V23, N24 Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018

SEA80 crimping local meth production ISP reports meth lab busts have declined 74%, number of kids in toxic home falls By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – The dreary reality for the transformation of the Crossroads of America to “Indi- ana: The Methamphetamine State!” reached its low point in February 2014 when a Washington Post headline stated: “Con- grats Mis- souri, you’re no longer the nation’s In a dramatic demonstration on the House floor in February 2016, State Rep. Ben Smaltz meth-bust shows colleagues how much PSE could be purchased at one time. capital.” That dubious distinction belonged to Indiana found living in these toxic cesspools and hovels. where 1,808 clandestine meth labs had been busted. For It begged questions internally here at HPI: How is every one discovered, another three or four existed in the it OK that Indiana continually leads the nation in clandes- shadows. Continued on page 3 Even more appalling were the 458 Hoosier kids The age of fake news By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – In the summer of 2000, some weisenheimer sent me an official-looking email that said Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore and wife Tipper were to be feted in some type of kiss-a-thon fundrais- “Ground control to Major Tom, ing event. So I excerpted the release in the HPI Daily Wire. ground control to Major Tom, The following day, I re- ceived a call from someone on take your protein pills and put the Democratic National Com- your helmet on.” mittee. I had been punked. The “story” was something lifted - The David Bowie sound track from The Onion. “How could of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Tesla you be so gullible?” the Dem flak asked. I responded, “Well, Roadster hurtling through there was that long smooch between the vice president and the universe after Tuesday’s Tipper at the Democratic Na- Falcon Heavy launch. Page 2 tional Convention. So this didn’t seem instigating political rallies in the U.S. to be such a stretch.” during the 2016 campaign. “I see your point,” the flak In essence, we’ve come a conceded. long way from the U.S. Supreme Court Since we began publishing case Jacobellis v. Ohio in 1964. That the HPI Daily Wire in 2000, and the was a suit the state launched against Howey Political Report since 1994, it’s showing the Malle film, “The been rare that something from The Lovers,” and whether it constituted Onion or some other cute or unsavory pornography. Justice Potter Stewart source has made it into our publica- observed, “I shall not today attempt Howey Politics Indiana tions. I had been taught in journalism further to define the kinds of material WWHowey Media, LLC 405 schools at Vincennes and IU to main- I understand to be embraced within Massachusetts Ave., Suite tain a highly functioning BS-O-Meter. that shorthand description; and per- 300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 We’ve mostly kept out the fake news haps I could never succeed in intelligi- along with the gossip, rumor and in- bly doing so. But I know it when I see www.howeypolitics.com nuendo. it, and the motion picture involved in But just as Elon Musk’s this case is not that.” Brian A. Howey, Publisher Tesla Roadster now headed for deep The problem moving forward Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington space following the Falcon Heavy is that we may not know it when we Jack E. Howey, Editor triple rocket launch on Tuesday, we as see it. We may not know artificially a society are now headed into a new produced porn creates a sensational Mary Lou Howey, Editor era. Mark Curry, photography It’s the Fake News era, as commenced by President Subscriptions Trump in 2016 and found on a Facebook or Twitter feed near HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 you. Or, as some backers of the HPI Weekly, $350 president will tell you, on the Ray Volpe, Account Manager pages of the Washington Post 317.602.3620 and New York Times along with email: [email protected] CNN. Mike Allen in Axios cap- tured the emerging dilemma on Contact HPI Jan. 28. It’s one where we might [email protected] awake some morning to video of a Hoosier legislator or congress- Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 man having sex with someone Washington: 202.256.5822 not his/her spouse. Business Office: 317.602.3620 Allen presents the narra- tive: Why this problem is get- © 2018, Howey Politics ting worse, despite sudden attention firestorm for a candidate, public ser- from Washington and the platforms? vant or even a journalist. Indiana. All rights reserved. A new app has flooded the web with The reality we face now Photocopying, Internet forward- -generated fake celebrity porn. In traverses everything from mainstream ing, faxing or reproducing in a potential oppo nightmare for 2020, media, to social media, where the any form, whole or part, is a machine-learning algorithms can gen- New York Times reports in the “Fol- violation of federal law without erate convincing audio and video of lower Factory” by Nick Confessore that fake events. Axios Science reported on celebs and pols are paying for Twitter permission from the publisher. a study this summer which found that followers: “By some calculations, as we’re not very good at spotting fake many as 48 million of Twitter’s report- photos.” ed active users – nearly 15 percent The Economist cites the – are automated accounts designed to “new battlefield between falsehood simulate real people, though the com- and veracity” where “images and pany claims that number is far lower.” sound recordings retain for many an I have yet to take stock on inherent trustworthiness.” We’ve al- how many of my current 5,324 Twitter ready witnessed it, with Russian bots followers are real or Russian bots. It’s Page 3 a weekend project. hashtag #ReleaseTheMemo, reported The We are now being bom- Hill. The Russians are creating chaos within barded with stories that “Russian- American systems and having a good laugh. linked Twitter bots shared Donald So in the not-so-distant future, Trump’s tweets almost half a mil- what we know about what we don’t know lion times during the final months could reach dangerous and unnerving lev- of the 2016 election,” according to els. If I get an inbox video of Sen. Homer Bloomberg. Newsweek reported Simpson in the throes of passion with Rep. that The Alliance for Securing Jane Doe, the proof threshold could be elu- Democracy found that #Schum- sive and daunting. erShutdown had exploded among An old editor of mine would con- Russian influence networks. tinually preach, “Be careful, there are real The security group tracked ap- people out there.” That is, be sure of sourc- proximately 600 Twitter accounts ing. Because there are real bots out there believed to be operated by Russian-tied groups and found these days. Real fake porn. And it could obscure the real the shutdown hashtag had surpassed popular Russian bot truths we’ll be needing to conduct a civil society. v

take them on. In mid-January, House Public Health Chair- Meth, from page 1 woman Cindy Kirchhofer and Senate Corrections and tine meth labs? Why are hundreds of municipal and state Criminal Law Chairman Mike Young at one point vowed not employees being injured at meth labs as firefighters, cops to hear bills that would alter access to the drugs. It was and code enforcers? Why is it OK that in 2013, 458 Hoo- Speaker who intervened, clearing the way for sier kids were found in contaminated meth labs? Why is it a floor vote on the issue. OK that cities and towns are having to mitigate thousands In one of the more dramatic presentations in mod- of contaminated homes, cars and hotel rooms? Why, why, why? And are there solutions to be found in other states? HPI reporter Matthew Butler, now working as a policy analyst for House Republicans, learned that Mississippi, Or- egon, Missouri and Tennessee restricted pseudoephedrine sales at pharmacies. The impacts were dramatic. Mississippi saw meth lab busts decline from 692 in 2009 to eight in 2013. Why shouldn’t Indiana follow this lead? In 2016, a coalition that had been forming included State Rep. Ben Smaltz and State Sen. Randy Head; legislator pharmacists such as Sen. Ron Grooms and Rep. Steve Davisson; a bi- partisan group of legislators that included Reps. , , Wendy McNamara, Ron Bacon, Christina Hale, , Charlie Brown and ; mayors with the Accelerate Indiana Munici- ern legislative history, Smaltz appeared on the House floor palities; the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council; and flanked by two easels bearing large posters showing how the Indiana State Police Alliance. The coalition ended up much PSE could be purchased at one time by one individ- paddling in the same direction, producing SEA80. ual. “I think that was shocking for a lot of people,” Smaltz It was a long slog as the Consumer Health Care said. “People could see the obscene amount of Sudafed Association conducted a statewide radio ad campaign you could buy. You could take the maximum dosage every warning consumers they would not find a ready supply day for nine and a half months if you wanted to, and that of pseudoephedrine products. Lobbyists for the industry was totally fine and legal based on gram limits. That really threatened reporters and opinion makers who vowed to struck home with people. Why do we have to have the Page 4 gram limit set so high? Maybe this was pharmaceuticals selling pseudoephedrine more than good policy and protecting our communities.” This past week, new Indiana State Police statistics revealed meth lab incidents have fallen 74% since 2015 after then-Gov. Mike Pence signed the law, declining from 1,452 in 2015 to 943 in 2016 and 371 for 2017. Even more dra- matically, the number of children recov- ered in meth labs dropped precipitously. After 458 were found in 2013, some 291 were discovered in 2015, and 49 in 2017, an 83% decline. Senate Enrolled Act 80 main- tained rightful patient access to cold medications by empowering pharmacists to use their professional judgment in de- termining whether there was a legitimate medical need for pseudoephedrine before approving a sale. Rep. David Frizzell’s House Enrolled Act 1157 required NPLEx to is- sue stop-sale alerts after Jan. 1, 2017, for meth-related felons attempting to purchase pseudoephedrine without a prescription. In 2017, Courts and Criminal Code Chairman Tom Washburne’s House Enrolled Act 1406 expanded the restric- tion to all drug-related felons effective July 1, 2017. And there was Rep. Martin Carbaugh’s House Enrolled Act 1211, which improved the collection and accu- racy of statewide meth abuse statistics. “It seems like you can’t do any- things I’ve seen politically, everyone pulling together.” thing alone,” Smaltz explained on Tuesday of the perfect Dr. Jennifer Walthall, secretary of the Family Social legislative/executive storm that occurred in 2016, culmi- Services Administration, worked on SEA80 within the nating with Gov. Mike Pence’s signature in hard-hit Roch- Pence administration. “The image that I recall most vividly, ester that March. “What I found out was that other people was having a room full of people, people talking about the were thinking the same thing: ‘I can’t do this alone. I need same common goals,” she said of the shaping of SEA80. some help.’ So I started working with Sen. Randy Head, “We’ve got health, health care finance, state police, the and then the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, and legislative, justice, and executive branches at the table. just on and on. It just seemed like all of a sudden, every- We asked, ‘What are the things we can control right now?’ body was pulling on the rope together to get meth labs We were all listening to each other.” and against kids getting caught up. Everybody just came When Gov. Pence signed the law, he noted, “I together. think it was a real common-sense solution that took into “It was Republicans’ help and Democrat help,” account the interest of parents and law-abiding citizens to Smaltz continued. “There were a couple of committee be able to have access to pseudoephedrine when a family meetings where Democrats like Charlie Brown and Pat member is struggling with an illness, and at the same time Bauer helped me out. They weren’t living in a community creating new barriers for individuals who may be using that had this problem but clearly Smaltz does, and so do those materials to create meth,” Pence said. other people. They were willing to help. I had Republicans “I think it’s going to make a big difference in the do the same exact thing. They lived around Marion and number of meth labs in Indiana,” Sen. Head added. Hamilton County where they just weren’t dealing with it. Asked if he has received complaints from consum- We were in crisis in Nashville, Anderson, Auburn, Kendall- ers and pharmacists about accessing PSE, Smaltz said, “I ville, these rural communities. It was one of the coolest haven’t heard one complaint. I get the thumbs up from Page 5 pharmacists in my district.” Smaltz credited mayors like Warsaw’s Joe Thalle- mer, Auburn’s Norm Yoder and Columbia City’s Ryan Dan- A meth problem still exists iel with articulating what was at stake in local communi- Essentially, SEA80 has crimped the widespread ties. “They were able to relay the message, this is what it collateral damage with the production of meth. This in- costs,” Smaltz said. “We’ve got police fighting this, we had cluded the children, the toxic residences that needed to be to clean it up. This is what the taxpayers in Warsaw or mitigated, the loss of taxable property and the injuries to Columbia City or Auburn are paying for in allowing this to state and municipal employ- ees. But meth is still read- ily available. It’s just being manufactured somewhere else. “While it’s safer with the decrease in manufactur- ing, we still have an increase in possession and use,” Dr. Walthall said Wednesday. “The thing that is hard is when we decrease one source, the supply seems to find its way from other sourc- es. We still have a lot of work yet to do,” citing the need on a “call of action that includes treatment and prevention.” Some of the decline comes with addicts pursuing heroin, opioids, fentanyl and other drugs, many supplied by Mexican drug cartels. Indiana State Police Sgt. Jerry Goodin observed, “Law enforcement is encour- aged about the reduction in the meth labs seized but continue. To have that message, to have that message at understand that the fight is far from over and total victory home fighting this while we were in Indianapolis fighting over the problem would be zero meth labs seized. The this. The prosecutors brought a lot of legal expertise to reduction in the numbers is a direct result of the combined help us navigate.” effort of enforcement, education and rehabilitation by po- And Smaltz credited Speaker Bosma when the lice, the courts, jails and the overall community awareness. legislation appeared to be bottled up in committee for Unfortunately, another reason for the reduction is the stepping up. “Without Speaker Bosma, there are hundred increased flow of cheap methamphetamine being funneled more kids found in meth homes,” Smaltz said. “Speaker into the United States and eventually into Indiana by Latin Bosma was very timely and his support was key. It American criminal gangs. The increase in the rise of heroin wouldn’t have happened without him.” use is also a factor and an extremely disturbing fact.” “I understand being a chairman, you think it and “I’m still seeing meth, still seeing people taking overthink it,” said Smaltz, who chairs the House Public meth, but not like I used to,” said Smaltz, whose HD52 Policy Committee. “Every chairman thinks, ‘What’s the includes parts of DeKalb, Steuben and Allen counties. “I right policy? What’s the right thing to do? Is what we was seeing hundreds and hundreds in my district. We were want to achieve realistic?’ I’ve got 30 bills coming at me seeing the pots along roads, outside my business, in trash most of the time and every one has support from some- collections. That’s not how it is today. I’m not seeing meth body. They had competing time. There’s only so much lab homes, anything like I used to see. I’m not seeing kids time. Speaker Bosma never told me no. He’s never said, getting yanked out of these hellholes. I’m a realist and ‘Don’t you do that.’ I’ve never heard those words to an- there will be other problems with drugs. I’m a fighter and other chairman. He’s very pragmatic. He’ll ask, ‘If you do I’m in for the long haul. You can fight meth and knock it this, what happens? If we don’t do this, what happens?’ I down and we’ll turn sights on illegal opioids and we’re go- made my case and he said, ‘What happens if we don’t do ing to fight that and knock it down and be ready for what it?’ and I explained what I thought would happen. else comes.” “He said, ‘This is something we need to do.’ Page 6

He was able to relay my message to the chair of public small token of gratitude for your leadership on this impor- policy.” tant legislation.” And Smaltz credits Gov. Pence with allowing the legislating to proceed. “Gov. Pence was a little more arm’s Lessons for moving forward on opioids length away. He came from a community that had a meth Rep. Smaltz is sponsoring SB221 in the House this problem. We still have problems in Columbus,” Smaltz said. session as a new tool to combat the heroin/opioid crisis. It “He played his role which helped us. He didn’t get in the would amend the NPLEx system to allow prescribing doc- way. I know the other side was working real hard to try tors to know if a patient is obtaining opioids from multiple and trip us up and if Gov. Pence sources. “If I’m an addict, I am able had wanted to get in our way, to doctor shop,” Smaltz said. “I can he could have, but he didn’t. I’ve get five different scripts from different learned in the Statehouse that pharmacies. I’ve got the drugs to feed neutral is just fine. If they stay my addiction.” Or for sale. neutral, I can operate. If they Before leaving the Statehouse on want to get in your way, it makes Tuesday, he took State Sen. Erin things a lot harder. He stayed in Houchin’s SB221 and reached out his role as an executive and didn’t to House Health Chair Kirchhofer to interrupt what we were trying to schedule a hearing. do.” He said that in order to combat HPI played its role as a the opioid crisis, “The first thing you media advocate for change, cover- Gov. Pence signs SEA80 in Rochester in March have to do is goal setting. What’s our ing the issue frequently between 2016 as Rep. Smaltz and Sen. Head look on. goal? What can we realistically achieve? 2013 and 2016 in this publication And who’s going to play what role in and in columns running in more than 30 newspapers and the process? Anyone who grandstands and wants to do it WTHR-TV. After Gov. Pence signed SEA80, he sent HPI a all is going to be fraught with frustration and failure for- signing pen and letter, which stated, “I used the enclosed ever.” pen to sign into law SEA80. I hope you will accept it as a “I met with Gov. Holcomb last Wednesday and we

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www.indianachamber.com/specialevents Page 7 talked about this issue,” Smaltz said. “I’m hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers and going to carry 221, an agenda bill. I felt like unlocks funding to expand resources to I was talking to somebody who was leading help people struggling with addiction.” the team, somebody who was committed. Azar, a former Eli Lilly executive, It makes me feel good that the guy in the said, “Today’s approval is the result of the second floor is on board. I walked out of his hard work of Gov. Holcomb, his team and office energized with a plan, knowing what our team at the Centers for Medicare and to do and what he expects. I feel the second Medicaid Services, and serves as a testa- floor is on the same team as the third floor. ment to Indiana’s ongoing commitment to When that happens, good things can hap- improving the lives of its Medicaid benefi- pen.” ciaries. We look forward to collaborating Dr. Walthall is also preparing to FSSA Secretary Jennifer Walthall. with Indiana on this next evolution of HIP, confront the opioid crisis. While the state is which serves as another example of the still gathering data on the extent of the crisis, Walthall Trump Administration’s support of state-led efforts and describes an administration that is not content to wait for innovative reforms to make our HHS programs really work the 2019 General Assembly budget session to deal with for Americans.” the situation. She noted that Drug Czar Jim McClelland Walthall added that the 21st Century CURES Act established a plan in 2017. That included expanding treat- will provide a second year of funding. And she is excited ment capacity. The federal waiver for Health Indiana Plan about the coming “Open Beds 211 System” to be an- 2.0 granted by Health and Human Services Sec. Alex Azar nounced in the near future. This will allow addicts to dial last week gives the state “a great vehicle for treatment,” 211 “24/7/365,” as Walthall describes it, allowing them Walthall said. to enter a treatment protocol. She said that heading into In accepting the waiver, Holcomb said, “A decade the 2019 session, FSSA and the state will be looking for after it launched, Indiana’s HIP program has become the “sustainability” in developing a strategy across all three national model for a state-led, consumer-driven health- branches of Indiana government. care program that meets citizens’ needs, provides choices “We’re pulling in the same direction,” she said. and improves lives. This approval continues coverage for “We’re all on fire.”v Page 8

Vice President George H.W. Bush used the “Willie Horton” Colt Edwin Jackson’s ad to defeat Democrat Dukakis. Senate leaders announced a two-year budget deal on Wednesday, but there was no commitment to bring up tragic death becomes the Dreamer deal. “Without a commitment from Speaker Ryan comparable to the commitment from Leader McCon- a Senate race issue nell, this package does not have my support,” House Mi- nority Leader Nancy Pelosi said (Politico). McConnell prom- By BRIAN A. HOWEY ised to hold a floor debate on various Dreamers proposals INDIANAPOLIS – The immigration debate promis- later this month as long as the government remains open. es to rage through Indiana’s crucial U.S. Senate race. The Ryan has already said he would bring up a Dreamers’ deal death of Indianapolis Colt linebacker Edwin Jackson to a if Trump signs off on it. “We’ve been very clear about this,” drunken illegal alien on Sunday was immediately politicized Ryan said at a press conference earlier this week. “We will by Republican candidates Todd Rokita and Luke Messer, take a bill that the president supports.” with President Trump and Vice President Pence also citing In addition to the dicey debate Sen. Donnelly the tragedy to make points on immigration. faces between now and the March 5 Dreamer deadline, And U.S. Sen. Joe Donnel- McConnell’s Senate Leadership Fund launched a digital ad ly faces a harrowing month lead- on the “Mexico Joe” theme that surfaced in 2017 after the ing into President Trump’s March Associated Press reported that a family company Donnelly 5 deadline for Dreamers to get had a financial stake in had out-sourced jobs to Mexico. an elusive deal. Donnelly voted to Donnelly has sold any shares he once had in the company. keep the federal government open The Senate Leadership Fund declined to disclose last month, citing a promise by how much it was spending but said the spot to the Wash- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to have the issue ington Examiner, but the PAC said it was aimed at “key debated. But a deal proposed by Sen. John McCain and voters.” The voice over in the ad says at one point, “Mex- Chris Coons was quickly shot down by President Trump, ico Joe says one thing in public ... But behind the scenes who then vowed to perpetrate a government shutdown this week unless his immigration demands were met. The day after Edwin Jackson died at the hands and pedal of a drunken Manuel Orrego-Sav- ala, an illegal immigrant, U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita put it into the political arena, saying, “The loss of life at the hands of illegal immigrant criminals should make all Hoosiers sad, and ultimately angry. We must do more to get these dangerous illegal immigrant criminals off of our streets, and guarantee this never happens again by building a wall, ending sanctuary cities, and stopping illegal immigration once and for all.” He was followed by Messer, who said, “I echo the president’s concern that it’s long past time to deal with illegal immigration in this country. his family is still profiting from outsourcing jobs to Mexico.” Clearly, the suspect in this case should not have been in the country, and this tragedy is yet another result of our broken immigration system. I have consistently advocated Henderson endorses Braun for stronger border security and am committed to working Former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Terry with President Trump to solve this issue.” Henderson has endorsed Mike Braun. “Washington is Vice President Pence tweeted the Jackson death broken, and we’ll never fix it by promoting the career “was a senseless & avoidable tragedy.” And Tuesday morn- politicians that got us into this mess in the first place,” said ing President Trump called it “disgraceful,” tweeting, “This Henderson. “We Hoosier Republicans need Mike Braun, a is just one of many such preventable tragedies. We must proven conservative businessman who has the skills need- get the Dems to get tough on the Border, and with illegal ed to make a difference in Washington.” Braud said, “I immigration, FAST!” very thankful for Terry’s support, I think shows that more There has been widespread analysis that Trump Hoosiers beleive in my message that real solutions don’t and Republicans believe they can suck Democrats into come from the swamp,” said outsider Republican candidate dangerous territory by playing the race card. It’s some- Mike Braun. “Indiana business owners know all too well thing that has worked in the past, including 1988 when that Washington’s incompetence has cost our country tril- lions, and I’m proud to have a conservative businessman Page 9 like Terry joining my mission to shake things up in D.C.” ter. Sadly for Congressman Messer, anyone looking for a senator who’ll be a good steward of the Fighting Irish’s New Messer digital ad legacy will probably vote for the two-time graduate of Messer’s Senate campaign rolled out a five-figure Notre Dame, Joe Donnelly.” Now, Luke Messer is calling on digital ad narrated by Luke’s two daughters Emma and Sen. Joe Donnelly to stand with the Notre Dame Fighting Ava, a news release announced. This ad kicks off Luke Irish mascot. “Sen. Donnelly, do you think the Fighting Messer’s media effort to Republican voters across the Irish nickname should be changed? This isn’t hard, stand state. In the video, Messer’s daughters tell voters who up for your two-time alma mater against ESPN and the PC their dad really is before the airwaves become dominated police.” with election coverage, or as Ava jokes “fake news.” Messer, Rokita backed Nunes memo Sparring over the Irish Messer, campaigning in Kokomo Thursday, said Messer and Donnelly mixed it up over the Irish he had read the Nunes memo that in recent days spurred last weekend. On Thursday, Luke Messer attacked ESPN debate throughout the nation (Myers, Kokomo Tribune). host Kellerman’s political correctness tirade to change The memo, which Messer believes should have been the “Fighting Irish” mascot because it may be offensive made public, was released Friday. Messer was in town on by saying, “This is political correctness gone crazy. The a whirlwind tour one day after filing his Senate candidacy Fighting Irish mascot represents the fighting spirit of Notre petition. He made the statement on the Nunes memo Dame’s sports teams over the last century. Clearly, ESPN after a guided visit of Bona Vista Programs’ therapies and has lost its mind. They’ve given up on sports and now preschool initiatives. only care about being politically correct. They ought to Rokita told WIBC, “I think there is criminal culpa- change their name to ESPC.” Hours later, Joe Donnelly’s bility here. I think this deserves an investigation. There campaign attacked Messer saying: “Wabash football play- needs to be accountability. Individuals in our government ers once made a name for themselves by beating Notre were so hyper political that they were using the govern- Dame on the football field, but now it seems their alumni ment to go after their opponents.” v are seeking attention by trying to yell about them on twit-

Trump told Republican lawmakers last week at a retreat Trump, GOP see in West Virginia. NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), added, “The numbers are pretty good and that’s one ex- ample of how things are getting better.” bounce in polls, but Then came Tuesday, when a Missouri House seat where President Trump had won by 28% in 2016 flipped then came Missouri to Democrat Mike Revis, who won 52-48% over Repub- lican David Linton. “Representative-elect Mike Revis’s By BRIAN A. HOWEY victory tonight will undoubtedly send another shockwave INDIANAPOLIS – In the wake of President Trump’s through the GOP as we continue to run the best candi- State of the Union address and as the tax reforms begin to dates focused on addressing local issues and improving sink in and show up on paychecks their neighbors’ quality of life,” Jessica Post, Democratic this month, Republicans began Legislative Campaign Committee executive director, said in heaving a sigh of relief. The polls were getting bet- ter. Monmouth put Trump’s approval at 44% approve, 48% disapprove; Reuters/Ipsos had it at 41/53%, Rasmussen had it 48/51% and Econo- mist/YouGov had it 45/53%. Monmouth put the Congressional generic ballot at 47-45% in favor of Democrats, Reuters had Democrats leading 37- 31% and Economist/YouGov put it at 43-37% for Democrats. All of these were significant improve- ments for Republicans from recent polling. “I just looked at some numbers, you’ve even done better than you thought,” President Page 10 a statement. deeply concerned about the future of Indiana’s com- This Democratic pick up in deep red Missouri munities and our nation,” Christie said when she filed on comes on the heels of Alabama Republican Roy Moore Tuesday. “As a woman, I am saddened by the way our losing a had red U.S. Senate seat, and in Wisconsin where commander-in-chief speaks about women and endorses Democrat Patty Schachtner flipped a state Senate seat candidates like Roy Moore. As a scientist, I am appalled that had been held by Republicans since the start of the by ‘alternate facts’ that have no validity scientifically, the century in a district that Trump carried by 17%. Republi- president’s disregard for truth, attacks on our public lands, can Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker called the results a “wake and denials of climate change. As a citizen, I am worried up call” for the party. House Speaker Paul Ryan said the about the assaults on our democratic institutions and tradi- party should take interest in why it lost the election. “Typi- tions, including partisan attacks on our free press as well cally, we’ve held this seat, and we lost this seat last night. as the U.S. Constitution’s system of checks and balances. So, yeah, I think we should pay attention to it,” Ryan told Moreover, like the majority of Americans, I am deeply con- reporters last month, The New York Times reported. cerned about our president’s lack of transparency regard- There were some other telltales. The Hill reported ing his financial entanglements and his refusal to release that Democratic U.S. House campaigns “made significant his taxes.” fundraising gains.” Of the dozens of Democratic challeng- U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks’s 5th CD is +9 Republican ers who outpaced GOP incumbents, 22 of them are in on the Cook Partisan Index, one of only two single-digit races listed on the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook party advantages in the state (the other is Rep. Pete Vis- Political Report’s 86 top battleground House races. And the closky’s 1st CD at +8 Democrat). She raised $107,462 in DCCC’s “On the Radar” candidate raised about $153,000, the fourth quarter and has $1,499,705 cash on hand. HPI and has about $300,000 cash on hand. still rates the 5th CD as “Safe” Republican, but that could In Indiana, 31 Democrats are seeking nine con- change if a Democratic wave develops. gressional seats, including nine women candidates. The As HPI reported last week, Democrats in deep red latest to announce was Jennifer Christie in the 5th CD, districts are raising money, with Liz Watson in the 9th CD where she will face Dee Thornton in the primary along raising $372,000, Dan Canan raising $309,000 for the year, with Dion Douglas, Kyle Moore and Eshel Faraggi. and Courtney Tritch in the 3rd CD raising $101,000 in the “As a patriot and mom of four children, I am fourth quarter. All of these candidates are out-performing Page 11

Democrats running in these districts in recent cycles. In ment to faith, family and country make Diego Morales the the 9th CD, Rep. Trey Hollingsworth reported $297,796.56 right choice for Congress and I enthusiastically endorse cash on hand, and in the 3rd CD, U.S. Rep. Jim Banks has his candidacy.” Smith, president & CEO of Sextons Creek, $306,239.93 cash on hand. agreed with Atterholt. “Diego brings a strong combination of public and private sector experience to this race. He Congress blends his background as an Army veteran with years of business management, government relations, economics 2nd CD: Walorski files and international outreach to create a unique perspective U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski filed for reelection that will serve us well. Along with his rock-solid stances and posted $829,311.19 cash on hand after raising on the sanctity of life, the 2nd Amendment and support of $1,252,787.23 in 2017, including $260,103.10 in the fourth homeschoolers, Diego is, without a doubt, the right person quarter. In contrast, the perceived Democratic frontrunner to represent the 4th District in Congress.” Mel Hall posted $432,482.49 cash on hand. Baird hires operations director 4th CD: Morales money lead over Braun State Rep. Jim Baird announced the addition of Republican Diego Morales had a $355,251 to Brittany Daniel Wallace as director of operations for his $153,760 over Steve Braun in the Republican primary congressional campaign in Indiana’s 4th District. race. Morales reported raising $413,852 in 2017 to Braun’s $323,435. Jared Thomas raised $17,137 and had $7,034 6th CD: Lamb runs Super Bowl ad cash on hand, while State Rep. Jim Baird raised $6,460, Republican Jonathan Lamb took his message to loaned his campaign $200,000 and posted $203,002 cash a wide audience Sunday when his newest commercial on hand. aired during Super Bowl LII in the Indianapolis market on the NBC affiliate, WTHR, Channel 13. “Let’s face it, while Smith, Atterholt endorse Morales we’ve already clearly shown that money will not be an Two men who each served as chief of staff to issue in deciding this race, I have a little catch-up to do in then-Gov. Mike Pence, Jim Atterholt and Bill Smith, have the name recognition department,” said Lamb, referencing officially endorsed Diego Morales for Congress in Indiana’s his opponent’s family name that’s been in Congress, the 4th District. Smith served as Pence’s chief of staff from governor’s mansion and in the White House for nearly 20 2013 to 2014, with Atterholt holding the position from years. “But the Super Bowl will help continue to close that 2014 to 2016. Both men are considered to have been gap. I simply want this race to be about who is the best effective and committed conservative leaders within the candidate, not who someone’s brother is.” Indiana Republican Party for more than three decades. “Having worked directly with Diego when he was Gov. Pence files in 6th CD Pence’s senior advisor, I know he is a strong conservative Greg Pence, brother of Vice President Mike Pence, who will bring his servant-heart leadership to Washing- filed for the Republican 6th CD primary on Monday (Howey ton,” said Atterholt, who most recently served Gov. Eric Politics Indiana). “I got in this race because I was encour- Holcomb as Indiana Regulatory Commission chairman. aged to step up after Congressman Luke Messer an- “His quality of character, relentless work ethic and commit- nounced his candidacy for the Senate,” Pence said. “But Page 12 before I would even consider such an important role for my community, I reached out to Republican leaders across HD62: Swain announces v. Ellington the 6th District to better understand what type of con- A two-term elected member of the Indian Creek gressman they want to represent this important area of Township board is setting her sights on the Indiana State- our state.” house (Rollins, Bloomington Herald-Times). Amy Swain has announced her candidacy for Indiana House District 8th CD: Moss cites ‘broken’ GOP 62 — which covers the majority of Greene County and “We have a broken Republican party in Congress portions of Monroe, Martin and Daviess counties. She that is a disappointment to the conservative base,” said is running as a Democrat. The seat is currently held by Dr. Richard Moss (Grant, Washington Republican Jeff Ellington. Swain had filed for re-election Times Herald). “The conservative Re- to the Indian Creek Township board last month. She said publican base is frustrated. They don’t she is withdrawing from that race to pursue election to the see their party representing them and Statehouse. “Having lived in a rural Hoosier community for that is bad for both the party and the more than 20 years, I believe that rural residents are often country.” For Moss, 63, of Jasper, who left out of the conversation at the Statehouse, and I will practices in Jasper and Washington, bring that perspective to the job,” Swain said in a news re- that is one of the big reasons he has lease. As an Indian Creek Township board member, Swain filed to seek the 8th District congres- voted to restore fire protection and emergency medical sional nomination for the Republican services to a centrally located fire station within the town- Party. “We have hard line Democrats, ship. “By taking necessary steps to join with neighboring socialists and big-spending, big-debt townships in a fire district, the township will be better Republicans running the country,” said Moss. “They are ru- staffed, including full-time protection for fire and emergen- ining it. I want to be part of a movement of strong consti- cy services, and will be able to purchase newer equipment tutional conservatives to create an impact on Congress and to protect its citizens,” Swain said in a news release. rein it in.” This is not the first time Moss has taken a run at Congress. He was a candidate two years ago. “Sometimes Primary filings it takes an election cycle or two to get your name out,” he said. “We are building a structure and name identification. Congress, Democrat: U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, U.S. Sen- I feel if I can add a few percent more people, I have a real ate, Larry Chubb CD1, Courtney Tritch CD3, Rolland Ellis chance at the primary.” Republican incumbent Dr. Larry CD4, Lane Siekman CD6, Dion Douglass CD5, Jennifer Bucshon has already filed with the Indiana secretary of Christie CD5, Kyle Brendan Moore CD5, Jeanine Lee Lake state to run for reelection for the seat. Moss says Buc- CD6. Republican: U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, U.S. Senate, shon’s actions in the House are another reason he is seek- Jeremy D. Belko CD1, Nicholas Pappas CD1, U.S. Rep. ing the office. “First, he has taken a page out of the Evan Jackie Walorski CD2, Mark Summe CD2, Darin Patrick Gri- Bayh-Richard Lugar playbook and moved his family to the esey CD4, Greg Pence CD6, Stephen M. MacKenzie CD6, Washington, D.C., area,” said Moss. “He still has a home Mike Campbell CD6, Donald Eason, Jr CD7, J D Miniear in the district, but they live in Virginia. Hoosiers want the CD7, Rachael Covington CD8. people that represent them to live in the area.” Moss also had a complaint about Bucshon’s voting record. “Like a lot : Democrat: Chris Kukuch SD1, Chris- of Republicans he campaigns as a conservative at home, tina Fivecoate HD11, Sheryl Shipley SD22. Republican: but when he gets to D.C., he votes with the mainstream Sen. Rick Niemeyer SD6, Zaki Ali SD25, Corrie Meyer Republicans,” said Moss. SD29, Sen. James W. Merritt, Jr SD31.

General Assembly Indiana House: Democrat: Rosa Maria Rodriguez HD2, Sean Fitzpatrick HD9, Pamela R. Eanes HD12, Christina L. HD45: Publisher Exline files Zacny HD16, Maurice Oakel Fuller HD25, Deanna I. McMil- Jim Exline, president of Kelk Publishing LLC, lan HD26, Rep. H27, Jim Exline HD45, Jo- which publishes the Sullivan Daily Times, said he filed this seph Lannan HD63, Nick Brown HD80, Mike Wilber HD82, morning on the Democrat ballot to run for the District 45 Curtis NashHD84, Greg Rathnow HD93, Nichole M. Thom- seat in the Indiana House of Representatives (Terre Haute as HD98. Republican: Dan Granquist HD9, Jennifer Culp Tribune-Star). In an email and news release, Exline said he HD36, Rep. Tom Linkmeyer HD39, Mark Bacon HD55, would kick off his campaign at 1 p.m. Thursday in Sullivan. Rep. Daniel J. Leonard HD50, William Carlin HD52, Shane Incumbent , R-Jasonville, has filed for re- Lindauer HD63, Buford L. Dewitt HD73, David H. Abbott election on the Republican ballot for the District 45 seat. HD82, Paula L. Finch HD87, Cindy Kirchhofer HD89, Rep. Exline is a graduate of Indiana University with a bachelor’s HD90, Rep. Ed Clere HD72, Speaker Brian degree in finance. Bosma HD88, Rep. Robert W. Behning HD91. v Page 13

would that be if he lost decisive voters in the middle Biden comes to Indy ground? On the other side of the political coin, Republicans face their own decisions on which endorsements would to help Donnelly help or hurt. Would Congresswoman Jackie Walorski wel- By JACK COLWELL come an appearance to endorse her by President Trump? SOUTH BEND – The endorsement of a candidate My guess is that she would say, “Couldn’t you send Vice by a prominent political figure is kind of like the endorse- President Mike Pence instead?” ment of a commercial product by a prominent celebrity. While Trump hasn’t sunk in approval in Indiana There usually is no solid proof that it was of monumen- to the depths he has in some other states, he is shown in tal help, even though it seems to have a positive effect. Gallup Poll findings in 2017 in Indiana at 44% approval, There sometimes is a situation 51% disapproval. Although Trump would fire up his base, where it backfires and hurts. draw a big crowd and raise a lot of money, he now turns Jared Fogle became a celeb- off a lot of voters in that decisive middle ground. Pence rity whose endorsement still would fire up Hoosier Republicans, draw a crowd and raise haunts Subway. funds. And with his more pleasant, less abrasive personal- There always is a quest ity, he wouldn’t frighten as many independents and others by candidates and product in that decisive middle. marketers for praise in atten- In political lore there are stories about controver- tion-getting endorsements. sial national figures telling candidates of their party: “I’ll U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly will be endorse you or denounce you. Whichever helps you the praised and endorsed by for- most.” There are races in both parties where endorsement mer Vice President Joe Biden by a party leader could hurt the endorsed candidate. Many at a fundraising event Fri- Republican candidates for the Senate would plead with day in Indianapolis. That Mitch McConnell to stay away. Many Democratic candi- endorsement, though not with dates for the House wouldn’t welcome Nancy Pelosi in monumental effect, will help Donnelly in two ways. l It will their districts. raise money he needs for what will be one of the costliest Does David Duke really help any Republicans with election contests in the nation this year. In addition to get- all his words of support for President Trump? Maybe he ting the contributions from those attending, the Donnelly appeals to a very small part of the Trump base, but he campaign also will profit from asking its supporters around the state to donate $20.18 to win a chance to personally meet with Biden. It will link Donnelly with one of the most popular Demo- cratic figures, someone quite acceptable to Hoosier Democrats and not frightening to the inde- pendents and Republican moder- ates Donnelly must sway to his side in order to win in a red state President Donald Trump won by nearly 20 percentage points. Republicans already are hammering at Donnel- turns off far larger segments of voters. Some Republican ly’s image as a moderate Democrat who will work across candidates had been hoping for an endorsement by Steve the aisle for compromise solutions. One of the latest is a Bannon. Not now. Facebook ad with messages that “Indiana voted for Presi- Donnelly appears to have a safe bet with Biden. dent Trump” and “Donnelly has voted against Trump 65% Still, Republican attacks likely will deplore the appearance of the time.” as proof that Donnelly is more allied with President Barack Just imagine the portrayal of Donnelly as some Obama’s vice president than with President Trump. v kind of a wild-eyed leftist if he was featured at a fundraiser with Sanders or Warren. That would help with Democratic Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five de- progressives in Indiana who would like to see Donnelly cades for the South Bend Tribune. opposing Trump on just about everything. But what good Page 14

ren, in 2006, to pass the Secure Fence Act. It authorized The Democrats’ the Bush Administration to construct 700 miles of fencing along certain stretches of land between the border of the United States and Mexico. The bill also called for the linguistic gymnastics increase in vehicle barriers, checkpoints and lighting to By CRAIG DUNN curb illegal immigration. The bill even authorized the use KOKOMO – The disingenuous prattle of the Demo- of advanced technologies such as satellites and drones to crats never ceases to amaze me. The spinmeisters of the help fight illegal immigration. Democrat Party, when called upon, can crank out more Let me state this for the record one more time. bull excrement in an afternoon than the PBR (professional Chuck Schumer, Hilary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Barack bull riders) can in a decade. Obama all voted for a barrier to keep illegal immigrants For example: If you have been beating a drum for out of this country! Were they racists? Nope. They were decades about the evil threat of just trying to represent their base and its massive political global warming and find your- contribution money machine. What has changed in the 12 self continually confronted by years since overwhelming Democrat support for increased Punxsutawney Phil presenting border barriers and surveillance to a point where anyone weather information such as who calls for controls on illegal immigration is a racist, record freezing temperatures, bigot or heartless monster? record snow falls and expand- I’m sure that you have guessed the right answer ing ice flows, then you conve- by now. The political winds have changed over the past 12 niently rebrand your same old years and Democrat leaders and strategists see the salva- anti-industrial, anti-fossil fuels tion of their threadbare party as the burgeoning Hispanic mantra as “climate change.” Cold population, both legal and illegal. Life in politics is all about yesterday, hot today! It’s got to getting to 50% plus one vote and with other traditional be climate change! Democrats bolting their party for the relatively more practi- Most clear-thinking Ameri- cal Republican Party, the survivors have coalesced around cans with real jobs and no pet polar bears have not been a strategy that increasingly panders to their shrinking taken in by the linguistic gymnastics that much of the base. Democratic message comprises. That’s why Republicans The current Democrat Party now panders almost control the White House, the House of Representatives, exclusively to blacks, Hispanics, social activists and the the Senate and a majority of governorships and statehous- something-for-nothing crowd. The once proud Democratic es across America. message of building America, increasing jobs, increasing The Democrats’ current political and linguistic incomes through economic expansion and patriotism now dilemma is immigration. Facing a continuing loss of their lies on the floor like confetti at the 1980 Democrat Nation- traditional organized labor base to the Republicans, neces- al Convention. The linguistic calisthenics necessary to craft sity has driven Chuck, Nancy and the brie cheese crowd and spin the current Democrat message is a wonder to on the left coasts to pivot on an issue that Democrats used behold. It makes Bill Clinton’s, “It depends what you mean to campaign on. Back in the day of traditional lunch-pail by the word is” answer to a federal grand jury look almost worker support for the Democrat Party, let’s say about 12 rational by comparison. So, as a service to my Republican years ago, you didn’t have to tell Chuck, Dianne Feinstein, and Trump-hating Hispanic friends, I will lay out for you Ron Wyden, Bill Nelson, Tom Carper or Debbie Stabe- the simple truth on the issue of immigration. Whether you now what their position was on immigration and border choose to believe it or not is up to you. walls. Heck, even Barack Obama and Hilarious Clinton Democrat politicians are using the plight of un- knew which side their bread was buttered on when it came documented immigrants and the issue of a border wall for to the critical illegal immigration issues. unvarnished political gain. Democrats don’t care any more The typical blue collar, union worker who had or less about the Dreamers than Republicans do. Demo- for so long supported Democrat Party candidates didn’t crats have played the numbers game and they believe care for illegal immigration. The official union line, and by that they have more to gain now by using immigration as extension, the Democrat line was that illegal immigrants a wedge issue than they did in 2006 when they supported take jobs that would normally go to Americans and, worse, the Secure Fence Act. Most of your favorite Democrat serve to drive down wages. The increased crime, increased politicians are gross hypocrites and would desert you in a welfare costs and social costs that go hand in hand with il- heartbeat if it worked to their political advantage. legal immigration didn’t particularly bother them, but when There is a sadness that comes from watch- you start messing with union jobs and wages, whoa Nellie! ing this hypocrisy unfold before my eyes. Never was a Because of this desire to take care of their union more sickening and disgusting political spectacle beheld friends, Democrat senators, including all of the aforemen- than the Democrat performance at the State of the Union tioned ones, 23 in all, joined with their Republican breth- address. Historically, a message that included the news Page 15 of record low black unemployment, record low Hispanic the one who sat on his hands on national television. Just unemployment, wage growth, stock market records and remember that the Joe Donnelly that you see on the cam- patriotism would have been warmly received by Democrat paign trail in Indiana is a chameleon. The real Joe Don- members of Congress. This year television viewers were nelly is not happy about decreasing unemployment and treated to the most sour, negative and sickly looking bunch increasing wages unless the message is being delivered by of Democrats in the history of televised politics. It was a Barack Obama. sad sight to behold when good news for America is bad Putting it simply: When the good news about news for the Democrat Party. the economy and America was given, Joe Donnelly took a Which brings me to Indiana. Indiana Sen. Joe knee! v Donnelly sat through the State of the Union address with the same sour puss expression as the rest of his liberal Dunn is the former chairman of the Howard County buddies. I’m sure the Sen. Donnelly that we see campaign Republican Party in Indiana this year will be a much different man than

Florida doesn’t address the fact that, if successful, Pursuing Amazon’s Indy would be compensated with a significant new source of tax revenue – how much compensation, however, is precisely the question. If Indy offers a fortune and Amazon HQ2 the right way underwhelms, we have a problem. By JAY RUCKLESHAUS This worry gets at the larger mechanics of INDIANAPOLIS – I was thrilled to see Indy make what’s at stake in this inter-city incentive war and reveals the list of finalists being considered for Amazon’s second the importance of distinguishing good competition from corporate headquarters (HQ2). bad. Politicians often talk as if all competition is good, but Like many across the city, I began the reality is different. It’s true that competition among cit- salivating at the prospect of 50,000 ies is often highly beneficial; citizens’ and businesses’ abil- high-paying jobs and an influx of ity to “vote with their feet” by moving encourages cities to dynamic and diverse citizens. And provide the best services they can. It’s a great strength of I love what our shortlisting repre- America’s federal system that cities and states can engage sents: Conviction among city and in just this sort of constructive competition. state leaders that we can run with But not all competition takes this form. Econo- the big dogs and vindication from mists have long recognized that when local governments one of the world’s most powerful compete for scarce capital, they risk running a race to the companies that, yes, in this sense, bottom. Each city is pressured by the others to up the ante we can. – ensuring maximal benefits for the pursued company and But these bright prospects minimal payback for the winning city. haven’t kept me from having a few In pursuing HQ2, Indy finds itself implicated in worries, too. Pursuing a prize this big carries risks – for such a potentially damaging contest. Critics of Amazon’s Indy, and for the other cities involved in the incentive- competitive search process like Richard Florida say mayors based competition that the HQ2 should band together in a “mutual sweepstakes has ignited. nonaggression pact” that limits the In a recent Wall Street incentive packages offered. And, Journal op-ed, urban studies failing that, Indy should withdraw scholar Richard Florida voices rather than suffer the indignity of perhaps the most common con- being an expensively dressed guest cern. Florida takes issue with the at another city’s red carpet event. lavish incentive packages cities I disagree. have been offering Amazon – Entering inter-city incen- most in the hundreds of millions, tive competitions won’t always be if not billions, of dollars. There’s in our interest, but this opportunity no good in offering “corporate is simply too big to pass up. Snag- welfare” to a wealthy company, ging HQ2 would transform Indy. he argues. Cities like Indy “should But while we should pursue Ama- say no to this kind of reverse zon, we must be clear-eyed about Robin Hood.” what we are doing. We shouldn’t Page 16 get caught up in the frenzy of incentive-giving for its own thousands of white-collar jobs could contribute to shared sake, and we should be fiscally responsible about what we prosperity and growth that is truly inclusive. offer. So, the best way for Indy to pursue HQ2 is to use Most importantly, though, we must ensure our it as an opportunity to think seriously – and strategically bid fits into a larger vision of what we want our city to be- – about our long-term future. That’s the only way we’ll come. Positioning Indy as an attractive option has already be primed when Amazon – or the next big opportunity – accelerated conversations about serious issues we need to comes knocking. v address. We need better public transit. We need ambitious urban planning that invites the creative class while mini- Jay Ruckelshaus is a Rhodes Scholar from India- mizing disruption to those who have called Indy home for napolis and a graduate student in politics at the decades. We need to carefully think how the addition of University of Oxford.

of their personal gain. The school trustees began paying House right in taking themselves for attending committee meetings. And there were plenty. Some trustees also took extended vacation trips by tacking on days to conventions in exotic locations. power from Gary One trustee even catapulted a convention into a trip to meet her fiancé who was stationed in the Navy off the school trustees coast of Japan. Democratic State Reps. Charlie Brown and By RICH JAMES Vernon Smith of Gary criticized the Legislature for the MERRILLVILLE – Sixty-five members of the Indiana takeover. That’s understandable but misguided. All the House did the right thing last week when they essentially while, the quality of education in the Gary system de- rendered the Gary School Board trustees powerless. A clined. Parents began moving their children out of the Gary variety of school trustees for decades have failed to bring schools into a host of charter schools. school spending in line with revenue. You can say the The school system is now $120 million in debt, same for a handful of school super- and judging by past performance, the school board wasn’t intendents over the same years. about to turn that around anytime soon. While I’m gen- Legislation that now erally opposed to the state taking over anything local, heads to the Senate reaffirms that it certainly is justified in this case. The state ought to state-appointed emergency man- maintain control until the books are balanced. The school ager Peggy Hinckley now holds all board then could return with the state taking on the role the school board’s former powers of monitor. v and classifies the elected school

board as advisory. And, the board Rich James has been writing about politics and can hold only four public meetings government for almost 40 years. He is retired from a year. the Post-Tribune, a newspaper born in Gary. There are a host of rea- sons why it has come to this. For decades, a host of school trustees have failed to face the fact that families were leaving Gary in droves, causing a dramatic drop in school enrollment. Yet, for years, the school trustees failed to act on the fact that a massive decline in enrollment meant there were too many teachers and school buildings. With a revenue decline and a failure to reduce costs, the Gary schools financial woes began to mount. And at the same time, school buildings, including the once-proud Gary Roosevelt High School, fell into disrepair. The lack of action by the schools is similar to the lack of action by city government to embrace the fact that the city enrollment steadily declined from 185,000 to about 80,000 today. So the schools moved on as an employment agency when it should have been laying off workers. The trustees themselves compounded the problem because Page 17

the event of consolidation with another township. Sticking Township mergers, points developed early among fire department representa- tives and from rural townships where trustees consider themselves the closest link to government services. redistricting bills die “I think you have to have more predictability about By SCOTT MILEY what’s going to happen to both the volunteer fire depart- CNHI Statehouse Bureau ment contracts and to tax levies in the consolidated enti- INDIANAPOLIS – A legislative bill that would have ties,” Bosma said. “Questions were raised about low-taxed merged about 300 of Indiana’s townships has died for this small townships and will their tax rates go up through con- session amid concerns whether consolidation would save solidation,” he added. “There wasn’t an effective measure tax money and make government more efficient. in the bill to address that.” House Bill 1005, authored by Rep. , Other legislators said referendum measures cur- R-Batesville, was eligible for third rently allow townships to merge. “As we move forward, reading Monday and, if passed, folks need to determine their own future,” House Minority would have moved to the Senate. Leader Terry Goodin, D-Austin, said. However, the bill was not called up “I’ve got to be honest with you, I’ve not heard by House Speaker Brian Bosma, any clamoring for township consolidation either from my R-Indianapolis. constituents or really heard much discussion at all about Ziemke (pictured) will it in the Senate,” said Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, introduce similar legislation in the 2019 session. ”I’ll try D-Anderson. again,” Ziemke said. “I will continue to work on it because it’s extremely important.” Bill would head off I-69 fiasco Ziemke’s initial bill intended to push townships State lawmakers are using the I-69 construction with a population of fewer than 1,200 to merge with a project mess to push their efforts to require more infor- contiguous township in the same county. About 300 of the mation when the state hires contractors for large projects state’s 1,005 townships would be impacted. “We’re look- (WRTV). The bill, co-authored by Rep. Ed Delaney and ing for ways to streamline, to reduce layers of government Rep. Tim Brown would require the Indiana Finance Author- where possible,” Bosma said on Tuesday. “This one may ity to only consider potential contractors who have “ex- not be possible, I don’t know, but I don’t want to toss in perience and quality performance in comparable projects the towel on it yet.” in North America” in the previous two years. The original The bill had been perhaps the closest in years to reshaping the role of township trustees, a change pursued by some legislators following a 2007 report by the guber- natorial Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform. The report led to the merger of township assessors with county assessors. Township trustees generally provide fire protection services to residents in unincor- porated areas, maintain cemeter-Gov. Eric Holcomb discusses the second half of the General Assembly with Speaker Brian Bosma ies and provide relief to the poor. and Senate President Prom Tem David Long this morning. Ziemke’s initial bill to force townships with a population of less than 1,200 to completion date for section five of the I-69 project, be- merge with a contiguous township in the same county was tween Martinsville and Bloomington, was October 2016. a compromise between elected officials seeking consolida- Delaney claims that the contractor, Isoflux Corsan, not tions and the Indiana Township Association, which recently having experience building similar roads in the U.S. caused shifted from its longstanding opposition to forced consoli- multiple delays in the timeline for completion and eventu- dations. ally a state takeover. House Bill 1005 didn’t have the full support of the Republican caucus. As of last week, amendments were Senate passes on independent redistricting still being proposed. For example, one amendment passed Hoosier lawmakers seemingly are not prepared by voice vote attempted to clarify where fire equipment, to hand over control of the once-a-decade redistricting if purchased by a smaller township, would be stored in Page 18 process to an independent commission (Carden, NWI But House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) says it’s Times). But the Indiana Senate has agreed that the Gen- not a handout. “Should we assist employers in this impor- eral Assembly’s redrawing of legislative district boundaries, tant issue, because it’s also assisting Hoosiers – not just following the 2020 U.S. Census, should generally follow the employers but Hoosiers? I think we should,” Bosma the same standards that a commission likely would use says. in making new maps. Senate Bill 326, which passed the chamber 42-6, sets specific requirements for how lawmak- End of life bill a non-starter ers in 2021 must create the state’s nine congressional Indiana is not among the seven jurisdictions in districts, 50 Senate districts and 100 House districts. the country that authorize medical aid in dying (Burgess, Indiana Lawyer). California, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Workforce bill advance Vermont, Washington and Washington, D.C. do, however. House and Senate lawmakers waited until the For the second year in a row, a legislative push for an End final day of the session’s halfway point to advance their of Life Options Act failed to gain traction. Rep. top priority for 2018: workforce development measures once again took on the issue this legislative session when (Smith, Indiana Public Media). Bills in both chambers make he introduced HB 1157. This year, the bill was instead dozens of changes to the state’s workforce development assigned to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code, and career education system. Those include the creation which Pierce said was “a little bit of a strange place to of new career counselors in job centers throughout the send it.” state. Lawmakers want to create a state Secretary of Workforce Training and a board of Technical Education. Bumpstock restrictions proposed And they hope to consolidate workforce dollars, which An Indiana lawmaker is looking to restrict a gun are currently spread across 30 programs in nine different accessory used in the Las Vegas mass shooting last year agencies. The measures also aim to significantly increase that killed dozens and injured hundred (Jacobs, Post- reimbursement of private companies for job training and Tribune). Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, submitted a bill education, which Rep. (D-South Bend) says that would make the possession of a “multiburst trigger is the wrong step. “This gets back down to what we call activator” a Class A misdemeanor. If a person has a prior corporate welfare. It’s throwing money at businesses for conviction, it would be a Level 6 felony, under the propos- things that they used to pay for themselves,” Dvorak says. al. “I think this is a common sense thing,” Taylor said. v Page 19

Mike Freeman, Bleacher Report: The NFL is the Nunes memo, the never-ending, dry-hole Republican now the WWE, and Josh McDaniels, along with the Pa- Benghazi investigations look like textbook examples of triots, has become the top heel. The Indianapolis Colts prudent congressional oversight. To Trumpian true believ- announced Tuesday that McDaniels had agreed to become ers, the Nunes memo proves that the FBI and the rest of their next head coach, prompting them to call a press the Deep State were conspiring to throw the election to conference to introduce him Wednesday, according to Da- Hillary. Of course, this omits the pesky detail that on 28 kota Crawford of the Indianapolis Star. On Tuesday night, October 2016, the FBI director, James Comey, announced McDaniels reversed course and went back to the Patriots, that he was reopening the Clinton email investigation per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.This prompted a league reac- based on what had been found on Anthony Weiner’s com- tion unlike few I’ve ever seen before. It was fast, vicious puter. Guess which late October event had more effect on and unrelenting. The reaction was also sanctimonious and wavering 2016 voters: Comey’s dramatic public statement over-the-top. In other words, it was typical NFL. “He’s a raising fresh doubts about the Democratic nominee or a weasel,” one NFC assistant coach said of McDaniels. “Such secret warrant against a peripheral Trump adviser? The a gutless thing to do,” another NFC assistant said. “He Nunes memo makes one major concession to reality – the knows he can’t win without Tom Brady,” an AFC front office FBI opened its Russian investigation three months before executive said, “Hoo boy. Told you this was rough.” v the Steele dossier was used, in some fashion, to justify the Page Fisa warrant. In a scene that might have been lifted from the 2016 version of All the President’s Men, a young Walter Shapiro, The Guardian: The Piltdown Trump foreign policy adviser named George Papadopoulos man – perhaps the most famous fraud in the history of had the foolish notion of trying to drink an Australian dip- paleontology – combined a 600-year-old skull, lomat under the table. Instead, Papadopoulos (who later an ’s jaw and a ’s tooth pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI) blabbed that to feign being the remains of the Missing Link the Russian government had a trove of hacked between man and the . Now, more than Hillary Clinton emails. Once the Australian a century later, the Piltdown man has come government passed this nugget on to Washing- to U.S. politics with Friday’s release of a de- ton, the FBI opened up its Russian front. Ever classified memo by Devin Nunes, the chairman since Watergate, the standard for any scandal of the misnamed House Intelligence Commit- is whether there is a smoking gun left next to tee. The Nunes memo connects mismatched shards to a corpse. In the case of the Nunes memo, we lack a body suggest a missing link between Robert Mueller’s Russia and the gun is a child’s toy pistol. v investigation and the Hillary Clinton campaign’s efforts to discredit Donald Trump. The triggering event was a Steve Forbes, Forbes Magazine: In 1987 Trea- 21 October 2016, foreign intelligence surveillance court sury secretary James Baker pushed for a weak dollar to (FISA) warrant for electronic surveillance of Carter Page, – you guessed it – sell more U.S. products abroad and an energy consultant and sometime Trump adviser who “mend our trade deficit.” That October he told Germany: had been under FBI scrutiny since 2013. According to the “Either inflate your mark [the German currency at the Nunes memo, a dossier prepared by Christopher Steele time], or we’ll devalue the dollar.” He vowed to “drive the and partly funded by the Clinton campaign was “an essen- dollar down.” Combined with Congress pushing through tial part” of the rationale for the warrant. We can quibble protectionist measures that could prompt a trade war, about what “an essential part” means. Especially since Baker’s moves triggered a ghastly stock market crash. the FBI in an unprecedented Wednesday press release Thankfully, the Reagan administration backed off, and the stated: “We have grave concerns about material omissions markets recovered. Unfortunately, in the early 2000s the of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.” U.S. was back at it. President George W. Bush’s Treasury Unmentioned by Nunes were all the other documents that chiefs thought that a slow-motion devaluation of the the FBI and the justice department presented to the FISA greenback would stimulate more growth. The weakening court to justify eavesdropping on Page. But even if you of the dollar--as it always does--triggered a fake housing accept the world according to the House Republicans (a and commodities boom, as markets flee to hard assets personal plea: don’t), Page represented a circuitous route when money becomes unstable. We all know how that to get at Trump. Page had withdrawn from the campaign ended. Secretary Mnuchin, sadly, has learned nothing from a month earlier in the wake of news stories about his all this. What Nixon, Connally, Mnuchin and their ilk never suspicious meetings in Moscow. And Trump himself later grasp is that money isn’t wealth. It measures value, in belittled Page as “a very low-level member of I think a the same way a clock measures time or a scale measures committee for a short period of time.” To summarize: in a weight. Imagine the difficulties in cooking if the standards document that the FBI called inaccurate, House Republi- for measuring cups and spoons changed each day. The cans claim that the Democrats had some shadowy role in a same is true for money: Volatility makes commerce and in- pre-election FISA warrant against a “very low-level” Trump vesting more uncertain, and economic progress is hurt. v adviser who had already left the campaign. Compared with Page 20

position with the help of Republicans, on defense and domestic accounts. Russians hacked said he discovered one former staff McConnell said the measure would election systems member was given a 24 percent pay rewrite existing defense limits that raise and another was given an 18 have “hamstrung our armed forces INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. percent pay raise in 2016. DeBow, and jeopardized our national security.” official in charge of protecting Ameri- who appeared at a press conference The measure, aides said, also contains can elections from hacking says the with her lawyer, Octavia Snulligan, almost $90 billion in overdue disaster Russians successfully penetrated the said she and deputy clerk SaRita aid and an increase in the government voter registration rolls of several U.S. Hughes were given large pay raises in borrowing cap that would prevent a states prior to the 2016 presidential 2016 because they assumed additional first-ever U.S. government default on election. In an exclu- duties in light of attrition of its obligations. House Minority Leader sive interview with NBC other staff members. She said Nancy Pelosi says she and many fel- News, Jeanette Manfra, the pay raises were outlined low Democrats will oppose such a deal the head of cybersecu- in a memo sent to the human unless Republicans allow the chamber rity at the Department resources department, and to vote on legislation protecting im- of Homeland Security, that she presented informa- migrants. said she couldn’t talk tion about the raises before about classified information publicly, a City-County Council committee in Curry assails but in 2016, “We saw a targeting of August 2016. 21 states and an exceptionally small Trump on deaths number of them were actually suc- Amazon tweet cessfully penetrated.” Jeh Johnson, INDIANAPOLIS — Inside a who was DHS secretary during the praises Holcomb courtroom Wednesday, Marion County Russian intrusions, said, “2016 was a Prosecutor Terry Curry’s office filed wake-up call and now it’s incumbent HAMMOND — A Twitter ac- criminal charges against the twice- upon states and the Feds to do some- count associated with the online retail deported man arrested in a drunken- thing about it before our democracy is giant Amazon praised Indiana’s gov- driving crash that killed two men, attacked again.” NBC News reported in ernor for his leadership on workforce including an Indianapolis Colts player Sept. 2016 that more than 20 states development, raising more than a few (IndyStar). Outside, Curry issued a had been targeted by the Russians. eyebrows (Herron, IndyStar). “Thank statement blasting President Donald There is no evidence that any of the you for your leadership on #Workfor- Trump. “We are disheartened that registration rolls were altered in any ceDevelopment issues, Governor,” the ghoulish and inappropriate public fashion, according to U.S. officials. tweet said in part. Gov. Eric Holcomb commentary has politicized this trag- visited Amazon’s fulfillment center edy,” said Curry, a Democrat. “Much Fired Indy council in Whitestown on Friday to learn of such commentary, including tweets more about Career Choice, Amazon’s by the president, fails to acknowledge staffers fire back workforce development program. In that both Edwin Jackson and Jeffrey return, Amazon’s public policy account Monroe lost their lives on Sunday.” INDIANAPOLIS — Fired In- retweeted the governor and thanked Friends and family of Jackson and dianapolis City-County Council Clerk him for his leadership on workforce Monroe have echoed similar senti- NaTrina DeBow on Tuesday afternoon development issues. ments. defended herself and other council staffers against allegations from Presi- Senate leaders forge Ex-township trustee dent Stephen Clay that employees had acted improperly, causing him to call 2-year budget deal arrested for theft for an audit of the office (Colombo, WASHINGTON — The Sen- NEW CARLISLE — Former IBJ). Earlier in the day, Clay contin- ate’s top Republican says there’s Sen- Olive Township Clerk Sherri Houser ued the local Democratic civil war by ate agreement on a two-year, almost turned herself in to authorities on alleging that two council employees $400 billion budget deal that would Tuesday to face a charge of forgery were improperly given large raises provide Pentagon and domestic pro- for allegedly misusing the town- and that certain personnel files were grams with huge spending increases ship’s checking account (South Bend missing from the council office—and (Associated Press). Senate Majority Tribune). The charge comes after shredded—after Clay fired council staff Leader Mitch McConnell announced the Indiana State Board of Accounts members. Clay, who is facing removal the pact, joined on the Senate floor by determined last fall that Houser used from office at next month’s council top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer taxpayer money to pay more than meeting by his fellow Democrats of New York. It would contain almost $4,000 in personal checks and over- shortly after being elevated to the top $300 billion more than current limits paid herself by about $11,5000.