Politics

V14 N45 Thursday, July 10, 2008 Untradition: Daniels vs. Thompson Governor gearing up for final campaign, expects a windfall of policy to impact politics

By BRIAN A. HOWEY

INDIANAPOLIS - Next Wednesday, Gov. will travel to Evansville and with delighted local officials - presumably including Democratic Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel - will break ground on the I-69 extension to the state capital. It is an event that had been talked about and prom- ised by Govs. Bowen, Orr, Bayh and O’Bannon for several generations. And Gov. Daniels will tell the dignitaries present, the news media and the general public that the original start day was set for 2017. “The governor is a good leader in tough times,” said his chief of staff Earl Goode Wednes- Gov. Daniels meets with Howard County 4-H Fair beauty queens in Green- day morning as he and campaign manager Eric town on Wednesday. (HPI Photo by Ryan Nees) Holcomb and communications director Cam Sav- age provided details of the governor’s final political region where many states are not.” campaign just before the homestretch. “He’s been willing “The word ‘tradition’ is not an operational word,” to make the tough decisons.” Holcomb added, “He’s em- Goode said. Major Moves - Daniels’ controversial $4 billion barked on changes and applied them to problems that have existed for decades. The fact is, we are creating jobs in a See Page 3

Uneven jobs growth

By MORTON J. MARCUS INDIANAPOLIS - Should the next president of the U.S. be concerned about uneven job growth in the na- tion? Or should he just let the market determine which states “Well, they were hurtful and prosper and which struggle? There is no explicit job policy wrong, that’s the whole point.” in this country to bring employ- ment to slow growing areas. - Rev. Jesse Jackson, apologizing Neither Senator Obama nor Senator McCain has ventured for derogatory remarks made about to discuss the issue. Job growth is left to the states with on a Fox News hot each competing against the others in an expensive battle of mic HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008 subsidies. sector. They would do well to look at Howey Politics From 2002 to 2007, the facts. Nationally, manufacturing the number of jobs in the U.S. grew jobs were down by 9.0% while in In- Indiana by 5.6%, but in Indiana the increase diana the decrease was 6.5%. Several is a nonpartisan news- was just 3.0%. The Hoosier state real- metro areas had huge losses of manu- ized only 1.2% of the U.S. job growth facturing jobs. Anderson lost 52% of letter based in Indianapolis during those five years, going from its jobs in this sector while Muncie saw and published by NewsLink 2.23% of all jobs in 2002 to 2.17% of a 33% decline and Kokomo dropped the nation’s jobs in 2007. 19%. Inc. It was founded in What is true at the national However, the Columbus, 1994 in Fort Wayne. level is also true in Indiana. From Elkhart-Goshen and Terre Haute metro 2002 to 2007, jobs in the Columbus areas gained manufacturing jobs. metropolitan area grew by 10% while Indiana’s great deficiency Brian A. Howey, publisher declining by 10% in the Anderson was in non-manufacturing private Mark Schoeff Jr. and Mark metro area. Of the fourteen metro ar- sector jobs. While the nation’s jobs Curry, Washington eas centered in Indiana, seven added in this sector grew by 8.5%, Indiana writers jobs while the other seven lost. advanced but 5.8%. Indianapolis ac- The Indianapolis metro counted for 51% of the 110,800 jobs Ryan Nees, Indiana writer area alone (Boone, Hamilton, Han- gained in this sector. Five metro areas Jack E. Howey, editor cock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, lost private sector non-manufacturing Beverly Phillips, associate Morgan and Shelby counties) enjoyed jobs (Anderson, Kokomo, Michigan editor two-thirds of the job growth in the City-LaPorte, Muncie and Terre Haute). state (58,900 of the 87,200 increase Should these geographic dis- in Hoosier jobs). The other six winners parities concern our political leaders? Subscriptions: (Bloomington, Columbus, Elkhart-Gos- If so, do they have policies to bring $350 annually HPI via e-mail; hen, Fort Wayne, Gary and Lafayette) about more balanced growth? What together added 32,600 jobs. kind of policies might they introduce? $550 annually HPI & HPI Daily At the same time, in addi- Clearly, the subsidies that Wire. tion to the Anderson metro area, the the state provides to firms could be Call 317-254-0535. Evansville, Kokomo, Michigan City- adjusted for the circumstances of the Howey Politics Indiana LaPorte, Muncie, South Bend, and area. Instead of supporting firms Terre Haute metro areas together lost wherever they may choose to locate, PO Box 40265 17,700 jobs. differential incentives might be pro- Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265. These aggregate numbers vided by the state to encourage job do not tell the full story. Public sec- development in lagging areas. The Contact Us tor jobs in Indiana increased by 3.5% state could underwrite local subsidies www.howeypolitics.com compared to 3.2% nationally. Of the in areas where jobs are needed most. 14,700 public sector jobs added in the This is a tricky business. [email protected] state, 59% were in the Indianapolis Firms have their preferences and it Main Office: 317-202-0210. metro area. At the same time, public might be costly to get an enterprise Howey’s Mobile: 317-506-0883. sector jobs declined in the Gary, to establish itself in a part of the state Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535. Michigan City-LaPorte and Terre Haute that is not consistent with its best metro areas. interests. But once the state starts Washington: 202-256-5822. The picture is much differ- inducing (bribing) companies to locate Business Office: 317-254-0535. ent for private sector jobs: in Indiana, in Indiana, it’s just a short step to ©2008, Howey Politics job growth was just 2.9% compared creating differential subsidies based on Indiana. All rights reserved. with 6.1% nationally. The Indianapolis local need. v Photocopying, Internet forwarding, metro area gained 69% of the state’s small private sector increase. Eight of Mr. Marcus is an independent faxing or reproducing in any form, the state’s 14 metro areas lost private economist formerly with IU’s Kel- in whole or part, is a violation of sector jobs. ley School of Business. federal law without permission from Naturally there are those who the publisher. will have a knee-jerk reaction, blam- ing the problem on the manufacturing HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008

and called a cabinet meeting with the governor participat- Daniels, from page 1 ing by phone. Daniels quickly jettisoned his part of the Japan trip. Out of the cabinet meeting came the “one- lease of the Indiana Toll Road - has sped up I-69, U.S.31 stop shopping” format for flood relief, with offices open- freeway, the Ohio River bridges, Fort to Port and the Hoo- ing in Columbus and Martinsville the following Tuesday. sier Heartland Corridor. INDOT will have spent $1.3 billion Flood victims found the Red Cross, FEMA, DNR, INDOT, for 2008, an unprecedented sum when a typical year’s BMV and insurance agencies all operating out of a central budget would be in the $650 million range. “I think people relief site. Marines and Indiana National Guard personnel realize the dirt is moving all over were deployed ahead of flood waters aiming for Southern the state,” Holcomb said. “That’s Indiana. One FEMA official saw why folks are more optimistic something he had never seen here than nationally.” before: a sitting governor riding With the annoyance up to a disaster assistance site on of the goofy John Waterman his Harley-Davidson. “The concept independent gubernatorial came from the governor,” Goode campaign passing, and internal said. “He recruited, put people Bellwether poll showing the gov- together and made it all happen.” ernor with a 14-point lead over Holcomb said the Dan- Jill Long Thompson (her last iels campaign will prove that internal poll had Daniels up by “good policy is good politics.” Of 7 points) at a time when many the 60,000 jobs promised in an GOP candidates are floundering unprecedented $15 billion eco- within a damaged brand, the nomic development investment Daniels campaign is confident Gov. Mitch Daniels comforts a flood victim in June. over the past three years, some heading into the summer stretch (Photo courtesy of Gov. Daniels) 30,000 are still in the pipeline. “We’re that includes county 4-H fairs in the 90 percent range of what was and the dog days of August. committed,” Goode said. Honda is in The Daniels campaign will report $3 million cash on hand the process of hiring 800 to 900 workers this summer, with by the July 15 financial reporting deadline, with its media 1,000 on the rolls by years end. Medco in Zionsville will be advertising campaign fully paid through Sept. 7 (including up and running next year. Real Cool Foods in Cambridge the Beijing Olympics and the Democratic National Conven- City is hiring. The IBM, AT&T and Sallie Mae call centers tion). It has raised $12.9 million total. It is a campaign are up and running, each adding 1,000 jobs. Goode said where the governor writes all the speeches (many not on that auto parts suppliers are beginning to set up in what paper), and all the ad scripts. “He writes it all,” Holcomb he called the “triangle” between Greensburg, Princeton and said. Lafayette, where a second Toyota plant is in the works. Daniels lauded his 2004 effort, the first chal- Holcomb added that economic development lenger to upset a sitting governor since they could seek prospects are even brighter for the final six months of 2008 multiple terms beginning in 1976. In doing so, he overcame than they had been in the previous two years when Indiana a 12-point deficit in January of that year, using athletic landed Honda, Medventure, Dreyfus, the coal gasification themes (the Milan Miracle) to defeat Kernan, a former plant and the BP expansion at Whiting. “We believe we’ll Notre Dame baseball catcher and Vietnam War POW, while have another record year,” Holcomb said. “We don’t have Americans were in the midst of two wars. to spin it. The ground-breakings are occurring,” including The campaign staff meets with the gubernatorial the big one when the Colts meet the Chicago Bears (thus staff once a week, with Goode calling Daniels “the archi- capturing about 90 percent of Hoosier pro football fans) tect” while dedicating most of his business hour time to at the opening of Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 7. This was the office. “Our job is to manage the agenda to give him the stadium that Daniels was able to convince local elected the freedom to do what he does so well,” Goode said. He officials in Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, Hancock, Johnson points to the reaction to the recent 100-year floods that hit and Shelby counties back in 2005 to pay for with a food the central and southern parts of the state as an example. and beverage tax in another unprecedented expenditure of With much of his economic development staff with political capital. Daniels subsequently wrested construction wheels up for Japan on Saturday, June 7, Daniels was to control of the project from the city of Indianapolis. It ap- join them the following Monday after his participation in the pears the project will be done on time and near budget. Mad Anthony golf outing in Fort Wayne. By Sunday, Goode Commerce Secretary Nathan Feltman said the said, he realized there was a massive flood event on hand state has completed 80 deals this year, compared to 72 in HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 4 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008

2007, though the job levels Would an Obama-Bayh are 600 to 700 below last ticket be the kind of perfect year. “We will catch up storm that could propel Thomp- and surpass that,” Felt- son to a second consecutive man told HPI Wednesday. upset? Holcomb said that Hoo- “We’re working on some siers will “differentiate” between really exciting things.” Since national and state issues. They 2005, Indiana has attracted note that Obama ridiculed Hillary or expanded 44 corporate Clinton’s gas tax suspension as a headquarters with 8,300 “gimmick,” while Thompson is still new jobs and $704 mil- trying to work the issue. lion in investments. That Thompson has also vowed includes nine in 2008 with to make an issue out of Major 1,957 jobs and $89 million Moves. Exit polls suggested that in investment, with three the gas tax issue backfired on more in the wings. CNBC Clinton, who won Indiana by 1.14 lauded Indiana as the most percent when she needed a more productive busienss climate decisive win. There also is a con- in the U.S., saying it rose trast with Obama, who two-thirds past 13 states to 13th on of the way through his standard the U.S. list. Indiana stump speeches last On the heels of April talked of the need to invest that, Daniels will roll out a in new infrastructure. Chicago specific agenda for the next Mayor Richard Daley, an Obama four years, similar to his ally, actually leased the Chicago 2004 Roadmap. “His outline Skyway several years before Dan- of his second term will be as iels did so with the Indiana Toll clear as it was in ‘04,” Hol- Road. Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Daniels at a Major Moves press conference in 2006 at comb said, with education Gov. Ed Rendell is using a similar Kendallville. (KPC Photo) being his centerpiece. Asked “asset management” strategy for details, the Daniels crew with that state’s turnpike. deferred to the governor. In the June 22-29 Goode answered one of the chief Democratic com- Bellwether Poll, 13 percent of likely general election voters plaints: that the governor doesn’t listen. His campaign and participated in their first election last May, with 82 percent office staff portray him as a perpetual traveler. “He doesn’t voting in the Democratic primary. Bellwether has Daniels get enough credit for listening,” Goode said. “When he gets leading Thompson 47-40 percent within that group. “Things off the road, he sits down with Betsey Burdick and me and they like in Obama they like in the governor,” said Savage. just dumps information.” Holcomb added, “He’ll talk with all The poll had Daniels’ fav/unfavs at 55/33 per- the conventional and usual agency leaders, but then he’ll cent (compared to 31/17 percent for Thompson, revealing add what Red down in Mount Vernon told him. He gets a trend in the last Howey-Gauge Poll that Thompson is not every angle of the issues incorporated in to how to solve very famous). He had a 50-36 percent lead in the head-to- the problem.” head. The right track/wrong track stood at 49/31 percent. HPI’s analysis of the 2008 gubernatorial race While 52 percent viewed the national economy “pessimisti- has long been that Daniels is most vulnerable to a na- cally,” only 19 percent of Hoosiers felt that way about the tional wave similar to those in 1964, 1974, 1980 and 1994. state economy, according to Bellwether. Republicans are facing that prospect this year. There is Savage noted that Daniels is running much stron- also a credible prospect that Sen. Evan Bayh may end up ger among his base, compared to Thompson, and had an 8 on the Democratic ticket with Barack Obama. The Daniels to 10 percent lead among independents in both the Bell- team remains confident that John McCain will carry Indi- wether and SurveyUSA polls. “There is nowhere for her to ana, though they acknowledge the state is in play. Zogby go,” Savage said. International had McCain leading in Indiana 40-39 percent Note: The next Howey-Gauge Poll will be an- (June 11-30). Even with Bayh on the ticket, it doesn’t mean nounced on Sept. 4 at the Indianapolis Chamber of Com- a death knell. Bayh won the governorship in 1988 with Sen. merce's Hobnob at the Indiana State Museum. v on the GOP ticket with George H.W. Bush. HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 5 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008

than $800,000 of which has come in donations of 10,000 Thompson campaign’s dollars or more and has already been reported, per Indiana campaign finance law. Two organizations, EMILY’S List and refrain: ‘It’s only July’ the Service Employees Union International, have contrib- uted $700,000 of that amount, a point that has garnered By RYAN NEES fire from the state GOP, which sent a July 7 press release KOKOMO - There’s a common refrain in Jill Long titled “Hoosiers for Jill? Apparently not.” Chairman Murray Thompson’s 804 North Delaware headquarters: “It’s only Clark taunted, “Jill Long Thompson’s reliance on her friends July.” in Washington, D.C., to fund her campaign raises serious Since winning the May primary by just 13,769 questions about her plan for Indiana. Why are these special votes of 1,151,951 cast, the former congresswoman has interests playing such a big role in her campaign?” struggled to create a statewide campaign from scratch. Yet beyond those charges - Daniels’s campaign The staff running Thompson’s Indianapolis headquarters is is as steeped in PAC money as Thompson’s - is a real threat working against the clock to create a new Democratic orga- to Thompson in that her finance structure raises her own nization that, in comparison to Gov. Mitch Daniels’s opera- stakes. If the campaign is unable to tion, is in its mere infancy. And demonstrate its capacity to win, even measured against former national interest groups will quickly Gov. ’s losing 2004 abandon her, cutting her bank ac- campaign after a year of hiatus, count in half or worse. Thompson’s operation shrinks. Already, we’re seeing signs Indeed, comparisons of movement in that direction. The with Kernan’s campaign aren’t Rothenberg Political Report rates friendly ones for Thompson. At the race as “narrow advantage this point in 2004, Kernan had Daniels,” and more damagingly, raised $3,808,561. The cam- Larry Sabato’s influential “Crystal paign’s eager to point out that Ball” has downgraded the race Kernan didn’t have a primary, post-primary to “Likely Republi- and was the sitting governor, can.” It wrote, “At the end of the both significant advantages of day, it is always an uphill battle which Thompson is deprived facing a popular incumbent with but alas for the Democrat’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson deep pockets. The 2008 guber- campaign, elections have no chats with a North Manchester resident during her natorial race in Indiana will be no handicap. The Daniels campaign, “Small Town” tour that began this week. (Thompson different.” Only the Cook Political which had raised $4,198,300 at campaign photo) Report continues to call Indiana’s this point in 2004, wll report $3 race a tossup, and even activist million cash on hand and $12.9 Democratic blogs have directed million total next week. And he’s already spent, according their readerships’ attention elsewhere. “Three polls taken to Thompson campaign estimates, between two and three in the past two months find Daniels settling in a narrow but million dollars on television advertising this year. (Daniels consistent lead, leading me to downgrade the race to lean has prepaid for airtime on most broadcast stations through retention for the first time,” the blog MyDD wrote in June. Sept. 7, according to stations’ FCC reporting.) Thompson’s campaign sidesteps these ques- Thompson’s campaign manager, Travis Lowe, says tions by pleading for a focus on “the issues.” Yet it’s facing the campaign will have enough resources to compete frustration in its inability to drive the debate. Daniels, while against Daniels, and dismisses talk about fundraising num- running an aggressive advertising campaign to improve his bers. own image, seems intent to smother Thompson with si- “We have a great campaign plan which has a lence, baiting the cash-strapped Democrat to the airwaves lot of paid advertising, an aggressive field program, a lot early. (It may be working: Campaign manager Lowe tells of political outreach,” Lowe told HPI. “We’ve got a plan for HPI that the campaign will be on television “very soon,” what that costs and we’ve got a plan for how to raise it. I and camera crews have recently followed Thompson and think any comparison of dollar-to-dollar is a waste of your Oxley to county fairs in Spencer and Vigo counties.) time and my time. I don’t think that’s relevant to anything.” Meanwhile, as months slipped away, Thompson The campaign is signaling that it will report fund- has gotten little traction with issue statements and earned raising of less than $2 million in the second quarter, more media because Gov. Daniels has refused to engage her Page 6 Thursday, July 10, 2008

campaign. the heels of the beginning of his unprecedented televi- “We believe in positive campaigning, and I have sion and field campaigns here. Obama’s camp will almost a job to do, so the time that’s left over for campaigning certainly open more offices, between 25 and 30, than I tend to devote to talking about how we build a better Thompson does, and Emily Parcell, Obama’s state director, state,” Daniels told HPI in Greentown on Wednesday. “I is conveniently married to Thompson’s campaign manager think I have a really positive agenda to propose and we’ll Lowe. Yet Lowe is mum about just how coordinated the be spending much more time on that.” campaigns will be, refusing to say whether Obama’s volun- Thompson’s two-month-long honeymoon has thus teers would go door-to-door with Thompson literature or been plodding. Time has been sapped mostly by fundrais- mention Thompson in phone banking scripts. ing after the campaign emerged broke from the primary, “I don’t think there are Obama volunteers and the prolonged search for and selection of a lieutenant gov- Jill Long Thompson volunteers,” Lowe said. “There are ernor candidate, and preparation for the state convention. Democratic volunteers, and those volunteers are going The latter, while distracting staff for weeks, was given only to be out electing the ticket up and down. The desire for scant media coverage, and just one Indianapolis television change isn’t a change in the White House and status quo in station covered the production. the state. They want to see Democrats in charge and these Yet the rest remains something of a mystery. volunteers are going to be out talking about everybody up The campaign hasn’t finished hiring staff, ballooning from and down the ticket.” six during the primary to 20 now, and a state field director Perhaps Thompson’s dream scenario is the selec- hired last week has just begun the process of coordinating tion of Sen. Evan Bayh as Obama’s vice presidential nomi- regional staff and rounding up phone banking lines. By con- nee, a move which is almost certain to energize Hoosier trast, Daniels had a field director hired 18 months before Democrats further and make the state more likely to turn the 2004 election. A political director won’t come aboard blue in November. (Though Dan Quayle’s presence on the until next week. Thompson has held fewer than 20 post- national ticket in 1988 didn’t put John Mutz instead of Evan primary formal fundraising events and only recently began Bayh in the governor’s office that year.) an aggressive public schedule. And Thompson’s campaign Daniels, however, anticipates running better than still hasn’t finished signing leases for office space across Republican presidential nominee John McCain and points the state, though many of its offices will consist essentially to polling his campaign has conducted showing crossover of desks in local county party headquarters. support from Obama voters. The internal scrambling has forced the campaign “This state’s going to vote for John McCain; to let other opportunities pass. The Daniels campaign evidence indicates that we’re going to run, at least right remains convinced that Thompson blew a chance to cut now, well ahead of him, but I think he’ll win,” Daniels said. into Daniels’s base with the candidacy of state Sen. John “I think people make independent judgments, and I can Waterman, who briefly but unsuccessfully mounted an in- tell you from all kinds of evidence that there’s an enormous dependent bid for governor before falling short of the ballot number of people who today - I don’t know what they’ll do signature requirement. (“It wasn’t our responsibility,” Lowe in November - say they’ll vote for Obama who are voting explained.) The campaign isn’t expecting an endorsement for us. Maybe they’re interested in change and they’ve from her opponent in the primary, architect Jim Schellinger, seen some. It’s a different set of issues; we’re not involved anytime soon. And Thompson is content to cede the history in issues of left and right and ideology. I think people will her candidacy is making as the first female gubernatorial make very separate and independent judgments. My best nominee since Indiana became a state. (“The fact that I guess is that John McCain still carries Indiana. The question happen to be a woman I think is much, much less signifi- is can we do better than that?” cant than the credentials I bring to this campaign,” Thomp- Thompson is adamant that the campaign will win son says.) Fort Wayne’s Allen County, which Kernan lost by 12 points The campaign can still win, but it’s become (19,790 votes) in 2004, and Thompson won multiple times beholden to a clutch of externalities. in her campaigns for Congress. The campaign envisions a There are, no doubt, makings of an upset. Thomp- swath of blue counties extending all the way from Lake to son’s likely to be a beneficiary of an enthusiastic Democrat- Allen counties, past the traditional Democratic Lake-to-St. ic base, which turned out nearly 1.3 million voters for the Joseph northern corridor. May primary, an especially worrisome number for the gov- The decision to add Dennie Oxley to the ticket was ernor’s campaign. In comparison, Daniels won 1,302,912 for geographic balance to the extreme; Thompson’s cam- votes in 2004’s general election, and only 350,390 voters paign is premised on winning the state-as-a-puzzle’s edge bothered to cast a ballot for him last May. pieces. The border counties from Ohio to Steuben, wrap- Thompson must hope that Democratic presidential ping around the southern, western, and northern edges of nominee Barack Obama continues to invest in Indiana on the state, comprised a third of Indiana’s entire gubernato- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 7 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008

rial vote in 2004, and Kernan largely won them. But he lost upwards of 20 or 30 points in each county to win her old northeastern Indiana badly. district and to reverse the 2004 result. It’s possible: Kernan If Thompson could add a modest 10 points to lost Kosciusko county by 43 points, 31 points worse than Kernan’s totals in Whitley, Allen, DeKalb, Elkhart, LaGrange, O’Bannon in 2000. Kosciusko, and Noble counties, she would yield approxi- Perhaps that’s the fundamental problem plagu- mately 60,000 additional votes in an election Kernan lost by ing Thompson’s campaign: the question isn’t yet whether just 190,000. (Yet she would still lose every county except she will win, but can she? v Allen.) Thompson will have to vastly outperform Kernan by

setts, and it has to be because we don’t have a cushion in JLT talks about her campaign, our state budget. I think the first step we need to take is labor and the economy to require insurance companies that sell health insurance in Indiana to make pooling an option for everyone. Just because your business is smaller doesn’t mean you should KOKOMO - HPI’s Ryan Nees spoke with Democratic pay more for health insurance, because we all should be Gubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson as she visited able to be part of a pool and we could substantially bring with voters in Kokomo before its July 4 parade. down the cost of health insurance for families and HPI: This is a rust belt city, and Chrysler small businesses if pooling were an option for is in the middle of a three-week shut down of its everyone. plant. What are your plans to bring back jobs to HPI: Does suspending the gas tax make areas like this that haven’t been tried before? a big difference in any individual’s budget, and it JLT: My approach is very different from doesn’t it just worsen our ultimate dependency on that of Mitch Daniels because his oil? approach is sort of one program JLT: I think if you could save at a time, and one job at a time. somebody between twenty and What we need is leadership that twenty-eight cents a gallon, it can will change broad policy, includ- make a huge impact on the budget ing our tax structure, includ- particularly if they have to drive ing addressing the high costs any distance back and forth to of health care…higher here work and for many families whose in Indiana than the national budgets are stretched. I mean, if average. And our high school you think about a sale of fifty dol- dropout rate. It’s important to lars of gasoline, that’s a savings of create an economic climate that three dollars and fifty cents every sets us apart from other states time they’re filling up their car. And and that’s the leadership I will that’s a gallon of milk. It could be a provide to the state of Indiana… box of cereal. I believe in an econo- very, very different from his approach. I also believe that my like we’re facing now, every penny counts. there is quite a future for manufacturing in Indiana. Those HPI: What do you say to Democrats who worry who say we need to look to other industries, I believe they about your ability to beat Mitch Daniels? are being very narrow in their thinking. And I think that we JLT: I have a record of winning in a part of the can revitalize the auto industry. It’s going to require greater state where Democrats don’t win. I represented and was fuel efficiency and the creation of cars that are in higher elected three times—twice with record numbers in my vic- demand, but we have the potential and the capacity to do tories—the old fourth Congressional district. The fact that that. We also have tremendous opportunity in renewable I’m running neck-and-neck I think bodes very well for this energy and energy efficiency. The production of the prod- fall. ucts that are used in solar and wind generation and also in HPI: What’s the status of the UAW negotiations? the products that make homes and businesses more energy What’s preventing the endorsement of the CAP Council? efficient…that’s going to be what I’m working on from day JLT: I have very, very strong support from the one. membership of the United Auto Workers. The UAW and HPI: On healthcare, are you going to do some- AFSCME both believe that when I reinstate collective bar- thing like they’ve done in Massachusetts? gaining rights that I should, in that declaration, recognize JLT: My approach is very different from Massachu- the Unity Team and AFSCME and I think it’s inappropriate HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 8 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008

for an employer to tell employees what union they have to of my background in economics and my background in join. I support the Free Choice Act, I have a very strong business, and because I come from a working family, was record, I belong to a labor union. the first in my family to go to college. The fact that I hap- HPI: How are you going to emphasize the fact that pen to be a woman I think is much, much less significant you’re the first female gubernatorial nominee? than the credentials I bring to this campaign. v JLT: I think I am a very strong candidate because

helping Waterman get on the ballot in a classic divide and Between Bayh and Biden? conquer. Doing so, however, would have taken considerable TRENDLINES: We are convinced that U.S. Sen. resources. When we first learned of the John Price fantasy Evan Bayh is on Barack Obama’s for Waterman, we speculated that if he qualified, he might short list after talking with a num- attract the Ron Paul voter and slice a sliver (1 to 5 percent) ber of state and Washington Dem- off Daniels’ margin. But it became increasingly clear that ocratic leaders. With a number of the Waterman-Jehl ticket was an idiot’s dream. Jehl’s inclu- key names - Sen. Jim Webb, Ohio sion coming after the disastrous Matt Kelty mayoral cam- Gov. Ted Strickland and Pennslyva- paign in Fort Wayne shook away any shred of credibility to nia Gov. Ed Rendell - taking them- this effort. As for Thompson, next week’s financial report selves out of consideration, our will be critical. We don’t think a $2 million threshhold is sources are indicating that it looks overstated given that she is the Democratic nominee. If she to them like it’s coming down to can’t reach that point, it reveals fissures in the party. Many Bayh and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden. Democrats believe that Thompson can piggyback on to the We’ve still got New Mexico Gov. Bill Obama campaign and find a way to victory. House Republi- Richardson, former Sen. Sam Nunn can poll reveals that Daniels leads in a number of House and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine on our districts where Obama leads. Some Democrats believe list. Of this group, Kaine is in a posi- an Obama-Bayh ticket could be Thompson’s deliverance. tion to deliver Virginia. But Bayh’s But Bayh won in 1988 with Dan Quayle on the GOP ticket, potential to delivering Indiana’s 11 though Bayh had a united, superbly run campaign that was Electoral College votes (compared well funded. We’ll all know a lot more next week. Status: to three for Delaware’s Biden) makes us think this goes Leans Daniels well beyond rooting for the hometown lad. Nunn would go beyond the EC, bringing DC and international logistics to an Obama administration. Republican Pollster had Bayh No. 2 Attorney General: Democrat: Linda Pence. on his short list when we spoke at an Indiana Pacers func- Republican: Deputy Attorney General Greg Zoeller. 2004 tion last month. What might be the timeframe? Probably Results: Carter 1,389,640, Hogsett (D) 953,500, Milewski sometime between Aug. 10 and 22, prior to the Democratic (L) 45,212. 2008 Forecast: Hoosierpundit’s Scott Fluhr National Convention, where Obama will give his acceptance trips up Pence in yet another deception concerning her role speech before 70,000 people at Invesco Field. in representing one of the defendants in the East Chicago RICO suit brought by Attorney General Steve Carter’s office (Advance Indiana). Pence’s client, Rieth-Riley, settled out Indiana Statewides of court with the state in 2006 for $625,000, the largest amount paid to date by any defendant in the civil suit. Governor: Republican: Gov. Mitch Daniels, The blogs first raised concern that Pence failed to mention Democrat:Jill Long Thompson. Libertarian: Andrew Horn- she had represented Rieth-Riley when she criticized Steve ing. 1996 Results: O’Bannon (D) 1,075,342, Goldsmith Carter’s office for its handling of the case, which included (R) 997,505, Dillon (L) 35,261. 2000 Results: O’Bannon his use of outside counsel. When Pence was taken to task (D) 1,230,345, McIntosh (R) 906,492, Horning (L) 38,686. for the omission, she said the attorney-client privilege lim- 2004 Results: Daniels (R) 1,302,912, Kernan (D) ited what she could discuss about the case: Pence said she 1,113,900, Gividen (L) 31,644. 2008 Forecast: With the could not discuss, but said companies often settle cases John Waterman-Glenna Jehl comedy show out of the fall not because they have done something wrong but because lineup, this becomes a referendum on the Daniels adminis- it’s less expensive to put the matter to rest than to litigate. tration and who can present a vivid vision for the future. A As it turns out, Hoosierpundit has turned up the settlement number of Republicans we’ve talked with believe Thomp- documents in which Rieth-Riley specifically waived its at- son and Indiana Democrats made a strategic error in not torney-client privilege. The specific provision in Section 12 HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 9 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008

of the agreement reads: “As part of its cooperation in Sec- former Democratic secretary of state nominee Joe Pear- tion 11, and for the sole benefit of the Attorney General, son, who himself lost narrowly to Secretary of State Todd Rieth-Riley agrees to waive any applicable attorney-client Rokita. privilege concerning any of the relevant facts as to which In HD 89, Gentry said that polling shows that HD Rieth-Riley provides testimony or documents to the Attor- 89, the seat being vacated by State Rep. Larry Buell, as a ney General in the RICO Lawsuit. Rieth-Riley also agrees tossup. Democrat John Barnes is running for a second time to provide letters necessary to effectuate such waiver.” against Christopher Swatts. In another Indianapolis seat, Yes, her client waived its attorney-client privilege to aid State Rep. Jon Elrod had a 23-point lead over Mary Ann the state in the prosecution of its sidewalks-for-votes case. Sullivan after he re-entered that race. Due to the strength “Openness and honesty are important qualities to have in of Barack Obama in Indianapolis and the Democratic lean- an attorney general,” blogger Scott Fluhr writes. “Why is ings of that district, HPI expects that race to get tighter. Linda Pence demonstrating, again and again, that she does In HD63, Republican Mark Messmer “is in a strong not seem to have them?” Status: Tossup. position” against DuBois County Commissioner John Berger. Status: TOSSUP. This is the seat being vacated by State Rep. Dave Crooks. In another open seat, Republican Randy Truitt has a “strong lead” over Democrat John Polles in HD26, the Indiana Legislative seat vacated by State Rep. Joe Micon. Indiana Democratic Chairman Dan Parker did not State Reps. Ron Herrell and Kreg Battles got free return a phone call for comment on this article. passes for re-election as the June 30 caucus deadline passed with no opponents. Despite those open seats, Republicans were able to slate Floyd Coates in their last Indiana Congressional targeted seat in HD 69 against State Rep. Dave Cheatham. HRCC Director Mike Gentry had downplayed the Congressional District 7: Republican: lack of challengers for Battles and Ray Irvin. Democrat: U.S. Rep. Andre Carson. 2008 Herrell, saying those seats were Forecast: Irvin has filed for this seat and the July 18 not on the GOP focus list despite caucus that will take place at the Marriott. Campo ran in the fact that they had changed the January slating and lost to State Rep. Jon Elrod. At this hands in recent years. point, these are the only two candidates. But in our view, At Anderson, State Rep. Irvin is far and away the best challenger for Carson given Terri Austin will face former An- that he served a term on the Indianapolis City-County derson Police Chief Frank Burrows. In HD68, veteran State Council, passed legislation creating the greenways system Rep. Bob Bischoff will face Jud McMillin, a Brookville at- and the Monon Trail, then worked under Mayors Goldsmith torney. HPI Horse Race has Cheatham, Bischoff and Austin and Peterson to actually build the trails. Irvin then moved races leaning Democrat. to the Daniels administration and INDOT, where he played The most interesting of the new races pits former a key role in the development of the statewide bike trails two-term Elkhart Mayor Dave Miller system. Irvin talked with May- against State Rep. Craig Fry. Miller or Ballard at his Washington declined to seek a third term as Township community meeting mayor and will run on a social Tuesday night and vowed to conservative agenda. Fry has held help the mayor find federal the seat for 20 yers and believes funding for public transporta- that most of his Mishawaka-based tion. “The very things I’ve district is unfamiliar with Miller, been talking about for years despite the former mayor’s eight are the same issues that May- years of exposure in the South or Ballard needs,” Irvin said. Bend/Elkhart TV market. Irvin is also a retired U.S. Air Gentry believes the Repub- Force veteran and he executed licans are in a relatively strong po- air search and rescue as well sition despite the national dynamic. as drug interdiction missions. He has State Reps. Don Lehe and He served in Vietnam in 1966- Tim Harris “ahead in early polling.” Ray Irvin passed legislation and then built the Monon 67 Caucus Status: Likely Harris has squeaked out two close Trail in Indianapolis. Irvin. Caucus Status: Likely victories in the last cycles but faces Irvin v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 10 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008

according to a recent poll. Sodrel doesn’t dispute that he ‘Toxic’ GOP brand may has ground to make up. “I believe I’m behind,” Sodrel said. “The only poll not hit CD campaigns I’ve been ahead in was election night 2004.” But the 9th CD has traditionally been a Democratic By MARK SCHOEFF JR. bastion. Former Rep. Lee Hamilton served for more than 35 years until he retired and Hill took over in 1998. Other than WASHINGTON - Nationally, his party’s reputation is his loss to Sodrel in 2004, Hill has the held the seat since. “toxic,” according to Rep. (R-3rd CD). But the “I wasn’t elected in this district because I was a negative attitudes voters have toward the Republican,” Sodrel said. “I was elected despite being a GOP may not necessarily correlate with Republican.” In general, the 9th CD leans conservative. sentiment in Indiana. Even though a re- Sodrel is skeptical that voters are placing much cent poll showed that President Bush has emphasis on political labels. “Normal people on the street, a 35 percent approval rating in Souder’s they can’t tell the difference between a Republican and a northeast Indiana district, one Bush car- Democrat,” Sodrel said. “I hear that quite often.” ried with 68 percent of the vote in 2004, The reason for the confusion is the way candidates Souder is confident of his home area’s are running, according to Sodrel. “Everyone’s scrambling to strong conservative tendencies. get to the center,” he said. “In my district, I’d much rather But Sodrel maintains that he is resisting that have the Republican brand than the trend. “I’m a conservative,” he said. “I’m not angry about Democratic brand,” Souder said. “The it. I don’t apologize for it.” Republican brand is down, but it’s still the majority brand.” Elsewhere in the state, the conservative flag may The Republican reputation will be tested this fall. not be raised because the GOP lacks strong candidates in But a number of factors, from congressional races, a phenomenon districts’ historical leanings to the that may itself demonstrate Repub- lack of competitive congressional lican brand weakness. Two House races, may prevent Indiana from Democratic freshmen, Reps. Joe serving as a good gauge for the Donnelly (2nd CD) and Brad Ells- state of the party, which until worth (8th CD), are facing woefully 2007 controlled both the U.S. underfunded Republican competitors House and Senate. and should cruise to re-election. The best indicator of GOP The real test of Republican health may be whether presump- strength, or weakness, in Indiana tive Democratic presidential nomi- could come at the presidential level. nee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illi- If Obama carries the state, it would nois, can carry Indiana. be the first Democratic presidential Generic ballots con- win since 1964. The Obama cam- sistently show Democrats with paign has vowed to run hard in a strong lead over Republicans Indiana. while polls this week showed that Obama may even select Sen. Evan the approval rating of Congress Bayh as his running mate, a move slipped to single digits for the first that would ensure that the ticket is time in history. But when actual competitive for the Hoosier vote. But candidates fill in the blanks, the Souder doubts it would change the numbers can change. A Cooper U.S. Rep. Mark Souder state’s Republican leanings on the & Secrest poll shows Souder with presidential level. a 55-28 percent lead over his op- “Even with Bayh on an Obama ponent, Democrat Michael Montagano. ticket, I don’t think it would get him over the top in Indi- Southeast Indiana could be a test market for the ana,” Souder said. “In Indiana, issues and experience mat- GOP brand. The previous three races between Republican ter more than in other states.” challenger and incumbent Democratic Rep. In those areas, Obama suffers, according to in the 9th CD have been fierce, close battles Souder. “He’s so liberal,” Souder said. “He could sink to sometimes decided by razor-thin margins. McGovern numbers.” This year, Sodrel is running 11 points behind Hill, Of course, Republicans are having their own HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 11 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008

problems in the presidential campaign. Their presumptive eventually will come home. “There will be a closing behind nominee, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, has been largely McCain in the last few weeks,” Souder said. shunned by conservatives, which could hurt him in Indi- McCain’s maverick tendencies might also benefit ana. Former Indiana Democratic congressman , the party, according to Souder. “McCain will bring in some who believes Obama can carry Indiana with or without moderates we wouldn’t have had, especially in Indiana,” he Evan Bayh on the ticket, was asked about the GOP brand. said. “I don’t know so much the Republican is being damaged,” Meanwhile, on the congressional level, Sodrel Roemer said. “McCain is being seen as more of the same, will try to connect with voters on local concerns. “I’m run- as Bush. People are really looking for a change, and hope ning my own campaign,” he said. “I’ve got my own issues. and help on economic issues. It was very very evident and We’ve got good grassroots. We’re not starting from scratch. written on people’s faces in diners, plants, everywhere you You don’t have to build a lot of name ID.” went . People are extremely concerned on jobs, health But so far there are is no overarching GOP identity, care, gas prices, $700 billion going overseas for oil. It’s according to Sodrel. The party is “going to have to find its gone from 20 percent to 70 percent of our oil. The money way again,” Sodrel said. “I don’t think there is a consensus. is going to the wrong countries and the wrong people. That Maybe one will develop in the next 60 days.” makes Indiana viable ground for Obama.” If not, Republicans could wander into a significant Souder, however, believes his wing of the party electoral setback. v Obama in play in Indiana By JACK COLWELL

SOUTH BEND - Barack Obama intends to put Indiana in play in this presidential election. Yes, he can. So he will. His decision to opt out of public finance and raise as much money as possible gives Obama the luxury of concentrating all-out on more than just the recent battle- ground states. He already has included Indiana among the 18 states targeted in his first and second rounds of TV spots for the general election. And why wouldn’t he? After all, polls show he has a chance to be the first Demo- Barack Obama visits the homestead of his mother’s family at cratic presidential nominee to carry Kempton, Ind., last April. (HPI Photo by Ryan Nees) Indiana since 1964. A good chance? Maybe not good. Indiana’s 11 Electoral College votes could be crucial. The But certainly a chance. magic number to win is 270. President Bush won with only Obama is ahead of John McCain 271 electoral votes in 2000 and by 286 in 2004. in Indiana by a speck in the average Let’s talk red and blue, the colors the TV networks of results from four polls since late use to show which way states are voting. To win, Obama April that were recognized by Real needs to retain the blue (Democratic) states of ’04 and Clear Politics. Obama led in three of the four polls, includ- snare a red (Republican) state such as Ohio, 20 electors, ing the recent SurveyUSA poll. That poll, conducted late in or win over a couple of red states out of such targets as June, showed Obama ahead by a single percentage point. Indiana, 11; Virginia, 13; Iowa, 7; North Caroline, 15, and While this only means that the race is a statistical tie, a tie Georgia, 15. now in Indiana makes it a worthwhile target for Obama All this said, the fact that Indiana will be in play and a worry for McCain. doesn’t mean that it will go blue. Color it purple. Based Indiana won’t be, as it has been for decades, on past presidential voting history, including big wins by a state written off by Democrats as hopeless, taken for President Bush in Indiana in 2000 and 2004, it would seem granted by Republicans and thus ignored in terms of major that the purple should be viewed as having a shade more campaign effort by both sides in the presidential contest. red than blue in the color mixture. Page 12 Thursday, July 10, 2008

Still, it is a worthwhile target for Obama. Even if Obama loses Indiana, McCain will be forced to devote time and resources _ and he will have more limited funding than Obama _ to win a state that Bush was able both times to take for granted, raising funds in Indiana but spending little on a Hoosier cam- paign. Although the president won by a 21-percentage-point margin in Indiana in ’04, he is the main reason the state is purple today. President Bush’s approval rating has plummeted in Indiana, just as it has elsewhere in the nation. One Indiana poll found that eight out of 10 Hoosiers believe the nation is headed on “the wrong track.” And it’s Bush who is running the train. In Indiana and in other states that will be in play, McCain must counter con- tentions that he would provide only a Sen. John McCain with Gov. Mitch Daniels and wife Cindy at a town hall meeting in India- third Bush term. If he can stake out a napolis last winter. (HPI Photo by A. Walker Shaw) course that convinces Indiana voters that he would provide change that is safer and surer than what Obama chance? v offers, McCain can keep Indiana in the GOP column. A development, however, that would immediately Colwell has been covering Indiana politics over five change Indiana from purple to a shade of darn near blue decades for the South Bend Tribune. His column is the possible selection of Sen. Evan Bayh, the Indiana runs here on Mondays. Democrat who has had a positive approval rating even among Hoosier Republicans, to be Obama’s vice presiden- tial running mate. Bayh reportedly is on the list of possible running Contacting mates. But it is doubtful that Obama is close yet to nam- ing a choice. Why would he decide now? He has time to Howey Politics Indiana consider all the factors, including more than just who might help to carry some particular state. Business Office: 317-254-0535 Indiana Democrats would be overjoyed if Bayh Subscription/Passwords: 317-254-0535 were on the ticket, and not just because of the potential of a vice president from the state. Bayh’s presence on the Indianapolis Newsroom: 317-202-0210 ticket could help Democrats win the races for governor, for Howey’s Mobile: 317-506-0883 Congress and for the state legislature. Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535 Some of those Democrats were more hopeful Washington, DC Bureau: 202-256-5822 of Bayh being selected when they heard last week that Business Office: 317-254-0535 Jonathan Swain, who was Bayh’s press secretary and then Subscription/Passwords: 317-254-0535 the Hillary Clinton communications director in Indiana, will be Obama’s communications director in the state. Brian Howey: [email protected] That may mean absolutely nothing in terms of a Mark Schoeff Jr. [email protected] vice presidential selection, but it is another indication that Jack Howey [email protected] Obama intends to put Indiana in play in this presidential www.howeypolitics.com election. Yes, he can. So he will. Why wouldn’t he take a chance, with the audacity of hope that it could be a good HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 13 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008

Sylvia Smith, Fort Wayne Journal Ga- shooting an intruder, was charged with a handgun viola- zette: John McCain has threatened to use his presidential tion. And as a state senator, Obama voted against a popular veto pen - assuming he gets to wield it - on any earmark- bipartisan bill that would have prohibited prosecution of tainted bill Congress sends him. “Earmark spending runs otherwise law-abiding citizens for violating local gun pro- against the public interest in many ways and especially hibition ordinances in Illinois if the gun was used to stop a when public safety is in the balance. And that’s why, as home invasion by violent criminals. Doesn’t sound like a big president, I will veto every bill with earmarks until the Con- 2nd Amendment guy there. But he is now? One must won- gress stops sending bills with earmarks,” he told a crowd in der. He voted in favor of the revised Foreign Intelligence Indianapolis last week. “It may take a while for Congress to Surveillance Act, agreeing to extend retroactive immunity adjust, but sooner or later they’ll figure out that there’s a to telecoms that help the government spy on us. In an new sheriff in town.” Vetoing entire bills would keep Presi- earlier bill, he spoke against immunity provisions. But now, dent McCain very busy. But it’s not as clear-cut “The issue of the phone companies per se is not as it sounds. First, he’d have to define what an one that overrides the security of the American earmark is. Is it only something a member of people,” Obama said. He backed away from his Congress singled out for federal payment? Or support of campaign finance spending limits in would specific projects identified by McCain’s the upcoming election and opted out of the cam- own administration fit the definition? Second, paign finance system after he said he wouldn’t. he’d have to decide how hard-nosed he’d be. During the primary campaign he railed on Hillary Would McCain hold hostage any bill with an ear- Clinton over her support of the North American mark? He could hardly call Congress’s bluff if his Free Trade Agreement and said the pact must be anti-earmark position is conditional. But would he veto a bill renegotiated. He said he would use the threat to “opt out” that, for instance, provided money to pay for the continu- of NAFTA as a “hammer” to force Canada and Mexico to ation of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars if it also included renegotiate. But last week he told Fortune magazine that he money for some congressional pet projects? v was “not a big believer in doing things unilaterally.” v

Gary Gerard, Warsaw Times-Union: Lesley Stedman Weidenbener, Ah, yes, the pragmatic shift to the center. You know what Louisville Courier-Journal: Democratic gubernatorial hopeful I mean. During the primary, candidates walk a pretty thin Jill Long Thompson renewed her call last week that Gov. party line. But after they become the nominee, they aban- Mitch Daniels, a Republican, suspend the state sales tax don the hardline positions that motivate the fringes of the on gasoline to save drivers about a quarter on a gallon of party and lean more toward the middle of the political gas. Daniels, citing an opinion from the attorney general, spectrum. called it the “vital center” and he was says he doesn’t have the legal authority to do it and he’s correct. Nobody on the far left is going to vote for McCain, always maintained it might not be such a great idea anyway and nobody on the far right is going to vote for Obama. because it will cause a big hit to the state budget. Regard- The only votes to be swayed are those in the “vital center.” less of who you think is right, it’s clear that the tax on gas It’s the way to win elections. So I knew it was coming. All -- and frankly taxes in general -- are going to be a big part candidates do it. But this Barack Obama character is off of the fall campaign and should make for some interest- the charts. Honestly, in a week’s time he went from being ing debates. Thompson has made it clear she’s going to one of the most liberal Senators - if not the most liberal, keep harping on the gas issue, even though she has not depending on whose list you read - to sounding positively outlined a way to account for the lost revenue. All indica- conservative. As recently as February, Obama said he sup- tions are that high prices at the pump have become a major ported the D.C. gun ban and thought it was constitutional. issue for voters. What makes her criticism of Daniels sting But after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the ban was uncon- a little more is that he just signed a sales tax increase into stitutional, he said, “I have always believed that the Second law. One year ago, property taxes were the biggest issue in Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, Indiana politics, but the governor and lawmakers fashioned but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged commu- a plan to deal with the problem -- raising the sales tax, nities to save their children from the violence that plagues cutting property taxes by about one-third and limiting bills our streets through common-sense, effective safety mea- in the future so they don’t climb to more than 1 percent of sures. The Supreme Court has now endorsed that view.” In a home’s assessed value. But the program won’t be fully 2004, the Associated Press reported Obama opposed letting implemented by this fall’s election. Voters should be getting people use a self-defense argument if charged with violat- bills this year that are lower than last year. But with all the ing local handgun bans by using weapons in their homes. hype surrounding this issue, it’s too soon to know whether The bill was a reaction to a Chicago-area man who, after bills will be low enough to provide a boost for Daniels or if continuing frustration will mean more votes for Thompson. HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 14 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, July 10, 2008 Oxley stumps Convention on Wednesday (Post-Tri- crash has shut down the state’s pro- bune). In his letter, copied to several cessing of child support payments, in da Region local and state politicians, Hatcher welfare applications and other pro- INDIANAPOLIS - Dennie accused Parker of presiding over “the grams. State chief information officer Oxley’s English, Ind., accent immedi- most undemocratic state convention Gerry Weaver says computer databas- ately sets him apart around here. I have ever attended.” Hatcher then es for the Department of Child Servic- But Oxley, accused Lake County Democratic Party es and the Family and Social Services the Demo- Chairman Rudy Clay of treating young Administration went down Monday cratic can- state delegates, such as his daughter night. The social services computer is didate for Renee Hatcher, “like a piece of dirt” back up and running, but the data- lieutenant and assembling a slate of national base affecting child support payments governor, delegate candidates be-fore the state remains out of action. Weaver says believes his convention even started. Richard that system is expected to be back southern Hatcher couldn’t be reached for com- up Thursday. FSSA officials say the twang will ment. “It just seemed like the whole problem affected processing of food unite him thing wasn’t fair at all,” Renee Hatcher stamps, Medicaid and the new Healthy with the people of Northwest Indiana said. “How in the world do you have Indiana Plan insurance coverage for in the ranks of the forgotten dur- a secret meeting with 86 people low-income adults. ing the Mitch Daniels administration present?” Clay said. Thomas Cook, a (Post-Tribune). Oxley was in the spokesman for the state’s Democratic area Wednesday introducing himself Party, said the convention was handled Souder defends to political leaders and talking up the according to the rules of the state mobile home makers economic plan he and gubernatorial Democratic Party. “We understand the WASHINGTON - Lack of candidate Jill Long Thompson hope disappointment of some individuals standards for how much formaldehyde will unseat Daniels. “We have a plan with how few spots were available and is dangerous and FEMA’s handling of for getting (the economy) moving the competitive nature of the election testing for the chemical in travel trail- again, and it involves every county, process,” Cook said. ers used for Hurricane Katrina evacu- not just central Indiana,” Oxley said. ees were “a failure of government,” “It is certainly going to involve North- members of Congress said Wednesday west Indiana, and southern Indiana, Toyota to shift from (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). Repub- where I’m from,” he added. “We be- trucks to SUVs licans, particularly Rep. Mark Souder, lieve that much of the effort that has R-3rd, said it’s wrong to blame the taken place over the past four years PRINCETON - Toyota will industry because the government has centered around central Indiana.” move its Tundra full-size pickup truck doesn’t say how much formaldehyde is Long Thompson has posited a “tiered production from its Princeton, Ind., dangerous. He said Gulf Stream Coach approach,” which would make greater plant to San Antonio, Texas, next tried to tell FEMA that “snapshot” tax incentives available to companies spring and replace it with the High- tests of some trailers showed elevated which set up shop in more depressed lander, a mid-size SUV, the company formaldehyde levels, but FEMA didn’t areas of the state. “Certainly North- announced this morning. The High- want the information. “It’s unfair west Indiana desperately needs jobs, lander originally was scheduled to to suggest the manufacturers bear as does southern Indiana and other be built in Mississippi but will now be responsibility,” he said. The companies areas of the state,” Oxley said. “We’ll manufactured in Gibson County start- are in the congressional district Souder be lifting all boats, but we think it ing in the fall of 2009. The company represents. makes sense to place the emphasis on says it is responding to changes in those areas that need it the most.” consumer demand and improving the production efficiency and stability at Clinton mayor resigns its North American operations. Com- Hatcher blasts Parker, pany spokesman Kelly Dillon said it CLINTON A Democrat Party Clay over convention will not affect employment levels, now caucus will be conducted at 10 a.m. GARY - A letter from former about 4,500. Aug. 2 to replace former Clinton Mayor Gary Mayor Richard Hatcher to Indi- Jerry Hawkins, who submitted a letter ana’s Democratic Party Chairman Dan of resignation Tuesday to the Clinton Parker ignited a public airing of griev- FSSA computers crash City Council (Terre Haute Tribune- ances about the Indiana Democratic INDIANAPOLIS - computer Star).