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Messer Seeks GOP ‘Common Agenda’ Billionaire Are Finding Fifth Ranking Republican the Most Traction in the Surveys Post-Boehner Presidential Race

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Messer Seeks GOP ‘Common Agenda’ Billionaire Are Finding Fifth Ranking Republican the Most Traction in the Surveys Post-Boehner Presidential Race V21, N8 Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 Messer seeks GOP ‘common agenda’ billionaire are finding Fifth ranking Republican the most traction in the surveys post-Boehner presidential race. Messer will stay House; calls for a plan in his current leader- ship position as head of By BRIAN A. HOWEY the Conference Forum NASHVILLE, Ind. – Five days after for Policy Development, House Speaker John Boehner resigned and an extraordinary rise six days after Pope Francis urged Congress to power for a second to find common term Republican. He ground, U.S. Rep. now finds himself as in Luke Messer, a unique and historic the fifth ranking position of trying to Republican, talked steer his party and his with Howey Politics institution into a more Indiana about productive place. these extraordinary events. Here is our The Shelbyville Republican conversation, which peppered his analyses with sports analo- took place mid-Tuesday gies, beginning with the torpid Indianapolis afternoon, just hours Colts and ending with Dan Dakich’s wisdom before the House to Darryl Thomas in the book “Season on Republican caucus was the Brink.” It was an appropriate metaphor U.S. Rep. Luke Messer, the fifth ranking House to meet and sort out as Americans hold Congress and its leader- Republican, believes the party needs a persuasvie ship in deep derision, while a Socialist and agenda. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey) Continued on page 3 The thud of Jud By BRIAN A. HOWEY NASHVILLE, Ind. – Eyebrows arched about a year ago when State Rep. Jud McMillin was elevated to major- ity leader of his super majority House Republican caucus. On Tuesday, thanks to lowered pantaloons, an uploaded sex video, an ignominious end “He treated that responsibility to what seemed to be a GOP rising star wrapped in a bundle the way he did everything else, of contradictions came to pass. with passion, creating opportuni- McMillin was a member of the Class of 2010 which ties, and not just in his district. helped Speaker Brian Bosma to retake the House major- He had an eye toward the entire ity and laid the foundation for state.” - Former Gov. Joe Kernan, today’s 71-seat super majority. The class of ’10 produced Lt. on the passing of Chairman Gov. Sue Ellspermann, along William Crawford with State Reps. Kevin Mahan, Page 2 Wendy McNamara, Ron Bacon, Bob new partners in addition to promot- Heaton, Mike Karickhoff, Cindy Kirch- ing transparency and integrity in the hofer, Matt Ubelhor, Rhonda Rhodes grant approval process to ensure that and Steve Davisson. There was quick southeastern Indiana as a whole will speculation as to who would emerge have a strong and united future.” as a future leader out of this class. After his resignation from the And there was little doubt about the grant committee, there was little news unbridled ambition of about the FBI investiga- McMillin, an attor- tion. McMillin’s ethical ney from Brookville encroachments were is a non-partisan newslet- who defeated long- well documented and the time Democrat Bob Brookville attorney did not ter based in Indianapolis and Bischoff. publicly dispute any of Nashville, Ind. It was founded But of every- them. in 1994 in Fort Wayne. one in this class, Mc- In the bizarre turn It is published by Millin uniquely carried of events on Tuesday WWWHowey Media, LLC baggage. In a sprawl- afternoon, when House ing post on the web- Republicans issued a 405 Massachusetts Ave., site Bilerico, McMillin press release from Bosma Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN had been linked to a acknowledging the McMil- 46204 teenage traffic fatality lin resignation and praising and was apparently him for his service, the Brian A. Howey, Publisher dismissed from Ball first jump to conclusion State University after an alleged theft. was that the other shoe on the FBI Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington After graduating from the University probe was about ready to drop. The Jack E. Howey, Editor of Mississippi, McMillin became deputy one clue from Bosma was his com- Mary Lou Howey, Editor prosecutor in Montgomery County, ment that “we fully support his deci- Maureen Hayden, Statehouse Ohio. The Dayton Daily News reported sion to step down in order to focus on Mark Curry, photography in 2005 that McMillin admitted he had his family.” That’s usually a precursor a relationship with the complainant to a domestic problem. in a domestic violence case he prose- About a half hour later, Mc- Subscriptions cuted, but he insisted the relationship Millin’s statement to HPI read, “The HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 began after he stepped off the case opportunity to serve the 68th district HPI Weekly, $350 Sept. 9. The Daily News reported that has been one of the greatest honors Ray Volpe, Account Manager McMillin resigned from the prosecu- of my life. However, after five years of tor’s office Sept. 16, his personnel dedicated service I have decided the 317.602.3620 records show, otherwise he would time is right for me to pass the torch email: [email protected] have been fired. and spend more time with my fam- And McMillin’s elevation ily. I hope that the work I have done Contact HPI to majority leader came after a 2013 in Indianapolis and in Southeastern www.howeypolitics.com FBI probe into his role with the Law- Indiana has made the state and the renceburg Regional Grant Committee. communities I represent a better [email protected] An IndyStar investigation found that place. Now I want to focus all of my Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 millions of dollars have been wasted attention on making my family’s world Washington: 202.256.5822 on risky start-up companies, many of a better place.” Business Office: 317.602.3620 them with ties to government officials, And then came word of a and some of the firms had business text message McMillin had sent to ties to his Brookville law firm. The Star other Republican caucus members, © 2015, Howey Politics Indiana. reported that McMillin advocated for a reading, “My phone was stolen in Can- All rights reserved. Photocopy- $600,000 grant in 2012 for a project ada and out of my control for about ing, Internet forwarding, fax- involving Destination Brookville, a 24 hours. I have just been able to ing or reproducing in any form, company he started in August 2010. reactivate it under my control. Please whole or part, is a violation of He resigned from the Grant disregard any messages you received Committee in December 2013, tell- recently. I am truly sorry for anything federal law without permission ing the IndyStar, “In those roles I will offensive you may have received.” from the publisher. work to help foster this new era of Multiple caucus and Repub- economic development by attracting lican sources told HPI that McMillin Page 3 missed a caucus meeting last week, and that members speaker feared the baggage, he could have (and might were told about the stolen cell phone and a video that have) articulated those concerns. But once established, sources say were with the majority leader and a woman the reaction from many Statehouse sources was one “play- The terse way Bosma handled the McMillin res- ing with fire.” At the same time, many acknowledge McMil- ignation was similar to how the last majority leader, Eric lin’s legislative talents, playing a key role, for instance, in Turner, was handled: In an abrupt fashion. the recent legal sentencing reforms. He also co-sponsored When asked for a statement, the House Republi- the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, an epic blunder can Communications Director Erin Reese simply forwarded that could take down Gov. Mike Pence. McMillin’s cell phone number. Since the Indiana Senate scandals of the early McMillin’s voicemail box was full, and did not 1980s, the General Assembly has hewed within most ethic return an email from HPI, but he posted this on Facebook and legal boundaries under the stewardship of Senate Tuesday evening: “I make mistakes. When I do, regardless Presidents Robert Garton and David Long, and House of how big or small they are, I do my best to admit them, Speakers J. Roberts Dailey, Michael K. Phillips, Paul Man- own up to it, and then start doing my best to remedy nweiller, John Gregg, B. Patrick Bauer and Bosma. They them. That’s what I am doing right now with my fam- weren’t perfect, but the basic integrity of the institution ily. With that being said I will never understand the need had been protected. for some people to spew hatred. I hope it makes those The dwindling Statehouse press corps and the people feel better about themselves because there is no likely passing of the current guard over the next five or so other discernable benefit. What a sad place for society to years represents a turning point for the institution. The be. On the other hand, I am constantly amazed at how prospects of a Bosma gubernatorial bid in 2020 would good hearted so many people are. The outpouring of have placed McMillin at the cusp of power in the second support I have received from so many gives me faith and most commanding station in Indiana government. hope in humanity as a whole. To those who choose this And this prompted speculation that the era of path, I encourage you to maintain your approach not only General Assembly operating within legal bounds might towards those you agree with and like, but towards those be at stake in the not-so-distant you disagree with as well. This is the only approach that future.
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