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Home , Erick Erickson, Karl Rove, Marco Rubio

V21, N25 Friday, March 4, 2016

Trump the ultimate INGOP wildcard could go wrong A few Hoosier with that?), prepar- ing to nominate a Republicans express billionaire dema- alarm, but party is gogue who has insulted everyone mostly mute from the Holy See to disabled citizens. By BRIAN A. HOWEY The only entities BLOOMINGTON – We have not feeling the entered the era of Trumpian Indi- Teflon howitzers ana. It is one filled with mystery and are Jesus Christ, vacuum. It is one that is releasing Mohammed and demons. With well God, and they positioned for may be next. For the Republican Democrats rejoic- presidential ing at the idea that nomination, will fueled by about Andrean HS students holding a Donald Trump cutout chanted “build a “cream” Trump, as 35% of the wall” at Latino Bishop Noll students last weekend. (NWI Times Photo) suggested by the Republican wobbly prognosti- electorate in about 15 states, Americans and Hoosiers are cators Karl Rove and , the sobering dynamic is facing an unprecedented November election with the likely that the U.S. may be one terror assault away from a Presi- nominees possessing historically high negatives. dent Trump, whose candidacy rocketed past the punditry Any historic templates are now obsolete. following the Paris and San Bernardino attacks. ISIS seeks On the Republican side, the Trump phenomenon is Continued on page 4 being propelled by the uneducated and uninformed (what Lt. Gov. Holcomb ascends By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Sooooo, have you been to the Berry Bowl? Eric Holcomb responded, “Yes.” The Wigwam? TigArena? Northside Gym? Holcomb, then a U.S. “We reiterated our commitment Senate candidate, hadn’t made it to the former home of the Peru to be part of ongoing discussions Tigers, now headquarters of the to keep jobs in Indiana.” Indians, but now he knew it had to be on his list. Elkhart’s - Gov. after Northside Gym was on his list. But his Facebook page was a chronicle meeting with Carrier of treys, layups, baseline jumpers and announcing 400 jobs and top-of-the-key fadeaways. Statewide candidates would remain in Indiana often campaign with a theme. In 1990, Baron Hill walked across the Page 2

Howey Politics Indiana WWHowey Media, LLC 405 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 www.howeypolitics.com

Brian A. Howey, Publisher Former Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman introduces newly sworn in Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb Thursday Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington afternoon at the Indiana Statehouse. (HPI Photos by Mark Curry) Jack E. Howey, Editor Mary Lou Howey, Editor state from Lake to the Holcomb said the call from River. Steve Buyer ran for congress in Pence, seeking to replace Lt. Gov. Maureen Hayden, Statehouse 1992 with combat boots slung over his Sue Ellspermann, who resigned on Mark Curry, photography shoulder. Vance Hartke would always Wednesday, “is all about public ser- snap a Polaroid shot of himself and vice.” Holcomb was confirmed by the Subscriptions whoever he met; his car trunk was Indiana General Assembly – 50-0 in full of Polaroid film. had the Senate and 91-3 in the House – HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 RV1. Birch and would roll Thursday morning. HPI Weekly, $350 up their sleeves and work the room, “Hoosiers are literally feeding Ray Volpe, Account Manager then go find a Dairy Queen. Holcomb the world,” said Holcomb, who takes 317.602.3620 spent a good part of his U.S. Senate the helm of the state’s Department email: [email protected] campaign shooting baskets in historic of Agriculture and will oversee offices hoops arenas, from Knightstown to dealing with tourism and rural af- Contact HPI Milan to Loogootee. fairs. Holcomb said that Indiana has [email protected] That is, until he received a become “synonymous with innovation Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 phone call from Gov. Mike Pence just and investment.” Washington: 202.256.5822 before the Super Bowl, inviting him to “While we create local, we join the ticket. Holcomb became Indi- have global impact,” Holcomb said, Business Office: 317.602.3620 ana’s 51st lieutenant governor Thurs- noting that his jobs with Gov. Daniels day afternoon, with Gov. Mike Pence and U.S. Sen. Dan Coats had taken © 2016, Howey Politics introducing him as the “best-prepared him to Madrid, Jerusalem and Beijing, Indiana. All rights reserved. person to ever assume the duties” of but added, “As Dorothy said, ‘There’s Photocopying, Internet forward- the office. no place like home.’” Holcomb took the oath of Pence cited Holcomb’s ing, faxing or reproducing in office from Indiana Supreme Court career in the Daniels administration, any form, whole or part, is a Justice Mark Massa before an overflow with Sen. Coats and former U.S. Rep. violation of federal law without crowd in the Statehouse south atrium. John Hostettler, as well as his stint permission from the publisher. Moments later he declared himself to as a U.S. Navy intelligence officer in be “people purposed” a decade after a time of war, as giving Holcomb the he took his first Statehouse job with unique resume that inspired his selec- Gov. Mitch Daniels. He told the crowd, tion. He cited Holcomb’s kindness, “Gov. Pence offered me a job I never tenacity and love for the people of In- sought,” and then vowed to “create diana, said, “He’s just a great guy and and build an even better Indiana.” He he’ll be a great lieutenant governor.” described his duties that will go far For flourish, Pence noted that Hol- beyond the borders of not only Indi- comb had shot a basketball in all 92 ana, but the United States. counties during his Senate campaign. Page 3

“I didn’t ask him what his percentage was,” Pence quipped. Curt Smith of the Indiana Family Institute watched the unfolding pagentry and noted “I hired Eric for his first job,” on Hostettler’s staff. The clincher? Holcomb’s vast knowledge of Abraham Lincoln, a tangible asset in the old Bloody 8th CD. Holcomb’s strength is his people skills and commonality that will trans- late well to the retail politics he is faced with for the next eight months. He’s a man who can describe the guitar riffs of Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC and was savvy enough to sponsor a My Man Mitch dirt track car at the Anderson Speedway reaching blue collar voters. The Pence administration made the crucial pivot, transitioning to Gov. Mike Pence looks on as Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb talks with a constituent Thursday after- Holcomb as lieutenant governor a day noon after he became Indiana’s 51st LG. (HPI Photo by Mark Curry) after Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann stepped though he knew there might be a problem with the optics down. Holcomb gives Gov. Mike Pence’s reelection cam- of the meeting from some of his supporters. “Someone paign a critical on-the-ground component as he girds for a else might have considered cancelling,” Holcomb told CNHI rematch with Democrat John Gregg. Informed and reliable Statehouse reporter Maureen Hayden. “But we couldn’t sources have told HPI that Ellspermann was uncomfort- get there fast enough.” able participating in what is expected to be an intensely As Daniels’ deputy chief of staff, as his reelection fought campaign which will see Pence resort to combative campaign manager, as Indiana Republican chairman under advertising for the first time in his career. Ellspermann had both Daniels and Pence, Holcomb’s mojo has always been signed a no-negative-campaign pledge in 2010 when she about opening doors. At a time when Gov. Pence talks upset House Majority Leader Russ Stilwell, and the Pence- about non-discrimination while doing nothing to promote Ellspermann ticket did the same two years later. It almost a resolution to the simmering civil rights expansion issue, ended in a disaster as Pence narrowly defeated Gregg Holcomb talked about inclusion, the big tent, and creating instead of the landslide win many expected, capturing just a new pool of Republicans, one bouquet, one layup at a 49% of the vote. Since then, the Pence administration has time. been enmeshed in a number of controversies that had A number of Republicans HPI has talked with exposed fissures between the various wings of the GOP. hope that Holcomb widens Gov. Pence’s tiny, true-believer Holcomb is expected to salve those wounds. inner circle, bringing different perspectives that many think Holcomb has crisscrossed the state as a deputy haven’t been represented in the first three years of the chief of staff for Gov. Mitch Daniels, as his 2008 campaign administration. manager, as state Republican chairman, and then for Holcomb’s first job will be to mend the Indiana Re- much of 2015 and early 2016 as a U.S. Senate candidate. publican Party, its business and social conservative wings He abruptly withdrew from that race on Feb. 9 and was frayed by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the named the LG designate by Gov. Pence a day later. civil rights expansion. “Eric is going to be a tremendous Holcomb comes on board because he is the asset,” Indiana Republican Chairman Jeff Cardwell told Indiana Republican Party’s happy warrior. He knows the HPI. “He brings a total new aspect to team. He knows In- nooks and crannies of the state. He knows how to pleas- diana very very well and he will be building on the founda- antly cajole folks to come around. Tracking down ballot tion that’s already in place.” petitions for Daniels 2004 reelect, he found an indiffer- How much damage has there been to the party? “I ent Southern Indiana county clerk. He promised to come think it has been overblown,” Cardwell said, acknowledg- back after lunch, and did, with a bouquet of flowers and a ing that RFRA and civil rights have been internal stewing smile. He left with the certified signatures. points. But Cardwell says that many Hoosier Republicans On Dec. 3, 2015, a day after the San Bernardino believe that the “governor made a good point about pro- terror assault, Holcomb met with the Muslim Alliance of tecting and defending the constitution of Indiana and the Indiana to express his support for them. He had the meet- United States. He’s going to continue to listen and have an ing set up before the shootings took place, and decided to open mind. Ultimately it’s going to come down to we can- keep the appointment. He didn’t consider cancelling, even not do anything to diminish his oath of office.”v Page 4

Mike Pence, responded to a Howey Politics inquiry about a Trump, from page 1 potential Trump nomination by saying, “Forgive me . . . for stating that if the conversation is going to focus on how to entice an American army back into the Middle East. the Republican Party – and by extension Donald Trump, his Hoosier Republicans are still on mute as they supporters, and Republicans/conservatives – is racist, sex- watch the Trump phenomenon unfold, much like one ist, xenophobic, etc., then we may as well not waste our would a traffic accident in slo-mo. While no establishment time. I absolutely 100% reject that narrative, and don’t or prominent Indiana Republican has endorsed Trump, want to engage in a discussion that has a tremendous and virtually none of them is publicly raising red flags in a unfounded insult as the foundation of that discussion.” state that has witnessed vandalism at a Plainfield Islamic From Pence’s perspective, Indiana will not be an Center, taunts aimed at Latino students of “build a wall” at automatic red state in November. It won’t likely go on the last weekend’s Andrean-Bishop Noll basketball game, and GOP Electoral College board at 6:03 p.m. Nov. 8. With few an “ethnic cleansing” hatchet attack on a Chinese foreign states nominating down-ballot candidates in the prima- exchange student in Nashville. ries and caucuses thus far, it is impossible at this point to U.S. Sen. Dan Coats told the Associated Press, “I gauge what impact Trump will have on a governor who am increasingly concerned by Donald Trump’s statements won office with just 49% of the vote in 2012 and is widely and behavior, and I have serious concerns about his ability seen as vulnerable. to win the general election and provide presidential leader- ship.” Daniels watching Trump turnout State Rep. David Ober told the IndyStar’s Matt If there is good news for the GOP, it may be in Tully, “I just don’t understand what people see when they Purdue President Mitch Daniels’ Tuesday night observa- look at Donald Trump and when they listen to him, and tion: “For whatever reason, there’s been how they think that is a temperament we want a surge of turnout on the Republican to see in a president. I am outspoken because I side and a falloff from past years on the think we are making a huge mistake as a party Democratic side. It may not be indicative if we nominate this guy. We talk about being a of anything later on, but it’s a phenom- big tent party but we don’t act like it. We are enon worth keeping your eye on.” forcing moderates out of one end of the tent Daniels appeared with Alexander and barring new voters from coming into the Heffner on campus Tuesday night and other end.” said, “I observed that for all the talk Gov. Mike Pence is on record as say- about money in politics, money didn’t ing he will support the Republican nominee. buy much, certainly on the Republican National Committeeman John Hammond III pro- side. All of the money got wasted or nounced Trump “unfit” for the presidency last spent on candidates who have failed. fall, and told the IndyStar on Thursday, “Donald Likewise, all the noise about the es- Trump is unfit to be the president of the United States. tablishment this, the establishment that. It’s hard to find Common sense would dictate that we spend as much time an establishment. If there is one, they’re not very effec- as possible and go through whatever efforts necessary tive because once again their candidates, at least on the to find a standard-bearer that, one, can win in November Republican side, have not done well at all. If there is an and, two, will run this country in a responsible manner. I establishment, maybe we see some evidence of that on cannot support Donald Trump at this moment. He’s not the Democratic side.” proven to me to be someone who is ready to serve in the Daniels also observed that we live in a “celebrity presidency. I’m a rock-ribbed Republican, and my inclina- driven culture. They may be wonderful actors but they tion is to support the nominee, whoever that might be. don’t know what they’re talking about. We listen to them But right now I don’t think it’s inevitable that it’s Donald because they’re famous.” Trump.” Heffner described a campaign from the “cesspool” And in a historic screed, Romney denounced and at one point talked of the Bushes and Romneys com- Trump on Thursday, labeling him as a “phony” and a ing together to find a convention “dark horse” candidate, “fraud” and warning that his “brand of anger that has led the irony being he was seated next to President Daniels. other nations into the abyss.” Trump responded in crude fashion, saying, “I backed . He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said ‘Mitt, drop to your The ignored GOP autopsy knees.’ He would have dropped to his knees.” All of this comes three years after the 2012 “au- topsy,” a 100-page report titled the “Growth and Opportu- Pence camp rejects Trump media narrative nity Project” under the direction of RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, which observed, “We must embrace and cham- Robert Vane, contracted by the Indiana Republican pion comprehensive immigration reform. If we do not, our Party and speaking for the reelection campaign of Gov. Page 5 party’s appeal will continue to shrink to its core constituen- two candidates who could utterly destroy the Republican cies only” and “there is a generational difference within bench for a generation if they became the nominee,” the conservative movement about issues involving the Josh Holmes, a former chief of staff to Senate Majority treatment and the rights of gays – and for many younger Leader Mitch McConnell, told . voters, these issues are a gateway into whether the party Rove, a former political adviser to President is a place they want to be. If our party is not welcoming George W. Bush, huddled with Republican governors and inclusive, young people and increasingly other voters last week in what was described by the Boston Globe will continue to tune us out.” as a “glum” assessment of the potential Trump impact. It was a report a vast majority of Hoosier Repub- In a Wall Street Journal column, Rove called Trump the lican wouldn’t comment on, let alone acknowledge. Now “dream candidate for Democrats” and warned that he Hoosier Republicans are staring at the likelihood their would be “creamed” by Hillary Clinton next November. nominee will be one who has castigated Latinos, seeks ”Although Mr. Trump’s antics may not drive away his cur- to ban Muslims from entering the country, and has been rent supporters, they make him unlikely to win the White a fountain of crude language and a policy-bereft stream House. If you’re a candidate who has an 11% approval of consciousness more fitting for a TV reality show. Last rating among Latinos, you’re not succeeding there. If you week, a Washington Post/Univison Poll revealed that Clin- have a record of misogynist comments, that’s not going ton would defeat Trump 73-16% (President Obama won to be helpful. If you call all the people you’re running this group over Mitt Romney in 2012 by 71-27%). This against losers, clowns, and dopes, that’s not the language has the potential for high impact in swing states such as of someone who unifies the party,” he wrote. , New and . Robert Kagan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Cardwell has seen this before Institute, observed in : “Trump is . . . Indiana Republican Chairman Jeff Cardwell has the party’s creation, its Frankenstein monster, brought to seen this dynamic before, does not plan to endorse, and life by the party, fed by the party and now made strong believes that the realities of 24/7 social media are creat- enough to destroy its maker. Was it not the party’s wild ing the wicked crosswinds. “One of the things I’ve been obstructionism – the repeated threats to trying to do is look back at other years,” shut down the government over policy Cardwell said Tuesday morning. “I know and legislative disagreements; the persis- there’s always a lot of high stress in tent call for nullification of Supreme Court business circles. Realtors, or the Lum- decisions; the insistence that compromise bermen’s Association, we always have was betrayal; the internal coups against a lot of high tension discussions where party leaders who refused to join the everybody talks about what if this guy general demolition – that taught Republi- wins? How does this effect long-time can voters that government, institutions, planning? It seems we go through his political traditions, party leadership and exercise every four years. What does the even parties themselves were things to impact mean for my business? There’s be overthrown, evaded, ignored, insulted, laughed at? This always uncertainty.” would not be the first revolution that devoured itself.” Cardwell continued, “The thing that is different For now, Republican campaigns are telling HPI from years past is the impact the information age is hav- they are concentrating on their own races while a Bell- ing – the social media, Twitter and Facebook. It’s instan- wether Research Poll in December showed Trump lead- taneous communication. It’s created a more stressful ing with 26%, compared to 17% for Marco Rubio and climate. When we were growing up there three sources . Joshua Kelley, campaign manager for Marlin of news, the three networks and 30 minutes of news. We Stutzman’s U.S. Senate campaign, said this week that the had 23 hours of relief. In today’s society, there is no re- Trump “outsider” and wrecking ball status is poised to lief. That creates a lot of tension and a lot of anxiety than bring out May Indiana primary voters who will latch on to we’ve had in the past.” the congressman’s message that Washington is “broken” Is Cardwell concerned about the potential down- and needs an overhaul. Trevor Foughty, campaign man- ballot impact, the coarseness of the rhetoric, and the acts ager for ’s Senate campaign, said he is focused of intolerance that are surfacing across the state in the on Young’s game plan and not the presidential race or im- age of Trump? pacts, as if the Senate race will be determined in isolation. “The cultural change is due to social media,” But in increasing numbers, national analysts are Cardwell responded. “That’s the kind of things you see on girding for a potential Goldwater-style disaster that al- social media. A lot of people put things on social media lowed President Lyndon Johnson to carry Indiana in 1964 they would never say in person. The shock value is now and brought in 78 Indiana House Democrats. “At some you’ve got people actually saying it. It has shocked a lot point, we have to deal with the fact that there are at least of people. I don’t think there is any question about that.” As for Trumpian impacts on the Pence reelect, Page 6

Cardwell said he is focused on the long-range game plan. flights home. “We’re doing the basics we always do,” he said. “We’re Purdue Prof. Jay McCann, appearing on a panel building the ground game; getting grassroots organizing Tuesday night after Daniels and Heffner, said that Trump county by county. The second thing is communications. “may grow the electorate. He may not grow the electorate We’re going to do everything we can to take advantage of in his favor.” And McCann added, “He is all over the map in all the social media channels. The other thing we’re doing, terms of ideology. He’s very unpredictable. Have him out the new thing we haven’t done in past, is we’re embracing at a rally and you have no idea what to expect. It’s like the data analytics. We’re doing what the private sector has what they said about . There was quirkiness and been doing for many years. It takes a lot of the emotions unpredictability. He couldn’t retain advisors. They couldn’t and guesswork out of it. We’re using the data to drive handle him. He couldn’t be handled. Trump is like that.” decisions.” Sabato’s Crystal Ball’s Larry Sabato, Kyle Kon- dik and Geoffrey Skelley observe: Even against Trump, Grand will back Trump if nominated Clinton would still face some generic headwinds. President Bob Grand, the managing partner of Barnes & Obama’s approval rating has been improving a bit, but it is Thornburg, was supporting but is now pre- still a few notches below 50%, which means that Clinton pared to back Trump. “Yes, if he’s the will probably have to win over at least a very nominee, I will support him,” Grand said small segment of Obama disapprovers (or Tuesday afternoon. “I can’t possibly maximize turnout among his backers). She support Hillary Clinton.” also will have to reckon with the challenges of Grand has not endorsed another winning a third consecutive Democratic Party candidate, he said, “in deference to the term in the White House. Anything bad that governor,” and observed that as candi- happens from now until November, a recession dates such as Bush, New Jersey Gov. or, heaven forbid, a terrorist attack or other and others have dropped calamity, probably would hurt Obama, and out, “It hasn’t strengthened any of the therefore at least indirectly damage Clinton. establishment candidates. Trump has The Sabato team continues: While the picked up that support. His candidacy is videotapes of Trump’s outrageous utterances for real. It is just a different paradigm. will never go away, he may try to rebrand him- It just seems as if he’s picking up a lot self in a general election. This is where being of voters. They want to give something unencumbered by a strong consistent ideology a chance that is not related to what’s in Washington.” can help a candidate. Trump will have won the nomina- Asked if Trump’s profane, semi-stream of con- tion by breaking with key parts of the party’s orthodoxy: sciousness and attacks on various minorities bothers him He opposes cutting entitlements, is anti-free trade, and and is something that alarmed the authors of Chairman seems quite supportive of universal health care even as he Priebus’s 2013 party autopsy, Grand said, “It bothers me, rips the , among many other examples. of course, but so do the activities of the Clintons. Look, Trump also had terrible favorability ratings with Republi- the issue here isn’t good behavior. Trump would help can voters when he entered the fray last summer, akin to himself if he just moderated a bit. He’s a big personality. his low numbers with the general electorate now. Could That’s what has made him successful. I don’t support it. I he turn his numbers around? We are doubtful, especially don’t relish the positions he’s taken. I don’t know if I agree because his campaign has often appeared hostile to the with his intent.” nonwhite voters who form the core of the Democratic Party, but after the incredible twists of the past year, we’re Down ballot impacts not prepared to rule anything out at this point. Are there potential down-ballot impacts here in The danger for Democrats is Trump’s unpredict- Indiana? “It might,” Grand said of fallout from a Trump ability. Most opponents can be gauged and a campaign nomination. “With some sources I’ve talked to, that’s really script can be designed to handle and contain. Op research not been a factor. People are not that worried. He is turn- can provide template responses. But all of that is obsolete ing out new voters, Republicans,” though Grand said these now. new voters may be “disinterested down ballot.” There will be a national brawl unlike anything Grand has met Trump. The Indianapolis attorney we’ve seen in the electronic age. The fallout will spew negotiated with Trump when he owned one of the Gary nationally and across the Hoosier prairies. Pundits will be riverboat casinos. “He was a pain to deal with,” Grand plunged into unreliability as they are assaulted near Trump said. “He was an arrogant guy,” telling Indiana gaming media pens. The collateral damage will likely be tornadic, commissioners “they don’t know how to deal.” Grand said with little logic left to determine who stands and who falls at one point, Trump was so angry, he and his pilot abruptly and which pieces of straw can pierce wooden beams. left, leaving his staff behind, scrambling to find other Indiana and America will likely be different places, perhaps profoundly different, come November. v Page 7

odds of recapturing Republican-held and Wisconsin, Trump nomination and and they have several other targets, while Democrats are defending an open seat in Nevada and another potentially competitive seat in Colorado. the GOP Senate map Obviously, the map gets much worse for Repub- By LARRY SABATO, KYLE KONDICK licans. This moves four additional Senate races – Florida, and GEOFFREY SKELLEY Nevada, , and – toward the Sabato’s Crystal Ball Democrats, and others would become more competitive. CHARLOTTSVILLE, Va. – Let’s have some specula- Ohio would be a toss-up, while Democratic odds could tive fun, if such a thing is possible in this election year. also improve in places like Indiana, , and North After recent primaries, it’s not a stretch to imagine Donald Carolina. As unlikely as it seems at present, perhaps even Trump as the Republican presidential nominee; in fact, a Senate institution, (R-IA), the chairman the odds at the moment favor this outcome. Now, add of the Senate Judiciary Committee, could find himself in a second, more controversial projection: Trump loses unexpected trouble, particularly if Republicans find their the general election handily to Hillary Clinton. If you’re a opposition to holding a vote, or even hearings, on Presi- Trump supporter, you will vigor- dent Obama’s eventual nominee ously object. to replace the late Supreme Court Yet the conclusion isn’t Justice is unpopu- our concoction as much as it is lar. the rather strong belief – and Under this scenario, we fear – of major GOP officehold- could see the Democrats win- ers at the national level, as the ning at least 51 Senate seats, New York Times reported in an with several others in the realm excellent piece over the week- of the possible. The Republican end. On Monday, Senate Major- “Trumpmare” is a Democratic ity Whip (R-TX), a Senate to go along with a third former chairman of the National straight Democratic term in the Republican Senatorial Commit- White House. (We’ll leave analy- tee, publicly expressed concern sis of what might happen in the about a Trump nomination: “We House and in gubernatorial races can’t have a nominee be an al- to future Crystal Balls.) batross around the down-ballot This scenario seems races,” he told CNN. almost too easy for the Demo- We’ll revisit this subject crats, and politics is always more many times before November, complicated. So is there any way and it is vital to recall that six out for the GOP? months ago, virtually everyone Senate Majority Leader in public office and in the elec- Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has re- tion analysis business dismissed portedly already suggested an av- Trump as a flash in the pan enue for his vulnerable members: who could never be nominated. Disavow Trump publicly, and even Still, for our purposes here, let’s air anti-Trump TV ads outlining assume the Republican leader- differences with him. In Demo- ship is correct. cratic and swing states, this might What will happen to prove a necessity for Republican the most vulnerable part of the candidates, though not enough GOP elective empire, the U.S. to save them in every case. Also, Senate? The Crystal Ball has argued since 2014 that the intense Trump backers (a redundant phrase) might with- current Republican majority is very fragile, and that the hold their votes from RINOs (Republicans in name only) seats up in 2016 give the Democrats a fair to good chance that are turning their backs on Trump. of takeover, depending on the presidential outcome, in McConnell’s idea triggered memories from 1964 part. and 1972, years when the parties went off the rails and How does a Trump nomination change the Crystal nominated candidates for president that were not competi- Ball Senate map? tive in November. Both (R) and George First, here are our existing ratings. Thanks to the McGovern (D) won less than 40% of the national popular 2010 victories they won on this map six years ago, Repub- vote. In this age of intense polarization, when voters are licans are overextended. Democrats have better-than-even motivated as much by dislike of the other party as by love Page 8 for their own, this kind of showing is highly unlikely. The many as a future majority leader, had refused to discuss 2016 two-party results would likely be within the 55% to the presidential race during the fall. But just days before 45% range, and possibly much closer. the election, a reporter overheard Spong say he would Nonetheless, our two historical parallels raise a be voting for McGovern. It generated big headlines at useful question: How did Republicans on the ballot in the the worst possible time for Spong, and he lost his bid for year of Goldwater, and Democrats on the ballot in the year reelection in a state Nixon won with 68%. of McGovern, survive the landslide at the top of the ticket? The Johnson and Nixon landslides were compa- These were different times, and ticket-splitting rable, with each receiving slightly over 60% of the national was more common. However, politicians developed the vote. Yet LBJ’s coattails were longer. Democrats gained kinds of answers that some of those on the ballot in 2016 37 House seats in a chamber they already controlled by a will have to adopt: wide margin, and they added two Senate seats as well. By n The most common option among those hold- contrast, Nixon had a “lonely landslide.” Republicans only ing office was, “I’m a Democratic (or Republican) official, gained 12 seats in the House and actually lost two Senate and I’m morally obligated to vote for the party’s ticket.” seats, net. Congress remained firmly in Democratic hands. The White House candidate’s name wasn’t even men- There were many reasons for the differences, including the tioned. This sentence could be uttered with a certain de- fact that LBJ was determined to bring in a swollen majority gree of resignation or disgust that the party had put them while Nixon wasn’t nearly as dedicated to his role as party- on the horns of this dilemma. Most of these pols avoided builder. But surely the skill (or lack of same) with which their presidential nominee like the plague, and they were individual, endangered politicians protected themselves in always in another part of their state when the nominee both years was a key factor. visited. Essentially, they pretended to be in a parallel uni- In sum, historical precedent has suggested some verse where no campaign for president was being waged. possible avenues of escape, or at least management, for n Almost as common was this threatened Republican U.S. senators in 2016. construction: “I have my own race to Whether that’s possible in a more partisan run, and my plate is very full. The vot- era is anyone’s guess. Clearly, some red state ers are completely capable of sorting out Democrats tried to run against President the presidential contest without me.” The Obama in midterms in 2010 and 2014, and candidate avoided taking any stand, and almost all of them lost. And in the last two demonstrated a kind of humility by ac- presidential cycles, more than 80% of Senate knowledging voters weren’t sitting on the seats were won by the same party that won edge of their chairs waiting for his or her the state at the presidential level. endorsement. The opposing party and the There’s another way, though, and we’ll news media didn’t stop asking questions, of course, but it have to see if it develops later this spring. What if main- was a pat answer for all seasons. Ardent Goldwater and stream Republicans ran a “Real Republican” independent McGovern backers weren’t happy, but most of them were ticket, with a couple of widely respected candidates willing not offended enough to go fishing or vote for the other to suffer the excommunication and abuse that would come party’s candidate. with such a candidacy? Perhaps the ticket wouldn’t make n Some officeholders took very principled (or at every state’s ballot, but surely 40 or more states would be least definitive) stands and made crystal clear their party’s achievable. It is impossible to say how many Republicans nominee was unacceptable. Most had already been renom- would choose this alternative, but we’d bet it would be in inated before having to declare allegiances, so there was the millions, and nationally it might garner mid-single-digit no looming threat of a primary defeat. The GOP in 1964 backing or more. had a large liberal wing in the Northeast and the indus- What’s our point? “Real Republican” voters trial Midwest, so a stance against Goldwater was easier, would be almost certain to vote for regular GOP candi- even helpful, for some. Mitt Romney’s father, Gov. George dates down the ballot. This ticket could bring out people Romney of Michigan, aggressively opposed Goldwater prior who might otherwise skip the election, moderates and to the summer convention, and then made it obvious that conservatives who won’t back Trump but also wouldn’t he wasn’t voting for the party nominee during the fall. consider casting a ballot for Hillary Clinton. These extra Romney was reelected governor with 56% even as Lyndon voters could be the margin of victory for Republican Sen- Johnson was winning 67% in Michigan. Similarly, in 1972 ate candidates. It wouldn’t surprise us if there were more Democrats had an imposing conservative wing, mainly in than one such independent ticket, in one case running on the South and Border States. McGovern was anathema to an established third-party line (such as the Constitution Old South Democrats, and many incumbents left no doubt Party). The more the merrier for incumbent GOP senators; they would be voting for President Nixon. all those votes could be the cushion they need. A few moderate Democrats tried to straddle the So many possibilities, so many unknowns in this line, but it was a dangerous place to be. U.S. Sen. William crazy year! What election watcher could ask for more? v B. Spong, Jr. (D-VA), a highly regarded freshman seen by Page 9

“the same so the voters can focus on a limited number of The day Scott Walker candidates who can offer a positive conservative alterna- tive to the current front-runner. This is fundamentally important to the future of the party and, ultimately, the almost save the GOP future of our country.” By PETE SEAT It seemed, at the time, like a poorly played guise INDIANAPOLIS – He could have been a contender. to mask the lack of campaign cash. Walker went on to He could have been the nominee. He could have been tell local Wisconsin media that real estate mogul Donald president. But on Sept. 21, 2015, Scott Walker did the Trump’s firmly held plurality of support would likely con- right thing; he dropped out of the race for the Republican tinue without a winnowing of the field. If the other 15 nomination for president. candidates could not sketch out and act on an exit plan Where would we be today if others had followed quickly, Trump would secure the nomination. Few believed his lead? in that moment that the front runner of September would The reasons for Walker’s remain the front runner of March, and yet here we are. abrupt withdrawal were aplenty. Walker has long been a savvy political analyst, yet He struggled with questions as he was moving closer toward has-been (for now) rather of gravitas, his poll numbers than presumptive nominee, his words fell on deaf ears. But were falling, and supporters what if they hadn’t? What if one, two or 10 of the other were increasingly squishy. The candidates had heeded his advice and dropped their bids? driving force, though, was the What if , and Ted Cruz campaign’s absurdly high burn got out before ? rate. Walker’s team grew too Would Donald Trump still be the front runner? It big, too fast and they couldn’t took far too long for consolidation. It took far too long for keep up with their overhead in natural selection to take its course. It took those emerging stages of the nearly two months to the day after Walker’s exit to be the campaign. And I almost contributed to the problem. next candidate to drop out. It makes me wish there had In March of last year, shortly after Walker been an Iowa straw poll last summer; maybe we wouldn’t launched into orbit following an impressive Iowa Freedom be waking up to this nightmare every morning if another Summit speech, I was summoned to Madison, for a meet- candidate or two had to save face because they couldn’t ing with the governor. Arriving at the pseudo campaign hack it in Ames. office in the basement of the governor’s mansion, I got Unless Dr. Emmett Brown makes good on his De- a glimpse into the burgeoning and blossoming operation, Lorean time machine, we will never know what alternative which made later news of financial issues unsurprising. reality could have been. We will never know if it was at all Staffers were scattered about working feverishly to sched- possible for some of those men, and one woman, to put ule events, while others were huddled with Walker strat- aside their egos and do what was best for the country. We egizing about the next steps in his campaign. Unlike those will never be able to go back to Sept. 21, 2015, and give it already on the payroll, I was there to interview for a job another try. that did not come. While there’s still time to fix this mess, I will But enough of always look back on that. I come here today that day as the day that not to dwell on the past, could have been the but to praise Walker for beginning of the end. In- what he almost did for stead, it became the end the future. As the political of the beginning and we intelligentsia pored over are paying the price. v Federal Election Commis- sion reports to highlight Pete Seat is senior excessive disburse- project manager at ments, they glossed over the Indianapolis- Walker’s public reason based Hathaway for suspending his once- Strategies. He was promising bid for higher previously a spokes- office. man for President In his snappy George W. Bush, U.S. press conference with- Sen. Dan Coats and drawing from the race, the Indiana Republi- Walker asked others to do can Party. Page 10

to office with a record victory, crushing Democrat Jill Long Eric Holcomb is a Thompson by 18 points; in the same year won the state and the presidency, Holcomb got much of ‘welcoming Republican’ the credit for Daniels’ win. For the effort, Holcomb has been called a bridge- By MAUREEN HAYDEN builder for his skills bringing together disparate groups, CNHI Statehouse Bureau and an attack dog for his willingness to go after an oppo- INDIANAPOLIS – On paper, Republican operative nent. Holcomb said his preferred descriptor is “welcoming Eric Holcomb’s first political job was working for a U.S. Republican,” one who is eager to put party interests first. congressman. But his duties with the NATO Joint Force Holcomb, a former state party chairman and Command may be most instructive for his chosen career. district director to retiring U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, gave up Stationed as a naval intelligence officer in Lisbon, Holcomb his bid for a U.S. Senate seat earlier this month to take helped coordinate a multi-nation, the second-in-command job that pays just over $88,500 simulated attack against an a year. He did so at Pence’s request, when Ellspermann, a imaginary enemy. moderate and relative political novice, indicated that she “It was the most political wanted out. She’s announced that she wants to become job I ever had,” he said. “Can you president of Ivy Tech Community College, a position to be imagine trying to get 16 nations filled later this year. to arrive at a consensus? And Holcomb likes the analogy of a big-tent party with they were allies.” plenty of room for multiple, even conflicting, views. Actu- Holcomb, 47, is about to ally a big table sounds better. “I’m not one to say there’s step into another kind of combat no room at the inn,” he said. “I’m one who says there is where consensus-building will be plenty of room at the table. So scoot on over, and let’s get critical.This week he was sworn in another place setting.” as the state’s 51st lieutenant gov- Friends say key to understanding the cowboy- ernor, as current Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann stepped down. boots-wearing Holcomb is appreciating his folksy charm. In taking the role, Holcomb also becomes run- Holcomb grew up in the small town of Clermont before ning mate to Republican Gov. going off to Hanover College, Mike Pence, who faces a tough a private, liberal arts school. re-match against Democrat As a boy, his home wasn’t far John Gregg, whom he narrowly from a drag-racing strip now defeated four years ago, and known as Lucas Oil Raceway, deep divisions within his own where he’d ride his bike to col- party. lect empty beer and pop cans. Repairing the rupture During a previous stint as between the socially conser- Daniels’ deputy chief of staff, vative Pence and disaffected, Holcomb could be found with establishment Republicans, Democrat friends during fall who may stay home on Election racing season at the Anderson Day, is among Holcomb’s key Speedway for a fan favorite, challenges. Pence’s ratings took school buses racing around a big hit last year as he cham- a figure-8 track. “He’s a man pioned a contentious religious with a lot of friends. That’s a freedom law that critics saw as hard thing to do in politics,” a license to discriminate. He said Cam Savage, a Daniels further alienated some business campaign aide who’s known leaders this year by rejecting a Holcomb since the latter first call to add gender identity and ran for office in 2000. sexual orientation to the state’s Not everyone’s a friend. civil rights law. Late in that 2000 race for Holcomb has done state representative, Holcomb major repair work before. He ran an ad in local newspa- ran the 2008 reelection cam- pers accusing his opponent, paign of Gov. Mitch Daniels, Eric Holcomb at Howey Politics Indiana’s North American HQ Democratic incumbent John whose popularity plunged in during his Senate campaign. He will now be a vital component Frenz, of condoning obscenity his first term nearly as deeply for Gov. Mike Penc’s reelection campaign. (HPI Photo by Brian and bestiality. The basis for as Pence’s. Daniels returned A. Howey) the accusation was that Frenz Page 11 had voted to fund proach since,” he said. the Kinsey Institute, Holcomb’s colleagues say an internationally he’s got a gift for energiz- known sex research ing a campaign. “He makes center at Indiana you feel like you’re part of University. What a something,” said Brian Frenz had actually McGrath, a friend and for- voted on was the mer finance director for the state budget, which Daniels campaign. “He’s got included funding for vision.” IU and every state McGrath and Savage both university. say Holcomb also has the Holcomb trust of those devoted to lost the race. But Daniels, a fiscal conservative Democrats call it who called for a truce on one of the dirti- social issues when he was est political ads in in office. Daniels’ supporters Indiana political his- haven’t “felt at home” with tory and point to it as evidence of what Holcomb is willing the Pence administration, Savage said. Holcomb’s presence to do. “When I saw Eric was on the ticket, I knew, they may change that. In doing so, he could pull disaffected Re- think he’ll be the hatchet man,” Frenz said. Still, Frenz said publicans – and their money – back to Pence. “Let’s hope he’s forgiven Holcomb. “I think it was campaign staff who so,” Savage said. “At the end of the day, it’s in the party’s decided to do it, not Eric,” he said. best interest.” v Holcomb now says the ad was a mistake and a tough lesson in how not to conduct a political campaign. Maureen Hayden covers the Indiana Statehouse He said so, standing by his wife Janet, at Pence’s press for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach her at conference to announce Holcomb’s new role. “I recognize [email protected] that, and learned from that, and have not taken that ap-

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ways err on the side of caution. For that reason, following Pence 1 for 2, but a the terrorist attack in Paris and the acknowledgment by the director of the FBI that there are gaps in the screening for Syrian refugees, I suspended participation by the State good week with voters of Indiana in the Syrian refugee resettlement program and By BRIAN A. HOWEY I stand by that decision. INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence was one out of Pence continued, “So long as the Obama adminis- two for the week. He was rebuked by a federal judge over tration continues to refuse to address gaps in the screen- his ban of Syrian refugees, but he appeared to have saved ing of Syrian refugees acknowledged by the FBI and a 400 Carrier jobs after meeting with the fleeing company bipartisan majority in Congress, Hoosiers can be assured on Wednesday. In both cases, his stances will likely play that my administration will continue to use every legal well with voters. means available to suspend this program in Indiana unless On Tuesday, federal district Judge Tanya Walton and until federal officials take steps to ensure the safety Pratt cited a “near complete absence of harm to the state,” and security of our citizens.” adding the governor’s order “clearly discriminates against While Pence’s stance on the refugees was contro- Syrian refugees based on their versial, past and future polling on the issue will likely show national origin.” continued support for the move, even though actions by It came after Pence an- Bishop Tobin and Judge Pratt proved to be a rebuke. nounced last November that In- On the Carrier issue, Pence sat down with com- diana would ban the resettlement pany officials on Wednesday and was able to announce of Syrian refugees, citing a fake the 400 “high-paying jobs” out of the total 1,400 would passport found on a terrorist after remain in the state. And Pence and the Indiana Economic terror attacks in Paris. The Pence administration could Development Corporation will get $1.2 million in reim- never cite where its authority was in the ban. Later that bursements from the company for training grants, accord- month, Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin defied Pence’s order, ing to Matt Lloyd, deputy chief of staff for communications saying that Catholic Charities would resettle a Syrian family for the governor. “We reiterated our commitment to be a fleeing the civil war there. part of ongoing discussions to keep jobs in Indiana,” Pence Judge Walton Pratt said in her ruling, “The state said after the meeting, calling it a “frank and productive” essentially argues that it is in the public interest for the conversation. WTHR-TV reported that Pence said Carrier court to allow unconstitutional discrimination to continue cited federal government red tape as a large reason for during the pendency of this litigation, discrimination that wanting to leave, saying they considered Indiana to have harms both Exodus and its clients so that it can gain an otherwise “positive business environment.” perceived leverage in its dispute Jobs will be a consistent with the federal government over reelection theme for the gov- immigration policy and whether the ernor. Appearing in Richmond federal government is complying with last week, Pence said, ”I know its obligations under the Refugee Act. Richmond has been through The court could hardly disagree more some tough times, but I’m with the state’s position. The public very encouraged by the prog- interest is served when constitutional ress and development of the rights are vindicated. economy the last few years.” “The state has unsurpris- Pence said the business envi- ingly cited no legal authority for the ronment in Indiana, including proposition that temporary national yearly tax cuts, has helped origin discrimination is any more con- reduce unemployment, but it stitutionally acceptable than perma- has not eliminated challenges nent discrimination,” the judge said. (Richmond Palladium-Item). “The challenge in growing the “Moreover, when questioned at the Gov. Mike Pence and IEDC Chairman Jim Schellinger economy in Indiana, more hearing about the purported tempo- meet with the media after salvaging 400 Carrier jobs. rary nature of the state’s directive, often than not, is meeting the state was unable to give even a workforce needs,” said Pence, loose timeframe for when the directive might change.” who asked a representative of each business present to Gov. Pence has instructed the Office of the Indiana describe how well they are doing. “We’re working to have Attorney General to seek an immediate stay and appeal of smarter, more effective 21st Century workforce develop- this order. “As governor I have no higher priority than the ment.” safety and security of the people of Indiana,” Pence said in If there was a negative story for the governor, it a statement. “During these uncertain times, we must al- was an IndyStar report that the Indiana bicentennial ef- Page 13 fort has a $38 million deficit. “We believe that the pro- The challenge was filed by the Indiana Democratic Party ceeds from the cell tower lease will more than cover the and joined by his opponent in the primary, Stutzman (3rd costs of the bicentennial capital projects,” Micah Vincent, District). Young told a large crowd of Madison County Pence’s top financial official, told the Star. Later in the Republicans at the annual Lincoln Club dinner on Satur- week, Pence expressed con- day that Democrats wanted him fidence that the bicentennial kept off the ballot because they costs would be covered. know he could beat Baron Hill, As for Democratic chal- the Democratic Party nominee. He lenger John Gregg, campaign said there have been highs and spokesman Jeff Harris noted lows in his political life during his that for the year, Gregg has six years in the U.S. House. “A out-raised Pence $465,000 to low point was when my primary $244,000 in large donations so challenger decided to pile on with far this year. the Democratic Party,” Young said. Gregg campaigned in Stutzman also was elected to the Aurora with Supt. Glenda Ritz U.S. House in 2010. He said he has and focused on education. “I worked to change the leadership of believe in what you do. Help is Supt. Glenda Ritz and Democratic gubernatorial candi- the Republican Party caucus. “The on the way. So sit tight, okay?” date John Gregg campaign together in Aurora. (Eagle system is broken,” he said. “Under Gregg told about three dozen Country Photo) John Boehner the controls teachers and school administrators in attendance at South got tighter. Only the leadership was making the decisions. Dearborn HS, “I want to get back to the days when teach- “The president and Speaker were making the deals and ers can teach and control is with the local school boards.” we were making bad deals,” Stutzman said. “We needed a Ritz warned the crowd, “Honestly, in four more change in leadership. That’s why I voted against Boehner years I’m not sure you’ll recognize public education. This is in 2014.” a very, very, very important election that’s coming up.” She wants to stop Indiana’s accountability system of labeling Young, Rubio win straw poll schools on an A-F scale. She argued that it harms students Just as members of the Republican Party across who should be selected for college and jobs based on their the United States are divided on a presidential candidate own merit, not where they went to school. “I can’t wait this year, Republicans in Madison County are also split on until we are not labeling schools A, B, C, D, and F,” Ritz a potential candidate (de la Bastide, Anderson Herald- said to applause. “I advocated right from the start when I Bulletin). During the annual Madison County Lincoln Club started running for reelection that I wanted to make sure dinner, The Herald Bulletin conducted an unscientific sur- we are reducing the testing. I have never been in favor of vey of the Republicans in attendance on Saturday. Of the ISTEP, the pass/fail test. Every teacher who gives it knows 126 people who filled out the survey, in the presidential who is not going to pass it before we spend millions of contest Florida Sen. Marco Rubio came out on top, while dollars giving it. It’s an absolute fact,” Ritz said. U.S. Rep. Todd Young was the choice of the 121 people The Gregg campaign also announced new staffers: who responded in the race for the U.S. Senate nomina- Greg Stowers will be special assistant or the candidate’s tion in Indiana. Rubio received 34 percent of the votes in “body man.” Karla De La Garza has joined the fundraising the survey, followed by current front-runner Donald Trump staff. Horse Race Status: Tossup. with 26 percent and Sen. Ted Cruz with 24 percent. Ohio Gov. John Kasich received the support of 8 percent of U.S. Senate the local response; Ben Carson, 7 percent, and less than 1 percent for , who has suspended his campaign. Young blasts Stutzman at GOP dinner In the race to win the GOP nomination for Indiana sena- The two Republican candidates seeking their tor to replace retiring Republican Dan Coats, Todd Young party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate both claim con- received support from 59.5 percent of the people who servative credentials but are campaigning on different completed the survey, compared to 40.5 percent for Marlin messages (de la Bastide, Anderson Herald-Times). Rep. Stutzman. Marlin Stutzman wants to change the national leadership of the Republican Party and align it more closely with the Young, Stutzman voting records similar Tea Party faction. Rep. Todd Young is focused on winning The two Republicans seeking a U.S. Senate seat the general election in November and working within the from Indiana will try to present a clear choice to primary system. A week ago Young (9th District) overcame a chal- election voters. What better place to start than with the lenge to be on the May 3 primary ballot over an allegation candidates’ head-to-head voting records? There’s a hitch: that he failed to turn in the necessary signatures of reg- U.S. Reps. Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young voted alike istered voters in one of the state’s congressional districts. Page 14

88 percent of the time in Congress during 2015, and they “It was disappointing to learn that a U.S. District Court had yet to vote differently this year as of Friday afternoon judge blocked Gov. Pence’s order that would restrict Syrian (Francisco, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). Stutzman and refugees from settling in Indiana until federal officials can Young voted the same on 621 of 704 roll calls in the House provide assurance that proper security measures are in last year in which both participated, according to data place and have been followed. Our primary responsibility compiled on OpenCongress.org, a website operated by the is to ensure the safety of Americans and this action only nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation. OpenCongress shows makes that job more difficult.”Primary Horse Race Sta- that Young sided with the majority of Republicans on 95 tus: Leans Banks. percent of his votes while Stutzman did so 94 percent of the time. Their voting records are identical this year. 9th CD: Houchin gets GOPAC nod Stutzman and Young have been on the same side for 91 State Sen. Erin Houchin received the endorsement roll calls in which neither congressman abstained, accord- of GOPAC, with the launch of their “2016 Conservative ing to a review of votes by The Journal Gazette. Congress Project.” The Conservative Congress Project as- sists GOPAC-affiliated state legislators running for higher Stutzman to address CPAC office in their primary and general elections. “GOPAC Stutzman is scheduled to speak at the CPAC con- works diligently to support and foster the talents of con- vention. Primary Horse Race Status: Leans Young. servative leaders and to build a deep bench of proven, tested candidates at both the state and federal level,” said Congress GOPAC Chairman David Avella.

2nd CD: Dems press Walorski on Trump Hollingsworth files financial disclosure Democrats are saying that U.S. Rep. Jackie Walor- The clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives just ski is refusing to denounce Republican presidential candi- posted on its website Thursday a financial disclosure state- date Donald Trump over the Ku Klux Klan issue. “Demo- ment for 9th District Republican congressional candidate cratic Congressional candidate Lynn Coleman pressed our Trey Hollingsworth. It is file-stamped on Feb. 18, 2016, own Republican Congresswoman Jackie Walorski to do at 3:43 p.m. indicating that it was hand-delivered to their the same – to join the voices in her own Party and con- office, the date it was due after he was granted a 90-day demn Donald Trump,” said St. Joseph County Democratic extension to file his report (Welsh, Advance Indiana). Hol- Chairman Jason Critchlow. “Walorski refused to do so as lingsworth’s largest asset is an ownership interest he holds reported by The South Bend Tribune and Elkhart Truth. in Hollingsworth Capital Partners Real Estate LLC’s cover- Why does Walorski refuse to condemn such behavior?” ing real estate holdings across the country that are worth Horse Race Status: Leans Walorski. more than $50 million. Those real estate investments are generating anywhere from $1.5 million to $5 million in 3rd CD: Banks endorsed by Sasse, Erickson annual income for him. Hollingsworth earns a relatively U.S. Sen. and conservative blogger small annual salary of $34,655 from Hollingsworth G.P. Erick Erickson endorsed State Sen. Jim Banks for 3rd CD. He serves as a managing partner of Hollingsworth Capital Sasse wrote in a News-Sentinel op-ed, “I’m anti-establish- Partners and various HGI entities. Hollingsworth claims no ment, and by that I mean that Washington is a mess and liabilities. Primary Horse Race Status: Tossup. we must change the way we do business. We have to have more urgency about fighting for the big things, and we General Assembly should call nonsense on fake budgets and fake math. But saying that by itself is not enough. Being “anti” anything Rep. Wesco faces rematch is not enough. It’s not enough to persuade anyone to join The race for state representative in District 21 your cause or your project, whether we are talking about is going to be a rematch of the 2014 contest (Quiggle, your non-profit, your business or your political party. This Elkhart Truth). Democrat Jodi Buoscio is again set to face is bigger than winning an election. We face a constitu- incumbent Republican Tim Wesco on Nov. 8. Buoscio, an tional crisis, and defending the American creed requires Elkhart Memorial High School teacher, lost last time the candidates who can explain what we are for. That’s why I two candidates faced off, with Wesco capturing two-thirds have decided to endorse Indiana State Sen. Jim Banks for of the vote. Buoscio said that won’t happen this time Congress in the 3rd Congressional District.” Erickson said, around. “There is a lot for people to vote on in this elec- “I supported Marlin Stutzman in Indiana’s 3rd Congres- tion,” she said. “They have a full slate of national and sional District when Marlin ran the first time. He won and statewide positions open, and typically that makes the is moving up to the Indiana Senate race. That leaves the better. I have matured as a candidate from 3rd District vacant and I hope you will join me in support- my try in 2014, and I think things will be a lot closer this ing Jim Banks for Congress.” Banks also reacted to the time.” Her focus, as it was two years ago, will mainly be federal ruling on Indiana’s ban of Syrian refugees, saying, on working families and teachers. She said that the state Page 15 needs to do better for working families who are not earn- perintendent Glenda Ritz, then traveled to 18 counties to ing enough. “When I ran in 2014, Indiana was ranked campaign (Fittes, Muncie Star Press). The one place she 37th in wage earnings,” Buoscio said. “Here we are two hasn’t been campaigning is Yorktown, making it clear that years later, and Indiana is ranked 39th. We need to do she will not talk about her candidacy at Yorktown Commu- better for our families.” One area of disagreement be- nity Schools, where she is still superintendent. McCormick tween the two candidates will likely be LGBT rights. Rep. presented her “non-negotiables” which included establish- Tim Wesco contends that the push for LGBT rights is a ing leadership and vision within the Indiana Department non-issue. He thinks it’s “Indianapolis-driven” and media- of Education, providing districts with needed and quality driven and said constituents in his district aren’t worked resources and developing a statewide assess- up about the issue (Elkhart Truth). “To compare this to the ment program. Then she asked teachers what issues black civil rights movement is ridiculous,” he said during they were concerned about. McCormick brought up her a Third House meeting in early February. “There is not a support for charter schools and vouchers, which Ritz has single, verifiable case of discrimination that has occurred in openly opposed in the past. “It’s here,” she said. “State Elkhart County. It is not a problem. So why are we having superintendent isn’t going to change that, so we have to this discussion?” Buoscio says it is time to extend language coexist.” Instead of trying to get rid of charters, she said protecting everybody from discrimination. “I work with she will focus on giving public schools the resources they teenagers and we always tell them to treat people the need to be competitive. After the meeting, McCormick way you would want to be treated,” she said. Horse Race talked with The Star Press about teacher evaluations and Status: Likely Wesco. state standards. McCormick said she would be more apt to keep teacher evaluations tied to testing with a “credible Statewides system,” but not if ISTEP stays the way it is now. She isn’t looking to change the state standards, again. If the state McCormick lays out ‘non-negotiable’ were to move further from Common Core standards, Mc- About a month after announcing her candidacy Cormick said it would be “risky” because universities still for state superintendent of public instruction, Jennifer rely on high-risk tests such as the SAT or ACT that align to McCormick held her first event in Yorktown. McCormick that curriculum. “I think we need to relax,” she said. “We announced Jan. 28 that she would challenge current su- need to have some stability.” v Page 16

tricts around the state. New, lower property reassessments Big box taxes and TIF threaten many TIF bond payments across the state and have many local governments crying to the legislature. I By MICHAEL HICKS imagine the many school corporations who have suffered MUNCIE – The legislature is currently wrestling mightily from TIF will chuckle at this comeuppance. with an issue that many folks might view as a fairly mun- The underlying problem here isn’t some arcane dane tax issue; the appropriate property valuation for big tax loophole the legislature can fix, but knuckleheaded box stores. Folk wisdom is right; tax policy is mundane, economic development policies that are far more common but it is a serious worry for some municipalities. The issue than empty big box stores across our state. v also contains an important lesson on tax and economic development policy. Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Cen- Big box stores like Walmart or ter for Business and Economic Research and the Target own both active stores and George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of quite a few empty locations, often economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball referred to as “ghost boxes” or “dark State University. boxes.” The property values of these active stores are assessed on their revenue potential and the cost of the building and structures. The empty stores are judged as worth County option taxes much less. This has prompted tax courts to force the reassessment By MORTON MARCUS of all those open big box stores, INDIANAPOLIS – In this bar the wooden walls are equalizing them to the value of the “ghost boxes.” This will soaked by beer from explosions of hostility or hilarity. Boss profoundly reduce assessed value and property tax collec- Bosco was in the last booth sipping eggnog out of season. tions in many places. “What gives?” I ask. I don’t know enough about the issue to hold a “Nothing and nobody,” the boss of the Indiana strong position on which measure of assessed value is General Assembly snarls. “I try to do correct. I’m not sure anyone else does either. However, I the right thing and I get no support know much about the local impact of big box stores. from anybody.” The big box phenomenon is a half-century old, “So you’re drowning your and the economics that doomed the local downtown stores sorrows in eggnog,” I say. are a century old. Big box stores didn’t kill the mom and “Eggnog,” he says, “makes pop stores, which were already slowly disappearing. What me feel festive and there’s nothing big box stores do is kill other big box stores. This is not else to feel festive about.” only the conclusion of several dozen high-quality economic “What’s this right thing you studies, but it is painfully obvious to anyone who held tried?” I ask. stock in K-Mart or Sears over the past couple decades. “County option sales tax,” he However, the proliferation of large big box answers. “Stop this local whining and squealing about not stores, especially the supercenter format, is not merely the enough local revenue and let them vote in their own taxes. outcome of favorable economic conditions. Local govern- See how they like it out there with the alligators.” ments aided and abetted the explosion of new supercenter “You’re willing,” I say, “to let local governments stores all around Indiana. The data is incomplete, but raise revenues with a county option sales tax? After you I’d wager that most new big box supercenter locations forced county option income taxes onto local government benefitted from local economic development incentives. by taking away much of their property taxes, now you’d These were either direct property tax abatements, or more give up sales tax revenues?” commonly tax increment financing (TIF) that supported “What are you talking about?” he asks. “No- construction of a new retail center. body said anything about giving up anything. Let the locals The irony is that in the mistaken name of eco- increase the sales tax by a penny in their counties, towns, nomic development, local governments incentivized the cities, school districts, library districts, mosquito districts, construction of these new super centers. In so doing, their whatnots, if they’ve got the guts to do it.” they left in their wake vacant big box stores that dot the “It would be chaos,” I say. Hoosier landscape. This didn’t boost the economy, but “Yeah,” he grins and calls for another eggnog. simply shifted the geography of retail, typically by a few “You know,” he confides, “local governments really thousand yards. For anyone who doubts the damage done need the money. They’re choking from our fiscal policy to schools by TIF districts, here is the smoking gun. Today pollution. For years, we’ve sowed weeds in their stinking a significant number of new big box stores lie in TIF dis- little gardens.” Page 17 “Now Boss,” I say. “You don’t want each jurisdic- 2014, they raised over six billion dollars from the sales tax. tion having its own sales tax. That would be confusing That, buddy, means about $1,000 per Hoosier.” for businesses and consumers. It would also set up more “How much could we have given to the counties,” competition between communities. Wouldn’t it be better I ask, “with a one-penny increase in the sales tax dedi- to raise the state sales tax by a penny and then give that cated to local governments?” added revenue back to the local governments?” “Ya got your hat?” he says. “You betta, ‘cause a “No fun,” he says. “Anyway we wouldn’t know penny on the sales tax would be worth, give or take a few how to give the money back to where it came from be- million, about nine. cause the Department of Revenue (DoR) doesn’t have a “Nine what?” I cry impatiently. clue.” “Nine hundred million dollas,” he sighs. “’N’ I got He gives me a sly, tipsy look and says, “I ran some da spreadsheet wit’ da numbas.” numbers. Don’t tell nobody. DoR says nobody should use As Boss Bosco slumps into sleep, I realize it’ll be their numbers to compare counties. But I used ‘em.” next week before I see those “numbas.” “Ya know,” he says, his voice slurring, “DoR, in

This isn’t to say that the federal government doesn’t need State power over feds a little work. But the states shouldn’t be the ones to make those decisions. Shoot, many of the states – and Illinois is a prime is troubling prospect example – are about as fiscally responsible as a drunken By RICH JAMES sailor. MERRILLVILLE – I don’t know about you, but the And if the convention poked its nose into the thought of the 50 states coming together for a constitu- nation’s military, we could end up with 50 commanders in tional convention scares the heck out of me. chief, each with a finger on the button. The Indiana Senate has approved Joint Resolution Perhaps the worst thing that could come out of 14 requesting that Congress call a convention for propos- a convention is the adoption of term limits for those who ing amendments to the nation’s serve in Congress. I suspect the federal government would Constitution. be in a greater mess if congressmen knew they would Specifically, the resolution asks have to go home after serving six or eight or 10 or 12 that amendments be limited to years. restricting federal spending and The best thing that has happened for Northwest federal power generally, as well as Indiana is U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky’s 32 years in the imposing congressional term limits. House where he has established himself as a high-ranking Is there anything else? member of the Appropriations Committee that doles out There’s something about the the money. The problem with limiting federal spending states dictating the amount of would come home to roost. Because of financial problems money the federal government can on the local level, municipal, county and state govern- spend that seems convoluted. ments turn to the feds for help. And giving the states a free hand in rewriting the For instance, without the money Visclosky power of the federal government is just as troubling. has brought home, the Little Calumet River would still And allowing a convention to impose term limits be flooding, the runway expansion at the Gary/Chicago on federal representatives and senators is a frightening International Airport wouldn’t have happened, and NWI proposition as well. wouldn’t be in the process of reclaiming the Lake Michigan Congress must call a convention if 34 states lakefront. And there wouldn’t be a chance for South Shore request one. And if 38 states ratified any amendment, it Railroad expansion. would becoming part of the Constitution. Four states have Whether a constitutional convention happens approved the request for a convention. or not, there will be plenty of state reps and senators A convention would be the first since 1787 who will be telling their constituents that they voted for when one was called to revise the Articles of Confedera- a vehicle that would put the brakes on the hated federal tion, the document on which the nation was founded. government. v Because a convention hasn’t been called since the original one, there’s no clear understanding of what it Rich James has been writing about state and local could and couldn’t do. government and politics for more than 30 years. He Calling a convention today obviously would be is a columnist with The Times of Northwest Indi- much different than the one more than 200 years ago. ana. Page 18

few, said they hoped I was wrong. They wanted Trump as GOP that dumb to a target helping to elect a Democratic-controlled Senate. Q. Why did a few of those Democrats not wel- come Trump for presidential opponent? nominate Trump? A. Because strange things can happen in a presi- By JACK COLWELL dential campaign. They feared that some event or damage SOUTH BEND – Back in early December, I wrote: to the Democratic nominee, such as something criminal “I don’t think Republicans . . . are dumb enough to nomi- actually being found in Hillary Clinton’s email, could crown nate Donald Trump for president.” Any questions? Trump as leader of the free world. Q. Looks now like they are that dumb and you’re Q. If so many Republicans didn’t want Trump, how dumb for thinking they aren’t. Doesn’t Trump have it come he keeps winning? wrapped up? A. With all those Republican presidential contend- A. As that great political analyst Yogi Berra ob- ers in the early caucus and primary tests, Trump, appeal- served: “It ain’t over till it’s over.” But Trump could be al- ing beyond ranks of traditional Republican voters, captured most unstoppable, no matter what Republican and conser- enough support to win, while the others split up the vative leaders try to do to halt remaining majority of the vote. him, if he wins nearly all of Q. Any of those others better qualified for presi- the primaries on Tuesday, as dent? polls now project as possible. A. Can think of at least five. Q. Why did you think Q. Why didn’t they go after Trump on his inconsis- nominating Trump would be tencies, lack of specifics and wild claims and charges? dumb for Republicans? A. Too busy going after each other. They thought A. I agreed with Repub- Trump eventually would self-destruct. And they didn’t want lican leaders who thought to alienate supporters Trump was bringing to the polls. Trump would be trounced in a Each hoped to win those supporters when Trump folded. one-on-one race with a Demo- Q. What if Trump and Sanders are the nominees? cratic nominee appealing to all A. Couple of friends say they’d move to Canada. of those groups Trump insults, They wouldn’t. But there would be continued stalemate, bringing disaster also to other with either a President Trump or a President Sanders, Republican candidates around the nation. Worse. If he did likely worse than now, with nothing getting done. win, Republicans would be responsible for their own rude, Q. Wait. Don’t both promise great changes? crude, ego-driven, never-back-down version of Putin as A. Sure. However, as President Obama finds, a president. president can’t make many changes without congressional Q. Change your mind? approval. Trump isn’t even on the same page as Republi- A. Nope. cans in Congress. Sanders would find the House, certain Q. So, are Republicans really dumb? to remain Republican, unwilling to pass any part of his A. No. Not really. Some are. Most aren’t. Same revolution. Isn’t it dumb to think otherwise? v with Democrats. Neither party has a monopoly on intel- ligence or on lack thereof in their ranks. Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five de- Q. Did you write anything about possible Demo- cades for the South Bend Tribune. cratic dumbness back in December? A. Yep. ’Twas a bipartisan expression faith that neither party would be dumb enough to nominate some- one likely to lead to electoral disaster, as Republicans Indiana has 4 billionaires did with Barry Goldwater in 1964, as Democrats did with George McGovern in 1972. I wrote that I didn’t believe NEW YORK – Carl Cook is the richest person in Democrats were dumb enough to nominate Bernie Sand- the Hoosier State, according to Forbes Magazine’s an- ers. nual list of the world’s billionaires. Cook is the heir to the Q. Is it certain that Democrats on Tuesday will Cook Medical Group fortune. He is worth $4.8 billion and reject a real left-winger like Sanders? is ranked 298th overall. Herbert Simon is the owner of A. Remember the words of Yogi. the Indiana Pacers and the co-founder of Simon Property Q. What was the reaction to writing that Republi- Group. He is worth $2.8 billion, up from $2.3 billion in cans weren’t dumb enough to nominate Trump? 2014. Dean White is ranked third in Indiana. White is a A. Republican friends, including some prominent real estate developer and former owner of Whiteco Indus- in the party, said they hoped I was right. They feared a tries. He was worth $1.96 billion in 2014 and is now worth Trump nomination. They regard him as not really a con- $2.4 billion. Finally, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay servative or a Republican. Democratic friends, except for a made the list again with a worth of $2.4 billion. v Page 19

George Will, Washington Post: More than any- Rubio reading Trump’s juvenile tweets during a speech. thing Marco Rubio said about Trump in , it was Enter Christie. Just as the post-debate narrative focused Rubio’s laughter at Trump that galled the perhaps bogus on Trump in a way that undermined his core attribute – billionaire. Like all bullies, Trump is a coward, and like all strength – Christie’s endorsement not only changed the those who feel the need to boast about being strong and subject but was itself a sign of Trump’s strength. tough, he is neither. Unfortunately, Rubio recognized real- Most significantly, Christie’s endorsement gives Trump ity and found his voice 254 days after Trump’s scabrous legitimacy that he’d previously lacked – and again, the tim- announcement of his candidacy to rescue America from ing was important. The objective of the Rubio attacks, in Mexican rapists. And 222 days after Trump disparaged particular, was to undermine Trump’s strength and portray John McCain’s war service (“I like people that weren’t him as an illegitimate, phony leader. Translated: Trump captured”). And 95 days after Trump said that might appear to you as a strong man and maybe a protester at his rally “should have been a potential leader but he is neither. In exit roughed up.” And 95 days after Trump retweet- polls, Trump has done well with voters who ed that 81 percent of white murder victims are have decided whom to support more than killed by blacks (82 percent are killed by whites). a month out – often winning more of half And 94 days after Trump said he supports tor- of those voters -- and he has dominated ture “even if it doesn’t work.” And 79 days after among voters whose top candidate quality Trump said he might have approved the intern- is “telling it like it is.” But with the excep- ment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. And tion of New Hampshire and the aftermath 72 days after Trump proved that he does not know the of Rubio’s debate, he has lost badly among late-deciders. nuclear triad from the Nutcracker ballet. And 70 days after The endorsement by Christie, whose campaign slogan Trump, having been praised by Vladimir Putin, reciprocated was “telling it like it is,” could win him second-looks from by praising the Russian murderer and dictator. And so on. voters who had previously been inclined to dismiss him as Rubio’s epiphany — announcing the obvious with a sense unserious. Stunning: Christie’s endorsement of Trump cer- of triumphant discovery — about Trump being a “con man” tainly shocked the political world on Friday both because it and a “clown act” is better eight months late than never. hadn’t leaked in advance and because it so directly contra- If, however, it is too late to rescue Rubio from a Trump dicted the main themes of Christie’s campaign. v nomination, this will be condign punishment for him and the rest of the Republican Party’s coalition of the timid.v David Brooks, New York Times: Now, at long last, the big guns are being brought to bear. Now, at long Stephen F. Hayes, Weekly Standard: Chris last, some major Republicans like Mitt Romney are speak- Christie, who ran for president on the sober promise to ing up to lay waste to Donald Trump. For months Trump’s “tell it like it is” and whose campaign was built around the rivals and other Republicans have either retreated in urgency of entitlement reform and restoring U.S. national silence or tentatively and ineptly criticized him for exactly security, on Friday endorsed Donald Trump, a national those traits that voters like about him: for being a slap- security ignoramus who is running for president adamantly dash, politically incorrect money-hungry bully. But now opposed to any serious entitlement reform and whose finally — at long last — major Republicans are raising their campaign is built around outrage and egesta. It’s a devel- heads and highlighting Trump’s actual vulnerability: his opment that is important, stunning and unsurprising. Im- inability to think for an extended time about anybody but portant: The timing of Christie’s endorsement was perfect himself. He seduces people with his confidence and his for Trump. The candidate running on strength had been promises. People invest time, love and money in him. But thoroughly emasculated by Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz at in the end he cares only about himself. He betrays those the debate in Houston on Thursday. Rubio highlighted his who trust him and leaves them high and dry. It’s unpleas- hypocrisy on hiring non-American workers, an attack that ant to have to play politics on this personal level. But this left Trump nonplussed during the debate and spinning is a message that can sway potential Trump supporters, hard afterwards. Trump defended himself by arguing, a) many of whom have only the barest information on what that he couldn’t possibly have known what the Trump bu- Trump’s life and career have actually been like. This is a reaucracy had done in its hiring practices, and, b) he had message that can work in a sour and cynical time among to hire non-Americans because he couldn’t find Americans voters who already feel betrayed. This is a message that who would do those jobs. When Cruz pushed Trump on his can work because it’s a personality type everyone under- announced neutrality in the -Palestinian conflict and stands. This is a time when it is not in fact too late, when asked what Trump had done for Israel, Trump noted that it may still be possible to prevent his nomination. The he’d marched in pro-Israel parades and received awards campaign against Trump has to be specific and relentless: from Jewish groups. If Trump were not beyond embarrass- a series of clear examples, rolled out day upon day with ment, it would have been a thoroughly humiliating perfor- the same message. Donald Trump betrays.. v mance. The ridiculing of Trump continued into Friday, with Page 20

year. Trump countered with a feint, to temporarily replace jailed Council- Bosma pulls saying he’d called Rubio a “light- man Robert Battle instead of removing weight” in the past but “he’s really not him from office (Carden, NWi Times). teacher pay bill that much of a lightweight.” Trump Senate Bill 146 passed the Republi- then noted that Rubio had mocked his can-controlled chamber 92-0, but still INDIANAPOLIS — Lawmak- hands as small, widely viewed as an is a long way from becoming state ers put the brakes on a controversial insult about Trump’s sexual prowess. law. The rules of the Republican-con- proposal that would have Holding his hands up to the trolled Senate likely do not permit the allowed superintendents audience, Trump declared, addition of the councilman replace- to give extra pay to teach- “I guarantee you, there’s no ment process to a measure providing ers outside the terms of problem” in that area. It was legal immunity to private universities a school district’s collec- a jaw-dropping moment in a that share student data with the state, tive bargaining agree- campaign that’s been full of since the two subjects are not closely ment (Cook & Schneider, surprises from the beginning. related. IndyStar). The Republican-controlled House declined to call Senate Bill 10 Regional Cities, House OKs HIP2.0 for a final vote Thursday, and House Speaker Brian Bosma indicated the road funding OK’d to be permanent supplemental pay proposal is dead INDIANAPOLIS — Legislation INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana this legislative session. The Senate for road improvements that would also House has approved a bill that would killed a similar measure last week. fund a key piece of Gov. Mike Pence’s codify into law Gov. Mike Pence’s Both garnered intense criticism from agenda passed the Indiana House on statewide expansion of Medicaid un- the state’s teachers unions. Bosma, Wednesday, but not by a large margin der President Barack Obama’s signa- R-Indianapolis, said “misinformation” (IBJ). An amended version of Sen- ture health care overhaul (Associated and Gov. Mike Pence’s reservations ate Bill 333 passed the House 57-35 Press). The measure was approved on about the proposal played a role in Thursday. The bill includes the House’s a 61-33 vote Thursday. It now goes House Republicans’ decision. Thursday road funding plan, which would raise back to the Senate, where changes was the deadline for the House to act the gas and cigarette taxes to pay made by the House will be considered. on bills sent over from the Senate. for what House Republicans consider Indiana’s expansion of Medicaid is “We just determined in our discus- long-term road improvements. It also called the Health Indiana Plan, or HIP sions this morning — and it was very includes $42 million in funding needed 2.0 for short. It has extended health emotional for some teachers, I think, for Pence’s Regional Cities initiative. insurance to thousands of people who because they were reacting to the Rep. Jerry Torr, R-Carmel, was the did not previously have it. A waiver misinformation — that it wasn’t worth lead author of the 2015 legislation granted by the federal government the effort to put folks through it,” creating the Regional Cities initiative, allows the state to charge fees to Bosma said. which helps fund projects to improve low-income people for coverage. The quality of life, economic development plan was unveiled in 2015 as a pilot A crude, scathing and job creation. It was originally de- program. The bill would make HIP 2.0 GOP debate signed to award two regions with $42 permanent. million each raised through last year’s DETROIT — Picking up right tax-amnesty program, but Pence FRI probes Islamic where they left off, Donald Trump, chose three winners and asked for Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio barked additional funding from the General vandalism as hate out fresh insults at each other in a Assembly. “It’s about regions, areas INDIANAPOLIS — Federal Republican presidential debate Thurs- more than just a city, or one county authorities are investigating an act of day night that also featured a crude getting together and trying to create vandalism at the headquarters of the sexual reference from Trump – and an a region that has assets that draws Islamic Society of North America near healthy dose of policy, too (Associated employers ... to help our economy,” Indianapolis as a possible hate crime Press). Cruz and Rubio, who earlier said Torr. (Associated Press). An FBI spokes- had devoted considerable debate woman in Indianapolis on Thursday time to throwing sharp elbows at one Jailed councilman confirmed a hate-crime investigation another, were relentless in training bill advances has been opened. It’s in response to their fire on Trump. Rubio justified vandals spray-painting vulgar graf- his attacks on Trump by saying the INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana fiti on an exterior wall of the group’s billionaire businessman had “basically House approved legislation Thursday headquarters in Plainfield on Sunday. mocked everybody” over the past allowing the East Chicago City Council