Burton's Exit Sets Off 5Th CD Scramble
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V17, N22 Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 Burton’s exit sets off 5th CD scramble Dean of the delegation retires, setting off a fight between McIntosh, McGoff, Brooks, others By BRIAN A. HOWEY NASHVILLE, Ind. - For weeks, the speculation was that U.S. Rep. Dan Burton would not make it to the filing post in the 5th CD. Howey Politics Indi- ana reported sources in early January saying Burton was out of touch with his district, was finding fundraising difficult, his staff divided on whether to pursue another term as the most vulnerable Congressional incumbent, his wife was facing health problems, all while a prestigious challenger field was raising upward of $1 million. Burton told one district chair part of a deal to benefit Messer by getting McIntosh out of in early January that his wife might be facing surgery. “He 6th District. He had no idea that Murray Clark was backing said that if she has to have surgery, then he would put Susan Brooks. He did not know that the Madison County family ahead of the race,” the chairman said. “I thought it chairman’s wife is heading up McIntosh’s campaign in Madi- was very odd for him to tell me this. It had the appearance son County. He did not know the Boone County chairman. of leaving him a graceful way out.” He did not know Jennifer Ping.” “He was totally clueless as to why Kittle and the Continued on page 3 boys were backing McIntosh. He had no idea that it was Revenge and Right to Work By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - Before the ink in the pens of Gov. Mitch Daniels dried on the Right to Work law he signed Wednesday afternoon, there were sinister stirrings. ‘‘It’s time to move beyond this There was talk of ... retribution. From the quivering lips of B. divisive issue. Indiana needs a Patrick Bauer, from the lungs of Terry Goodin, to the bellows of Nancy Guyott governor and a legislature that and scores of brothers and sisters under the rotunda, the message is clear: there show up for work every day and will be hell to pay come Election Day in work together with one focus - November. How serious is such a threat? creating jobs.” From a practical standpoint, the - John Gregg, on Right to Work HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 Democratic base is stoked, as are the even better place to do business and unions in Northwest Indiana (see Rich help create new jobs for Hoosiers.” James’ column on Pages 5 and 6). Democrat John Gregg had With the UAW now headquartered out described to HPI the “overreach” on of state, base motivation cannot be RTW and how “it made me speaker www.HoweyPolitics.com taken for granted. and it will make me governor.” Bauer, channeling his inner But on Wednesday, Gregg, Samuel L. Jackson/Pulp Fiction, said who was largely silent on the issue Howey Politics on Wednesday, “There will be account- during the month of January, sounded Indiana ability demanded from those in the conciliatory and not reeking of re- is a non-partisan newsletter Indiana General Assembly who helped venge. “It’s time to move beyond this based in Indianapolis. It was the governor deliver on his promise. divisive issue,” Gregg said. “Indiana founded in 1994 in Fort Wayne. Indiana House Democrats will continue needs a governor and a legislature to make it clear who caused this mess that show up for work every day and when the unemployment numbers work together with one focus– creat- Brian A. Howey, Publisher stay high, and Hoosiers keep earning ing jobs, whether it’s for a union or Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington less than workers in other states.” non-union workplace. Because in the Jack E. Howey, editor Senate Minority Leader Vi end, it doesn’t matter if you’re in a Beverly K. Phillips, associate Simpson vowed from the Statehouse union or not. If you get laid off, you’re steps Wednesday to continue the fight not bringing home a paycheck.” editor “in November 2012.” House Democrats and Ham- And AFL-CIO President Richard mond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. Subscriptions Trumka said in Highland on Tuesday, were “livid” with Gregg’s remarks. $350 annually HPI Weekly “They will pay a price at the polls.” “I thought us Democrats were sup- We know that a Hart Research posed to be on the same page for this $550 annually HPI Weekly and Poll released early last December on issue?” McDermott said on Facebook. HPI Daily Wire. behalf of the AFL-CIO showed 47% “John must have missed that memo.” 'Call 317.627.6746 said that they opposed right-to-work Kokomo Mayor Greg Good- legislation, while 38% supported it. night, a potential Democratic lieuten- But then there was that ant governor nominee and former Contact HPI Public Opinion Strategies Poll in mid- union official, told the Kokomo Tribune Howey Politics Indiana December conducted on behalf of the that RTW will prompt union reforms, 6255 Evanston Ave. Indiana Realtors that showed 56% “Sometimes you have to have that Indianapolis, IN 46220 support the Right to Work legislation heart attack or something that makes www.howeypolitics.com and 32% opposed. you change your lifestyle or focus on Among swing voters, POS things a little differently.” [email protected] showed 56% of independents backed It’s easy to predict that Demo- 'Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 the legislation (and 40% of the Demo- crats will theme TV ad campaigns 'Washington: 703.248.0909 crats). And that POS Poll showed, nationally on the revival of General 'Business Office: 317.627.6746 decisively, that 68% disapproved of Motors (now the top automaker in the the House Democratic walkout. The world) and Chrysler (which just posted governor’s “Opportunity Fund” TV ads record profits). If the jobless rate falls, © 2012, Howey Politics Indiana. stroked on that point, and multiple however, that may take some of the All rights reserved. Photocopy- sources tell me that it had a real im- punch out of an RTW counter. ing, Internet forwarding, fax- pact inside the Democratic caucus. Republicans will campaign ing or reproducing in any form, How do the governor candi- on making the state more receptive to whole or part, is a violation of dates respond to the new law? companies who balked at the status U.S. Rep. Mike Pence lauded quo. But there will likely be little statis- federal law without permission passage, saying, “Making Indiana the tical evidence that the law is bringing from the publisher. v 23rd Right to Work state in America new jobs. And they can campaign on is a victory for economic freedom and the Democratic walkout. Hoosier workers. Ensuring freedom in Revenge can be a sword with the workplace will make Indiana an two blades. v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 ington company. 5th CD, from page 1 “I’ve gotten a lot of phone calls today. I’ve got a lot to think about, to pray about,” Delph said. “Obviously, In mid-January, Burton put out a statement vow- there’s a time clock that’s ticking as well.” ing to stay in the race and win. But on Tuesday morning, Former Congressman McIntosh, who won the 2nd Burton huddled with his brother, State Rep. Woody Burton, CD in 1994 after State Auditor Ann DeVore forgot to file her and State Sen. Mike Delph at the Marriott Hotel across the candidacy papers and when U.S. Rep. Phil Sharp decided to street from the Statehouse. It was there that he dropped retire, told HPI, “That’s huge. Now we’re off to the news: there would be no 16th term. the races in an open seat.” “He wanted to make the deci- After McIntosh won what at the beginning sion well known in advance of the filing of the 1994 cycle would have been an improb- deadline,” said Delph, a former aide able nomination, he was swept into the House to the congressman. Within the hour, over Democrat Joe Hogsett as part of the Gin- Burton was on the floor of the Indiana grich revolution. He left the House in 2000 to House – the place where his political unsuccessfully challenge Gov. Frank O’Bannon. career began. For the past 12 years, McIntosh has prac- “I wanted to come down here ticed law in Washington, though he maintained today and tell you that I started my a residence in Pendleton. He originally planned career here, and it’s been a wonder- to run in the 6th CD, but former Republican ful run; met presidents, kings, princes, Chairman Jim Kittle, National Committeeman been all over the world,” Burton said. Fred Klipsch and Al Hubbard encouraged McIn- “It’s been an experience that I cher- tosh to set his sights on Burton in the 5th. ish. This will probably be the last time U.S. Rep. Dan Burton with State McIntosh has raised $426,783, includ- I will be addressing you folks – (I’m) Sen. Mike Delph in the Indiana ing $104,145 in the fourth quarter, and has not going to run for Congress again this House Tuesday. $314,218 cash on hand. year. I wanted to end my career where Brooks called the Burton decision a “game it started because I love this place.” changer” and added, “Those are voters that Burton, 73, was quick to thank Delph, who had will now obviously be looking for a new voice and a new tweeted the impending announcement earlier in the morn- representative.” ing.