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Home , A Better Way, Evan Bayh, Freedom Partners, Mike Schmuhl, Paul Helmke

V22, N38 Friday, June 9, 2017

The coming $100 million Senate race $75 million Senate race in 2016; money floods in; Hill, Braun may enter By BRIAN A. HOWEY – In 1998, the U.S. Senate race between Democrat and Republican ended up in the $4 million range. In 2010, Republican and Democrat spent $9 million. And in 2012, Sen. Dick Lugar, Treasurer Richard Mourdock and Republicans and , and it and Democrat saw a combined $51 million topped $75 million. course through their campaigns, including $32,844,0452 With the Senate balance in the 2018 mid-terms from outside groups. potentially hanging on U.S. Sen. Donnelly’s reelection, Howey Politics added up the total cost are probably looking at a $100 million race. U.S. of the 2016 showdown between Republican Continued on page 3 and Democrat Evan Bayh, along with Democrat Director Comey’s rebuke By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – It was a stark assessment from the fired FBI Director James Comey: The president of the United States is a liar. In the May 9 dismissal by President Trump, Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee in sensational testi- “Despite so many false state- mony Thursday, “The administration then chose to defame me and more importantly the FBI, by saying the organi- ments and lies, total and com- zation was poorly plete vindication ... and WOW, led. Those were lies, plain and simple.” At Comey is a leaker.” least five other times, Comey questioned - President Trump tweeting the truthfulness of his reaction to the James President Trump. It brought about Comey testimony today this response from White House spokes- Page 2 man Sarah Huckabee Sanders: “I can The other huge takeaway was definitively say the president is not that Comey believes that the Kremlin a liar. It’s frankly insulting that that sought to interfere in the American question would be asked.” It was akin election, though he doesn’t believe to President Nixon saying in 1973, the Russians were able to penetrate “I’m not a crook.” state voting systems. “They are com- Trump, speaking Thursday ing after us. That happened. That’s at the Faith and Freedom Coalition in about as unfake as you can possibly Washington, said before the Comey get, and it’s very, very serious,” Comey session was over, “We are under said. “The Russians interfered in our Howey Politics Indiana siege,” but that “we will come out election in 2016. They did it with pur- WWHowey Media, LLC 405 bigger and better and stronger than pose, with sophistication. There is no Massachusetts Ave., Suite ever.” Going into the testimony, there fuzz on that.” 300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 was wide speculation that Trump And Trump found former would be tweeting, but didn’t until this Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s www.howeypolitics.com morning when he said, “Despite so conduct during the many false statements and lies, total email probe “concerning,” saying she Brian A. Howey, Publisher and complete vindication...and WOW, wanted the FBI chief to frame it as Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington Comey is a leaker!” a “matter” instead of an Jack E. Howey, Editor For three rivet- “investigation.” ing hours, Americans Another key takeaway Mary Lou Howey, Editor got Comey’s assessment was that committee Re- Mark Curry, photography of Trump’s character. publicans were not parti- We learned that Comey san in their questions, with Subscriptions leaked his extensive Idaho Sen. James Risch memo to the media via a actually praising the former HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 Columbia University law director. HPI Weekly, $350 professor about the Feb- While the White Ray Volpe, Account Manager ruary dinner he had with House declared the presi- 317.602.3620 Trump. We learned that dent “vindicated” by the email: [email protected] Trump repeatedly pressed Comey statement released Comey for his “loyalty.” on Wednesday and then The former director said that senior the testimony Thursday that Comey Contact HPI FBI oficials were “shocked” by Trump’s had told Trump he wasn’t the target [email protected] appeals to drop the Russian probe and of the investigation, the new reality lay off former security adviser Mike is that due to Trump’s pressing for a Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 Flynn. Comey said he didn’t have the “quid pro quo” on Comey remaining in Washington: 202.256.5822 “presence of mind” or courage to tell office for a termination of the Rus- Business Office: 317.602.3620 Trump the request was inappropriate. sia probe, the investigation of Special “I was fired,in some way to Counsel Robert Mueller could very well © 2017, Howey Politics change the way the Russia investiga- end up in the Oval Office. tion was being conducted,” Comey Judge , Indiana. All rights reserved. said. “And that is a very big deal. I a commentator, called the Photocopying, Internet forward- took it as a direction. I mean, it’s the Comey session potentially dangerous ing, faxing or reproducing in president of the United States with me for Trump. While Comey’s testimony any form, whole or part, is a saying, ’I hope this’ … I took it as this didn’t expressly indicate a criminal act, violation of federal law without is what he wants me to do,” Comey Napolitano said, “It advanced the ball said. “I didn’t obey that. But that’s the on the seriousness of this. You get permission from the publisher. way I took it. I felt my job was contin- a very, very credible and compelling gent upon how well he thought I was argument that president of the United doing and whether I demonstrated States has not been truthful with the loyalty.” American people.” Asked why he didn’t rebuff Comey’s testimony came a Trump, Comey said, “Maybe if I were day after Director of National Intelli- stronger I would have; I was so gence Dan Coats and Natural Security stunned by the conversation that I Agency Adm. Mike Rogers refused just took it in.” to reveal specific conversations with Page 3

Trump, saying they didn’t feel “pressured” by Trump to Just hours before, White House said Trump had end the probe, as reported, but they fired Comey solely on the recommendation of the deputy would not confirm or deny that the topic had come up. attorney general for his handling of the Clinton email And in a Watergate parallel, Comey offered his investigation. Vice President told reporters on memos of nine conversations with Trump, then said he Capitol Hill, “He provided strong leadership ... to act on hoped Trump would turn over audio tapes he has claimed the recommendation of the deputy attorney general.” on Twitter to possess, saying at one point, “I’ve seen the Former Director of National Intelligence James tweet about ‘tapes’ and Lordy, I hope there are tapes.” Clapper reacted, saying, “What I saw today reinforced” “The president surely knows if he taped me. And that Russia scandal more serious than Watergate. “Quite if he did, my feelings aren’t hurt,” Comey said. “Release damning and very disturbing.” all the tapes.” The White House has yet to confirm the ’s William Kristol tweeted, “I tapes exist, but if they do, the idea that a Watergate-style happen to have seen various GOP Senators this afternoon. “smoking gun” is out there could be enough to bring down Trust me: Basically, they’re not just concerned. They’re this presidency. pretty terrified.” When U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein pressed editorialized today, call- Comey on whether he was fired due to the Russian probe, ing Comey’s testimony a “passion play” whose testimony Comey responded, “Yes, because I’ve seen the president “did expose the methods of the highly political former FBI say so.” That was in reference to Trump’s interview with director” and said he should have resigned. NBC’s Lester Holt in which he contradicted Vice President Speaker defended Trump, saying Trump Mike Pence and press secretary Sean Spicer saying the wasn’t “steeped in the long-running protocols” of how firing was based on a Department of Justice memo. “And to interact with law enforcement and is “new at this.” He in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said added, “When the FBI director tells him on three different ‘you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a occasions he is not under investigation, yet the speculation made-up story, it’s an excuse by the Democrats for having swirls around the political system that he is, that’s frustrat- lost an election that they should have won,’” Trump had ing. I think the American people now know why he was told Holt. frustrated.” v

opening for an outsider, and he responded, “I don’t know $100 million race, from page 1 if that’s a factor. In the attorney general’s race, I came in Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita are expected to post from northern Indiana, outside of ordinary courses of the around $2 million when the second quarter FEC reports political process in Indianapolis and I think that’s played are filed next month. The Republican field also includes a role in my success as attorney general. I don’t see that businessman Terry Henderson, Kokomo attorney Mark changing. I think it’s good to have a healthy perspective Hurt and New Albany educator Andrew Takami. Donnelly outside the so-called normal processes and I’ll remain true reported $1.3 million raised in the to that.” first quarter and is also expected to Another potential candidate is top the $2 million mark. State Rep. , whom The Hill de- Attorney General Curtis Hill scribed as a potential self-funding candidate. was asked Howey Politics Indiana “I have not officially declared,” Braun told on Tuesday if he is considering a -Herald, “But I have Senate bid. “I’m very busy with my been kicking the tires, talking with people job as attorney general. I am 100% and seeing what kind of support I might focused on what I’m doing here,” have. So far, I have received a lot of encour- said Hill. “I’ve heard comments agement to get into the race.” Braun says and I’ve also been approached by he expects to have a decision on whether people. I think people are looking he will be a candidate by Aug. 1. State Sen. for bold, fresh leadership in all areas Mike Delph told HPI last month that he will of government, including the United talk about the Senate race in late June. So States Senate. For now I’m doing State Sen. Mike Delph there could be up to eight Republican candi- my job and feel pretty good about dates vying for the nomination to challenge how we’re doing and will stay focused on that.” Donnelly. That has the potential to gin up fantastic money With Hill, the former Elkhart County prosecutor, totals. essentially keeping his name in the 2018 scenario, we The real game changer occurred in January 2010 asked if the low approval of Congress might provide an when on a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens Page 4

United v. Federal Election Commission it was ruled that the Fund at $12,682,214; National Republican Senatorial Com- 1st Amendment protection of free speech prohibited the mittee PAC at $4,917,671; NRA Institute for Legislative Ac- government from restricting independent political expen- tion, $2,190,090; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, $2,749,450. ditures by nonprofit corporations, for-profit corporations, labor unions and other associations. Since then there has ‘Crazy’ spending been a flood of PAC, Super PAC and 501 funds. The opening spending skirmishes in this Senate Once a candidacy is declared, campaigns cannot race began in February when the conservative Judicial Cri- coordinate with Super PACs. This could be a reason why sis Network ran ads pushing Donnelly to vote for Supreme Messer and Rokita may wait until later this summer to Court Justice , which the senator did. declare. Messer’s annual barbecue Over the past couple of at Morristown is scheduled for Aug. weeks, Majority Forward, a Demo- 12, and some Republican sources crat PAC designed to back state tell HPI he is likely to enter the legislative candidates, is running race then. cable ads on behalf of Donnelly, describing him as a job creator. So The $75 million 2016 race a little less than two years away The 2016 Senate race from the November 2018 election, featured two of the top all-time the ad dollars are already pouring fundraisers in Young and Bayh, in. who resurfaced last July with a Donnelly campaign man- beginning cash balance of $9.98 ager Peter Hanscom told HPI that million. Bayh made a total of 2016 Senate Candidate spending $1.5 million of outside money $13.588 million in disbursements, has already been spent against compared to $11.39 million for Todd Young (R) Donnelly by conservative groups like Judicial Crisis Network, the Young in a race Young won 52- Total receipts: $10,698,358 42% after the Republican and NRA and Susan B. Anthony Fund. outside groups essentially de- Total contributions: $9,647,139 Majority Forward is spending stroyed the durable Bayh brand Total disbursements: $11,394,679 $600,000 on 500 gross rating that allowed him to win five state- Beginning cash on hand: $761,714 points in Indianapolis, South Bend wide campaigns for secretary of Ending cash on hand: $65,392 and Fort Wayne. state, governor and U.S. Senate. “I think we’re looking at Republican U.S. Rep. Mar- the most expensive Senate race in lin Stutzman had $2.92 million in Marlin Stutzman (R) state history,” Hanscom said. “It’s disbursements, Eric Holcomb had Total receipts: $2,459,512 only 2017.” $511,094, and original Democratic Total disbursements: $2,927,150 Messer and Rokita begin nominee Baron Hill had $1.15 mil- Beginnging cash: $469,796 this cycle with roughly the same amount of money. Messer report- lion. Among these five candidates, Ending cash: $877 they disbursed $29,672,136. That ed $1.6 million for the first quar- figure could have been higher ter, compared to Rokita’s $1.55 had Gov. Mike Pence not chosen Eric Holcomb (R) million. Rokita told HPI last month Holcomb as his lieutenant gover- Total receipts: $511,094 that he has an $8 million finance nor nominee in February, 2016. Total disbursements: $511,094 network. Both have high rolling fi- nance teams, with Bob Grand and Holcomb told HPI that he and his Beginning and ending balance: 0 wife Janet had plans to self-fund Jim Kittle backing Messer while the homestretch of that primary Rokita has Dan Dumezich on his battle. Evan Bayh (D) team. But the real fuel for this Total receipts: $4,513,158 Tim Edson, a general race came with the Super PACs, Total disbursements: $13,588,564 campaign consultant for Rokita, called the explosion of outside PACs and 501s, which funneled Beginning cash: $9,983,284 in $45,983,332. The big spenders money “crazy” and suggested included the Democratic Senato- Ending cash: $889,086 that 2018 could breech the $100 rial Campaign Committee PAC million mark. “When you consider at $7,833,646 and the Senate Baron Hill (D) the Senate race will be at top of Majority SuperPAC, $5,083,309 on Total receipts: $1,386,201 the ticket, with the focus not on a presidential race, the 2018 race behalf of Bayh. Total disbursements: $1,150,649 Big spenders for Young could equal if not surpass 2016,” included the Senate Leadership Beginning cash: 0 Edson said on Tuesday. “We have Page 5 heard some say it could cost upward to $100 million.” annual barbecue is scheduled for Aug. 12. “The Messer Edson added, “I think that obviously the Citizens Family BBQ is a premiere grassroots political United is the big reason why these numbers have jumped. event and we are excited that this year will mark the sixth You have all this outside money pouring and some folks annual BBQ,” she said. “There is no definitive timeline for are already wringing hands. They say a competitive pri- a campaign kickoff.” mary is going to hurt the party, but that’s ancient history.” Messer spokesman Jason Kneeland told HPI of Edson noted the Majority Forward advertising an official entry into the race, “We don’t have a definitive on behalf of Donnelly, saying, “National Democrats have timeline on that. It’s going to be a huge race that will get polled and see that he’s very vulnerable to definition. all kinds of national money, since it’s being a mid-term. They’re trying to inoculate him.” People all over the country will be watching this. Periodi- Emily Daniels, financedirector for Messer, cals are calling it the No. 1 race for both parties. There would not confirm when Messer will enter the race. His will be a ton of money spent. Our finance committee is

2016 Indiana Senate race outside spending

60 Plus Assn $23,250 Conservative American Federal of State, County & Municipal Employees PAC $1,378,554 Liberal American Federation of Teachers PAC $411,480 L 501 $1,457,981 C Associated Builders and Contractors 501 $354,000 C Citizens United PAC $27,318 C PAC $13,395 C Defending Main Street SuperPAC $125,000 C Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee PAC $7,833,646 L Ending Spending Action Fund SuperPAC $1,230,614 C Freedom Partners Action Fund Super PAC $1,066,821 C Freedom Partners Chamber of Commercce 501 $4,510 C Indiana Republican State Committee PAC $5,070 C National Federation of Independent Business PAC $203,100 C National Republican Senatorial Committee PAC $4,917,671 C National Rifle Association PAC $648,740 C National Right to Life PAC $9,879 C National Right to Life SuperPAC $9,879 C NEA Advocacy Fund SuperPAC $822,642 L New Prosperity Foundation SuperPAC $415,000 C NRA Institute for Legislative Action $2,190,090 C One Nation 501 $378,308 C Rampart SuperPAC $13,437 C Senate Conservative Fund PAC $111,178 C Senate Leadership Fund $12,682,214 C Senate Majority SuperPAC $5,083,309 L U.S. Chamber of Commerce $2,749,450 C Vote Vets.org $1,578,763 L Working America 501 $61,148 L Working American Coalition SuperPAC $169,634 L

Total: $45,983,332 Total PAC and candidates $75,555,468 Page 6 getting engaged. campaign’s We’re expecting very strong a great quarter fundraising and be in line to continue with where Todd and a sec- Young was two ond quarter years ago.” cash on Kneeland hand total said that Messer’s similar to past role as the Young executive direc- campaign in tor of the Indiana 2015. Republican Party Indiana will give him an Democratic advantage, “not spokes- only the party, but with the grassroots, leading the party man Will Baskin-Gertz observed of the coming Republican for a number of years.” primary donnybrook, “After both Congressman Messer As for the coming wave of money, Daniels said, and Congressman Rokita appeared to anonymously launch “My guess is it will break all records. Indiana’s 2018 U.S. attacks at each other this spring in the press, the fighting Senate race is projected to be a top national target for is now out in the open, with one Rokita ally saying Con- Democrats and Republicans. That’s why Indiana Repub- gressman Messer ‘needs the primary.’ An expensive early licans need a proven conservative leader and disciplined fight seems to be right down the road, with the eventual messenger in what will be a difficult environment.” nominee weakened heading into the fall.” Asked about Messer’s second quarter FEC “It’s certainly going to be a pretty expensive race,” report, Daniels added, “Our statewide finance team is Baskin-Gertz told HPI on Wednesday. “Where that money working hard and we are excited about the momentum on comes from, I think Joe will have the resources to defend our side as our team grows every day. I expect the Messer his record.” v

FUELING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY STATEWIDE

www.indianachamber.com/2025 Page 7

statement regarding the Senate Intelligence Commit- Indiana reaction tee’s hearing with former FBI Director James Comey: “My approach to this whole situation is simple – we need to fol- low the facts. Yesterday, Director of National Intelligence to Comey testimony Dan Coats testified that he never felt pressured to interfere Howey Politics Indiana in the ongoing investigation. Today, Mr. Comey described INDIANAPOLIS – Here is reaction from the Indi- some inappropriate interactions with President Trump ana congressional delegation, academics and commenta- but made it clear that the President has not interfered in tors to the testimony of former FBI Director James Comey any way with the FBI’s investigation or engaged in illegal on Thursday. behavior. Mr. Comey also said that the President was never personally under investigation. Those hoping for fireworks Donnelly ‘very concerned’ or a smoking gun may be disappointed by today’s hearing, Sen. Joe Donnelly told I-Team 8 Thursday that but I am hopeful that now Congress can let the indepen- he was “very concerned” by former FBI Director James dent prosecutor do his job and draw conclusions once the Comey’s testimony that President Trump asked him to “let official investigation is complete. We need to focus on the go” of the FBI’s investigation into former National Security major legislative challenges before us, like reforming our Adviser Michael Flynn (Haeberle, WISH-TV). “It’s very, broken tax code, rebuilding our military and improving the very concerning, but I will also defer to Robert Mueller. care our veterans receive.” That’s the purpose of the special counsel in this process is to review what did happen in regards to potential criminal Matthews doesn’t see ‘collusion’ investigation and to make those decisions,” Donnelly told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews reacted, saying, “The I-Team 8. Comey also revealed that while he was inves- assumption of the critics of the president, of his pursuers, tigating the scandal surrounding Hillary Clinton’s emails you might say, is that somewhere along the line in the last last year, that then-acting Attorney General Loretta Lynch year is the president had something to do with colluding asked him to refer to the FBI’s inquiry as “a matter” rather with the Russians … to affect the election in some way,” than “an investigation.” Donnelly, who stumped for Clinton Matthews said on MSNBC, following the testimony. “And in Indiana during last year’s election, said Lynch never yet what came apart this morning was that theory,” Mat- should’ve made that request. “As we look at this from both thews said, listing two reasons why. First, he said Comey sides, the Justice Department should not be Democrat or revealed that “Flynn wasn’t central to the Russian investi- Republican. The Justice Department works for the people gation,” and secondly, he said that kills the idea that Flynn of this country. Their boss is the U.S. Constitution and the might have been in a position to testify against Trump. people who live in this great nation. That’s who I think “And if that’s not the case, where’s the there-there?” Director Comey has worked for every single day,” he said. Fleisher questions Comey leaks Carson says ‘context matters’ Former White House spokesman Ari Fleisher U.S. Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) says the context Tweeted, “Comey needs to answer if he leaked other info. matters as much as the words (Berman, WIBC). He says Was this the only time? If not, when? What issues? Agents when you’re president, asking the FBI director to drop an can’t leak. Nor (should) the Director.” investigation is an implied order, and Comey’s testimony that Trump made sure he was alone with the director IU experts react before making his pitch adds a layer of suspicion. He says Indiana University experts who watched James congressional investigators and a Justice Department Comey’s testimony Thursday were impressed by the probe led by Comey’s predecessor Robert Mueller will have former FBI director (Reschke, Bloomington Herald-Times). to look at the possibility of obstruction of justice. “I think Comey’s testimony will be studied for a long time to come as to how to make an effective presentation to Rokita attacks ‘rush to judgment’ by media Congress,” said Lee Hamilton, a professor of practice in the In a written statement, Republican Rep. Todd Rok- School of Public and Environmental Affairs. “He showed ita emphasizes Comey’s confirmation that he told Trump brilliance in typing up notes afterward,” IU debate coach the president was not the subject of the FBI’s investiga- Brian DeLong said. A focal point of the Senate committee’s tion (Berman, WIBC). He attacks what he calls “a rush to hearing was whether Trump directed Comey to drop the judgment by Washington elites and many in the media,” investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael and says Congress should focus on “facts and evidence” Flynn. Comey said the circumstances, subject matter and relating to Russia’s attempts to meddle in the election. “nature of the person” led him to keep a written record of several meetings with Trump. This prevented his memory Banks says ‘let’s get back to business’ of what was said during those meetings from being called U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) issued the following into question, DeLong said. v Page 8

Congress, when one doesn’t even exist. Trump didn’t study Trump supporters or understand the details of the American Health Care Act that passed by one vote in the House and faces an ardu- ous path in the Senate. should press their guy When Trump spoke before NATO last month, By BRIAN A. HOWEY he summarily deleted a reaffirmation of Article V which INDIANAPOLIS – Attending five requires all members to aid another under attack. It was campaign rallies in Indiana last year was to witness a invoked just once, the day after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror fledgling political figure connect with Hoosiers just as attacks. This deletion blindsided Defense Secretary Jim had done eight years prior, or as Ronald Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Secu- Reagan did in 1976 and 1980, and Robert F. rity Advisor H.R. McMaster who had specified and urged its did in 1968. All of these figures drew huge, enthusiastic inclusion. crowds while igniting American His White House political operation has been dreams. Trump rallies were amateurish. It is led by senior adviser , a streams of consciousness in self-described “Leninist” who desires to tear down the which he articulated the desires, established structures. At times throughout history, such a grievances and hopes for the teardown is required, but there has to be something built part of our state bearing witness in its place and capable constructors who can accomplish to the withering of Main Street the mission. while Hillary Clinton earned The great movers and shakers of our time like $400,000 paychecks for Wall President Reagan surrounded himself with talented Street speeches. people like James Baker, Michael Deaver, Just as President George and George Schultz, who always stayed on message and W. Bush defeated made sure the trains ran on time. In contrast, Trump’s here in 2004 57-37%, Trump staff spent weeks insisting his immigration executive order gathered and surfed a 19% wasn’t a “travel ban,” but Trump used that term in a tweet, plurality here that became the foundation to the greatest criticized his own Department of Justice, and may have upset in presidential history. And with this victory, Trump damaged his prospects with the U.S. Supreme Court. established the premise for great hopes. He would go to His management skills have been exposed. After Washington, attack and shatter the congressional inertia, campaigning on an ardent law and order platform, Trump drain the swamp, bring broader and cheaper health coverage to the mass- es, build great projects unlike we’ve seen since the space program and the interstate highway system, protect the borders, reform the tax code for the first time in a generation, and charge up a second century of American dominance. If you were to script the opening six months to a presidency, you couldn’t have found a more deflating scenario than what we’ve just wit- nessed. While Trump supporters be- lieved he was “telling it like it is,” we’ve found a president who has little regard for the truth and has resorted to “alternative fact.” He has undercut his own staff and appointees, from Vice President Mike Pence to Attorney General , his most ardent early supporter who has already offered to resign. He has been contradicting his own cabinet secretaries on matters ranging from national security to the Candidate Donald Trump with former IU coach Bobby Knight during a rally in Indianapolis immigration “travel ban.” Trump talks in 2016. (HPI Photo by Mark Curry) about a tax reform bill advancing in Page 9 dismissed some 46 district attorneys and has yet to nomi- ously curtails his tweeting, and learns and respects basic nate a single successor. Indiana’s two federal prosecutor ethical guidelines, they will all resign together while warn- offices are empty. These are the prosecutors that charge ing the country that the president is temperamentally (and terrorists, gangs, drug traffickers, public corruption and perhaps intellectually) unfit for office.” white collar criminals. A liberal Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank Only five of 53 top jobs at the Pentagon have has conjured the notion of a “President Pence,” writing: been filled. Two nominees for Army secretary have with- “The contrast between the reckless president and his drawn, as has one for Navy secretary. According to the responsible understudy has me thinking, not for the first nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, Trump has not time, how much better things would be if Pence were picked a nominee for 442 out of 559 key positions requir- president. Trump shows no ability to correct course, to pull ing Senate confirmation. At the State Department, only himself out of a self-destructive spiral. It may be prema- eight of 120 positions have been filled. The U.S. hurricane ture to talk of impeachment or resignation, but Trump’s season has arrived and there are no nominees to head path is unsustainable. Republicans in Congress would be FEMA and NOAA. sensible to start thinking about an endgame, and the for- Trump has had success in his successful nomina- mer Indiana governor may be the their best hope – and all tion of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and FBI direc- of ours.” tor Christopher Wray this week, as well as his push to roll If there’s a cautionary tale to a president win- back regulatory reforms. ning a 20% plurality here in Indiana, it came for Bush43 A growing chorus among Republicans are begging in 2006 when his handling of the misguided War cost Trump to give up Twitter. Former GOP rival Carly Fiorina him three congressional seats. Chaos, particularly that urged Trump this week to “stop tweeting,” saying the instigated from the top, can bring down majorities. tweets are “insulting” and “distracting” and “very destruc- Trump supporters should be sending this critical tive.” message to our president: You articulated what we felt, From the conservative , we voted for you and charged you with a mission. It’s time commentator Quinn Hillyer called for a cabinet interven- you take that charge, surround yourself with capable and tion. “Their message to Trump should be blunt: Unless he credible staff, and act like a president who will change the starts acting presidential, stops undermining them, seri- world. v Page 10

No matter what article you read addressing global Paris climate pact was cooling or which expert you listened to on the subject, the culprit in every scenario was the developed world’s consumption of its natural resources and the belching of the new Versailles carbon by evil economies more intent on the happiness By CRAIG DUNN and welfare of their countries than on the welfare of the KOKOMO – It was spring, 1975, on the Ball State Great Blue Marble. University campus. The grass was green, the sky bright Lurking silently behind the mask of environmental blue and the sun provided the necessary relief from the evil was the biggest villain of them all, capitalism. cold, dreary winter to morph college coeds from their co- For those of you who believe that I sit around in coons of jeans and sweatshirts a dark closet wearing a tinfoil hat, I have one thing to say. to the butterfly stage of halter I do. But that is beside the point. In the 42 years since I tops and Daisy Duke cutoffs. It graduated from college and discovered myself stuck in the was a great day to be a red- relentless battles of living in the real world, I have made it blooded male college senior! a point to do my own reading, research and thinking. As a What better way to soak up financial advisor, I’ve come to reject the herd mentality as the sun and the best views on just so many lemmings rushing toward a cliff. History has campus than to attend an Earth repeatedly taught us that politicians will lie to achieve their Day rally on the Quad? goals and that cartels of special interests will coalesce to I’ll never forget seeing promote their own selfish agendas, whatever they may be. one of my economics profes- History has also sadly taught us that people are extremely sors standing on a makeshift uninformed and amazingly gullible and may be manipu- stage, haranguing the crowd lated to achieve both good and evil with a carefully orches- about the dangers presented by the “settled on” science of trated lie. History has also taught us that statistics can be global cooling and its future devastating economic impact. manipulated to get just about any outcome you want. The culprit, as pointed out by Dr. Forgettable, was the As an adult, I have made it a goal to travel as continued use and reliance upon much as possible and observe fossil fuels. Because of the United various cultures. I’ve particularly States’ massive consumption of focused on travel to Europe, not fossil fuels to heat our homes, run because the people are more our vehicles and power our indus- interesting, but because the public trial might, the world faced a bleak restrooms are cleaner. future of a new ice age, droughts, What I have personally tornadoes, hurricanes, food short- observed over the last 30 years is ages and global conflict. All of this that the world is looking more like wisdom and foresight was coming us every day. On a recent trip to from a man who rarely showered, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the never combed his hair and spewed Czech Republic, this fact was very socialist ideology for an entire se- evident. Every taxi we took was mester. I was unimpressed with the playing American rock music on the good professor and his like-minded radio. American chain stores domi- eco-enviro-anarchists. nated the shopping boulevards. Oh, sure, there were Pizza was the food of choice. Eng- other “experts” heavily beating the lish was spoken by most people. drum on global cooling. On Janu- Menus, signs and advertising were ary 11, 1970, the Washington Post either in English or contained reported, “Colder Winters Held English words where no indigenous Dawn of New Ice Age.” A June 24, word exists. Mojo is mojo the world 1974, issue of Time focused on an around! article titled, “Another Ice Age?” Why is this? Because the young The article pointed out that “the atmosphere has been people of the world love everything American! Our mu- growing gradually cooler for the past three decades.” Just sic, movies, clothes, slang and mojo are the envy of kids a little over a month after the Ball State Earth Day rally, throughout the world. Try this experiment. Go to “You- Newsweek magazine featured an article titled, “The Cool- tube.com” and type in Pharrell Williams’ “Happy We Are ing World.” This article declared that there were “ominous From.” You will see the people of the world dancing and signs that the Earth’s weather patterns have begun to enjoying life to Mr. Williams’ effervescent tune. You will change.” also see a world of people who dress, look and act re- Page 11 markably like our own children and young adults. I suppose if I was ruling a country that imported Unfortunately, there are people and governments virtually 100 percent of its oil and natural gas to power around the world who hate and reject the United States and drive my industry and GDP, I would find oil and gas to for a variety of reasons. For some people, the hate is reli- be a reasonable whipping boy. I might do anything pos- gious. For others, the hate is cultural. For most, the hate is sible to remove that economic advantage from my com- economic. petitors and bring them down to my level. It just might If you come from a country that keeps your keep the hometown fans happy and keep getting me and women at home with a sheet over their head or from a my friends elected so that we might have important global country that uses genital mutilation as a tool to keep your warming meetings in Gstaad. wife loyal, you most likely will find the United States repre- Want proof that the shift of message from a man- hensible. tra of “global cooling” will destroy the If you are French and re- world to “global warming” will destroy the member the days when the French world has economic change as its ulti- language, food, literature, theater and mate goal? I give you proof in the words music reigned supreme, you most likely of Christiana Figueres, the woman who hate the golden arches on the Champs is executive chairman of the United Na- d’Elysee and its Royal Cheese. You tions Framework Convention on Climate remember the glory days before the Change. This may also be known now as two world wars when you were both a the “Paris Accord.” military, cultural and economic power. In 2015, at a news conference in Now you cloak yourself in Euro-protec- Brussels, Ms. Figueres said the follow- tionism and use world organizations to ing: “This is the first time in the history flex your diminished muscles. of mankind that we are setting ourselves For most of the world, how- the task of intentionally, within a defined ever, the source of hate of the United period of time, changing the economic States springs from an absurdly imbal- development model that has been reign- anced distribution of wealth. We the ing for at least 150 years, since the In- people of the United States have been dustrial Revolution.” She further restated extraordinarily lucky to live at a time in the goal: “This is probably the most history when unspoiled land, vast natural resources, politi- difficult task we have ever given ourselves, which is to cal freedom and capitalism came together to create the intentionally transform the economic development model most prosperous country in the history of the world. for the first time in human history.” While most Americans would ascribe our economic To this good old Hoosier boy the message success to hard work, the blessings of a just God and is pretty simple: The United States has erased a feudal- freedom, the rest of the world tends to look on it as just based order that lasted a thousand years, produced zero dumb luck and not fair. It is safe to say that the average growth and kept men and women working from sun up to autoworker in Slovakia assembling Volkswagens believes sun down for their very short lives and replaced it with a that he is entitled to the same perks of life that an Ameri- capitalist system that has increased production can autoworker making three times the income has. 70-fold, cut work days in two, and doubled lifespans. This What is easier for a world leader to achieve politi- success cannot be tolerated by the oligarchs, kings and cally: Destroy your own cherished institutions, cultural industrial potentates of the world. The system must be norms, business and labor practices and political systems changed. in order to move toward the success of the United States, When I was a young boy, my father told me about or conspire through world political organizations to bring the great New York Yankee dynasty of 1923-1964, when the United States economic engines to a slow grind? the ball club dominated Major League Baseball. He told me During times of war, famine, natural disasters about calls from the public to break up the team so that and economic upheaval, the United States is welcome to there would be more competition. I remember asking him show up with its money, manpower and industrial might. the innocent question, “Why didn’t the other teams just In times when no knife is being held to the throat of Eu- get better players?” His answer was “It is always easier to rope, the United States is just another economic enemy. tear down than to build up.” Doubt my thesis? The creation of the European Global cooling, global warming, climate change Union was done to improve the industrial and trade power or whatever you want to call it, is just another name for of the separate European countries and try and reduce the a strategy of tearing down a winning team. I’m glad my power of the U. S. dollar. As one European leader recently president isn’t buying it. v told me, we have to eat this terrible tough beef from Spain instead of the great beef from the United States because Dunn is the former Howard County Republican of the European Union trade rules. chairman. Page 12

sales laws, some instituted after Prohibition ended eight Data set for cold beer; decades ago. “The General Assembly has formally com- missioned a comprehensive review of Indiana’s alcohol laws for the first time in many years,” Long said today. “All legalization precursor issues are on the table as we begin this process. I expect By BRIAN A. HOWEY the study commission’s first area of focus to be the retail INDIANAPOLIS – Proponents of wider cold beer sector of alcohol sales, with formal recommendations be- sales published in a new statewide poll published Monday ing submitted this fall. I am hopeful these recommenda- afternoon showing 70% of Hoosiers favor giving drug, gro- tions can guide meaningful legislative action with regard to cery and convenience stores the right to sell cold beer. Re- our alcohol laws in the General Assembly’s next legislative spondents also strongly favored allowing Sunday carryout session.” sales, and enabling liquor stores to Ricker expressed frustration that the General sell a wider variety of products. Assembly has clung to the status quo despite an explo- Pollster Fabrizio, Lee & sion of craft breweries, vineyards and distilleries across Associates conducted the survey of the state, as well as alcohol sales at grocery stores. “You 600 registered voters via landline have to listen to the constituents and be mindful that the and cellphone between May 8-11. world changes so doggone fast. It could be too late, look The margin of error at the 95% at all these department stores closing. I don’t want to be confidence interval for 600 voters is +/- 4.00%. It comes on that list. I’ve got to worry about smoking, fuel, elec- as the studies the state’s ar- tric charging, higher mileage. I’ve got to have a business chaic alcohol sales system in a summer study committee. that’s going to be there and food is part of it, food and Hoosiers favored allowing all licensed retailers the beverage. People like to drink when they eat food. I want right to sell cold beer by 71%; permitting Sunday carryout sales by 65%; and repealing the commodity restriction on liquor stores by 64%. Of other listed reforms: 67% opposed allowing minors into liquor stores; 59% op- posed restricting the sale of spirits to liquor stores only; and 57% were against requiring all alcohol to be sold behind counters in drug, grocery and convenience stores. Importantly, the poll also showed that implementing the most popular reforms would not change the buying habits of customers, to have that available for them. The legislature is really with 80 percent of respondents saying it would have no handicapping me. They shouldn’t be picking winners and impact. losers when it comes to businesses as they are today.” “This poll confirms that Hoosiers view Indiana’s alcohol laws as nonsensical and in desperate need of Dawn of the legalization battle change,” said Scot Imus, executive director of the Indiana The marijuana legalization battle is just beginning, Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association with Attorney General Curtis Hill firing off the first salvo in (IPCA) who commissioned the poll. “We are encouraged what could be a precursor to a decade-long battle, making that this has been acknowledged by the leadership of the the case that pot is a “gateway” drug. There is no credible General Assembly with the announcement last week of the marijuana advocacy lobby and the chief proponent, State establishment of the alcohol code revision commission.” Sen. Karen Tallian, sits in the tiniest caucus and accused In April, Ricker’s CEO Jay Ricker responded to Hill of purveying “self-serving deceit” and “preaching legislation that took aim at two of his convenience stores hell-fire and brimstone.” SD17 Democrat Gary Snyder said in Columbus and Sheridan selling cold beer in a restau- Hill’s advocacy of jailing non-violent users is a bad deal for rant setting. Ricker told HPI that he was prepared to get taxpayers, something we’ve heard from even Republican involved politically. “We have to take a look at it. We’re not county councilmen and women who are faced with bulging getting any help from the people we’ve supported. If you jail populations. The WTHR/Howey Politics Poll from last are unhappy, you need to get into the political fray and October on medicinal pot had 75% favoring and 23% op- that means your pocketbook, too.” posed. The cross tabs are revealing, with 59% of Republi- Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President David can men and women, 77% of independent men and 78% Long have ordered a summer study committee to look of independent women, and 82/83% of Democrat men at all of Indiana’s liquor sales laws, some instituted af- and women favoring legalization. It was also backed by ter Prohibition ended eight decades ago. Speaker Brian 57% of conservatives, while 82% of moderates and 86% Bosma and Senate President David Long have ordered a of liberals favored. v summer study committee to look at all of Indiana’s liquor Page 13

crats, black, white, gay, straight, female, male, old, young, 5 Harrison County voters and non-voters.” Leineweber stated he hopes to represent the middle class if elected to Washington. Democrats to GOP “People are tired of the same old, same old in politics,” he stated. “The majority of the current political party system Howey Politics Indiana is made up of lawyers, career politicians and lobbyists. The CORYDON – The Harrison County GOP made his- days of allowing the most damaging of people who choose tory when it introduced five new elected officials — District to harm, rather than to help, decide what is right for those 1 Councilman Kyle Nix, Assessor Lorena (Rena) Stepro, below them, are coming to an end.” Jackson Township Trustee Joe Martin, Blue River Township Trustee Michael Beyerle and Spencer Township Trustee Aaron Scott — to a rousing applause of a standing-room- Potential rematch in SD29 only audience in the commis- Democrat J.D. Ford has announced he will seek sioner/council room at the Gov- the SD29 seat in 2018. Republican State Sen. Mike Delph ernment Center in south Corydon defeated Ford in 2014 by a 15,140 to 12,744 margin. (Shulz, Corydon Democrat). “None “With everything that is going on in the country and in our of them was happy with the left- state, I just have to get started,” Ford said on Wednesday. ward turn of the Democratic party “I am excited to be launching my campaign in the month of the recent years as it did not of June and at the Pride parade, an event centered on match their own beliefs,” GOP county chairman Scott Fluhr love, hope, equality and inclusion…core principles that I said of their motivation to change parties. “I think they hold near and dear to my heart.” Delph told Howey Politics all agree with , who once said he did not Indiana he will announce whether he will seek reelection leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left him.” or make a U.S. Senate bid in late June. Democratic Party Chair Kim Black Bary said Monday the party wishes the quintet well and also added they’re not Holcomb fundraiser technically Republicans until they sign up to run for office Gov. Eric Holcomb is holding a fundraiser later this again and file to do so as Republicans. “We will get loyal month at the swanky Lucas Estate, with tickets priced as and decisive Democrats in public office,” Bary continued. high as $10,000 (Cook, IndyStar). Those top-tier donors “We are rising each and every day. We and their spouses will be treated to round table dinner will sail our ship and not run it aground as some hope or think we will. It only takes one snowflake to start an avalanche and 2018 is coming.”

Greg Pence comments on CD6 Greg Pence isn’t saying whether he will seek the 6th CD seat if U.S. Rep. Luke Messer runs for the U.S. Senate, as is widely anticipated. In an interview with IndyStar, Pence acknowledged regular overtures encouraging a congressional run, but said he’s focused on Messer’s campaign right now. “The funny thing is I’m getting asked that a lot,” he said. “And right now the only thing I’m focused on is helping Luke and Jennifer (Messer) make a big decision on whether or not they should run (for Senate).” with the governor in a setting the Lucas Estate website describes as “reminiscent of a French country manor for a member of aristocracy.” For a more modest $2,500 contri- Lieneweber declares in 9th CD bution, donors can attend a VIP reception after the dinner. A Charlestown man announced he is running in Those who contribute $50 to $2,500 will have access to a next year’s 9th Congressional District race on the Demo- general reception party with music from local cover band cratic ticket (Beilman, News & Tribune). Jason Leineweber, Dave and Rae. Contributions will be split 70-30 between 36, is kicking off his campaign at the Jeffersonville Pride Holcomb’s campaign and the Indiana State Republican Festival on Saturday, where he hopes to voice a message Party, according to the invitation. v of inclusion. “I want everyone to be involved and heard,” Leineweber stated in a news release. “Republicans, Demo- Page 14

After Holcomb’s commuter rail tour of Northwest Civility counts. Please Indiana, he spoke later in the day at a One Region event in Munster, where he talked about the unlimited potential for this vital region and spoke glowingly about wanting tell that to Mitch to bring “five million Hoosiers up to the Region and show By SHAW FRIEDMAN them the beaches, the scenery and how close to the world LaPORTE – We’re just coming off a legislative their marketplace is.” In short, this governor talked about session that many say was among the least rancorous what a bright future this region faces, rather than end- and contentious in a long time. Accident? I don’t think so. lessly lecturing Northwest Indiana about it being a place From what I can tell, the more collegial and collaborative where supposedly nobody plays well in the sandbox and tone was set by our new governor, Eric Holcomb, who leaders can’t be trusted to do the right or ethical thing and seems be taking a very different approach in dealing with are, in Daniels’ words, “protecting their own turf and not not only Democrats but regions of the state that have long acting in the common good.” Mr. Daniels, what happened felt neglected and marginalized by on HB1144 and the extraordinary level of bi-partisan one of Holcomb’s predecessors, cooperation from local and state officials that is bringing Mitch Daniels. doubletracking of the South Shore Railroad closer to reality Indianapolis Star colum- proves once again, you’re dead wrong about our region. nist Matt Tully penned a column But that’s the insulting and demeaning style about Holcomb the other day that that has characterized much of Mitch Daniels’ time in summed up well what many are government and public life. Take a look at a May 10, 2017, seeing with this new governor. column that the notoriously thin-skinned former governor At a recent speech before the penned for the Indianapolis Star, responding to two criti- Indianapolis Rotary Club, Tully cal letter writers who had every right to question Daniels’ reported, “Holcomb encouraged still very controversial sell-off of the Indiana Toll Road Hoosiers, regardless of political lease rights to a foreign consortium in 2006. Rather than affiliation to think about the future content himself with a factual rebuttal to his critics as Eric and the state’s place in it. He didn’t demonize Democrats. Holcomb would have done, Daniels took it upon himself to In fact, the Republican didn’t offer one negative word about those on the other side of the aisle. He actually said politicians should listen more to critics.” Tully and other Indianapolis observ- ers have long had this blind spot for Daniels as some kind of “big thinker” and were often willing to overlook the guy’s personal abrasiveness and contentiousness and write it off as just some kind of cerebral quirkiness on his part. But, dealing in a civil and courteous way with one’s opponents can go a long way to reaching consensus in government, and it seems after this lat- est session that Holcomb has learned that far better than his one-time mentor, Mitch Daniels, who still comes out swinging and defensive, even from the lofty perch he now enjoys in academia. Take Daniels’ view of Northwest Indiana: At go after the Indianapolis suburbs where both letter writers a May 15 speech at Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Daniels lived, claiming an “outbreak of amnesia seems to have was still lecturing our region on how it supposedly can’t descended upon our western suburbs.” get along, is rife with corruption and what he labeled as Daniels got his comeuppance for this snarky piece “what’s in it for me” government. Contrast that with Gov. of writing when letter writer Randy Mason of Franklin, Holcomb’s victory tour on a South Shore train recently, as Ind., wrote to the Star on May 14 to complain about Dan- he hopped aboard with legislators of both political stripes iel’s op/ed column calling the tone “petty, condescending to conduct ceremonial signing ceremonies of HB1144, and extremely mean-spirited. In fact, it was downright which provides the “game changer” of doubletracking for Trumpian.” Mason was rightly upset when the former Northwest Indiana and will be a huge economic develop- governor charged his two letter-writing critics with “overtly ment shot in the arm for our region. partisan sniping,” and Daniels even went so far as to claim Page 15 that “disinformation” by the letter writers was “intentional Holcomb seems to have carved out with Democratic House rather than merely ignorant.” Leader Scott Pelath, and you’ll understand that there’s As Mason put so well, “insults, name-calling been a return to civility in the Statehouse and a reason and mean-spirited sarcasm were not needed to make his that so much apparently got done this past session. points. Mr. Daniels, the people of Indiana deserve better All Hoosiers are better off with civil, respectful and expect you to be above this type of uncivil and disre- discourse between our leaders and Eric Holcomb seems to spectful discourse.” have been present for that particular lesson in politics and It appears to this observer that Gov. Holcomb has good government, while Mitch Daniels clearly skipped class decided that the “in-your-face” style of his former boss that day. simply leads to more fighting and obstruction. Compare Daniels calling then-Indiana House Democratic leader Shaw Friedman is former legal counsel to the Indi- Pat Bauer “a car bomber” when he disagreed with him to ana Democratic Party and has represented a num- the far more civil and businesslike relationship that Gov. ber of governmental entities in Northwest Indiana.

(345th), Michigan City-LaPorte (338th), and South Bend- Exploring MSA Mishawaka (315th). Digging out from this economic storm takes time and commitment from local and state entities. The problems of the bottom-feeders among Indi- GDP rates ana’s MSAs were not due to past or current political lead- By MORTON MARCUS ership in those places. Most major business decisions are INDIANAPOLIS – It’s easy to emphasize the pleas- independent of government actions. The economic trau- ant present and forget a troublesome past. With a low mas of the past decade occurred in branch plant communi- unemployment rate and some good economic initiatives, ties where national and multi-national companies moved parts of Indiana are doing well today. jobs and production elsewhere like impersonal pieces on However, elsewhere in our state, a a checkerboard. Mergers and acquisitions frequently tear weak past led to neglect of essential leadership out of long-established community involvement. work to maintain resources. Multinational companies and foreign trade are not It’s not different from an evil forces. Rather, states and cities need to recognize the ordinary household. When you’ve economic perils any community can face almost anytime had sustained unemployment or low as private companies make changes. wages, you don’t repair things around Are devastating natural and economic events oc- the house as needed or replace worn curring with increasing frequency? For years the focus of tires on the car; you just don’t have economic development was forward-looking. Today there the money. You don’t save as much is a desire to recreate the past, to look backward rather for retirement or other future needs. than toward a stronger future. Catching up after down times is hard to do. Most households and businesses carry insur- Today we’ll look at just three aspects of metro- ance so we can recover from the damages of horrendous politan economic growth from 2005 to 2015: 1) the value storms. The time is overdue to insure ourselves and our of the output in the area as measured by Gross Domestic communities to go beyond recovery from future economic Value (GDP), 2) the number of wage and salary jobs, and tornados and quakes. To do so, we must prepare first-re- 3) the average compensation of employees (wages, sala- sponse teams, strengthen our redevelopment capabilities, ries, and employer paid benefits). and reimagine the paths of progress. v Let’s get right to the point: GDP in the Kokomo metro area (Howard County) grew by 11.4% compared Mr. Marcus is an economist, writer, and speaker to the nation’s 37.2% increase. Jobs in the Kokomo MSA who may be reached at mortonjmarcus@yahoo. were down 7% compared to a 6.7% rise in the country’s com. 382 metro areas. Average compensation per employee for the Kokomo MSA was up only 3%, the worst record of all U.S. metro areas, set against the nation’s 28.8% increase (not adjusted for inflation). In sum, Kokomo’s economic performance ranked 368th among the 382 metro areas for the 2005-15 period. Joining Kokomo in the 300-or-lower ranks were Muncie Page 16

failed campaign, which was NOT found to have con- Colwell quiz time tributed to her defeat? a. The debates. By JACK COLWELL b. National news media. SOUTH BEND – Quiz time once again. It’ll test c. Bernie Sanders. your knowledge and maybe your sense of humor. d. Anthony Wiener. 1. Who often is described now as leader of the Free World? 10. Which accurately describes former FBI Director a. Angela Merkel. James Comey? b. Vladimir Putin. a. Beloved friend of Hillary Clinton. c. Rodrigo Duterte. b. Highly respected by President Trump. c. Really tall dude. 2. Who is the Democratic na- d. Protégé of J. Edgar Hoover. tional chairman? a. . 11. The Jared with most notoriety now is: b. Jason Critchlow. a. Jared Fogle. c. Mike Schmuhl. b. Jared Kushner. d. . c. Jared Jewelers.

3. Which once played football 12. “I simply view President Trump as the Wizard at Notre Dame? of Oz. Loud and bombastic. A charlatan. Noth- a. Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio. ing behind the screen, other than the institutional b. Jumping Joe Savoldi. chaos that defines his White House...” That was c. Jabbering Joe Scarborough. said by: a. Leonard Pitts. 4. Donald Trump was born in: b. Rachel Maddow. a. Russia. c. Stephen Colbert. b. Kenya. d. . c. Syria. d. America. 13. Which of these is NOT seeking to win the 2018 Senate race? 5. “The Onion” publication once cited which person a. Todd Young. as “the sexiest man alive?” b. Luke Messer. a. ’s Kim Jong Un. c. Joe Donnelly. b. Donald Trump. d. Todd Rokita. c. Evan Bayh. d. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. 14. “Old soldiers never die. They just fade away.” This was said by: 6. Which former Cubs player was ac- a. Gen. Colin Powell. claimed for dancing? b. Gen. Michael Flynn. a. Stan Hack. c. Gen. Douglas MacArthur. b. Hack Wilson. d. Gen. Electric. c. David Ross. d. Michael Jackson. 15. The last Democrat to carry Indiana for presi- dent was: 7. The winner of the Indianapolis 500 was: a. . a. Takuma Sato. b. Barack Obama. b. Always Dreaming. c. Lyndon Johnson. c. Harold Lowe. d. La La Land. 16. Who drove a podium on the streets of New York? 8. The Oscar for best picture went to: a. Sean Spicer. a. La La Land. b. . b. Moonlight. c. Brian Kelly. c. Pricewaterhouse. d. Melissa McCarthy. ANSWERS: 1-a; 2-d; 3-b; 4-d; 5-a; 6-c; 7-a; 8-b; 9-a; 9. In “Shattered,” the book about Hillary Clinton’s 10-c; 11-b; 12-d; 13-a; 14-c; 15-b; 16-d. v Page 17

eyes, hard questions and specific answers. If we are send- Congress should ing our military abroad, our objectives and exit strategies need to be nailed down. Are we engaging in nation- or empire-building? Do we risk being locked into protracted, reassert itself on force unending conflicts — we’ve already spent 15 years in By LEE HAMILTON Afghanistan — with minimal progress? Are we inflating the BLOOMINGTON – The decision to send troops dangers to our national security, as we did when we falsely overseas requires clear eyes, hard questions and specific asserted that had weapons of mass de- answers. struction? The Trump Administration, like its predecessors, And when we do intervene, are we avoiding or has shown an apparent appetite for the use of force increasing the suffering of the local people whom we’re overseas. The “mother of all bombs” dropped on Syrian trying to help? No use of force should go forward without troops, saber-rattling toward North Korea, deployments of reciprocity; that is to say, capable, committed local leaders U.S. forces in 10 or more countries — all of this suggests who fight corruption and try to provide good governance a growing comfort with the idea of putting our troops in and protect the values we cherish and promote. dangerous places. The use of force ultimately comes down to the Politicians on Capitol Hill president, or the president and his top advisors, mak- have noticed this. In particular, ing the decision. This usually happens without sufficient senators Jeff Flake of Arizona, dialogue, consultation, or robust debate beyond the White a Republican, and of House. The people the president consults around him are , a Democrat, have intro- not independent; they hold high office at his pleasure and, duced legislation to authorize the from my experience, generally come into the room pre- use of military force against ISIS pared to reinforce his arguments. and other terror groups. This is What the president really needs, as LBJ advisor an effort to assert congressional George Reedy famously said, is someone who can tell him authority and extend Capitol Hill’s to go soak his head. In particular, the people who have to oversight over the use of force do the fighting and bear the costs need to have a major by the White House, something voice in the use of force, and the best way to ensure that Congress has long neglected. “It’s our constitutional duty is with the involvement of the Congress. in Congress to authorize military action,” Kaine said at the There are obviously cases where the president end of May. needs flexibility. But if we’re to put our troops in harm’s All I can say is, Amen! American soldiers are in- way, he also needs independent advice and to answer volved in combat situations in countries all over the globe. tough questions. I don’t see any alternative but the strict, We’re deploying special operations forces and advising, robust and sustained involvement of the Congress. equipping and training local forces to fight. All too often, Deciding on the use of force is the most grave these countries’ leaders are more concerned with over- and consequential decision government makes. It is of coming internal threats than they are with the strategies such import that it should not be made by the president and values that motivate us to help them. alone, but should be shared with the Congress. Presidents The argument for all this often comes down to: should not get broad authority to use force without limit “We need to do something.” Once we’re there, the argu- on geography, objectives, or types of forces. The Founding ments for staying get rolled out; we can’t leave without Fathers had it right: The president is commander in chief, loss of face; we need the lever- Congress has the authority age more troops provide for to declare war. Power over negotiation; we’ll lose credibility the use of force needs to and standing if we withdraw. be shared. v But our experience over the years has shown that Lee Hamilton is a Senior we don’t tip the scales of a Advisor for the Indiana war that in most cases has no University Center on battlefield solution. We repeat- Representative Govern- edly get ourselves locked into ment; a Distinguished situations where we must ask Scholar, IU School of ourselves how much bloodshed Global and Interna- and destruction we can accept tional Studies; and a as a result of our entanglement. Professor of Practice, The decision to send IU School of Public and troops overseas requires clear Environmental Affairs. Page 18

Indiana than out because of weather conditions. United Hoosiers moving out Van Lines found that the states with the greatest number of people moving in were all in the north – South Dakota, By RICH JAMES Vermont and Oregon. MERRILLVILLE – A nationwide study by a major In terms of people movement, there already is talk moving company has found that more people are moving about the 2020 Census. State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparai- out of Indiana than moving in. United Van Lines reported so, who chairs the House Elections Committee, will be one that 54% of state-to-state moves last year were out of of the heads of redistricting following the census. Soliday Indiana, while 46% were to the talked about the importance of an accurate count, par- Hoosier state. Strikingly, 66.3% ticularly in Northwest Indiana where there is considerable moving out of Indiana did so migration. Even though Indiana is losing people, there is because of jobs. still a considerable number of people moving into North- Such statistics seem- west Indiana from the northeastern corner of Illinois. ingly call into question claims In terms of an accurate count, state Rep. by former Gov. Mike Pence that Charlie Brown, D-Gary, is still hurting from the results of Indiana has positioned itself to the 2010 Census that determined Gary no longer was the be one of the most business largest city in Lake County. The census gave that title to friendly states in the coun- Hammond. Brown contends that thousands of Gary resi- try. Among those laws is the dents weren’t counted because they didn’t understand the anti-union statute known as the process or were afraid to come out. right-to-work law. “We could be very, very devastated by the loss of The state also has done away additional federal funds because of losing population on with the prevailing wage law that also is anti-union. And, paper, when in actuality we haven’t lost that amount of Indiana has passed a series of laws making it virtually population,” Brown said. v impossible for teachers to negotiate wages or working conditions. Rich James has been writing about state and local Based on the results of the study, it also government and politics for more than 30 years. He wouldn’t be fair to say fewer people were moving into is a columnist for The Times of Northwest Indiana. Page 19

Dana Milbank, Washington Post: President living every day.” I ponder all of this in light of the recent Trump, on his recent European trip, literally shoved aside removal of four Confederate monuments in the iconic Prime Minister Dusko Markovic of Montenegro in order to southern city of New Orleans. The first to come down get to the front of a group of leaders. On Monday, Vice was the Liberty Place monument, an obelisk tucked on a President Pence hosted the shoving victim at the White back street near the French Quarter that commemorated House, then praised Markovic publicly. “I had the privi- a Reconstruction Era white supremacist attack on the lege of welcoming the prime minister to the White House city’s integrated police force. If you were to try to define a today,” Pence said at an Atlantic Council dinner. “I was monument to racism, that one would seem to fit the bill. very humbled to be able to share a few moments with him The others were bronze statues of Confederate President on the very day that Montenegro became a member of the Jefferson Davis, Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard North Atlantic Treaty Organization.” On that same Europe- and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Folks came from an trip, Trump surprised his own aides and unsettled allies as far away as Oklahoma to light candles at the base of when he refused to affirm NATO’s collective-defense obli- the monuments and carry Confederate flags, pistols and gations. On Monday night, Pence expressed his “unwaver- automatic rifles. Those on the other side of the debate ing” support: “The United States is resolved, as we were responded with banners saying “Take ’em down” and even at NATO’s founding and in every hour since, to live by that held a barbecue at one of the monuments. v principle that an attack on one of us is an attack on us all.” Tuesday morning found the vice president doing what he Chuck Todd, Carrie Dann & Mark does frequently these days: cleaning up Trump’s messes. NBC First Read: Here’s a thought exercise: Pence, speaking at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, Murray, Imagine a Trump presidency without him tweeting. He offered a soothing contrast to Trump’s recent wouldn’t have publicly accused Barack Obama outbursts. Where Trump alienated allies and of wiretapping him; he wouldn’t have threat- opened a dispute with the mayor of London, ened former FBI Director James Comey of Pence vowed to “continue to stand with our possibly having “tapes” of their conversations; allies” and praised “our cherished ally,” Britain. he recently wouldn’t have undermined the legal Where Trump has largely removed human defense of his travel ban; and he wouldn’t have rights from the agenda, Pence called for attacked London’s mayor after the terrorist at- “an America standing tall in the world again tack on that city. Now he might have actually SAID these for our values and our ideals.” Where Trump has stoked things in interviews or public comments (though when was anti-Muslim sentiment, Pence asserted that under Trump, the last time he held a news conference?). But we know “America will continue to condemn persecution of any about these controversial statements because he tweeted faith at any place at any time.” The contrast between the about them, and that’s been a significant problem for the reckless president and his responsible understudy has me White House. Where would Trump’s job-approval rating thinking, not for the first time, how much better things be without those tweets — 45% instead of the high 30s? would be if Pence were president. Trump shows no ability A Quinnipiac poll conducted before Trump’s inauguration to correct course, to pull himself out of a self-destructive found 64% of voters saying Trump should NOT keep his spiral. It may be premature to talk of impeachment or Twitter account. As Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) said yester- resignation, but Trump’s path is unsustainable. Republi- day, per NBC’s Marianna Sotomayor: “We live in a world cans in Congress would be sensible to start thinking about today where, unfortunately, a lot of communications is an endgame, and the former Indiana governor may be the taking place with 140 characters, and probably it’s best to their best hope — and all of ours. v refrain from communicating with 140 characters on topics that are so important.” By the way, as one of us flagged Kelly Hawes, CNHI: One step forward, two steps yesterday, Trump promised right after his election victory back. Such would seem to be the state of race relations in that he was going to be “restrained” in his use of Twitter. America. Sitting on a peaceful lake in southern Indiana, I “I’m going to be very restrained, if I use it at all, I’m going spot a Confederate battle flag waving from a boat across to do very restrained. I find it tremendous. It’s a modern the way. What message is that boater trying to send? form of communication. There should be nothing you What would the explanation be if anyone asked? The mes- should be ashamed of. It’s- it’s where it’s at. I do believe sage is more ambiguous, I guess, than the one delivered this, I really believe that, the fact that I have such power by the vandal who painted a racial slur on a gate leading in terms of numbers with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, et to property owned by NBA superstar LeBron James. “My cetera, I think it helped me win all of these races where family is safe,” James told reporters at a news conference they’re spending much more money than I spent. You this week. “At the end of the day, they’re safe, and that’s know, I spent my money. A lot of my money. And I won. the most important. But it just goes to show that rac- I think that social media has more power than the money ism will always be a part of the world, a part of America. they spent, and I think maybe to a certain extent, I proved And hate in America, especially for African-Americans, is that.” v Page 20

consumers. Instead, this massive day asking the city administration to House repeals regulatory monstrosity enshrined “too launch a work program for panhan- big to fail” and taxpayer bailouts into dlers, despite some pushback from the Dodd-Frank law.” mayor’s office (South Bend Tribune). The resolution “requests and encour- INDIANAPOLIS — House Holcomb meets ages” Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s staff to Republicans voted Thursday to deliver earmark $25,000 in next year’s budget on their promise to repeal Dodd-Frank with Pence for the program, which would offer — the massive set of Wall Street WASHINGTON — Gov. Eric panhandlers work cleaning public regulations President Barack Obama Holcomb and Indiana Department parks and spaces for the $10.10/hour signed into law after the 2008 finan- of Transportation Commissioner minimum wage that city employees cial crisis (Bennett, NPR). In a near Joe McGuinness spent Thursday in receive. party-line vote, the House approved a the nation’s capital (Fox59). They bill, dubbed the Financial Choice Act, , were part of a group meeting with ‘Gray death’ kills which scales back or eliminates many President Donald Trump about his of the post-crisis banking rules. The 3 in Evansville administration’s infrastructure pro- EVANSVILLE - A heroin-based legislation is the brainchild of House posal. President Trump is working to Financial Services Committee Chair- drug mixture so powerful that it is build support for the $1 trillion plan known as “Gray Death” has made its man Jeb Hensarling, he’s launching this week. The R-Texas. “Dodd-Frank way to Evansville (Gootee, Evansville president has already claimed Courier & Press). And it might have represents the great- that the work will be completed est regulatory burden been responsible for three deaths al- ahead of schedule and under ready. A toxicology test confirmed that on our economy, more budget. Vice President Mike so than all the other the city had its first death blamed on Pence was also in attendance. the highly-potent mix of opioids last Obama-era regulations He tweeted about the meeting combined,” Hensarling told reporters month, Vanderburgh County Coroner Thursday afternoon, saying it was a Steve Lockyear said. Gray Death is a Wednesday. “There is a better way: productive lunch. economic growth for all; bank bailouts mixture of opioids and other drugs so for none.” Financial reform advocates Holtmann in talks potent that it has prompted warnings argue the Choice Act would leave the from authorities that it can pose dan- U.S. economy vulnerable to another with Ohio State gers to not just the user, but anyone financial crisis. “Dodd-Frank was a who simply touches the drug, includ- knee-jerk government reaction to a COLUMBUS, Ohio — Butler’s ing police or paramedics. financial crisis that the government Chris Holtmann is in talks with Ohio created,” U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita said. State to become its next head basket- Senate GOP may “The way to solve it wasn’t to cre- ball coach, a source told IndyStar on keep ACA parts ate more government and to choose Thursday night (IndyStar). There is a one size fits all solution, but that’s “no deal yet,” according to the source. WASHINGTON — In their what my Democratic colleagues Another source said Holtmann was of- effort to revamp the nation’s health- created and it has handicapped our fered the job earlier this week but did care system, Senate Republicans economy. After six years of work, I am not immediately accept, underscoring are considering preserving or more proud to have been a leader in these that there is no certainty he will leave gradually eliminating key elements efforts to unravel Dodd-Frank and cre- Butler. The Buckeyes would be ex- of the that the ate a policy that addresses the needs changing one former Butler coach for House voted to discard, creating an of the American people through the another. The 45-year-old would suc- uncomfortable political situation for CHOICE Act.” “Dodd-Frank was sup- ceed Thad Matta, 49, a former Butler the party after years of promises to posed to protect consumers and hold player and coach whose 13-year ten- fully repeal the law (Washington Post). Wall Street accountable, but instead ure with the Buckeyes ended Monday. Senate GOP leadership told rank-and- it left taxpayers on the hook for big file Republican senators during private bank bailouts, squeezed Main Street, South Bend eyes talks this week that they favor keep- and made it harder for small business- ing guaranteed protections for people es to create jobs,” U.S. Rep. Jackie panhandling fix with preexisting medical conditions — Walorski said. U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon SOUTH BEND — A South a departure from the House approach (R-IN) added, “When the Democrats of allowing states to opt out of a passed Dodd-Frank in 2010, we were Bend Common Council member said Thursday he will go ahead with his regulation ensuring such individuals promised an end to taxpayer funded are not charged more for coverage. bailouts and a system that protects plan to introduce a resolution Mon-