable. Lafayette Schools Supt. Ed Eiler explained, "It's important that the pub- Battleground on the school yard lic understands that it's not a question of if a school district is The other aspect of the Daniels plan to ignite great going to have to do this; it's a question of when" (Lafayette controversy was the flat-lined budget and a moratorium on Journal & Courier). And Middlebury School Board President school construction. Kent Yoder told the Elkhart Truth, "It looks like we need to Dan Clark, deputy director of the Indiana State take some more time anyway to revisit our goals about where Teachers Association, told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette we are going as a board and a community before we can talk that districts will have increased utility, salary and health about what to build." insurance costs even if the state gives them no new dollars. Reporters and legislators were skeptical Gov. Daniels “A straight-line budget, in the face of those increased costs, could change a place so resistent to change. Under an means you have to cut elsewhere,” he said. “It means raising Indianapolis Star headline, “Daniels Plan Adds a Billion class sizes, laying off teachers and cutting programs.” Dollars in Spending,” he was asked how he would prevail.  Yet Daniels had been consistent, saying at the HPR “It's only been one day," he reminded them. HOWEY Political Report Page 4 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Jan. 21, 2005

And about that ‘no new the tax hike. "I think raising taxes has to be No New Tax Pledge? an absolutely last resort," he said. Fellow The Indianapolis Star report- tax pledge.... freshman State Rep. , R- ed that 27 out of the 150 Hoosier Jasonville, told the Sun-Commercial that lawmakers signed the 2005 no- Only 2 signed for this year he's "not really nuts" about the tax increase new-taxes pledge of Americans By BRIAN A. HOWEY but challenges those who oppose it to come for Tax Reform. Ways & Means INDIANAPOLIS -- About that no new up with an alternative. "That's what I say to Chairman Jeff Espich disputed tax pledge. those who oppose what Mitch said: 'If you the currency of the list . The Indianapolis Star reported that have a better proposal, lay it on the table House 27 members of the Indiana General and let's look at it.’” • Craig Fry, D-Mishawaka Assembly have signed the “no new tax Senate Appropriations Chairman • Don Lehe, R-Brookston pledge” promoted by Grover Norquist’s Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange, said that even Americans for Tax Reform. though he signed a pledge 10 years ago • David Wolkins, R-Winona Lake The problem with the list is that it not to increase taxes, "I'm going to do • , D-Indianapolis includes all those who have ever signed it. what's right" (Indianapolis Star). He called • John Smith, R-Kokomo One is House Ways & Means Chairman Daniels' proposal "a tax of last resort" and • Timothy Harris, R-Marion Jeff Espich, who signed it in 1999. “When I said some of the constituents he's heard • P. Eric Turner, R-Marion signed it, I considered it was for the two from say it's a good idea. • James R. Buck, R-Kokomo years of that particular term,” Espich told House Speaker said he • Gerald P. Torr, R-Carmel HPR Thursday morning. “It was easy to would search for alternatives, but added, sign in 1999 when we were running a sur- "It's too early to tell. Maybe if it's absolutely • Matt Whetstone, R-Browns- plus. But no, I didn’t sign it for this year. necessary." Senate President Robert burg And I don’t believe it stays in place for a Garton declined to call it a “soak the rich” • Timothy Brown, R- lifetime.” scheme and noted that only 5 percent Crawfordsville When the Star printed the list (seen would be impacted. • Timothy Neese, R-Elkhart at right) on Wednesday, the day after Gov. Espich explained, "I think we can put • Marlin A. Stutzman, R- a budget together that is workable," he Mitch Daniels’ State of the State address in LaGrange which he proposed a one-year, 1 percent said, "and do it without a tax increase." But • Robert Cherry, R-Greenfield surtax on those households making more he didn’t rule it out, either. than $100,000, Espich became curious. State Rep. Robert Hoffman, R- • Woody Burton, R-Green-wood There were 21 members of the House list- Connersville, told the Richmond Palladium- • Eric Allan Koch, R-Bedford ed. Espich and his staff surveyed that group Item, "A lot of people have run on 'no new • Win Moses, D-Fort Wayne and discovered that only two had signed it taxes.’ They're going to have a hard time • Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale* for this biennial budget. swallowing the tax increase. If it's a one- • Robert Alderman, R-Fort The list was printed in coverage by time deal, I think there's a logic to tapping Wayne the Star in which it said reaction to the that group to solve the problem." • Robert Behning, R-Indiana- Daniels proposal was “cool.” The implica- House Democrats, who hope polis tion was that most Republicans would be Republicans do pass a tax hike, were reluc- handcuffed by the pledge, almost certainly tant to support the concept. State Rep. • David Frizzell, R-Indiana-polis dooming chances of the surtax. Dave Crooks said he didn’t think any Senate But in reality, a number of legislators Democrats would vote for the tax hike. • Robert. L. Meeks, R-LaGrange* are keeping an open mind. State Rep. was upset that • Dennis K. Kruse, R-Auburn "I liked what he proposed in looking Republicans constantly attacked his party • Jeff Drozda, R-Westfield as “tax and spend liberals,” and said of at freezing the property-tax replacement • J. Murray Clark, R-Indianapolis credit, because the cost there (to the state) Gov. Daniels speech, “Now they want to • R. Michael Young, R- is spiraling out of control faster than even raise taxes. It’s bait and switch.into a hip- Medicaid," said freshman Republican Troy popotomus.” Indianapolis Woodruff, but he told the Vincennes Sun-  • John Waterman, R-Shelburn Commercial that he "wasn't excited about" HOWEY Political Report Page 5 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Jan. 21, 2005

The speech offered a sharp departure from earlier President Bush delivers goals by the earliest presidents. In his inaugural address, President Thomas Jefferson warned of entangling alliances. Wilsonian view of freedom But Gergen explained, “This is a very important speech that By BRIAN A. HOWEY sets America on a new course. It was a very aggressive President George W. Bush recast America’s role in stance.” the world by telling the world in his second inaugural address At other times, President Bush seemed to be draw- that our security is inextricably linked to the notion of freedom ing on the strengths and morality of President Abraham around the world. “We are led, by events and common sense, Lincoln. “Across the generations, we have proclaimed the to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increas- imperative of self-government, because no one is fit to be a ingly depends on the success of lib- master, and no one deserves to erty in other lands. The best hope be a slave,” Bush said. for peace in our world is the expan- “Advancing these ideals is the sion of freedom in all the world,” mission that created our nation. It Bush said at noon Thursday. is the honorable achievement of He set up that premise by our fathers. Now it is the urgent setting up the historical context. “At requirement of our nation's secu- this second gathering, our duties are rity and the calling of our time. defined not by the words I use, but So it is the policy of the United by the history we have seen togeth- States to seek and support the er,” the President said. “For a half- growth of democratic movements century, America defended our own and institutions in every nation freedom by standing watch on dis- and culture, with the ultimate tant borders. After the shipwreck of goal of ending tyranny in our communism came years of relative quiet, years of repose, world.” years of sabbatical -- and then there came a day of fire. We He made references to the way the United States has have seen our vulnerability, and we have seen its deepest tried to achieve such goals, specifically in Iraq and source. For as long as whole regions of the world simmer in Afghanistan. “This is not primarily the task of arms, though we resentment and tyranny -- prone to ideologies that feed will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when hatred and excuse murder -- violence will gather, and multiply necessary,” Bush said. “Freedom, by its nature, must be cho- in destructive power, and cross the most defended borders sen and defended by citizens and sustained by the rule of law and raise a mortal threat. and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a “There is only one force of history that can break nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect the reign of hatred and resentment and expose the preten- customs and traditions very different from our own.” sions of tyrants and reward the hopes of the decent and toler- “America,” Bush said, less than two weeks before the ant, and that is the force of human freedom.” critical first elections in Iraq, “will not impose our own style of President Bush made 27 references to the word government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help oth- “freedom,” and 15 references to “liberty.” ers find their own voice, attain their own freedom and make ABC News analyst George Will noted that Bush “is their own way.” But the President did not utter the word “Iraq.” about the expansion of liberty on our planet, into every nook Bush added, “My most solemn duty is to protect and crevice.” this nation and its people from further attacks and emerging David Gergen, a former adviser to Presidents threats. Some have unwisely chosen to test America's resolve Reagan, Bush and Clinton, added, “This is a speech that and have found it firm. We will persistently clarify the choice needs to be read more than once. It was surprising and his- before every ruler and every nation -- the moral choice toriclaly signifcant. Surprisng, in that we thought it would be between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, on the domestic agenda. But quite the reverse ... it was about which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed the war on terrorism. His strategy to win the war on terrorism dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humili- is significantly more extravagant than we imagined.” ation and servitude or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies.”  HOWEY Political Report Page 6 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Jan. 21, 2005

lion less. And it would create high demand for those corporate The Shining Twins suites and club seats. There is nothing more pitiful than a SOUTHPORT - OK. I admit. I was on my second beer shivering Chief Financial Officer. Speaker Bosma came to the during the first half of the Colts-Patriots game at Foxboro. I same conclusion. was nestled in a living room, watching the big gridirorn show- I was thinking that this would be consistent with down with my friends as it profusely snowed outside. the message Gov. Mitch Daniels tried to impart during his There was Peyton Manning, shrouded in a kind of State of the State address last Tuesday night. He chided strange virgin white, with the fuzz of a New England snowfall school corporations about building football stadiums with adding an addled aura to what was to be the apex of his his- astro turf, natatoriums and acres of basketball courts. Of the toric season, though on this day he had that perplexed look 10 largest high school basketball gyms in America, eight are about him. in Indiana. At the end of Gov. Daniels speech, I blinked, and And then, there they were! The Shining Twins. You there they were, the Shining Twins, standing under the two know, from the movie “The Shining.” The murdered young House vote boards. They were signalling touchdowns. I quick- twin girls in their nighties, who gushed out blood in the hall- ly looked at veteran journalist Jack Colwell, who was sitting ways of some remote blizzard entombed Rocky Mountain next to me. He looked earnest and sanguine. I didn’t mention resort. They were freaky. After watching “The Shining,” I had the Shining Twins to him. Sen. Mike Young didn’t appear to nightmares. I sent out columns to my newspapers with the have seen them either. same sentence written over and over: “All work and no play None of the 148 legislators present seemed to notice, makes Brian a dull boy.” Crothersville Times editor Curt except for, perhaps, Sen. Rose Antich-Carr, a self-professed Kovener even called me and wondered if something was psychic. She swiveled in her chair, looked right wrong. at me and winked. I looked at Lesley Hiner, Last Sunday, the Shining Twins were aide to Speaker Bosma. She was glaring at on the Gilette Stadium field. They were gushing me. I winced and turned away. This was all too blood. The whole thing was tragic, really. You strange. Had the Shining Twins said the words had to be there. The camera panned to Colts I “No new taxes,” instead of “Redrum, Redrum” Coach Tony Dungy. He was holding up a finger I at the end of the Governor’s speech, I’m sure I

and mouthing, “Redrum. Redrum.” I some of these other legislators would have

I I turned to my friends. Unfazed, they I been snapped from their lethargy. were still enjoying the second quarter Mike So if the school corporations are Vanderjagt field goal. Wasn’t it odd that he was going to swallow the bullets, so should the big the only Colt to score? When the idiot kicker split the uprights, boys, I thought. Let’s toughen up our Colts, make ‘em play in there were the Shining Twins again, signalling the fieldgoal. the Alberta Clippers of Indiana, and coarsen their pampered Vanderjagt tilted his head, and with a blank stare mouthed, hides for the Patriots or Steelers. “Redrum. Redrum.” Hunter the Punter smiled. He had fangs. And I was pondering what Gov. Daniels had done. I went outside for a brisk walk. Like a Patriot linebacker, he was turning Indiana on its ear, This all got me to thinking. Maybe Mayor Peterson stripping the ball away. That’s what the good Hoosier folk told ought to just can this whole retractable roof stadium thing. him to do last year. A temporary tax hike for the wealthy so Really. And Jim Irsay, too. When he reads this, he’ll under- that we’re ready for the next recession (and we’re probably stand. The Patriots smashed through the bathroom window halfway through the current business cycle). Pushing the and grinned a fearsom and realistic “Here’s Johnny!” at our notion that school funding should go into “instruction, not con- beloved Colts. They molested our All-Pro receivers, man-han- struction.” Adding 800 new child protective service employ- dled the ball away from our gifted running backs, and ees, who might have saved the murdered Shining Twins had neutered our MVP quarterback. They did it to our dome team Indiana spent the money to protect children in past years. in the snow and cold. Our Colts were a soft dome team. They As I pondered the Shining Twins, I remembered needed Cialis. something I had read this past week in the Smithsonian And there were the Shining twins, taunting us. They Magazine. Preparing to write his classic poem, “The Raven,” were saying, “Forget the retractable roof, Bart. Go to the bar. Edgar Allen Poe actually thought of using a parrot. “Awk, no Get a drink from the spooky bartender. Listen to the Glenn new taxes, no new taxes. Awk. Nevermore. Nevermore.” Miller tunes.” Perhaps you can’t see it, but the good old days of doing By not building the retractable roof, the new Colts things in Indiana are over. Nevermore.  Stadium- Peyton Place- would probably cost $50 to $100 mil- HOWEY Political Report Page 7 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Jan. 21, 2005

Jack Colwell, South Bend Tribune - With so many deteriorate rapidly. True, Daniels might have it easier than the Americans in this polarized nation seeking "news" with which three most recent governors — Democrats who faced a they agree, not objective reports on what's really happening, Republican-controlled and sometimes stubborn Senate. The we have the rise of commentators, columnists and filmmakers GOP now controls the House, Senate and the governor's who unabashedly promote a political cause and bash unmer- office, the first time that's been true in 16 years. But there is cifully the other side. It's almost as if they were hired guns. bound to be friction. That's the way the state's founders likely Well. Now, in the latest scandal in what some would call jour- intended it when they established three branches of state nalism, a newspaper columnist and television commentator government — executive, legislative and judicial — nearly really was hired, flat-out -- and with taxpayer money -- to pro- mirroring the federal system. He'll probably need some mote a cause. The Chicago Tribune reported that Armstrong Democrats to approve daylight-saving time, which is on his Williams, a leading black conservative columnist and com- agenda, and to restructure the local property tax system, mentator, was paid $240,000 by the U.S. Education something he's said he's considering. Also, Daniels is almost Department to ballyhoo President Bush's education initiative, certain to frustrate Republicans immediately. It wouldn't be a No Child Left Behind, prior to the election. Williams, who final- very ambitious agenda if he didn't find at least some resis- ly conceded that he used "poor judgment," initially seemed to tance. So Daniels should enjoy this honeymoon now and pre- brush off the ethics breach as really a "legitimate" deal, pare for a time when things might not be so easy.  explaining that he agreed with all the nice things he said about the program. Meanwhile, those true believers won't Dan Carpenter, Indianapolis Star - Ruby James believe what's really happening. A report on more suicide has worked for the state of Indiana for 27 years; Elizabeth bombings in Iraq is rejected by many as the "liberal" news Walker for 20 years. They're union presidents who remember media just trying to find bad news to hurt Bush and refusing well what it was like before employees achieved collective to report all the good going on over there. A report on an bargaining 15 years ago. If you listen closely to their take on improvement in the economy is rejected by many as the Gov. Mitch Daniels' decision to abolish those contract protec- "establishment" news media just trying to help Bush and busi- tions, you just might hear strains of that spiritual the civil ness friends and ignoring the remaining unemployment. rights marchers used to sing: "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me Instead there often is a quest for that "news" with which to 'round." "People are angry. This has done nothing but make agree -- unrelenting praise for one side and unending bashing us stronger," says James, who works in the Lake County of the other -- presented by some media "stars" who almost Division of Families and Children and heads Local 3146 of seem to be hired guns. One was. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. "The AFSCME will still be here for the employ- Leslie Stedman Weidenbener, Louisville ees." "They're fired up," says Walker, who works in DFC in Courier-Journal -The test of whether Daniels' relationship Marion County and leads the AFSCME's Local 3730. "We're remains so rosy with lawmakers will be measured at the end not going back to where we were 15 years ago. We're not." of the first session and the first year and the first term. The While she shares the defiance of her northwest Indiana com- late Gov. Frank O'Bannon had a fairly rosy relationship with patriot, Walker has not abandoned hope Daniels will change lawmakers at the end of his first year, only to have that bond his mind altogether.  HOWEY Political Report Page 8 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Jan. 21, 2005

Bosma pulls plug on where." Bosma also indicated that he declaring marriage to be between one thinks the planned new stadium may be man and one woman, denying a chal- Peterson stadium funding too extravagant. "I'm not sure that we lenge that the law is unconstitutional. INDIANAPOLIS - Financing plans for have to have the most expensive dome "This is a good ruling for the state," a new Indianapolis Colts stadium are in in the country," he said. Attorney General Steve Carter stated. trouble, as House Speaker Brian Bosma "It recognizes the unique role that tradi- said plans to expand gambling to pay tional marriage plays in our society, and for it are "dead." Indianapolis Mayor Appeals Court upholds affirms the General Assembly's ability to Bart Peterson has said the city needs marriage ban define marriage as between one man $46 million annually for 30 years to pay INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Court and one woman." The court ruled that off bonds that would finance a new of Appeals ruled Thursday that the "the Indiana Constitution does not retractable-dome stadium for the NFL state's ban on gay marriages can stand, require the governmental recognition of team. That money would come in part rejecting a challenge by three homosex- same-sex marriage, although the legis- from slot-like machines possibly in ual couples to a law prohibiting even the lature is certainly free to grant such Downtown Indianapolis (Indianapolis recognition of legal same-sex marriages recognition or create a parallel institu- Star). "The message I'd like to send to from other states (Associated Press). A tion under that document." The court the mayor is he ought to find another decision was not immediately made on adds that, "There was a rational basis financing mechanism for a Dome down- whether to appeal the decision to the for the legislature to draw the line town than putting a casino in the middle state Supreme Court, but supporters of between opposite-sex couples, who as of the most family-friendly city in the the ban said they would continue their a generic group are biologically capable Midwest," push for Indiana to join others states of reproducing, and same-sex couples, Bosma, R- with constitutional amendments banning who are not." Indianapolis, the unions. The appeals court upheld a said. "As far as ruling by a Marion County judge who I'm concerned, dismissed the couples' lawsuit on the Calloway withdraws that proposal is grounds that state law clearly defined as insurance commissioner dead." Bosma marriage as a union between a man said he is willing INDIANAPOLIS - Harold Calloway, and a woman. "What we decide today is to work with incoming commissioner of the that the Indiana Constitution does not Peterson on finding a different funding Department of Insurance, notified Gov. require the governmental recognition of mechanism. Peterson has said he is Mitch Daniels Wednesday that he has same-sex marriage, although the open to other ideas, as long as the bot- withdrawn from the position. Calloway, Legislature is certainly free to grant tom line is $46 million. Bosma said of Evansville, was appointed on Dec. such recognition or create a parallel Peterson "can look for other measures 29, 2004, and was to begin his tenure institution under that document," the to make this happen and we'll try to on March 1. “Harold informed me that court said in its ruling. help him in that regard. But I feel it is because of personal and financial dis- very irresponsible for the future of the ruption to his business, he’ll be unable state of our city to propose putting a AG Carter lauds to take a role in state government. I’m major casino within 150 yards of the Appeals Court decison disappointed, but understand that not Statehouse, hooked up by tunnel to the INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Court everyone can make a commitment to Statehouse. He needs to look else- of Appeals today upheld Indiana's law public service,” said Daniels.