Too Early to Gauge FSSA Fallout
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V15 N10 Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 Too early to gauge FSSA fallout That was leadership, not failure IBM contract termination on the Governor’s part.” will likely make way into Asked if the IBM contract was his worst problem in five House races, but as with years of office, Daniels respond - ed during his presser last Thurs - BMV, story could evolve day, “No. I’ve got a long list. I By BRIAN A. HOWEY haven’t tried to rate them. The INDIANAPOLIS - This being a “po - easiest thing to do in a situation litical report” we naturally think about the like this is throw your hands up political implications of last week’s bomb - and say, ‘Well, that’s as good as shell that Gov. Mitch Daniels was terminat- it can be.’ This has been a daunt- ing the IBM welfare contract in what he ing thing all along, and it still called a “major mid-course correction.” is, of course. Our first attempt Internally with the administra- didn’t get us there, but we did tion, politics as related to the 2010 battle get some positives out of it. We’ll for the Indiana House and this issue are just have to take them and re- probably the least of their concerns at verse some of the mistakes and this point. A gargantuan amount of work move forward. I’ve told you for awaits to develop the “hybrid” system that five years that’s how we’re going restores the “face to face” contact and to operate, and this is a classic keeps the problems with fraud in check. case.” As one administration source told Democrats were jubilant, HPI, “The public appreciates the governor trying to reform with House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer reacting, “”Hallelujah! and deliver a better and more modernized service. When Today’s announcement is huge for any number of rea- the company the state contracted with failed to make the sons. It agreed upon changes, they were relieved of their duty. Continued on Page 3 Blogs & phone calls By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - The Advance Indiana blog head- line Oct. 14 was sensational: “Anonymous Mailing Hits Luke Messer OWI Guilty Plea.” The first paragraph read: “An anonymous letter ar - “He is nicer to Chavez, nicer to rived in the mailboxes of several area news sources today, including this blog.” Castro, nicer to the president of And then the entire content of the mailing was posted. What makes this Iran, nicer to all these thugs than newsworthy is that Advance Indiana’s he is to Israel, to Netanyahu.” Gary Welsh didn’t bother to call the Messer campaign to confirm whether - U.S. Rep. Mark Souder , on the information was true. Or whether it was the same “Allen Luke Messer” that President Obama, to the Fort Wayne is now running for the 5th CD seat. Journal Gazette) HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 Howey Politics Indiana, which were hauling filing cabinets out of the Howey Politics also received the packet, appears to Indiana Statehouse and other gov- Indiana have been the only news source which ernment centers. When the probing sought a confirmation and comment. press disappears, corruption tends to is a nonpartisan news - Advance Indiana would later add the follow. Virtually gone over the past HPI quote from Jennifer Hallowell of the year or so is investigative report - letter based in Indianapolis Messer campaign to its website. ing. News staffs, which have either and published by NewsLink With the Post-Tribune teetering endured layoffs and seen numbers on the brink and the New York Times dwindle due to attrition, simply no Inc. It was founded in preparing to cleave away 8 percent longer have the manpower to conduct 1994 in Fort Wayne. of its news staff, this is a disturbing expansive, time-consuming investiga - glimpse into the future of American tive enterprise. journalism. The FSSA/IBM story that Brian A. Howey, publisher Many of the blogs will pump broke last week was more the re- out rumors. Some never follow up. sult of safety net providers who Mark Schoeff Jr.,Washington Others will, but only later. The notion of complained to local legislators, with Jack E. Howey, editor picking up the phone for confirmation is the press picking up the story dur - Beverly Phillips, associate quaint or burdensome. The danger for ing coverage of the Indiana General society is that unless a new economic Assembly. In times gone by, there editor model can be found, it will be the blogs would have been reporters probing and “journalists” without degrees - and the system well in advance of legisla- Subscriptions: in many cases, without ethics - who will tive committee hearings and bill filing fill the void. deadlines. That didn’t happen, for the $350 annually HPI via e-mail; This week, former Washing- most part, until this year. $550 annually HPI & HPI Daily ton Post Executive Editor Len Downie Society will pay a steep Wire. wrote in a paper commissioned by the price if that continues. Columbia University Journalism School The news this year from the Call 317-627-6746. that “Journalism is at risk and American newsrooms has been horrific. The Howey Politics Indiana society must act to preserve it.” New York Times has seen its news- Downie and Columbia professor room go from 1,330 employees to 6255 N. Evanston Ave. Michael Schudson argue the govern- 1,250. The Los Angeles Times has Indianapolis, IN 46220 ment, universities and nonprofit founda - gone from 1,200 to 600; the Wash - tions should step in as newspapers suf - ington Post from 900 to 700; the Contact Us fer financially. Among other steps, the Boston Globe from 500 to 300. There authors recommend that the govern- have been more than 100 layoffs at www.howeypolitics.com ment ensure the tax code allows local the Indianapolis Star along with staff [email protected] news outlets to operate as non-profits. pay cuts and at least two weeklong They urge philanthropic organizations to furloughs. The Star’s Statehouse cov- Main Office: 317-506-0883. support local reporting. And they sug - erage is only a shell of what it once Howey’s Mobile: 317-506-0883. gest a fund be established using fees was. With newspaper and TV station’s Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535. from telecom or Internet providers for in budget sessions now for 2010, it is Washington: 202-256-5822. grants to innovative local news groups. unclear how many news organizations Howey Politics Indiana has will be providing daily Statehouse Business Office: 317-627-6746. been participating in a working group coverage next year. ©2009, Howey Politics exploring the “news foundation” option. Ad revenue that has been Indiana . All rights reserved. In my view, the foundation could be a steadily decreasing the past few 10-year measure to ensure the fourth years, fell 28.6 percent in the first Photocopying, Internet forwarding, estate watchdog continues in some half of the year, according to the New faxing or reproducing in any form, form until a viable economic model York Times. The newspaper reported in whole or part, is a violation of can be established to sustain a probing that Gannett - owner of the India- press. napolis Star - saw its revenue fall 28.4 federal law without permission from Without such, it will only be a percent last quarter, an improvement the publisher. matter of time before we return to the over the 33 percent decline during days of the 1980s, when FBI agents the first half of the year. McClatchy HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 newspapers reported a 28.1 percent decline. aren’t publishing on Mondays or Saturdays. Earlier this Across Indiana, we’ve watched dozens of layoffs. month, Steve Key of the Hoosier State Press Association Some newspapers no longer employ photographers, or as told HPI that he believed that the state newspaper industry the Indianapolis Star started a few years back, they send had reached its low point. journalists to press conferences with cameras in hand to But in talks with journalists around the state in augment their staff photographers. Press releases are recent weeks, many are girding for further cuts, further being printed verbatim as “News from You.” Some papers layoffs, and a further erosion of the local watchdog. v impact on these four races than others across the state. FSSA, from page 1 But several observers see the Evansville area races as the GOP’s attempt to “spread the field” and draw Democratic vindicates those of us who have raised serious questions sources into the area. about the viability of turning to the private sector to handle Can the Democrats make the IBM story translate critical government functions. Ever since this contract was to other races in places like Anderson, Pendleton, Kokomo signed, there have been so many complaints about the and races involving Reps. Vern Tincher, Bob Bischoff, Terri delivery of services that even a blind man could see that Austin, Scott Reske, Joe Pearson and Ron Herrell? the system was not working. Perhaps this will put a needed Possibly. brake on the desires to privatize more government func - The IBM issue could also cloud another theme tions.” likely to emerge as Daniels and Republicans press for the Many Democrats were skeptical of the $1.34 billion Kernan-Shepard local government reforms. Bauer and the contract awarded to IBM and ACS in 2007. They noted that Democrats will almost certainly try to broad-brush the a similar system in Texas was scuttled due to problems.