Call to Prepare for Epic Challenge Sen

V14 N28 Thursday, March 5, 2009 Call to prepare for epic challenge Sen. Waltz seeks ‘Ex Com’ as economic crisis turns into an 80 year event

By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - Every 80 years, from the American Revolution, to the Civil War, to the Great Depression, our nation has faced a crisis of epic proportion, with the outcome far from certain at the onset. It is Detroit News U.S. auto at such a point in history that Indiana stands sales graph and Sen. today, but only few seem to grasp the com- Brent Waltz. ing magnitude. Around 1:45 p.m. today in the Indi- Waltz said that the state’s ana Senate, State Sen. Brent Waltz will use a point of per- “three economic pillars” - the auto industry, insurance and sonal privilege to call for an Indiana Executive Committee or agriculture - are extremely vulnerable. “Ex Com” that would be headed by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman The automotive manufacturing base is in shambles and would include three academics, three business people, with possibly 140,000 General Motors, Chrysler and related and three from government to work together over the next supplier jobs sitting on a tipping point. Toyota and Honda six weeks to develop a crisis plan. are also suffering from a huge drop in sales and Toyota is “I view this as a perfect storm of almost mythical seeking loans from the Japanese government. The South proportions,” Waltz told HPI late Wednesday night after Bend Tribune reported on Wednesday that despite the epic conferring with Senate President Pro Tempore David Long. downturn in the recreational vehicle industry there are still “The Indiana economy is now at risk more than any other state, save Michigan or California.” See Page 3

The greatest Speaker ever

By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - B. Patrick Bauer may just be the most powerful Indiana House speaker - ever. Over the decades, whether it was Gov. Harold Handley and Speaker Birch Bayh, or Gov. Whitcomb and “We are simply entering into a Doc Bowen, or Doc and Kermit Bur- rous, Bob Orr and J. Roberts Dailey, new era. What is happening today Evan Bayh and Michael K. Phillips or Paul Mannweiler, or Frank O’Bannon is a wake-up call that we cannot and John Gregg, I’d never heard the words of last Friday: continue on the same path as “We all know nothing happens in the House of Representatives that before.” Speaker Bauer doesn’t permit,” Gov. - Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore Mitch Daniels said. “He is never chal- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009 lenged and his authority is total.” reforms in government operations Howey Politics As Gomer would say, “Gollll- should start at the top by eliminating lee.” the duplicate fiscal services provided Indiana I never heard Gov. O’Bannon by the Office of Management and Bud- is a nonpartisan news- say that about Speaker Gregg. I’m get, combining the offices of the state sure many governors have said similar auditor and treasurer into a state con- letter based in Indianapolis things, muttering deep under breath troller and halting the administration’s in public settings or aloud while in efforts to privatize Medicaid services,” and published by NewsLink seclusion in the tiny little john off the Bauer said in a statement released Inc. It was founded in executive office at Aynes House. Thursday. Bauer has been speaker Does this mean the Speaker is 1994 in Fort Wayne. twice - briefly in 2003-04 before he willing to swap townships and county and Gov. Joe Kernan were dispatched commissioners for auditor and trea- by the Daniels juggernaut, and now surer - two offices Indiana Demo- Brian A. Howey, publisher since 2006. He learned much since crats rarely contest - along with Ryan Mark Schoeff Jr.,Washington that stark November day in 1998 Kitchell’s bespectacled head? Jack E. Howey, Editor when he drove from South Bend to It begged further questions. Indy, making calls to members after If Daniels wants his reforms so badly, Beverly Phillips, Associate the Democrats unexpectedly retook what does the Speaker want? An extra Editor the House in the Age of Monica, only two or three percent education fund- to learn that Gregg had beaten him to ing? the punch during the midnight hour. Speaker Bauer explained, Subscriptions: There would be no such lost opportu- “Our three-part budget plan contains $350 annually HPI via e-mail; nity in November 2002 when he finally a 2 percent increase in state funding for schools and guarantees that no $550 annually HPI & HPI Daily consolidated his power after 32 years in the trenches and up through Ways school district will lose money over Wire. & Means. the next fiscal year Call 317-254-0535. Dan- (HB 1723), allocates more than $650 mil- Howey Politics Indiana iels’ fascinating quote came in lion for child services PO Box 40265 the context of and helps us oversee Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265. the Kernan- the transition from Shepard reforms local to state funding and whether for these programs Contact Us they would even (HB 1728), and www.howeypolitics.com get a hearing. provides additional Speaker Bauer with Transportation Sec- funding for higher [email protected] “We will simply be asking, retary Ray LaHood and State Rep. Craig education and new Main Office: 317-202-0210. of course, the Fry at a President Obama town hall in funding for job cre- Howey’s Mobile: 317-506-0883. Speaker to be February. (HPI Photo by A Walker Shaw) ation while curbing Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535. open to reform other state spending and we’ll be ask- (HB 1001).” Washington: 202-256-5822. ing citizens — as we have been — to But this budgetary menage Business Office: 317-627-6746. express their support for it,” Daniels a trois will become a conferee maze, ©2009, Howey Politics said in a verbal kiss of the ring. full of trap doors and fun house mir- The most powerful Speaker rors, with some fog thrown in for good Indiana. All rights reserved. had been circumspect before finally measure, the very things a public- Photocopying, Internet forwarding, nodding, sending the county and policy oriented governor like Daniels faxing or reproducing in any form, township reform bills to freshman despises. Chairman John Bartlett of the House What does the speaker want? in whole or part, is a violation of Government and Regulatory Reform I’ve asked this question of federal law without permission from Committee. The South Bend Democrat those in the administration, of House the publisher. seemed to be in a bargaining mode. Republicans and Democrats. The “The House has made it clear that answer is consistent. All Bauer really HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

wants is control of the House in November 2010, when he activist and educator. Sullivan vows on her website that she can forge the redistricting of 2011. Bauer can talk about will be “a champion to upgrade our neighborhoods to make “public policy” but he really is not only the most power- them better places to live, consolidate government to lower ful speaker, but a complete political animal. He maneuvers taxes.” There is former Greencastle mayor Nancy Michael, deftly, consistently turning statewide legislative numbers on who played a key role in her city’s evolution after massive Election Night that always favor Republicans into 51, 52, 53 IBM left her city. seats for a Democratic majority. Bauer’s Democrats have made hash out of Beyond the election, he has turned his caucus into reforms, whether they be Democrat Mayor Peterson’s vi- a monolith. There is no room for the mavericks from both sion of consolidated fire departments, or Republican Mayor caucuses of the past like Tom Alevizos, Dan Stephan or Ballard’s. Jerry Bales. There is no mini-maverick caucus which can It will be fascinating to see the political speaker decide a critical issue beyond a speaker or minority leader. rein in people like DeLaney, who authored House versions In 2009, this is a fascinating dynamic when of the Kernan-Shepard reforms. When it comes to the you look at the freshman class of the House Democratic beleaguered townships which provide Hoosier taxpayers a caucus. There you find people like Harvard-educated Ed maze of nepotism, double-dipping, clandestine offices and DeLaney, who was at the side of U.S. Rep. Frank McClo- a lack of accountability, the Speaker says, “I really believe skey, redrawing Bosnian borders and literally saving tens this downturn in the economy ... has given (the township of thousands of people from genocide while working on trustees) a more visible role” while they have “increased the Dayton Accords. Or earnest John Barnes, the Warren their value.” Township social studies teacher who as a candidate ex- What does the speaker want? pressed the best of intentions of a public servant, vowing He isn’t getting any younger. Might he want to to bring “permanent and substantial property tax relief” burnish he astute political legacy with that of enduring while concentrating on “public safety issues.” Or Mary Ann statecraft? v Sullivan, who made a name for herself as a community

of the Economic Policy Institute said that Indiana would Challenge, from page 1 be devastated with even a partial collapse of the Detroit 3 automakers. “Indiana would lose between 41,000 and 55,000 RV jobs currently at risk. That comes on the heels 147,000 jobs,” Scott said. “That is of Monaco Coach laying off its final nothing short of catastrophic. It 2,600 workforce earlier this week. The would move Indiana well beyond re- state’s financial and insurance industry cession and into depression con- appears to be teetering as well with ditions if there is an auto industry news that Conseco is once again in shutdown.” He said it would not jeopardy. Last week, reports out of the only impact blue collar workers but Indiana agriculture industry noted that would have a huge impact in the 20 percent of the state’s corn crop is American engineering and scientific to be used in the ethanol industry that industries. is now at risk due to falling fuel prices. Scott said that his very GM and Chrysler face a federal conservative model projects 70,000 deadline at the end of this month jobs lost in transportation, 30,000 in and the news this week was near finance and 76,000 in the sciences catastrophic with GM suffering a 53 would be lost. “This is not going to percent sales decline year over year. affect just blue collar workers,” Scott “These are obviously unsustainable said. “It will affect more engineers levels that are causing almost every and scientists. If we want to main- major auto manufacturer to look for tain our base in science and engi- government aid,” said Mike DiGiovanni, neering, we have to hang on to this GM’s executive director of global market analysis, to the sector.” Detroit News. GM auditors are not ruling out bankruptcy. Howard Wial of the Brookings Institute said that Last December in a conference hosted by Ko- while Kokomo would be the hardest hit U.S. community, komo Mayor Greg Goodnight, Marion Mayor Wayne Seybold the entire state would be economically pounded. “A conser- and Barnes & Thornburg in Indianapolis, Robert E. Scott vative estimate is that each job in auto/auto parts supports HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 4 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

two additional jobs elsewhere,” Wial said. Workone office in an RV. Kokomo has 22 percent involved in the auto indus- Waltz said that in 2005, Gov. Mitch Daniels gave try, 6.5 percent in Columbus (where Cummins Engine has him a signed copy of President John F. Kennedy’s “Profiles laid off almost 500 workers in the last few months), 5.5 in Courage,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of stories of percent in Anderson, 5.1 percent in Lafayette, 2.6 percent public officials who made critical decisions while enduring in South Bend/Mishawaka, 2.4 percent in Fort Wayne, 2.2 great personal risk. percent in Terre Haute, 1.5 percent in Indianapolis, and 3.5 The “Ex-Com” idea came from President Kennedy’s percent in Muncie. October 1962 handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when Berkshire-Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett he had his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, warned of a prolonged downturn in a letter to sharehold- preside over an executive committee to handle the crisis. ers over the weekend and his company is about to pull Gov. Daniels has been somewhat low-key in the the plug on Elkhart-based Forest River. The economy has face of the crisis. In December, he downplayed talk by New turned so bad in Elkhart that County Commissioner Mike York Times columnist Paul Krugman that a depression was Yoder was floating the idea of turning empty RV factories possible. He acknowledged the economic duress during into tilapia fish farms, according to a Wednesday story in his inaugural and State of the State addresses in January, the Elkhart Truth. likening the current condi- Over the last week or tions to the change of the so, the “depression” word has seasons, forecasting a entered the lexicon of econo- warm spring in the offing. mists and the news media, an When unemployment lines industry which itself is facing began to grow last month, serious atrophy. Daniels visited WorkOne Waltz noticed some- offices in Fort Wayne, thing that HPI has: in the State- Elkhart and Franklin and house, the larger economic pic- began directing additional ture has been virtually ignored. resources while placing “It’s like we’re on automatic,” WorkOne computers and Waltz said. “We show up. We resources in neighborhood pass a bill. We make the sugar libraries and churches. cream pie the state pie. We pass Gov. Daniels at his State of the State address surrounded by On Wednesday, he a bad budget and hold our nose. Senate President David Long, Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and was in Anderson celebrat- But there have been only pass- Speaker B. Patrick Bauer. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey) ing full production at ing references to what’s happen- Nestle that will result in ing.” 425 new jobs, one of the All that will likely change in dramatic fashion in the economic gems he secured during the fairer days of his next six weeks. With the fates of GM and Chrysler com- first term. “In a worldwide recession, this company’s growing by March 31 and potential bankruptcies, and a new ing - growing sales, growing market share, is succeeding state revenue forecast coming in mid-April, the General against all those odds,” Daniels said. Assembly will likely find itself on a crisis footing as sine die Daniels occupies a unique position among Ameri- approaches. During the last severe economic downturn - in can politicians. As a former White House budget director 1982 - Gov. Robert D. Orr convened a special session that and now a sitting governor, any dire assessment of the December which resulted in record tax increases. During state or U.S. economy could have impacted the markets. the Civil War, Gov. Oliver P. Morton actually suspended the But Sen. Waltz believes Indiana stands on the legislature for years and secured loans from Wall Street to brink of economic disaster. Of the crises that have hit the finance the war. Depression Gov. Paul McNutt had to resort U.S. every 80 years, he noted that when Valley Forge, Bull to enactment of the gross income tax after property tax Run and Pearl Harbor occurred, “there was no foregone receipts precipitously declined. McNutt also forged govern- conclusion we wouldn’t fail.” He noted that ultimately the ment reforms and consolidations that resulted in $2 million American spirit prevailed, creating 13 independent states, in savings in 1933. the Civil War forged a true nation and ended slavery, and During this period, humorist Will Rogers once the Great Depression and World War II created a social noted that American was the “only country in the world safety net and a global super power. where people would go to the poor house in an automo- “America always reinvented itself through these bile.” It is doubtful, however, that many will drive to a reorderings,” Waltz said.v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 5 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

Remington painting - The Stampede - that Petraeus loved President Obama’s fork and used as a metaphor. “We’ve stopped the stallion from running off the cliff, but then it runs off in another direc- in the Iraq War road tion,” Sky said. “Right now it is frantically running around in circles.” By BRIAN A. HOWEY Ricks also quotes Marine Col. Tom Greenwood, INDIANAPOLIS - Those who say the United State is once part of a group of a “council of colonels” who pushed “winning” in Iraq don’t know what they’re talking about. the Pentagon and Bush White House out of its denial in There is no question that the “surge” implemented the bloody year of 2006, who assessed, “I still think that by Gen. David Petraeus and Gen. Ray Odierno with the the Maliki government is riddled with sectarianism and is help of more than 5,000 In- dysfunctional; that we have a de facto partition among diana National Guardsmen the Kurds, Shia and Sunni; that Iraq is little more than an and women between 2007 Iranian proxy; that we have destabilized the region worse and 2008 was a remarkable than Saddam Hussein ever did; that the downward trend display of courage, patrio- of U.S. casualties will be short-lived.” On Feb. 23, Army Pfc. tism and professionalism, Zachary R. Nordmeyer, 21, of Indianapolis and two others unparalleled in American died when their unit was attacked in Balad. military history. Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey sees “the war wait- As Petraeus left ing in the wings is the war of the Kurds and the Arabs.” Iraq last Sept. 15 to head Another Petraeus aide, British Lt. Gen. John Cooper, said of Central Command, he wrote the Sons of Iraq, “These guys will keep their AKs under the to his troops: “Your great bed. They haven’t come to a moral conclusion that violence work, sacrifice, courage and is wrong.” skill have helped reverse a Steven Simon, a Council of Foreign Relations expert downward spiral toward civil on the Middle East, told Ricks that the surge “may have war and wrest the initiative brought transitory successes” but “it has done so by stok- from the enemies of the ing the three forces that have traditionally threatened the new Iraq.” stability of the Middle Eastern states: tribalism, warlordism But in Thomas E. and sectarianism” that will eventually undermine the shaky Ricks’s new book: “The Gamble: Gen. David Petraeus central state “that suffers from the same instability and and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006- violence as Yemen and Pakistan.” 2008,” the legacy of the surge is inconclusive and the U.S. will likely remain for years, not months. As Ricks Enter President Obama explains, “The surge was the right step to take, or more Last Friday at Camp Lejeune, President Barack precisely, the least wrong move in a misconceived war. The Obama issued his directive for the beginning of an Iraq surge was effective in many ways, but the best grade it drawdown, but it was a nuanced statement. “The United can be given is a solid incomplete. It succeeded tactically States will pursue a new strategy to end the war in Iraq but fell short strategically.” While violence against civilians through a transition to full Iraqi responsibility,” Obama said. and American soldiers declined dramatically after GIs left “As we carry out this drawdown, my highest priority will be secluded bases and Humvees and began working out of the safety and security of our troops and civilians in Iraq. smaller outposts among the population, “its larger purpose So we will proceed had been to create a breathing space that would then carefully, and I will enable the Iraqi politicians to find a way forward and that consult closely with hasn’t happened.” my military command- Gen. Petraeus shifted the American military from ers on the ground door-busting, civilian assaulting cowboys of 2003-04 to and with the Iraqi those whose tactics of counter-insurgency came to protect government. There the Iraqi population in a manual he wrote. He did so by will surely be difficult buying off and arming former insurgents, flipping the Sun- periods and tactical nis in al-Anbar province, essentially aiding and arming rival adjustments. But our militias. Then Sen. Obama with Gen. Petraeus enemies should be left Ricks quotes Emma Sky, the British civilian who in July 2008 between Baghdad and with no doubt: This became an aide to Gen. Odierno, as playing off a Frederick Ramadi. plan gives our mili- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 6 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

tary the forces the flexibility they need to support our Iraqi who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the partners, and to succeed.” silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side Ricks described the July 2008 meeting between of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing Obama and Petraeus in Baghdad. He noted in “The Gam- to unclench your fist.” ble”: Their vision of what Americans can and should do in Last Friday, Obama’s 16-month campaign draw- Iraq is fundamentally fairly close, a polite way of rejecting down became 19 months - Aug. 31, 2010. when “our com- the grandiose Bush vision and instead acknowledging that bat mission in Iraq will end and Iraqi Security Forces will Iraq isn’t going to be a stable, quiet, peace-loving democ- have full responsibility,” Obama said. “After that, American racy anytime soon. forces - between 35,000 and As Obama and 50,000 - will perform three Sens. Jack Reed and Chuck tasks: train, equip and advise Hagel talked of a time- the Iraqis; conduct targeted table last July, Petraeus counter terrorism; and provide told them, “We are com- force protection of military and ing down, but I need the civilian personnel.” flexibility of not having a U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar was timetable.” When Obama part of the congressional lead- and the senators pressed, ership group that was briefed saying the Iraqis wanted last Thursday night by the a timetable, Petraeus just President on the plan. “He’s looked at them, Ricks re- part of the consensus who ported. After the meeting, finds the plan reasonable,” Obama would say, “My job Lugar spokesman Andy Fisher is to think about the na- told HPI. tional security interests as The plan, while essentially a whole and to weigh and backed by Sen. John McCain, balance risks in Afghanistan President Obama announcing his draw down plan with U.S. Ma- left Obama open to criticism and Iraq. Their job is to get rines at Camp LeJeune. from the left. “I don’t know the job done here.” what the justification is for But Obama was also circumspect on the campaign 50,000,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who obviously trail, saying in July 2008, “My 16-month time line, if you hasn’t read or been debriefed on Ricks’ book or talked with examine everything I’ve said, was always premised on Gen. Odierno. “I do think that there’s a need for some, and making sure our troops were safe. And my guiding ap- I don’t know that all of them have to be in country. I would proach continues to be that we’ve got to make sure that think a third of that, maybe 20,000, a little more than a our troops are safe and that Iraq is stable.” third, 15,000 or 20,000.” Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press last Sunday, Adjusted timetable Defense Secretary Robert Gates explained the nuances. “I Nine months ago, Obama campaigned in Indiana think that if the commanders had had complete say in this and across the nation talking about a 16-month drawdown matter ... they would have preferred the combat mission timetable. During his victory speech at Chicago’s Grant not end until the end of 2010. And so having a somewhat Park on Election Night, Obama issued a warning: “To those larger residual or transition force mitigates the risk of hav- who would tear the world down, we will defeat you.” Ricks ing the combat units go out sooner.” would note that to abide by his own pledge, the new presi- Essentially, it appears that Obama and the field dent “is going to take much longer than he likes and with commanders all compromised and split the difference to more fighting than he wants.” get to the Aug. 31 date. Gates explained, “It was really a In his Jan. 20 inaugural address, President Obama dialogue between the commanders in the field, the Joint explained, “For those who seek to advance their aims by Chiefs here, myself, the chairman and the President in inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you terms of how you mitigate risk and how you structure this now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you going forward. I think the important thing to point out, cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you. To those leaders though, is that the President has said there will be a transi- around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their tion force of 35,000 to 50,000, and it’s a way station. As he society’s ills on the West: Know that your people will judge pointed out, in the absence of any new agreement with the you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those Iraqis we have to be at zero by the end of 2011. So that 50,000 or 35,000 is a way station on the way to zero.” HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 7 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

MTP host David Gregory noted Ricks’ concerns Crocker who said the final episode “is going to be deter- about the drawdown and the likely instability that will mined much more by what happens from now on than follow. “Has the President said that if things get worse, if what’s happened up to now.” The author reshaped the things go bad, that all bets are off? That he would stop book’s final sentence: “In other words, the events for which the withdrawal?” Gregory asked. Gates, the first holdover the Iraq war will be remembered probably have not yet wartime secretary between rival party administrations, happened.” responded, “What the President And then there was Emma has said is that as commander Sky, the pacifistic Brit who be- in chief he always retains the came an aide to Gen. Odierno, flexibility and the authority to who said, “America doesn’t change a plan or adjust it if he deserve its military.” thinks it’s in the national security President Obama faces of the United States. The fact is, two forces from within - his po- I don’t think any of us believe litical base to whom he vowed that will be necessary. I would to end the war - and those who characterize the likelihood of sig- have served and those who nificant adjustments to this plan have died. In his inaugural, as fairly remote.” Obama summed it up this way: The reason for that “As we consider the road that assessment is diplomacy. With unfolds before us, we remem- Secretary of State Hillary Clin- ber with humble gratitude those ton in the region last weekend, brave Americans who, at this the White House explained that, Defense Secretary Robert Gates last Sunday on NBC’s very hour, patrol far-off deserts “The future of Iraq is inseparable Meet the Press. Below, Remington’s “The Stampede” and distant mountains. They from the future of the broader have something to tell us to- Middle East. It is time for Iraq day, just as the fallen heroes to be a full partner in a regional dialogue and for Iraq’s who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor neighbors to establish productive and normalized relations them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, with Iraq. Going forward, the United States will pursue but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness principled and sustained engagement with all nations in the to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And region, including Iran and Syria.” Throw in Obama’s secret yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a genera- outreach with Russian President Medvedev suggesting trad- tion -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.” ing the European missile shield for Russia’s help in staving In all probability, and with apologies to Secretary off an Iranian nuclear program and there you find telltales Gates, the road President Obama mentioned probably of the diplomatic vise. comes to a fork. v

How does this end? It was a question that Gen. Petraeus asked of his staff years ago. The experts say that a counter-insurgency takes at least a decade to work. And that there’s a 50 percent chance that a civil war will fall into relapse, more so in countries with abundant natural resources. Ricks quotes a Petraeus aide, Charlie Miller, who said, “I don’t think it does end. We’re thinking in terms of Reconstruction after the Civil War.” To which Ricks notes that Reconstruction was a failure “that produced a terrorist organization” (Ku Klux Klan) which spent the next century violently intimidat- ing blacks and sympathetic whites. Two quotes bounce into your face off of Ricks’ pages. One is the conclusion from the author, after this quote from Ambassador Ryan HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 8 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

some perspective as to where the conviction rates have Carl Brizzi surveys been. Has this been a slow ramp up to the 80th percentile? Brizzi: Much of what I learned from being pros- his political future ecutor I learned from Scott. Scott was my mentor and where we can share credit we certainly will. We work very By BRIAN A. HOWEY closely. We communicate weekly. We have a good team INDIANAPOLIS - Politically, Marion County Prosecu- in place: the public safety director, the mayor and myself. tor Carl Brizzi may have more options than just about any That means that public safety is job No. 1. When we have other Hoosier. A third term? A challenge to U.S. Rep. Dan that kind of partnership, when we have the resources we Burton? Or a bid when Burton retires? A run for governor in have with 175 lawyers, which happened when the COIT 2012? increase under Mayor Peterson allowed us to staff up, open HPI and Brizzi sat down at noon additional courts, reduce trial lawyer caseloads, improve Wednesday at Harry & Izzi’s downtown pay and morale. All of those heightened conviction rates. to talk about his political future, the HPI: At what point do you have to make a decision economic downturn and its impact on on a re-elect? crime, legislation in the General Assem- Brizzi: Sooner rather than later, sometime later bly he’s working on, and government this year. Obviously if I don’t run I’ll want to give my suc- reform. cessor plenty of time to raise money. HPI: What are your political plans? Are you going HPI: You and Mayor Ballard are pretty much the to run for that third term as prosecutor or do something last two Republicans standing in Marion County, which is else? trending Democratic. Mayor Ballard is in place almost due Brizzi: I am definitely considering running for a third term right now. You were at our fundraiser yesterday when we talked about our accomplish- ments. It’s more than just putting bad guys back in jail. It’s proac- tive initiatives like the Mentoring Program, like the Internet Stings, like the Crosswalk Program which we implemented after a string of bus stop robberies. It’s a partnership with the faith-based communities to actually be at the bus stops several days a week in some of these neighborhoods that have been terrorized. So we’re doing more than just prosecuting. I say that with the caveat that our conviction rate has been 80 percent in jury trials, which is really an out- Prosecutor Carl Brizzi with Olgen Williams at President Bush’s speech to Indiana Black Expo in standing number. All of that credit 2005 at the RCA Dome. (HPI Photo by Thomas Howey) goes to the men and women and our great staff. It takes a little while for the office to become your office and have your to an anti-Peterson vote than a pro-Ballard. You ran a fabu- people in place who are loyal to your idea and leadership. lous campaign two years ago and yet you won by what, We’re there now. That’s what’s compelling about me run- only 5,000 votes? ning again. If things are running well now, how much can Brizzi: Not much. things be improved over the next several years? So that’s HPI: So does the way the county is trending politi- definitely under consideration. cally play into your decision? Or is it all about you, your HPI: I don’t mean to put you at odds with Steve family and your desire for public service? Goldsmith, Jeff Modisett or Scott Newman, but give us Brizzi: That’s a great question because up until HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 9 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

this conversation and any subsequent ones it’s always are issues I could get fired Brizzi during his 2006 debate been what’s best for my family, what’s best for the office. I up about; immigration is against Melina Kennedy during the haven’t even thought about whether I could win. one. I wouldn’t rule it out, Greater Indianapolis Chamber’s HPI: I think an incumbent prosecutor could but probably not. Hobnob. WISH-TV’s Jim Shella certainly win even if the county is trending Democratic. It HPI: Paul Helmke moderates. (HPI Photo by Brian A. makes it harder and it depends on who runs against you. and I used to have this Howey) Your name is coming up in other contexts such as the 5th conversation about not CD and 2012 governor. many prosecutors mov- Brizzi: I used to work for Dan. I was one of the ing on to other offices because they tend to see things staff attorneys on one of the foreign money panels for the in black and white, good versus evil. And yet, before Clinton-Gore re-election. I was employed by the Committee I started rolling the tape, you were laying out all sorts of on Government Reform and Oversight. I would not con- gray areas, crime prevention and other programs. Is that a sider running against somebody I worked for, so I would fair assessment? not run against Dan. I have lots of friends who are thinking Brizzi: I think that’s very fair. I try to communicate about running, including Luke (Messer), Brose (McVey), to all the lawyers in my office. When I hire them during the John McGoff, and we’ll just have to see how that shakes interview process, I say, “You’re young, fresh out of law out. As far as 2012, I’m obviously flattered to be mentioned school, you don’t have much experience. In this office you with the lieutenant governor and others, but I haven’t even have a tremendous amount of power. You can put someone made a decision about ‘10 yet, so that’s a long way off. in jail. You can influence the way victims view the criminal HPI: But you’ve opened up a federal exploratory justice system. What you do can forever alter their sense of committee. justice. Make sure you return phone calls. When it comes Brizzi: I had a conversation with Congressman to defendants, just because you can do something doesn’t Burton and we were talking about whether or not he was always mean you should.” They have the power to lock going to run. At that time he was unclear, but during the someone up when that isn’t always the best decision. interim time we did form a committee to raise federal dol- HPI: Scott Newman once told me he sometimes lars. When you form a committee to raise federal dollars had trouble moving about the county because of the haunt- you actually have to declare what you are raising dollars ing things he had seen at the hundreds of crime scenes for, so we said we were raising dollars for the 5th. I am he’d been at. Do you feel that kind of weight? You’ve prob- not running in the 5th but I can use the federal money for ably seen it all. state races. Brizzi: Yeah. It’s funny, whenever we do any kind HPI: When you were on Capitol Hill, did you take a of press availability after a horrific crime, I’m always asked look at what Members do and see yourself in that frame? by reporters, “Is this the worst thing you’ve seen?” I can Brizzi: There are issues I could get fired up about. never say yes because that paradigm is always shifting. I think I’m more of an executive than a legislator. But there You have multiple triple murders ... HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 10 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

HPI: And then seven. truth in sentencing. Indiana is way behind the times in Brizzi: And then seven. Right. Or you have a baby sentencing and the time actually spent behind bars. Right who is put into scalding hot water and burned and then left now it’s 50 percent good time credit, automatic. Automatic! unattended for a week. The level of depravity we encoun- You don’t have to do anything except not act like an idiot ter on a daily basis is shocking. It’s numbing. Sometimes in prison. Then if you do some remedial courses, get your you look at it and sometimes you’re not fazed until later in GED or a bachelor’s degree or job training, you get another the day. couple of years off your sentence. You can be sentenced HPI: We are in, arguably, the worst economic to 10 years and do actually less than four. For victims of downturn since the Great Depression. What are we looking crimes, trying to explain that prosecutors don’t have control at on the crime front in the next year or two? Will you be a over that and so every time we’ve gone through the truth lot busier? in sentencing ... I mean, I go back and say let’s make it Brizzi: We haven’t seen it yet. We haven’t seen an for certain crimes, where people tend to be more recidivist uptick in crime because of the economy, but I do anticipate like child molesting, 85 percent of the sentence is served. that as people lose their jobs and people become more I would like to use some kind of PAC and get around the depressed that you will see a rise in crime not only as it state and really help citizens lobby their individual legisla- relates to “yeah I’ve got to have this so I can eat” but an tor. We talk about public safety being job No. 1 and often increase in despair, violence and drug use. All of that will times it isn’t. Many of the crimes are being committed are increase as people escape the real- repeated by the same types of ity of where we are. people. We know who these HPI: Is it tough when you people are and we ought to get somebody who may have been keep them locked up as long as a law-abiding citizen and then they we can. get busted for stealing Pampers for HPI: We’ve seen this the baby or food when the family is macro debate in the House hungry? where the Democrats want to Brizzi: I’m not seeing that put more in education and the right now, but I think that if that Republicans want to build more time comes we’re going to have to prison cells. And this has been take a look at how we handle those coming on for decades. cases. It’s still a crime and we can’t Brizzi: Someone asked have lawlessness. We have to main- Prosecutor Brizzi with HPI’s Brian A. Howey. me if I had an unlimited sum tain order and security and at the of money and I could spend it same time be compassionate about on whatever I wanted to curb situations. crime, what would it be? The easy thing to say would be HPI: Do the events in Mexico, the drug wars there to build more jail cells, but no, it’s early intervention. First and the fact that the U.S. military is predicting a potential grade, second grade, early resources, mentoring. Partner- “failed state” concern you here? We’ve even seen some ship with faith-based communities. But that by itself is not Mexican musicians assassinated here. enough. There are still people who want to hurt us, no Brizzi: We talked about the 5th CD. One of the key matter how much you educate them. Those people ought issues with me is illegal immigration. As a prosecutor it is to be locked up until they’re so old they can’t hurt anyone. frustrating to me that we have people in this country who HPI: Do you have any positions on the Kernan- commit crimes, we convict them, and they are not de- Shepard reforms? ported. Immigration and Customs are way understaffed for Brizzi: We really ought to do everything we can a city this size, and many times not responsive. We need to to save taxpayer dollars. Consolidation of township govern- enforce the laws on the books, we need to build a fence. ment seems like a way to do that. We need to deal with the illegal immigrants already here. HPI: What do townships mean politically? To HPI: What are your top legislative priorities? political parties? Do your campaigns rely on township foot Brizzi: Feticide. soldiers? HPI: You helped write that bill? Brizzi: That’s the older model. Tom John, our Brizzi: I did. We’ve compromised a little on it but chairman, has really divided it up into areas. But township I think it’s a good compromise and the (sentencing) range political organizations are still very effective. Those are the will be 6 to 20 if a baby is killed as the result of an inten- folks who end up walking with you. v tional battery. I appreciate Sen. Merrit’s and Rep. Murphy’s work on this bill. Another thing I really want to tackle is HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 11 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

former Gov. Joe Kernan, Liberty Township Trustee Linda Sen. Buck flirts with Grove became the poster child of nepotism in the vanguard of some of the most searing reporting and commentary on the kiss of death a strata of government during the following two weeks. In the Indiana General Assembly, members call it By BRIAN A. HOWEY “courage” to make tough votes based on principle, though INDIANAPOLIS - The governor was “embarrassed” the concept is almost laughable in the context of Hoo- for them. After State Sens. Jim Buck and Sue Landske sier National Guardsmen in Iraq, a cop in a shootout or a voted with the Senate Local Government Committee Demo- firefighter learning that children haven’t escaped a flame- crats to gut SJR-7 and county government reforms, Dan- engulfed home. Those who don’t possess vote courage can iels said, “I’ll make no comment about be condemned to endless hours raising money, countless Democrats all voting against reform, phone calls, going door-to-door, a half dozen debates, nosy but when it comes to two members of reporters and righteous editorial writers, etc. my party, I’m disappointed in them and In just about every election cycle over the past de- embarrassed for them.” cade, a senator who misread his standing, ticked someone What did it mean? Was it a off, or was oblivious to a shift in public opinion, lost in a stinging observation or an idle threat? primary battle. The names read like an honor roll of power Was it as if Don Corleone was kissing and seniority: Larry Borst, Bob Garton, Steve Johnson. his brother Fredo? Or Moe whupping That last name is most interesting in this context: Curly upside the head? the primary upset trend began with Johnson back in 2002 For Landske, it just brought in ... SD21. bad press, when Post-Tribune columnist Rich James made her out to be the heir 5th CD apparent to the Roger Chabai wing of SEN. BUCK As it stands today, a three-man race is shaping up the Lake County GOP. “You know that in U.S. Rep. Dan Burton’s 5th CD in May 2010. old saying about politics making strange Burton is in, unless he has a heart attack. Marion bedfellows,” James wrote on Wednesday. “It certainly is County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi is out, unless Burton’s health true, especially when you see state Sens. Lonnie Randolph becomes an issue. Former State Rep. Luke Messer is in and and Sue Landske cuddling up with each other down at displayed some insider power as Jennifer Hallowell joined the Statehouse. The crazy thing is that Landske has had his campaign and he received endorsements from former the chance to cast votes to dismantle a good bit of Lake Indiana Republican Chairman Jim Kittle Jr. and GOP finan- County government -- the vast majority of which is con- cier P.E. MacAllister. Brose McVey is in, the first to form an trolled by Democrats -- as well as cripple the Democratic exploratory committee. Dr. John McGoff is still a possibility. precinct organization.” State Rep. Mike Murphy is in. For Buck, it will likely mean a very, very busy spring Here’s how we assess the field: in 2010, leading up to the May Republican primary. Word is Burton: GOP sources believe Burton starts off with that former INDOT Commissioner Karl Browning of Boone 35 percent of the primary vote “locked in.” In a two-way County is pondering a primary challenge to Buck, who won race we believe he’s vulnerable. A three- to five-man race SD21 by caucus after Sen. Jeff Drozda resigned in 2008. will mean he returns for a 15th term. Burton won’t have Buck has yet to run in an election in most of the district. money issues. His name ID is high. His greatest asset will Another possible challenger is Indiana Family In- be his solid conservative credentials and a strong approval stitute President Curt Smith, who was reportedly dismayed rating in Hamilton County. His weakness would be an anti- when Sen. Buck dropped critical IFI legislation related to incumbent dynamic, a collapse of the Detroit 3 (he voted the definition of marriage, reliable Republican sources tell against the December auto bailout, though this could also HPI. Smith did not return a phone call for comment. play in his favor). That could hurt him in Grant, Howard Buck is taking heat from all sides. His opposition and Tipton counties and Burton will have to defend missed to not only the Kernan-Shepard reforms, but education votes and golf junkets. Howard County Republican Chair- makeovers advocated by Supt. Tony Bennett has placed man Craig Dunn has already endorsed the congressman. him in hot water. He owed his caucus victory in part to lo- The Indianapolis Star - if it’s still around - will be an active cal elected officials, who then pounded him to help derail foe as columnist Matt Tully and the editorial board are fer- the Kernan-Shepard reforms that would reshape county vent Burton-haters. and township government. It didn’t help that in his own McVey: He has a great pedigree coming out of the city - Kokomo - during an appearance by Gov. Daniels and Dan-Dan orbit (Quayle & Coats). He has a Hamilton County HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 12 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

base. His Purdue degree and agriculture activism will play well in the cornbelt counties. He is the only one who has run a congressional campaign with his 2002 challenge to U.S. Rep. Julia Carson in the 7th CD. His 44 percent show- ing despite an extremely credible campaign basically has Republicans writing that district off. There is some name ID left from that run as well as within GOP circles. McVey has access to money, having out-raised Carson in 2002. We don’t detect a particular issue vulnerability. Murphy: Rep. Murphy told a struggling major metropolitan newspaper in the state’s capital today that he will run, saying, “Criticizing (Burton) is not my purpose.” He added that he will run on his own vision for the country. Murphy has a Marion County base and is the only potential challenger holding office. That’s a dilemma for Murphy, the former Marion County Republican chairman, who would have to give up his legislative seat. Murphy has fended off recent primary challenges quite effectively with big plu- ralities. Some Republicans believe that Murphy would be Luke Messer with Jennifer Hallowell last summer at the Rathskeller. vulnerable on the immigration issue, another ace Burton (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey) has in his pocket. Messer: The former state representative and Indi- ana Republican Party executive got off to a good start with candidate) and Buyer easily won that one 55-30 percent the Kittle and MacAllister endorsements. Having Hallowell over his colleague. on board brings his campaign instant cred. Brizzi: As you read in this edition, Brizzi is not Indiana Governor going to run less an act of God removes Burton from the Yes, yes its more than three and a half years away, scene. If that were to happen, we and other GOP sources but the earliest gubernatorial sprouts of 2012 are peaking believe Brizzi would probably become a frontrunner due through the loam. U.S. Rep. Baron Hill paid a visit to the to his high name ID in the dominant Indianapolis media Indiana House earlier this week to urge Gov. Daniels to take market and Marion County power base. the stimulus unemployment money. It’s his third trip to the Here’s a history lesson: Three Hoosier Republi- Statehouse in the last three months, having attended the can congressmen have been challenged in recent years. In Electoral College and Gov. Daniels’ inaugural. A couple of 1994, U.S. Rep. John Myers was challenged by State Sen. days earlier, Lake County Sheriff Rogolio Dominguez met Dick Thompson and county chairman Dan Pool. The two with supporters, led by former Elkhart Mayor Jim Perron, to got a combined 40 percent of the vote and future oblivion. map out an early strategy. When Myers retired two years later, it was State Sen. Ed This weekend, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Pease who emerged out of a field of 15 (including a candi- Jr. could severely compromise his gubernatorial candidacy if date named John Meyers). Pease won that primary with 30 he loses his Lake County Democratic chairman race to Gary percent and an endorsement from Rep. Myers). Mayor Rudy Clay or Surveyor George Van Til. Then again, if The other challenges occurred in 2002, when he wins he could still severely compromise himself. former Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke took on U.S. Rep. On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence made Mark Souder, who got an endorsement from President Bush the inauguration day rounds at the Statehouse and ad- and tied Helmke to Yale classmate Bill Clinton, at one point dressed family groups seeking a constitutional amendment calling Helmke a “Clin- on marriage. Marion ton clone.” Final result: County Prosecutor Brizzi Souder 60 percent, wouldn’t rule out interest Helmke 37 percent. in the ‘12 race when he The other one talked to HPI. There’s the was a restricting colli- mum Lt. Gov. Skillman. sion between U.S. Reps. We’re hearing that Trea- Steve Buyer and Brian surer Richard Mourdock is Kerns (State Sen. Mi- also signalling his interest. chael Young was a third v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 13 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

iels suddenly has grown stupid and ineffective. GOP governors He didn’t deserve special credit when the economy was doing well. He doesn’t deserve special blame now as say ‘Yes we can’ the economy collapses. But when it comes to the economic climate, voters By JACK COLWELL tend to give governors credit for the sunshine, blame for SOUTH BEND - While Republicans in Congress hail the rain. their political strategy to “just say ‘no’” to President Barack No state is an island _ except in a geographical Obama’s economic stimulus effort, many Republican gover- sense for Hawaii, which is a bunch of islands. nors say “yes!” That’s why most governors, whether Republi- No mystery why. cans or Democrats, want something done now to stimulate Governors have to balance their budgets. Right the national economy and, thus, their state economies. now. In Congress, they don’t ever have to. And whether They are in no mood to “just say ‘no’” as a matter of prin- it’s Republicans or Democrats in ciple. control, they usually don’t. If the nation’s economy doesn’t turn around, Re- Governors preside already over publicans in Congress can run for re-election by saying “we painful curtailments. If the down- told you so” and declaring the Obama plan a failure. ward economic spiral continues, If the nation’s economy doesn’t turn around, they will face massive layoffs governors up for re-election are likely to wind up known as of state employees and painful, “former governor.” Others will see hopes for future political unpopular cuts in services. Mem- offices shattered. bers of Congress won’t have to lay Republican Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida actually off any staff or curtail constituent campaigned with Obama in support of the economic stimu- services. lus package. Governors have a very practi- When some Republican governors in the South said cal, personal stake in success of they would reject additional unemployment compensation Obama’s efforts to stimulate the for their states out of principle, Crist responded that he economy. Most governors would like to see more stimulus, had visited unemployment offices throughout Florida and especially with funds for long-neglected state infrastruc- looked into the eyes of folks dealing with loss of jobs. He ture, not less. will take practical principal over rhetoric about principle. Governors rise or fall on the economy in their California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is another states, even though they never deserve all the credit they Republican supporting the stimulus effort and calling claim when the economy is booming or all the blame they Republican opponents of it “not in touch” with what the get when unemployment grows. majority of people want to see done. Sure, governors have some role, though limited, in Gov. Daniels, though not a fan of the particulars the jobs situation in their states. They all try to attract new of the stimulus package, has refrained from any threats of employers and sometimes actually have helped to bring the turning back help for his state and has the right approach developments at which they proudly cut ribbons at cam- on how to use the funds. paign time. “Jobs and speed must be the goal,” said Daniels. But whether the nation’s economy is robust or He wants spending on worthy projects that could bring jobs bust is the biggest factor in how any state is doing. In how now and not for just propping up spending in the budget in important employment sectors fare. In how the governor a way to cause problems later when the stimulus money is rates in job performance polls. gone. In Indiana, Gov. Mitch Daniels boasted during his Most governors, no matter their party, are con- re-election campaign last year that the state’s economy cerned uppermost with what is happening now in their was improving and that Indiana at least had a lower un- states and, yes, with doing something quickly to remedy it. employment rate than all of the surrounding states. Unem- They are less concerned with political strategy in Congress. ployment was less than in neighboring states and Indiana’s v automotive and auto-related sectors were doing well back when the nation’s economy was booming. Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five de- Now, Indiana’s unemployment rate, as of Decem- cades for the South Bend Tribune. ber, is eighth worst among the states and worse than any other state in the Midwest except for Michigan, with its disastrous automotive situation. This is not a sign that Dan- HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 14 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

about the commodities markets, hedge funds, credit de- Data detail of fault swaps, and government regulation. Lots of great gags there. But I digress. Hoosier distress I wanted to use this space today to point out that Hoosiers know more about bad economic times than do By MORTON J. MARCUS most Americans. Since the start of 1970, the total earnings INDIANAPOLIS - In this space last week I wrote of Hoosiers, adjusted for inflation, have declined 32 percent that the Great Depression ended in 1937. Several readers of the time (49 of 154 quarters). Nationally, a decline in reminded me that for those who lived through it, the Great real earnings has occurred only 18 percent of the time. Depression did not feel over until From 1970 until 2008, real earnings in Indiana much later. For some hardship and have risen 104 percent; that is they doubled over 38 years. denial did not end until well after In the U.S., real earnings have gone up by 185 percent; World War Two. Others failed to that is they have nearly tripled. see significant improvement until What does this mean in dollars? If Indiana had the Korean War had come to a kept pace with the nation (comparable to saying if ele- conclusion in the mid-‘50s. phants could elevate), our total real earnings in 2008 would How we feel individually have been 40 percent higher than we actually received. about the economy is often at That is, our total earnings would have been $52.3 billion odds with how the economy is greater than the $131.7 billion we realized. performing. If you don’t lose your Not only did our Hoosier economy fail to job and if the value of what you achieve national mediocrity, we had a much bumpier ride own doesn’t decline, you’re likely than did the U.S. The volatility of our earnings was twice to ask “What recession?” If you didn’t have much of a job that of the nation. Our swings up and down were more to begin with and you owned very little, the reported reces- severe as we ranged from a 5.3 percent high of quarterly sion hardly seems different from every day previously. growth to a -4.9 percent of quarterly decline. For the na- The data tell us how the economy is performing, tion, the high was just 3.2 percent and the low was -2.7 not how people feel. Most of us have difficulties relating percent. to data because our Just for the re- minds are not attuned cord, Hoosiers currently to the realities shown by enjoy 1.77 percent of the numbers. We don’t the earnings in the U.S. see check-out counters Our most recent peak when we read retail sta- was 2.53 percent at the tistics. Data on earnings end of 1973. It did not in health care are not make a difference if Re- as stimulating as a siren publicans or Democrats and the imagined flow of were in office; we lost blood. regardless of the party But I can see in charge. Our problems it now. New programs are of our making, the that dramatizes business failures of our firms and news. Jim Cramer, the workers to compete stock market screamer, in the marketplace. is only a fore-runner of These failures are not the times to come. The the fault of our elected possibilities are great. leaders for they too are A nightly report with our fault. Think only of Fozzie Bear and Billy continuing to live with Bull reporting on Wall Street. They use computer assisted meaningless, expensive township governments to get the animation as we saw in the election reporting. Lou Dobbs point. v hosts a show from an exercise studio while Fox News has a Mr. Marcus is an independent economist, speaker, kiddie playground as its set. and writer formerly with IU’s Kelley School of Busi- Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will have features ness. HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 15 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009

Doug Ross, Times of Northwest Indiana: Doug But the Bookmobile did, every month. For a small-town kid, Ross, Times of Northwest Indiana: Perhaps the worst vote stepping into that library on wheels felt like a Lewis and in U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky’s congressional career came Clark expedition. I discovered tales of my sports heroes’ on Wednesday. Visclosky, D-Ind., voted with all but two lives. I remember reading a thin young people’s paperback Democrats to delay a possible ethics investigation into con- about a rising tennis star named Arthur Ashe. I learned gressional earmarks and campaign donations tied to PMA how he mastered the game as a kid, despite racist laws Group, a powerful lobbying firm. Visclosky, of all people, barring blacks from playing on whites-only courts in his Vir- should be zealous about ethics investigations. Even if he ginia hometown. The world, its grandeur and its injustice, has forgotten about the countless lapses in Northwest In- opened up to me. Small-town libraries in Indiana should diana over the years, he couldn’t forget about the not close. Yes, they cost money — hard-earned tax money. troubles former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich fac- But they’re worth those pennies spent per $100 es. And how can he forget about the controver- of assessed property valuation. This month’s sy swirling around U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, one announcement that Vigo County Public Library of the final ways Blagojevich thumbed his nose would close three of its five facilities caught at the people of Illinois before being booted attention around Indiana. Property tax caps insti- from the governor’s office? Surely Visclosky feels tuted last year reduced the library’s funding, and the same disgust about ethical violations as we forced the closures. While all library systems are folks back home. Could it because this time the re-evaluating services and costs, Vigo County’s ethics investigation would examine Visclosky’s own actions? reduction has been the deepest. “It surprised me, because That’s all the more reason for Visclosky to have agreed with it was so drastic,” said Nancy Mattson, director of the Mont- U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who asked for a House Ethics ezuma Public Library. v Committee investigation into the relationship between earmark requests and campaign contributions. Visclosky ought Leslie Stedman Weidenbener, Louisville to be eager to clear his name. Visclosky might not be the Courier-Journal: Senate President Pro Tem David Long, king of earmarks, but he’s easily a crown prince. Last year R-Fort Wayne, surprised almost everyone last week when the Taxpayers for Common Sense group ranked him as the he predicted that a special session might be needed for sixth-biggest earmarker in the House. v lawmakers to figure out how to fix the state’s unemployment insurance program. It’s not that many lawmakers and Sylvia Smith, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Over Statehouse observers hadn’t contemplated that possibility. recent years, Congress has lurched this way and that on There’s always a threat that lawmakers -- particularly with opening the door a bit to let us peek into the process of the Senate controlled by Republicans and House by Demo- awarding earmarks, funding for pet projects that has come crats -- will need extra time to work through their differ- in for so much derision. Individual lawmakers have adopted ences. But with two months left to go, it was unusual for policies of varying degrees of transparency (Rep. Mark one of the legislature’s leaders to mention it aloud. Long, Souder, R-Ind., is stellar in this regard), but the institution though, was irked. Democrats in the House didn’t send has been less than completely open. Even when they adopt the Senate a bill dealing with the unemployment insurance rules that supposedly raise the curtain on the murky pro- situation, leaving Republicans to take on the difficult issue. cess of who gets what and how much, Congress’ reluctance That may not seem like a big deal. After all, the Senate (and disdain) is apparent. For instance, one subcommittee didn’t send the House a bill, either. But fixing the fund followed the letter of the rule by listing the project, the -- which is now broke and able to pay benefits thanks only agency that will fund it, the amount and the requester. But to loans from the federal government -- will undoubtedly the amount is in one place in the bill, the other data are in involve tax increases on employers. Bills with tax increases another place, separated by perhaps hundreds of pages. can only start in the House. Now, the Senate will have to This year, the chairmen of the House and Senate appro- find a House bill into which they can amend the program. priations committees announced that lawmakers must put So Long has reason to be frustrated. But it’s not just a their earmark requests on their official Web pages. Other- logistical issue. It’s a political one as well. Just about every- wise, the requests won’t be considered. This is a good step one involved agrees that the unemployment fix will involve forward because it will give all taxpayers what Souder’s not just the aforementioned tax increases but also cuts in constituents have long received: the full list of requests. v benefits and changes in who’s eligible. That means almost no one will be happy with the result, which means lawmakers aren’t looking forward to having to defend it come Mark Bennett, Terre Haute Tribune-Star: Only election time. That’s essentially what sank the legislation in the Batmobile could’ve topped the Bookmobile. Unfortu- the House. v nately, the Batmobile never drove up at Prairieton School. HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 16 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, March 5, 2009 Bayh will vote GM auditors local government structure: Griffith (Post-Tribune). When Daniels arrives against omnibus eye bankruptcy at Griffith High School on Friday for a WASHINGTON - A few Senate town hall meeting, he will find well-in- DETROIT - General Motors Democrats are voicing opposition to a formed advocates of eliminating town- Corp.’s auditors have raised “substan- pending $410 billion catchall spending ship government. The issue has been tial doubt” about the troubled auto- bill, unhappy making headlines in the town since maker’s ability to continue operations, with its summer 2007, when a movement to and the company said it may have to cost and secede from Calumet Township or seek bankruptcy protection if it can’t changes to abolish township government alto- execute a huge restructuring plan. U.S. policy gether started gathering momentum. toward Cuba The automaker revealed the concerns (Associat- Thursday in an annual report filed ed Press). with the U.S. Securities and Exchange 3 to challenge Curley Most impor- Commission (Associated Press). CROWN POINT - Lake County tant, Sens. “The corporation’s recurring losses Republican Chairman John Curley an- Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Russ Feingold, from operations, stockholders’ deficit, nounced Wednesday three people are D-Wis., announced Wednesday that and inability to generate sufficient challenging him for the party’s leader- they would vote against the bill, and cash flow to meet its obligations and ship (Times of Northwest Indiana). each urged President Barack Obama sustain its operations raise substan- Curley, Carl Dahlin Jr., Peter Thayer to veto it if it passes later this week. tial doubt about its ability to continue and Mark Leyva filed their candidacy The White House has signaled that as a going concern,” auditors for the for Lake County GOP chairman by the Obama will sign the bill -- even though accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP noon deadline Wednesday it contains almost 8,000 pet projects wrote in the report. sought by lawmakers -- calling the Governor calls casino measure last year’s business. “The AFL-CIO doesn’t like omnibus debate is not merely a battle referendum pointless over last year’s unfinished business, job trust fund proposals FORT WAYNE - A referen- but the first indication of how we will INDIANAPOLIS - Lawmakers dum to gauge local public opinion on shape our fiscal future,” Bayh wrote in are considering increases in employer bringing a casino to Fort Wayne would an op-ed in Wednesday’s Wall Street taxes, cuts in benefits and changes be fairly pointless, Gov. Mitch Daniels Journal. in who qualifies for the unemploy- said, noting he opposes any expansion ment trust fund program to try to of gambling in Indiana (Fort Wayne close the funding gap (Louisville Journal Gazette). “It doesn’t seem Clark responds Courier-Journal). The bill’s author, like a very fruitful pursuit to me,” he INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, said this said. Republican Chairman J. Murray Clark week that another option is a tax on said watching U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh is workers. But yesterday, Nancy Guy- confusing (Howey Politics Indiana). ott, lobbyist for the Indiana AFL-CIO, Cantrell sentencing “It’s becoming nearly impossible to said labor groups oppose that idea. know where Sen. Bayh stands on any- scheduled for today “That is a fundamental change” in the EAST CHICAGO - Political thing,” Clark said. He votes for the so- structure of unemployment insurance, called stimulus that spends hundreds insider Robert J. Cantrell, friend, confi- Guyott said. “We don’t favor that, and dante and adviser to Lake County poli- of billions of dollars, but as quickly as I think it’s a fundamental departure humanly possible, he starts to back- ticians for decades, will be sentenced that would have a lot of unintended to prison today (Post-Tribune). track on this recklessness by opin- consequences.” ing on the pages of The Wall Street CCantrell, 66, faces a maximum sen- Journal about the virtues of austerity. tence of 20 years on each fraud count I guess by being consistently inconsis- Daniels to visit and up to three years on each tax tent he can claim to be on all sides of count. None of Cantrell’s political allies

any given issue. What Hoosiers need anti-township hotbed have mailed letters to Judge Rudy GRIFFITH - Gov. Mitch Dan- is a leader who isn’t using a finger-in- Lozano asking for leniency. iels is making a stop this week on the the-wind to determine whether or not front line in the fight over whether to their tax dollars are going to be spent v reform Indiana’s tax system and its wisely.”