V20, N25 Thursday, March 12, 2015

Rogers sizes up Indy terror targets Former House Intel chairman says U.S. in for a long slog vs. ISIS, China cyber attacks By BRIAN A. HOWEY And MATTHEW BUTLER INDIANAPOLIS – On the February day President Obama spoke at Ivy Tech, a Bosnian man was arrested on the Ronald Reagan Park- way in Plainfield and detained on terror-related charges of funneling money and guns to ISIS fighters in the Middle East. Last weekend, ISIS al- legedly hacked into several Indianapolis websites, prompting a Homeland Security investigation. And Internet hackers in China exposed the personal information of 80 million Americans when Anthem servers were encroached. Mike Rogers, former U.S. House Intel- ligence Committee chairman, said in an exclusive interview with Howey Politics Indiana on Wednes- Former House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers at Loughmiller’s Pub with the day that Hoosiers are not immune to the war on famed “Kitchen Debate” photo featuring Nixon and Khrushchev. Rogers was in terror and could, in fact, end up on the front lines. Indianapolis meeting with state and elected officials on terrorism in the U.S. and In a conversation at Loughmiller’s Pub under the huddled with Gov. Mike Pence at the Statehouse. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Continued on page 3 Crunching school formula By LARRY DeBOER WEST LAFAYETTE – The good folks at the Indiana Department of Education sent me some school finance numbers to play with. School finance is a big topic in the Indiana General Assembly this year, so this is a good time to do some number crunching. “I’m really sad. I was really Here’s number crunch one. In fiscal year 2015 – that’s hoping it was a Republican.” July 2014-June 2015 – the state - Sydney Leathers, the will distribute almost $6.6 billion to public school corporations and Southern Indiana woman charter schools. State aid was $6.2 billion in calendar year 2012 who outed State Rep. Justin (it was switched to fiscal years in Moed, exposing his sexual 2013), so that’s an increase of 5.1 percent in two and a half years. interests on TheDirty.com. Consumer price index inflation was about 3.4 percent Page 2

during that period, so there’s been a proposal this year continues in that small increase in what state aid can direction. The range in state aid from buy. Inflation is expected to be about top to bottom is smaller than it was. 2 percent per year during the next This is a tough issue for legislators. biennium. Will aid increase enough to Once total aid is established, add- match? The increase in state aid will ing aid to one school district means be one of the most closely watched subtracting aid from another. That can numbers in the debate over the next make for sharp debate. budget. And number crunch three. Now for number crunch There are 289 public school districts is a non-partisan newslet- two. There’s quite a range in per pupil and 76 charter schools on the Depart- ter based in Indianapolis and aid among the school districts. The 10 ment of Education’s list in 2015. The Nashville, Ind. It was founded highest districts average $7,940 per number of public school districts has in 1994 in Fort Wayne. pupil; the 10 lowest districts average decreased by two since 2012. Rock- $5,667. That’s a difference of $2,272. ville and Turkey Run consolidated their It is published by The range has narrowed though. Two finances into North Central Parke, and WWWHowey Media, LLC and a half years ago the difference North Posey absorbed the New Har- 405 Massachusetts Ave., between the 10 highest and 10 lowest mony district. The number of charter Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN was $2,494. schools has increased by 10 since 46204 Of the $6.6 billion total in 2012. Charter enrollment grew from 2015, $4.6 billion is basic tuition sup- 28,000 to 34,000. That’s 3.5 percent port, $1.2 billion is a complexity grant of total enrollment of 988,000. Public Brian A. Howey, Publisher and the remaining $830 million is dis- school enrollment has fallen by about Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington tributed for honors, special education, 10,000. Jack E. Howey, Editor vocational and full-day kindergarten Charters also receive 3.5 Mary Lou Howey, Editor grants. The school funding formula percent of total state aid, and that passed by the legislature in 2013 put amount is up from 3 percent in 2012, Maureen Hayden, Statehouse basic tuition support for fiscal 2015 at mostly because of the increase in Matthew Butler, Daily Wire $4,587 per pupil. More than half of all charter enrollment. Measured this Mark Curry, advertising districts get exactly that in basic aid. way, it appears that the share of The variations among dis- charters in total state aid is growing Subscriptions tricts are due mostly to the complex- slowly. Measured another way, the ity grant. This formula tries to take increase is more significant. Between HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 account of the extra cost of educat- 2012-2015, state aid increased by HPI Weekly, $350 ing children from less-advantaged $319 million. Of that amount, char- Ray Volpe, Account Manager families. Aid per pupil is scaled ters received $47 million, which is 317.602.3620 upward based on the number of kids 15 percent of the total increase. The email: [email protected] whose families qualify for free text- allocation of funds among public and books. charter schools will be another con- That’s the main reason why, tentious issue. Contact HPI for example, the Indianapolis, Cannel- How much more money will www.howeypolitics.com ton and East Chicago school districts the budget deliver to K-12 educa- [email protected] receive more state money per pupil, tion? Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 and the Carmel-Clay, Sunman-Dear- How will it be distributed born and Lake Central districts receive among rich and poor districts, grow- Washington: 202.256.5822 less. ing and declining districts, and rural, Business Office: 317.602.3620 How much more will dis- suburban, and urban districts? How tricts with many lower-income families much of the state aid total will charter © 2015, Howey Politics Indiana. receive per pupil? The answer is in schools receive? By the end of April All rights reserved. Photocopy- the details of the formula. Increase we’ll have the answer, and more num- the complexity grant relative to basic bers to crunch! v ing, Internet forwarding, fax- tuition support and the formula will tilt ing or reproducing in any form, more toward lower-income districts. DeBoer is professor of agricul- whole or part, is a violation of Increase tuition support and the for- tural economics at Purdue Uni- federal law without permission mula will tilt less. Lately it’s been tilt- versity. from the publisher. ing less, and the latest school formula Page 3

both Republicans and Democrats, both parties are hav- Terror, from page 1 ing this, ‘Let’s pull back from the world, it’s too hard and complicated.’ But because of that, nation states - Russian, famed photo of Vice President Nixon debating Soviet China, Iran - are going to step in to fill the void. That’s not leader Khrushchev, Rogers was asked if the Cold War now good for economic prosperity at home and it’s not good seemed like the good old days. “Now they can touch you for our national security. When ISIS can attack an arts with a keyboard from 5,000 miles away or call you on the center cyberwise in Indianapolis, when the Chinese send a phone and tell you to kill a guard at the Capitol building,” human spy here to steal Dow Agro secrets and send them the Michigan Republican said. back to China, Indianapolis should be as much engaged Aware of the ISIS website hacks in Indianapolis, as the state of Indiana on national security issues as any Rogers observed, “They did one of other states. They are not immune the art websites. They are looking for here. opportunities. If something caught “If we don’t get the their eye on the Internet, they’ll put it national security posture right, on their target list. Maybe there was then all the other stuff we’ll never an event, maybe something in the get right,” he continued. “It’s the press, maybe something drew their peace-through-strength message. eye, but something clearly allowed We’re trying to get the engage- them to get there. Once they were ment message through. It’s not there, they found an opportunity to military adventurism.” get beyond their firewall and take Just blocks from Lough- over the site. That’s a victory for miller’s, a huge NCAA bracket them. They can strike in the Midwest, adorns the eastern facade of the they can strike in New York, in Los JW Marriott Hotel and the Final Angeles. This is part of a true terror Four will be played two blocks campaign. That’s what makes them away. There are two stadiums, so dangerous.” critical fiber optic trunk lines, major Since leaving Congress in interstate and rail lines, and Lilly’s December, Rogers has formed the insulin manufacturing facility, all Americans for Peace, Prosperity and within a couple of square miles. Security organization that will brief For these reasons, Indiana offi- the 2016 Republican presidential cials must take seriously the terror candidates and voters designed to threats from abroad. Is the chair- “educate and identify” issues related Nihad Rosic, a Bosnian, was detained in Plainfield man worried about loose nukes to national security. Just prior to HPI’s on the day of President Obama’s Ivy Tech speech and biological weapons in the interview, Rogers huddled with Gov. in Indianapolis. He and five other Bosnians are hands of ISIS death squads, or Mike Pence at the Statehouse. He de- facing federal charges for supplying weapons and the proverbial lone wolf? scribed the Governor as a close per- money to ISIS in the Middle East. “The lone wolf is equally sonal friend who arrived in Congress as bad,” Rogers began. “This is the same year as he did. Rogers also when ISIS changed. Maybe it met with state and local officials on Wednesday to discuss was a year, a year and a half ago now. They had eight security issues. Australians who had self-radicalized, self-identified with “On Jan. 21 that new president is going to face each other, raised their own money, worked with an ISIS a world of hurt,” Rogers said. “No more is there a honey- recruiter in Syria and said, ‘Hey, we’re ready to go.’ This moon of not dealing with foreign affairs in the first term. is where the game changed, I think. The recruiter called That’s gone. It’s going to be equally as bad and equally as back and said ‘We have enough people in Syria right now. complicated as it is today. They are going to have to deal What we want you to do, don’t plan this, but randomly with it. These candidates are saying ‘I’m for Israel and drive out, grab a civilian off the street, cut their head off, Putin is bad and so is ISIS, thanks, now let’s talk about video tape it and send it to us. We’ll use that for propa- another issue.’ That’s not enough; we’re going to be in ganda purposes.’ trouble if we do that. So we’re going to have forums with “The game changed,” Rogers said. “They wanted the candidates and discussions on national security. This is to strike in the Westernized countries. Shortly thereafter all about national security.” came Ottawa. They’ve had arrests in New York, in Ger- Rogers was aksed what message he wanted to many, Spain and France. So they’ve decided to have this convey to Hoosiers, “If you want to look and see what the disruptive activity. I worry as much about a lone wolf or world looks like without our engagement overseas, turn two or three who decide they want to take something into on your TV. The problems you see, and this happens with their own hands as I do a big organized event that might Page 4 hit in Indianapolis or New York. they’re telling people who believe in Now, we worry about those too. It’s their philosophy that they’re win- easier for them to try and coordi- ning. Come and see.” nate and inspire these lone wolf As far as Western intelli- attacks. Unfortunately, we’ve seen gence capabilities, Rogers describes them happen.” our European NATO allies as over- Americans over the past whelmed, as the Muslim communi- year have watched the behead- ties are mostly self-segregating, ing of journalists and Indianapolis unlike much of the U.S. “Those humanitarian aid worker Peter European intelligence services are (Abdul Raman) Kassig, a Jordanian saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got water com- pilot burned alive, children shoot- ing over the bow. We can’t keep ing hostages, gays thrown from up with all the leads coming out rooftops, and the mass executions of these communities.’ They can’t of Christians. Less understood is follow them all. They can’t surveil the group’s probing into places like them all. They can’t tap all of their Indianapolis. Is it happening in phones. They don’t have the man- other parts of the U.S. as well? power, money or resources to do it. “Oh, yeah,” Rogers replied, That’s when you start playing Rus- “They are very aggressive. We sian roulette with the internationals. found they were able to get into They’re hoping they’re on the right Twitter accounts of military spouses ones, but they may not be. That’s a and then terrorize them: ‘We know huge problem.” where your husband is, we know The Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Former congressman Rogers, who is advising 2016 where you live. We know he’s gone. Boston Marathon bombing trial is a GOP presidential contenders on intelligence is- We’re going to come get you.’ You case in point. The Tsarnaev brothers sues, met with Gov. Pence at the Statehouse prior can imagine how you’re already turned up on Russian intelligence to his HPI Interivew. (HPI Photo by Matthew Butler) worried about a loved one living radar, which was communicated to in the military and get something the FBI. “They were United States like that on your social media. They are very aggressive citizens,” Rogers said of the brothers. “So if a foreign and their sole purpose is to intimidate and terrorize. We’ve intelligence service comes here and says, ‘Hey, Mike Rog- never seen an organization use social media the way they ers is a bad guy,’ that does not give the FBI permission to do. This is their version of Tokyo Rose and they are using tap my phone, follow me around, do all those things. It it. They are not outlandishly sophisticated. They’re not go- gives them permission to start a preliminary investigation. ing to get into the bank and shut it down. But they crack The problem is the FBI did a preliminary investigation and into social media, which is very low security. They’re that found no derogatory information; nothing that would rise good.” to the level of the legal standard to get a warrant or do more electronic surveillance. They (the brothers) had all A 25-year war? the constitutional rights that you and I do.” Is the U.S. facing a generational war, with some He is concerned about FBI capacity. “When I was believing it could last 25 years or more? chairman I tried to give them more surveillance capabili- “Remember the Nazis?” Rogers asked. “At the ty,” Rogers said of the FBI. “I didn’t think we had enough. beginning there was friction. ISIS rules and dominates and But, again, this is about being smart with the resources. governs by fear. They will take your daughters into forced They don’t have enough to follow every case, every marriages or as sex slaves. Or cut your head off, cut your lead that gets presented. They have to prioritize. MI5 in hand off, public executions. We are going to have a long Britain has told us, ‘We’re maxed out.’ Syria is a magnet process. We’re going to have to deal with them. We have for homegrown terrorists as well as people who show up to do something about their structure in eastern Syria. We to fight, get skills and then go home. They can get on an want to disrupt that structure. But the way we’re currently airplane and fly to the United States as a British citizen, doing it is not going to make a difference. We’re going to no visa required. It’s called a visa waiver.” have to have special capabilities down range. If we don’t do a little bit now, versus big and ugly later, I’d rather China and Anthem do a little bit now. I still think we can have an impact on When it came to the attacks on Anthem in In- their eastern Syrian logistical hubs. We can’t do that with dianapolis and Sony Pictures, Rogers describes another just an air campaign. And right now, when ISIS uses their danger facing the U.S. “China has unfettered cyber at- social media, we’re thinking, ‘Gosh, we’re containing them.’ tack capabilities,” Rogers said. “Unfettered.” There were We’re not beating them. There’s a big difference. And hundreds of millions of dollars of damage and no conse- Page 5 quences. Essentially, 80 million Americans were attacked by hackers in China, where the government has security U.S. Senate race control over its Internet. We asked Rogers where he draws the line between criminal mischief, intellectual property theft with business concerns, and an act of war on Ameri- uncertainty as Coats can citizens. “This is a very difficult issue,” Rogers said. He said weighs run, Dems mull the Anthem attack was “the mother of all fishing cam- By BRIAN A. HOWEY paigns.” INDIANAPOLIS – U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, should he “Now I know your Social Security number, your seek reelection, will not run unopposed. With both Baron birth date, your personal information, and your medical Hill and John Gregg focusing on a potential gubernatorial records,” Rogers said of the exposure of 80 million Ameri- primary, the gaping 2016 hole for Indiana Democrats is cans. “I can craft an email. Let’s say your doctor’s name the U.S. Senate race. is Bob. It looks like it comes from Dr. Bob’s office. It says, And Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., says ‘Here’s the last four of your Social Security for verification. that if the void still exists after an expected mayoral pri- There’s been a mislabeling of tests you had back in June’ mary win in May, he is prepared to jump in. “I don’t think because they know you had tests back in June. So you go, anyone should get a free pass,” McDermott told Howey ‘Oh, that makes sense.’ It will say ‘click here to see if this Politics Indiana on Tuesday just hours after Coats seemed is your test.’ Click. They’re in. There’s something called the conflicted about seeking a third ‘dark net’ where they shop this information around. It’s full term. “Sen. Coats is not a bazaar of stolen identity information and stolen source Sen. Lugar,” McDermott said. code. You can buy almost anything you want on the black “No offense to Sen. Coats, but market. he’s not going to get a free “It’s hitting home,” Rogers said. “They are part of pass. If that means I have to a foreign nation taking aggressive action against Ameri- run, I will.” can businesses. If there was a server farm and they sent In 2006, then-U.S. Sen. a submarine and launched a missile off the coast to blow Dick Lugar won reelection with that thing up, that’s pretty egregious. With a cyber attack, only a Libertarian opponent. The move to not challenge that’s exactly what they did.” Lugar was controversial within the Indiana Democratic And the Chinese government knew? “They control Party that year, with the party opting to put resources into the Internet,” Rogers confirmed. “They completely control Indiana House races as three Congressional challenges. it. I argue the next generation’s prosperity is going to be No Senate candidate filed for the primary, and the party impacted.” took a pass on naming a nominee in June of that year. How should the U.S. respond? “Before you punch The gamble paid off as House Democrats retook a major- your neighbor in the nose, you better get strong,” Rogers ity just two years into the tenure of Gov. Mitch Daniels, said. “We’re not ready for what comes back at us. Eighty- and Democrats Joe Donnelly, Brad Ellsworth and Hill won five percent of networks in American are private sector. congressional seats, representing the last high-water mark And contrary to popular belief, NSA is not monitoring pri- for the party. vate networks in the United States. Sometimes businesses The lack of challenge to Lugar seemed to place are hit and our government has no idea. If a nation state him in an wants to get into your network, I don’t care who you are, unprecedented they are going to get in your network. That’s the problem.” sphere of “el- der statesman” Epilogue as few U.S. Rogers enjoyed the irony of the “kitchen debate” senators, par- photo between Nixon and Khrushchev hanging in Lough- ticularly north miller’s. At one emotional point during the Cold War, the of the Mason- Soviet chairman vowed, “We will bury you.” Dixon line, As we all know, that didn’t happen. But out of the rarely were re- dormant embers of the Cold War come vastly more com- elected without plex challenges and asymmetrical warfare that replaced a major party mutually assured destruction. The danger for the West Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. with opponent. The with foes like ISIS and China is a war where death comes reality was the by a thousand cuts. It won’t necessarily happen in the John Gregg at the 2014 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. McDermott will consider a U.S. Senate 2006 pass for cradle of civilization. The front lines could be taking shape Lugar allowed in the American heartland. v race if he wins his primary in May. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey) him to focus Page 6 on national and international issues while his state political someone who is serious and who gets things done,” said organization went into atrophy, which was then exploited Harris. “She has an impressive personal story and profes- by Treasurer Richard Mourdock who upset the greatest sional background. And, she’s already developed quite a vote-getter in Hoosier history six years hence. Donnelly following amongst the Democratic base.” went on to defeat Mourdock to reclaim the Senate seat The context there is that the GOP legislative lost by Democrats in 1976. super majorities are prompting a number of Democrats The U.S. Senate situation is unusual after Coats to contemplate other offices. Another name that has told the IndyStar that he had not made a final decision last surfaced is former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, who weekend. It echoed similar sentiments Coats expressed attended the IDEA confab in French Lick last summer but to HPI in January. “It’s not the challenge of running; it’s has kept a low political profile since. more an issue related to 34 years of public service and the Indiana Democrats have a roster of respected realities of age,” the 72-year-old Coats explained. “This is a mayors, but most don’t have much of an appetite for run- consuming job if you do it right. It’s ning for reelection and then jumping into long days and schedules dictated a Senate race. “You would be sweeping by someone else. I really enjoy the up the confetti on election night and then job, but it all comes with personal jumping into another race,” said Demo- sacrifice, and at some point you cratic Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight, start thinking about your good who is not interested in a Senate bid. health and your remaining years. McDermott is facing a reelec- There is always a new generation tion primary challenge from Hammond out there that has the energy, the Councilman Homero “Chico” Hinojosa Jr. same sense of where the country McDermott took himself out of a po- ought to go, and that believes in tential gubernatorial run after Hinojosa the things you do. At some point it announced his challenge. The three-term is time to give the next generation Democrat is confident he will prevail in a chance. For me, the question is, May. “I had a close race in 2007 and you when is the right time to do that?” could feel a close race in the streets,” Congressional Republi- McDermott said. “I’m not feeling that this can sources, speaking to HPI on time.” background, were beginning to Sophomore State Rep. Christina Hale, D- With regard to the Senate race, recalibrate the perception that Indianapolis, is seen by some as a potential McDermott said, “We’ll have a great Coats would seek a fourth full term. U.S. Senate candidate. candidate.” Asked if he would consider, Many expected Coats to run after McDermott said, “First things first. I have Republicans retook the Senate ma- to win the primary. I wouldn’t be excited jority last November, and Coats moved to Senate Finance about running two years in a row, but nobody should get Committee and was named chair of the Joint Economic a free pass. If we can’t find a quality candidate, I’ll take a Committee. Coats also serves on the Senate Intelligence look at it.” Committee, and the nexus of his current assignments Asked what role Sen. Donnelly might play in place him in critical positions involving U.S. security and forming a 2016 ticket, McDermott said the titular head issues like tax reform, the topics that prompted Coats to of the party will ardently back the party’s nominee, but come out of political retirement in 2010 to reclaim his old won’t get involved in the primary process. “He doesn’t Senate seat. want to alienate any faction of the party,” McDermott While his comments over the weekend prompted said. “He’s not playing favorites.” a flurry of reassessing 2016 election plans for members In late February, Hill told HPI that he is close to of the Indiana delegation, not lost on the delegation was entering the governor’s race. “I’m encouraged by what Coats quickly leaving Washington last Thursday to attend I’m hearing,” Hill said. “If I had to make an announce- the Johnson County Lincoln Dinner on Friday, where Coats ment today, I’d probably be in. That’s where my head is.” made the keynote address. Asked if he had been approached to opt for the Senate While McDermott presented himself as, per- race, Hill said yes, but said he is focusing on the gover- haps, the Democrat who would step up if others don’t, nor’s race. there are other names being mentioned in the Senate race Gregg has been actively stumping for legislative context. McDermott identified State Rep. Terry Goodin of and municipal candidates over the past two years, and Crothersville, and State Sen. Karen Talian of Ogden Dunes tells HPI he is “doing all the things you should be doing” as legislators expressing interest in running statewide in in preparing for a second gubernatorial run. 2016. Jeff Harris of the AFL-CIO suggested State Rep. As for a Coats retirement scenario, two almost Christina Hale would make a good candidate. “She’s made certain candidates would be U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, a great impression in her time at the Statehouse as being who finished second to Coats in the 2010 Senate primary, Page 7 and U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, who served eight years as Indi- when, under his leadership, our city’s cash balances have ana secretary of state, giving him a head start in statewide declined while we’ve overspent so rapidly?” name ID. U.S. Reps. Luke Messer, Todd Young and Susan Brooks would also be expected to weigh a potential Senate Park claims Riecken using state resources bid, but all have top committee assignments and Messer Rep. Riecken’s challenge to unseat Winnecke is was elected to the No. 5 leadership position last year. getting more organized and appears to have just recently Other potential Republican Senate candidates, ac- begun a national search for a campaign manager. The cording to GOP sources, include former state chairman Eric Riecken for Mayor Committee placed a job listing with Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, who is not the well-known Washington, D.C., political career website seeking a third term this year. ‘Bradtraverse.com’ on Sunday. The ad states the position needs to be filled by this Sunday. “The ideal candidate will Pence making party chair change have run a contentious mayoral or congressional cam- On Feb. 24, Indiana Republican Chairman Tim paign, and will possess significant skills in coordinating Berry gathered with Gov. Pence, Bill Smith and chief of and facilitating decision making for such,” the ad reads. It staff Jim Atterholt in the governor’s office in a meeting also requires previous experience working with local media that appears to have paved the way for a change expected and “meeting fundraising targets for large-scale cam- today at the Indiana Republican Central Committee. In a paigns.” Other duties listed might suggest the campaign’s conference call, Pence is expected to announce that Berry infrastructure is in its infancy and Riecken needs someone will step down and Jeff Cardwell will take the chair. While to set up staff and vendors. The manager, according to the Central Committee is expected to back Pence’s move, the description, will also “Draft and implement campaign there are some concerns expressed by committee mem- plan with oversight and partnership with consultants and bers that Pence’s first choice of Berry wasn’t a particularly committee.” The position also needs to develop other good one, as well as Cardwell’s ideological bearings. It is several other key functions. Launched in early in Janu- causing some to consider the role of the Central Commit- ary, Riecken’s campaign already has a dedicated website tee. There are also concerns about various legislaton in and Facebook page (1,095 likes). She is also using her the General Assembly and the impact on the GOP “brand.” long-held Twitter handle @GailRiecken (1,694 followers). Riecken ran for mayor in 1999 unsuccessfully. Earlier this Mayoral races month she was accused of billing a March 7 forum with voters as both a legislative townhall meeting and a mayor- Riecken blasts Winnecke state of city al campaign event. Vanderburgh County Republican Chair- State Rep. Gail Riecken is taking issue with man Wayne Parks told WFIE-TV, “It is clear that Riecken is Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s recent state-of-the-city using state resources to blatantly promote an event that is address “Great delivery and positive, you get the feeling campaign related.” Riecken admitted to the news station, everything is fine in River City,” Riecken said in an Evans- “That’s wrong. We’ll take it down immediately.” The ad ville Courier & Press op-ed article. “But from what I know, was removed from her campaign website March 3. The the facts are at odds with two townhalls, reported ‘TriStateHomepage.com,’ drew “a the mayor’s claims our city packed house.” is ‘fiscally strong.’” Riecken said Winnecke’s Neese endorsed by Italian/Americans City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr. John Iavagnilio, president of the Italian American has reported that there are Relief Association (IARA) has announced the endorse- problems with city finances. ment of former Indiana State Representative Tim Neese, Evansville Redevelopment who is running in the May Republican primary for mayor Commissioner and fellow of Elkhart. Neese was previously a member of the Elkhart Republican Cheryl Musgrave City Council. “As president of the IARA, I feel that Tim agrees, saying there are “real problems with the finances.” Neese’s experience in problem solving, public service and “And, despite the mayor’s cheerful spin, Russ his businesslike approach to city government makes him a Lloyd Jr. says that the city’s cash balances are declining,” well-qualified to be mayor of Elkhart,” said Iavagnilio. Riecken said. “Far from accepting the challenge to answer The IARA started in 1926 at 401 Harrison Street with these concerns of a negative trend in our finances, the the area often referred to as “Little Italy.” It was also the mayor continued in the last three years to overspend his center for residential and social Italian life. It is now a civic operational funds every month. In 2012, the administra- and social club, continuing a strong Italian heritage with tion overspent operational funds by $6.8 million. In 2013, approximately 200 members. v they overspent by $7.1 million. In 2014, the administration overspent operational funds by $7.4 million (not yet offi- cial). How can the mayor claim the city finances are strong Page 8

With insufficient gas tax revenue, the pressing Nisly says campaign issue of how to diversify the revenue streams for the state’s transportation infrastructure remains unresolved. We asked about possible solutions. “That’s a great ques- prepared him for tion and nobody has come up with a good answer I have heard,” Nisly told HPI. “There is no silver bullet for this first session one.” One issue was quite close to home. Nisly was By MATTHEW BUTLER pleased to see reforms to the certification of midwives had INDIANAPOLIS – As the 119th Indiana General advanced (HB 1548). All four of his children were born at Assembly enters the second half of this budgetary session, home with such assistance. He spoke in support on the after the bill crossover point, Howey Politics thought it House floor and testified in its favor before the Senate would be interesting and revealing to sit down with some Health and Provider Services Committee earlier this week. freshmen legislators and discuss their impressions so far. “People are going to have homebirths with or without cer- First-term Republican Rep. Curt Nisly (R-Goshen) tification from the state. If the state can get behind it and agreed to an interview in between his committee work on certify it, I think we’ll all be better off,” Nisly said. Wednesday. We asked about his legislative priorities and An issue Nisly feels has not gotten enough atten- why he broke with his Republican tion this session is “2nd Amendment rights.” colleagues on two major votes, re- “Definitely, that’s been pushed on the backburner,” peal of the common construction Nisly lamented. “I was somewhat disappointed we didn’t wage and removing the superin- hear a few of those bills, especially the constitutional [con- tendent of public instruction as cealed] carry bill.” One such bill he filed, HB 1633, would the automatic chairperson of the have stipulated that firearms and ammunition manufac- State Board of Education (SBOE). tured in the state and remaining entirely within the state Nisly defeated Rebecca Kubacki (R-Syracuse) 65% would not be subject to federal law. It did not get a hear- to 35% in last May’s Republican primary for HD22. Run- ing. ning to the right of the two-term incumbent, Nisly had Nisly added he was encouraged to see several bills support from family and church groups circulating on “the nullification of federal who were irate over her voting against law” within the state of Indiana. 2014’s same-sex marriage ban (HJR-3). No stranger to politics, Nisly had openly considered challenging U.S. Rep. Jackie Common construction wage Walorski during the same primary and Known for his conservative bona his wife, Mary, is chairwoman of the fides, HPI noticed when Rep. Nisly voted Elkhart County Republican Party. against his Republican colleagues on two Nisly says being on the cam- major issues this session, the repeal of the paign trail for roughly a year was excel- common construction wage and reforming lent preparation for his new legislative how the State Board of Education selects its role. chairperson. “As I look back to where I was Nisly along with 11 fellow Repub- a year ago, I just learned so much with licans voted against HB 1019. Rep. Jerry that campaign,” Nisly told HPI. “How to Torr’s repeal of the common wage passed, relate to people, listen to people, find- nonetheless, 55-41. Nisly told HPI that he ing out what’s important to people up knew the measure would pass and wanted in the district. That process was grueling, but it was good his “no” vote to air his reservations over reforming local preparation. I discovered that a lot of things I was doing government contracts in such a targeted, if not piecemeal, on the campaign trail, you still have to do here.” manner. “As I was talking to the contractors back in the Legislative priorities and committee work district, the concern came up that the whole process in which we award these contracts should be addressed,” he Nisly was assigned to his first two choices of com- said. “Just taking one aspect of it but leaving the rest in mittee, the Select Committee on Government Reduction place could have some devastating effects.” and the Roads and Transportation Committee. Nisly believes strictly awarding contracts to the “That’s been a lot of fun, I’ve really enjoyed that lowest “responsible” bidder robs local units of government one,” Nisly described his work on the latter. “There is a big the ability to use their discretion as to the project’s and diversity of stuff going on and I can relate to.” He men- local community’s needs. Preference for local contractors is tioned issues ranging from the Indiana Toll Road to allow- a major sticking point. Lowering or repealing the common ing non-photo identification cards for the Amish. wage could exacerbate this problem in Nisly’s opinion. He Page 9 referred to two recent instances of large outside contrac- tors failing to deliver on contracts in his district. Horsemen seek to “My guess is that we’ll be back here in a few years trying, whether it’s local preference or something else, to regain wagering system fix whatever we want done,” he remarked. By BRIAN A. HOWEY Reforming the SBOE INDIANAPOLIS – The term “expansion of gaming” Nisly and eleven other Republicans broke from gets tossed around at the Statehouse with considerable their caucus in voting against reforms to the governance frequency. It’s cropped up in legislation that would allow of the SBOE (HB 1609). Rep. Jud McMillin’s bill would re- live dealers at racinos, when the reality of the bill is that move the superintendent as the automatic chairperson and table games would actually contract by half. require that panel, which is appointed by the governor, to And then there’s HB1270, that on the face of elect its own leader. things would bring advance deposit wagering (ADW) to “There were good arguments on both sides,” Nisly Indiana. The reality is that the said in explaining his ‘no’ vote. “One, it could have waited legislation sponsored by State until the end of her [Glenda Ritz’s] elected term. And two, Rep. Bob Cherry and State Sen. it just seems like it’s putting more control, more power in Luke Kenley would reinstate the that State Board of Education. The more power they have, procedure originally put in place the less local elected school boards are going to have. with the 1993 riverboat gaming That was really a concern of mine.” laws under the guidance of then Should the superintendent remain an elected posi- Senate Finance Chairman Larry Borst. But in 2005, the tion? late State Sen. David Ford authored legislation that re- Nisly initially answered guardedly: “That’s a good pealed the ADW in an enrolled act that prohibited Internet question. I think it’s a good discussion to have; I don’t gaming. have a strong opinion one way or the other.” The Indiana Horsemen Benevolent Protection As- He then added, “Although half our budget does sociation is seeking to reinstall ADW, with HB1270 easily go to education and so it does seem that is the one op- passing the House with 81 votes. portunity that the people have a chance to have a voice in With Indiana’s gaming industry under intense education. I think overall I would probably favor keeping competition from new casinos in Michigan, Ohio and Il- it elected. We did see what happened in the last election, linois and revenue declining here, the concept of ADW is when the current superintendent was elected, and the practiced in 30 states, even those without casinos, racinos people of Indiana said they don’t like the direction we’re or off-track betting. The concept allows bettors to fund going in education. If that had been a strictly appointed a wagering account to place bets on in-state and out- position, the people wouldn’t have had that opportunity.” of-state races. The wagers are secured and maintained Asked about the Senate reforms that would dis- through an existing pari-mutuel wagering operation. All perse appointments to the SBOE between the governor losses and winnings are made to the bettor’s account in and the two legislative chambers, Nisly said, “That would accordance with the bettor’s wagering activity. be much better than the version that came before us.” The Indiana horsemen document that in 2010, Nisly also took issue with what he sees as the an estimated $1.7 billion, or 15.2% of all thoroughbred chaotic nature of education policy and reform. “Over the wagering, came via ADW websites nationally. By 2012, last number of years it seems like the legislature has kept that increased to 20%. The problem for Hoosier horsemen changing education policy over and over and schools are is that when Indiana bettors make wagers, they are send- getting whiplash from just trying to understand what is ex- ing them to out-of-state sites. “The siphoning of Indiana pected,” Nisly told HPI. “So that’s been a big concern espe- race wagering dollars is taking much-needed revenues cially with people back home, is how much we’re changing from Indiana’s horse racing industry,” according to a policy all the time. So it’s like, ‘Can we just sit back and let it play briefing by the IHBPA. Estimates are that state horsemen out a little bit and in a year or two or three or four come are losing between $24 million and $62 million annually. back and see where we’re at.’” “If approved by the Indiana General Assembly, Asked about goals for the remainder of the ses- ADW service providers would begin taking wagers from sion, Nisly quipped, “Survive!” Indiana residents and paying fees back to Indiana’s horse He’s found staying in touch with constituents an racing industry,” the brief notes. It urges the Indiana Horse instructive and steadying force. In recent weeks Nisly has Racing Commission to allow the state’s pari-mutuel racing held roughly a dozen various forums and town halls in his operators to create an ADW website via a “white label’ district. “I do appreciate when I hear from the constituents partnership. Such a site would allow a company to use back home. Even if there is just one email or phone call the technology and software currently used by established that came in on a bill, I will take special note of that bill as ADW providers to create what the IHBPA calls a “uniquely it comes through,” he explained. v branded website.” v Page 10

nities adopt a food and beverage tax, like the one granted to Indianapolis and surrounding counties when the Colts Hundreds of bills wanted a new stadium. Lawmakers remain gatekeepers of the tax, decid- die in the legislature ing one community at a time who can have it. Gone, too, is a measure to put cameras on school By MAUREEN HAYDEN buses to deter drivers from illegally passing. It was op- CNHI Statehouse Bureau posed as a case of government spying gone too far. INDIANAPOLIS – Hundreds of bills are dead at the A Democratic bill calling for a raise in Indiana’s halfway mark of the legislative session, with none killed $7.25 minimum wage was gone much earlier, dead from more vividly than a measure to legalize chemical crema- the outset in the Republican-controlled General Assembly. tion. State Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, did his best to A bill to kill the prevailing wage earned by construction convince colleagues that a process workers on public projects marched ahead instead. using lye to dissolve much of the Finally, legislation to make Indiana students show human body is a cheaper, greener that they know how government works also died. That way to dispose of remains than bill, authored by Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, would’ve setting them on fire or sinking required high school graduates to pass the same civics test them into the ground in a con- given to aspiring U.S. citizens. It’s just a one-hour test, but crete vault. even that’s too much in the recent din of controversy over The part about disposing of leftover liquid matter the state’s standardized test, ISTEP, which has grown in down the drain proved fatal. It only took one legislator, length. The Republican Senate, worried about test-fatigue, casket company owner Dick Hamm, R-Richmond, to liken put that one to rest. v the process to flushing a loved one to trigger a bipartisan wave of revulsion. ALTING SEES STRONG SUPPORT FOR CASINO BILL: Chemical cremation went down last week, crash- The fate of a proposal to allow Tropicana Evansville and ing with many other bills at the mid-session deadline for the state’s other riverboat casinos to move onto land is legislation to cross from one chamber to the other. now in the hands of the Indiana Senate. And the leader Dead, too, is an effort to end one of the last ves- of the committee set to vet the plan said he’s happy tiges of Indiana’s blue laws, the one that still bans sales of with what came over from the House (Schneider, Evans- carryout alcohol on Sundays. ville Courier & Press). State Sen. Ron Alting, a Lafayette Despite a massive, well-funded effort by Sun- Republican, pointed to the House’s heavy support of the day sales supporters, including Kroger and Wal-Mart, the proposed gambling changes, which passed in a 75-18 legislation bogged down with language mandating new vote last month. “The bill that came from the House was and costly restrictions. Among other things, it would have outstanding, and I think the votes demonstrated that. I’ve required the grocery and big-box stores that now sell al- never seen a gaming bill come out of a chamber with that cohol six days a week to put their liquor behind a counter, high of support ever,” said Alting, who chairs the Sen- cordon off beer and wine displays, and ban booze buyers ate Public Policy Committee, where the bill will be heard. from self-service check-out lanes. Rather than letting the Alting said the majority of the state’s casinos and race- bill get voted down, author Rep. Tom Dermody, R-LaPorte, track casinos are in favor of the bill. Alting said he expects pulled it from the line-up, knowing that it may need to age debate on the proposal to be across the board. Among another year before returning to the Statehouse. the proposal’s major tenants, Alting said he supports Sex, or maybe the fear of it, killed a bill aimed at land-based casinos within a facility’s current footprint, as increasing vaccination rates for human papillomavirus vac- well as the ability of the state’s two race-track casinos, or cine. The HPV vaccine protects teenage girls from cervi- racinos, to have live dealers. “These cal cancer, but it’s controversial are not new subjects here in the because HPV is sexually trans- Indiana Senate,” Alting said. Alting mitted. The measure wouldn’t said there’s wider support on the have required teens to be vac- proposal because lawmakers are cinated but instead set a goal to smarter to the competition Indiana’s increase Indiana’s immunization gambling industry faces from sur- rate to 80 percent, which is four rounding states. “I said as chair- times the current rate. It went man of Public Policy four years ago, down to defeat with help from we’ve seen the writing on the wall Gov. Mike Pence, who said that’s in Ohio. (They) got legalized gam- a matter better left to parents. ing and blueprints to build all the Also on the long list of late racinos and casinos, and we need to legislation is a bill to let commu- react.” v Page 11

Helmke looked at the current legislation and ob- Annexation legislation served that as it stands today, not only would it empower residents or “free riders” on city fringes to determine whether a city can grow, it would also eliminate sewer would crimp cities waivers. Current law allows cities to extend sewer services By BRIAN A. HOWEY to those living outside cities if the owners sign a waiver INDIANAPOLIS – Legislation coursing through the saying they won’t oppose future annexation efforts. Indiana General Assembly is poised to essentially starve Thus, the legislation actually works against the state’s cities and towns by empowering opponents of the 40,000 or 50,000 people already living in places like annexation. Columbus, Elkhart or Kokomo. It would favor the several It is legislation that, should it end up on the desk hundred land owners living on city fringes who aren’t pay- of Gov. Mike Pence, deserves to be vetoed. ing for things like snow removal and the conveniences of Senate Bill 330 would make law that for an an- having city amenities nearby. It will severely restrict a city nexation to proceed, a municipality that initiates the to grow and expand its tax base. These are the same cities process must file a petition with where companies seek tax abatements and infrastructure the court signed by at least: (1) extensions in order to provide jobs. 51% of the owners of land (that According to the Indiana Business Research is not exempt from property Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, of taxes) in the territory; or (2) the Indiana’s 6.57 million residents, 66.1% live in places that owners of more than 75% in as- were legally incorporated. Indiana’s cities and towns have sessed valuation of land (that is accounted for 79.2% of the state’s total population growth not exempt from property taxes) from 2010 to 2013. So this legislation works against a in the territory. majority of Hoosiers already living in cities and towns. IU’s Essentially this flips the Public Policy Institute states that of Indiana projected pop- process. Current law requires ulation growth between 2010 and 2014, 33% will come in 65% of property owners to the Indianapolis metro area, 16% in regional metro areas, oppose any annexation, which 14% in Indianapolis and just 1% in rural Indiana. Metro then launches a legal process areas of Indiana are home to 81% of jobs and 83% of where a judge makes a final ruling. wages. Mayors and former officials believe that such a law Democrat Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight, like would make it almost impossible for cities to grow via an- the Republican Helmke, launched an annexation effort in nexation. The dilemma is that many experts say that it will recent years. “Kokomo had not annexed anything since be Indiana’s cities that keep its economy growing as more 1985,” Goodnight explained. “We had all these subdivisions and more of the population moves away from rural areas pop up on the fringes. Over 70% were on city sewers and and small towns. over 70% were getting fire protection from the city via the “If the annexation laws were like these proposed township trustee.” back when I was mayor, we probably wouldn’t have Like Helmke, Goodnight believes that the pend- annexed anybody,” said former Fort Wayne Mayor Paul ing legislation will make it almost impossible to annex in Helmke, who in the early 1990s annexed large portions of the future if Gov. Pence signs the bill. “It probably would suburban areas to the southwest and north sides, grow- not happen if this passes,” Goodnight said. “It’s not easy ing the city from 170,000 to 260,000 people. “You either now. While we had the majority of people who had signed grow or you decline,” Helmke explained. “Being able to waivers committing to allow themselves to be annexed, to grow is being able to change artificial boundary lines to receive sewer services immediately, we had some groups reflect economic activity. Cities are the economic engines that did not want to honor the contract.” of growth. Young people want to move in.” In filing similar legislation in 2013, Sen. Jim Buck, This goes well beyond the Fort Waynes, South R-Kokomo, explained to the Kokomo Tribune, “I want to Bends and Evansvilles in the state. Regional economic level the playing field, make it fair for everyone. Cities look engines that draw workers from more rural commuter to annex to retain class status to receive more matching counties include cities like Jasper, Elkhart, Warsaw, and funds or for more cash.” Columbus. If you look at the so-called 21 “contributor” It prompted the Lafayette Journal & Courier to edi- counties where taxpayers actually pay for services in more torialize: What makes Buck’s comment odd is how it seems rural areas, these include the doughnut counties around to pull back on past pressure to get local governments to Indianapolis as well as the capital city, the collar coun- consolidate their operations, to come together rather than ties around Louisville, and counties like Elkhart, Porter, put up barriers in battles over turf and responsibilities. Kosciusko, Bartholomew, Dearborne, Tippecanoe, Vander- Helmke added that without his expansion ef- burgh and Dubois that are home to the cities where jobs forts, “There’s no way that Fort Wayne could be doing are being created. what it’s doing now, expanding downtown, investing in Page 12 infrastructure challenges, making our rivers friends and that these regional economies lag today. There are many not enemies, keeping taxes lower, putting people on more types of things that could be done. For the sake of illus- environmentally friendly systems. There’s no way we could tration, I offer one example, a sports facility. have done it. If Fort Wayne hadn’t changed boundaries, A large industrial facility will often have several instead of the 170,000 we had then, we’d probably be key ingredients of a multi-purpose sports facility; land for down to 150,000 or so. It sends all of the wrong messages parking and fields, utilities and floor structures capable of and it will choke our cities.” supporting the heaviest of facilities, such as a swimming Gov. Pence has not taken a stance on any of the pool or hockey rink. The vast space within many of these anti-annexation bills still alive this session. For a governor places would be sufficient to support a wide variety of whose top priority has been job creation, this legislation others activities. puts a significant barrier to the health of our cities. v To be clear, the cost of refurbishing these facili- ties is still significant. It will never be less than several million dollars to transform a vacant factory into a usable swimming pool with gym space, bleachers, commercial areas and parking. Still, the idea has some merit, and one need travel no farther than the rapidly growing towns in North Carolina to see attractive alternative uses Repurposing excess for redundant tobacco warehouses. Over the past decade Indiana’s economy has industrial buildings fared better than much of the nation. Still, only a dozen or so counties have grown faster than the nation as a By MICHAEL HICKS whole. The remaining 80 or so are in decline, and for MUNCIE – Many of Indiana’s counties are awash in most places in the state this is a 50-year trend. excess industrial, commercial and residential property. In The transformation Indiana must undertake in my county alone, about a quarter of all factories and store the coming decades is large. These types of proposals spaces and perhaps one in eight homes are vacant. Most will require honest appraisal from local governments, as of this property will never again well as some risk. It is happening in some places. Re- be used for its original purpose. cently Muncie forgave $20,000 in back taxes owed on an More than half of Hoosier coun- industrial site so it could be transformed into an urban ties can tell a similar story. farming and compost facility. The homes and commer- Reversing the excess property issue will require cial property will be leveled and Allowthoughtful Greater private Competition investment for and Local public Contractors! investment that the land repurposed, but industri- doesn’t displace more fundamental public services. Indi- al property is another matter. The ana communitiesREPEAL INDIANA’Smust focus on attractingCOMMON people, know- types of structures comprising ing the jobs will come with them. We ought to embrace early 20th century factories are CONSTRUCTION WAGE LAW our past; it has largely been a good one. The factories less simply repurposed. Three- that fueled that past can animate the future. A Borg- foot concrete pads, hundreds Warner or Chrysler Natatorium would be much welcomed of tons of brick and steel, and additions to amenity-starved cities and towns across our persistent environmental remediation needs plague these state. v properties. Without radical thinking, these former facto- Allow School Entities to Build More ries will stand as ugly, gated monuments to technological Michaelfor J. Hicks,Their ConstructionPhD, is the director Dollar! of the Cen- change. ter for Business and Economic Research and the Many of these places lie in amenity-starved GeorgeREPEAL and Frances INDIANA’S Ball distinguished COMMON professor of regions, so the highest use of this excess property will economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball often be in crafting public places that will attract and retain CONSTRUCTION WAGE LAW State University. households. The failure to do this is, after all, one reason

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the concept of mutually assured destruction. No matter Netanyahu and how many statistical calculations your supercomputers conducted, the outcome was always the same; everyone loses. In the atheistic world of the Communist Soviet Israel’s survival Union, there would be no afterlife with harps and pearly By CRAIG DUNN gates in the event of nuclear war; only dachas today, dead KOKOMO – As I recently passed my sixty-first tomorrow! birthday, I took the time to ponder whether there were This brings us to the prickly issue of Prime Min- any second chances or do-overs that I would like to ex- ister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel. perience. Looking back at college, I would have gone to The history of the Jewish people and of the Israeli class more often. There had to be some knowledge hidden nation is far different from the experiences of the Dunn somewhere. family and, I bet, far different from your family’s experi- I would not have purchased the Ford Pinto, no ence. I’ve actually heard Democrat politicians tell Israel matter how zoomy it looked at the time. I’d like to think and Jewish people to “Get over it!” The “it” they refer to is that if given a do-over that I would have enlisted in the the Holocaust. I’m sorry, but if your parents, grandparents military. I collected beer money by betting unsuspecting and siblings were loaded onto cattle cars and sent hun- fellow revelers that I could eat a light bulb at the bar. In dreds of miles to be exterminated like vermin by genocidal retrospect, that seems like a maniacs, you wouldn’t just get over it. rather foolhardy endeavor. I’ve heard Democrat politicians tell Israel to just When I think back there ignore the rants of Iranian ayatollahs, Hezbollah, Hamas are lots of things I said that and every other Islamic terrorist group that threatens to would remain unsaid, and many annihilate Israel and all the Jews. Sorry again, if you’ve unspoken words that I would fought three wars of national survival, endured SCUD mis- have said. Regardless of the sile attacks, experienced regular terrorist bombings and many garden variety things that had your children suffer under rocket attacks, you would I would do over or request a never just ignore it. second chance at, I am proud You see, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel to say that in no instance am understand that when it comes to the survival of their I longing for a second chance country and of its people, there are no second chances nor because my first chance got me do-overs. You must get it right every single time. Mak- vaporized. ing just a single mistake might lead to the destruction of One of the great things about living in the United absolutely everything that you hold dear. Acting under the States is that my children have never lived under the fear cloud of nuclear destruction will certainly give you a dif- of nuclear devastation. I would venture to guess that none ferent point of view from the one held by the Community of my four children has ever given one single thought to Organizer in Chief. being nuked out of existence. Of course, for those of us Does anyone reading this doubt for a single min- who spent time beneath our school desks, practicing our ute that if Adolph Hitler had possessed a nuclear weapon best survival moves in the event of a nuclear attack, all we during WWII that he would have used it? Any psycho with can say is, “Thank God they didn’t drop the big one on us no children, grandchildren, friends or future prospects, and wow there’s a lot of gum under here!” willing to have his wife poison herself and then shoot Yes, my generation lived with nuclear-induced herself in the head, would not have the least compunction fear, but as time passes it is obvious that much of our about using a nuclear weapon. Heck, the United States fear was misplaced. You see, we lived in fear of the Soviet used two nuclear bombs at the end of World War II. Boys Union. They looked nasty and they talked nasty. They had will be boys and bombs will be used. leaders who came to the United Nations, beat their shoe Does anyone reading this doubt for a single on the podium and threatened to destroy us. What we minute that if the animalistic Islamic terrorists lining up know now is that even murderous thugs like Nikita Khru- prisoners in Syria, Libya, Nigeria, Iraq and Afghanistan and shev had a softer side. They loved their children and liked beheading them in front of their children and the cam- to bounce grandchildren on their knees while watching the eras possessed the ultimate weapon of destruction, they sunset over the Black Sea. They liked their vodka straight, wouldn’t use it against Israel and the United States? their women loose and all the creature comforts that came Against terrorists such as ISIS and their ilk, threats with “making it” in the Motherland. made like those by Presidential Emissary Richard Armitage The primary reason that no Soviet oligarch ever during the early post-9/11 days against Pakistan to, “bomb launched nuclear bombers and missiles is because they them back to the stone age” just don’t work against and their comrades had something to lose. Life to Boris peoples who think of the Stone Age as the good old days. Betanoff and Natasha looked too good to gamble on a What scares Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu nuclear war where your own demise was guaranteed by is that men who hold a passionate religious belief that Page 14 they will find their ultimate reward in the afterlife and that risk solely because of the delusional appeasement mental- their lives mean nothing here on Earth are very dangerous ity of our gutless President and his feckless foreign policy? men. A man willing to drive a car bomb into a building, We’ve all made a bad decision or two during our fly an airplane into the World Trade Center or strap an lives but few of us have made decisions that have cost explosive vest on his young child, would certainly be will- people their lives. While I could atone for my witless ing to fire a nuclear-tipped missile into Israel. What’s a few decision to buy the Ford Pinto by trading it in for another million dead Jews when you are waging a 2,000-year war car, some decisions offer no do-overs or easy fixes. Prime of jihad? Minister Netanyahu put forth an excellent case against The specious argument that the current gov- a nuclear-armed Iran when he spoke before Congress. ernment of Iran would not use nuclear weapons against His argument was cogent and powerful. I appreciate the their neighbors just doesn’t hold water. In the Middle East, Republican-led Congress for giving him the opportunity to today’s semi-reasonable government may be replaced with plead his case before the American people. When it comes raving mad men tomorrow. History has proven this, time to Iran, we all must make the right decision the first time. after time after time. Why would we be naïve enough to v think that it won’t happen again? Why would the people Dunn is chairman of the Howard County Republican of Israel put the fate of their children and grandchildren at Party.

registered voter figure is used. Finding a cure Regardless, the Lake County election officials are setting out to improve voter turnout for the May 5 primary election. Besides a desire to extend the hours for early for voter apathy voting, the Lake officials, in conjunction with the county’s By RICH JAMES numerous library systems, are emphatic about educating MERRILLVILLE – Lake County election officials are the public. stepping out to find a cure for voter apathy. It’s something Beginning Saturday and continuing a couple they have been doing at least once a year for more than days a week until April 20, Lake County election officials a decade. Yet, the problem, they will host voter seminars at 14 library branches around the say, isn’t getting any better. county. Election officials said the state- The intent is to present an overview of the primary wide turnout for the 2014 pri- and general elections, including what offices are on the mary was 13 percent. ballot, the candidates, voting sites and new technologies. In Lake and Porter coun- And, making the job of election officials more diffi- ties, the election folks said the cult is that only town and city offices are on the ballot this turnout was a paltry 11 percent year. of the registered voters. The In theory, it seems to be a wonderful idea. numbers, however, are deceiving. But in reality, I suspect the vast majority of those The election officials know that who attend one of the sessions will vote on May 5 anyway. but won’t admit it. Anyone who likely won’t vote in the primary, won’t take In Lake County, for in- time to attend a seminar. That’s simply human nature. stance, voter registration officials Lake and Porter county election officials also said pend- say there are 350,000 registered voters in the county. ing legislation to prohibit straight party voting would work Given that the county has fewer than 500,000 residents, against increasing voter turnout. there can’t be 350,000 registered voters, unless the voting It was pointed out that ballots on the electronic age has been lowered considerably. voting machines are becoming increasingly long, and re- The problem is that it is difficult by law to purge quiring people to vote for every office could result in long the voter registration rolls. And, because it is rarely done, voting lines. there are thousands of names on the rolls of people who And the possibility of moving municipal elections are dead or have moved to other counties or states. to an even-numbered year would make the ballots even There may be as many as 100,000 names on the Lake longer. v County registration rolls of people who no longer live in the county. Rich James has been writing about state and local As a result, the announced voter turnout following government and politics for more than 30 years. He an election is skewed. If election officials say the turnout is a columnist for The Times of Northwest Indiana. is 15 percent, it actually may be 25 percent when a true Page 15

Aug. 21, 2014 edition, Indiana AARP’s communications di- AARP seeks to rector Katie Moreau told Howey Politics: “It’s quite honest- ly the way we see it. We are not devastated and we’re not overly concerned. It’s not the best ranking by any means, improve caregivers but we see room for improvement.” By MATTHEW BUTLER “We are starting to do better in terms of helping INDIANAPOLIS – Four weeks ago it appeared people age independently at home,” Indiana AARP Director both of Indiana AARP’s two legislative priorities for the June Lyle told HPI in February. 2015 session risked not clearing committee. One aimed at As Lyle explains, caregivers are “the backbone of improving Indiana’s retirement savings rate whereas the Indiana’s long-term care system.” There are 1.3 million other hoped to improve the situation of family caregivers. Hoosier caregivers who provide annually 877 million hours As the legislature entered its last week before the cross- of unpaid care. The estimated economic value of which over point, the former was a dead letter whereas the latter is $9.4 billion per year. The average Hoosier caregiver is (HB 1265), after revisions, had passed committee unani- female, 49 years old, provides care over a five-year span, mously and the full House 92-1. and all the while maintains a fulltime job. The caregiver legislation is part of a wider effort “Family caregivers help people live at home and to address a recognized problem. According to a score- independently,” Lyle told lawmakers. “This is critical for card released in June 2014 by the SCAN Foundation, The two reasons: One, this where people want to be. They Commonwealth Fund, and AARP, Indiana ranks 47th out want to stay in their homes and communities for as long of all states and the District of as possible; Secondly, it reduces the pressure on Indiana’s Columbia in terms of services Medicaid budget by avoiding or delaying that time they and support for those needing have to go into a nursing facility.” long-term care. But Indiana AARP says caregivers desperately Not only is Indiana con- need help; 69 percent of family caregivers must perform sidered one of the worst states medical tasks themselves without the assistance of in- in which to be disabled or home health experts. That type of help is simply beyond grow old and frail, but also it most Hoosiers’ finances; in-home care costs on average ranked the very worst (51st) in terms of support for care- 87% of the median household income for those over 65 givers. The indicators influencing this last-place ranking years old. were assessments of the legal protections for caregivers (ranked 44th), such as state employment laws, assess- Prioritizing Hoosier Caregivers ments of caregiver wellbeing (42nd), and whether the AARP Indiana’s legislative agenda the past several state allowed nurses to delegate health maintenance tasks sessions prioritized caregivers. Unsuccessfully, the group to non-family members such as in-home aides (47th). The advocated for family caregiver tax credits the past two scorecard also penalized Indiana for not having a caregiver sessions. Even sympathetic lawmakers think those are assessment mechanism, which the state is now develop- rife with the potential for fraud and elder abuse. However, ing. the organization was able to secure a study resolution for As Indiana’s population grays and the bulk of Baby caregiving last year and the Indiana Division of Aging’s lat- Boomers are on the cusp of retirement, the entire health est plan through 2018 now includes “a statewide focus on care system will face greater burdens and strains. Be- the needs of family caregivers.” tween 2005 and 2040 Indiana will see a 90% increase in The scorecard did rank Indiana’s aging and re- the number of Hoosiers aged 65 and older. source center functions, that is the Division of Aging and When we covered these scorecard rankings in our the Area Agencies on Aging, as fourth best in the nation. Page 16

AARP sees them as an important platform to implement retirement security and caregiving, and any legislators or reforms. elected officials who are willing to work with us on those For the 2015 session, AARP Indiana named pas- issues, we really embrace that,” Lyle explained to HPI. “We sage of the Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable, or CARE try to do what we can to sort of thank those legislators for Act, as their top legislative goal. In general terms, the act their support.” requires by law that hospitals designate a caregiver for a The group does show its gratitude in public ways. patient upon admission, they notify said caregiver before Four Indiana lawmakers were awarded AARP’s inaugural transferring or discharging the patient, and they provide ‘Family Caregiver Awards’ last year: Sens. Vaneta Becker instruction to the caregiver on in-home tasks, such as diet, and Pat Miller and Reps. Ed Charbonneau and Clere. It medications, and wound care. also placed full-page advertisements thanking Reps. Clere Last year New Jersey and Oklahoma enacted ver- and Zent for carrying the CARE Act in their local newspa- sions of the CARE Act with the former generally considered pers. the stronger, the latter the weaker. Indiana AARP hopes to eventually secure something somewhere in the middle. Reconciling hospitals and advocates Rep. Dennis Zent (R-Angola) filed the legislation, In mid-February Chairman Clere’s commit- HB 1265 with Public Health Chairman Ed Clere (R-New tee heard testimony on HB 1265 but postponed a vote. Albany) as the coauthor. The Indiana Hospital Association and some committee “I’ve also worn another hat,” Zent, an endodontist members, particularly Rep. Ron Bacon (R-Chandler), had by profession, explained his bill to colleagues. “My father concerns over specific details and “out-of-touch,” or dated, suffered a stroke and spent 18-and-half years in a wheel- terminology. Bacon is a respiratory therapist and home chair. With his deterioration over time, I personally saw medical equipment expert. A major hang up was mandat- how it affected my mother’s health and all of us, quite ing live demonstrations on in-home care to caregivers truthfully, who tried to provide that health care. We’re go- before a patient’s discharge. It was felt not all patients and ing to address an obvious need here.” their caregivers required that extra step. Moreover, hospitals argued they already provided Caregiver advocacy this session comprehensive discharge assistance to patients and their As a non-partisan advocacy group that does not caregivers. give campaign contributions nor endorse candidates, Indi- “We’re trying to find some common ground. We ana AARP must depend upon grassroots mobilization and are working on language,” Clere told the committee that raising awareness. week. The organization marshaled its sizable statewide When New Jersey and Oklahoma considered their membership, numbering some 820,000 Hoosiers, to advo- respective CARE Acts last year, their respective hospital cate for the CARE Act the last few months. The group cir- groups worried there could be delays in discharging pa- culated petitions, mailers, held local town halls, and used tients and there might be legal liability if caregivers did not social media. It had constituents call and email relevant provide proper in-home care. After revisions to the draft committee members. It found endorsements from other language, both groups withdrew their opposition, citing a stakeholders, such as the American Heart Association of desire to help caregivers, reduce readmission rates, and Indiana and Eli Lilly. improve their Medicaid-Medicare reimbursement rates. Indiana AARP also deployed a volunteer legislative Since 2012, hospital reimbursement rates are tied team to work the Statehouse hallways every other week to readmission rates. According to State Legislatures mag- this session. HPI attended one of their meetings in early azine, one in five Medicare patients is readmitted to the February before the group worked the hallways. They hospital within 30 days of discharge. The result is $17.5 discussed the details of the bill, the concerns of undecided billion in additional hospital costs. It something everyone lawmakers, and talking points. wants to avoid. Among their ranks was a 16-year legislative vet- By Feb. 18 consensus was forged. The Hospital eran, former Ways & Means Vice Chairman Ralph Ayres Association removed its opposition and committee mem- (R-Chesterton). For the last four years he has been coming bers were satisfied with amended language. HB 1265 to the statehouse for Indiana AARP. Seeing themselves as passed committee unanimously. “citizen advocates,” Ayres stressed how important it is for “At several places in the bill it gives hospital per- their advocacy efforts to be “strictly issue-based” and non- sonnel greater discretion than there was in the original,” partisan. Lyle told HPI. “We think we hit a good balance there. We Asked if the average legislator knows about the think this is a modest first step but an important one.” challenges the state will face with an aging population, “Even though it may be a great idea, it takes a lot Ayres responded, “I think they do. Many of the legislators of work to make these things come to fruition,” Zent re- I’ve talked to have the same types of issues in their own marked. He characterized the revisions as delineating and families.” phrasing best practices, something that takes collaboration “What we try to do is stand for key issues, like and time. Page 17

“There was a lot of effort from AARP and the hos- “This is another piece of the puzzle,” Clere told pitals. I appreciate all the interested parties coming from HPI after the CARE Act advanced to the full House. “It’s multiple directions. It speaks volumes for Indiana,” Zent no easy thing to take on the role of caregiver. It keeps the added. “If we can limit the number of readmissions, it’s household structure intact and it reduces demands on the good all the way around.” paid-caregiver system, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes. It’s a benefit to everyone in the sys- Hoosier caregiving’s future tem. ” As a chairman and coauthor this was not Clere’s The CARE Act proceeded to third reading by con- first foray into caregiving and aging-in-place issues. sent and was passed by the House 92-1. The bill has been Last year his HEA 1391 expanded the state’s $40-million assigned to Sen. Pat Miller’s Health and Provider Services CHOICE program, which assists those who are disabled Committee and she is a sponsor. A hearing is all but cer- or at-risk of entering a nursing facility stay within their tain. AARP, however, is not sitting still. Its legislative team homes. Clere’s law created a pilot program that expanded volunteers were working the hallways outside the Senate eligibility further and tries to forestall seniors needing chamber on Monday. v intensive home or even facility care.

Deciding to run officially? To enter contests in Gov. Hamlet weighs Iowa and New Hampshire, to raise big money, to build a national organization and to relinquish any chance of reelection as governor? ‘to be or not to be’ The political analysts now concluding that By JACK COLWELL Pence won’t pursue a presidential bid cite a number of SOUTH BEND – Indiana’s Gov. Hamlet still is on indicators. They note that Pence hasn’t started raising stage pondering the presidential question, to run or not to funds for a presidential campaign, while other potential run. Most indicators now are that Gov. Mike Pence, like the Republican nominees raise large amounts and win commit- Hoosier governor in the Hamlet role before him, will say it ments from big donors.They point out that Pence hasn’t is not to be. put together a presidential campaign organization, while Just four years ago, Gov. Mitch Daniels was those other contenders line up skilled political organizers. pondering the question of They see that Pence, while out there on stage, whether to seek the Republi- hasn’t won widespread audience acclaim, at least not in can nomination for president. terms of getting much mention in the polls. The governor Daniels wanted to run, was attracting the most attention now is Wisconsin Gov. Scott preparing to run. But his fam- Walker.The National Journal concluded that “there are few ily decided it was not to be. outward signs that Pence is doing anything but keeping his Now it’s Pence who would name in the presidential conversation.” like to run. There is uncertain- The Journal noted that Pence has $3.5 million in ty, however, over whether he funds that can be used for reelection as governor and that is preparing for a presidential he raised almost nothing in a PAC for national campaign bid or concentrating really on purposes. seeking reelection as gover- Brian Howey of Howey Politics Indiana long nor. If it is not to be for Pence has advised to watch the money in figuring out which race in the presidential race, the Pence would choose. So far, the money says “governor.” decision won’t involve any family veto. It will be because But in these days when a billionaire could suddenly change his chances in the presidential race are not solid enough to the presidential nomination picture, it’s advisable to keep forsake a much more solid chance for reelection. watching a little longer. Pence has been running for president with trav- Strange things can happen to candidates in presi- els, nationally and abroad, with political speeches on na- dential nomination battles. That uncertainty could keep tional issues and with meetings with big contributors. It’s Pence from announcing any final decision now on leaving like saying: “Here I am on stage. Like my performance? the stage. Why leave prematurely? Others, including so- Should I stop pondering and announce for president?” called frontrunners, could be knocked out of contention by Some applause. No standing ovation. But since some blunder or exploding issue. Also, by staying longer Pence would like to be president some day, if not on inau- in the spotlight, Pence could attract attention for selection guration day in 2017, it makes sense for him to keep his later as a nominee for vice president. name out there and get better known nationally. Would he accept a vice presidential nomination? Page 18

It’s hard to turn down an offer to be on the presidential nor in that role, has a different choice. If it’s not to be for ticket. And it’s the presidency that is his ultimate goal. a presidential nomination, he hasn’t reached the two-term Pence left a prominent role in Congress – maybe he would limit for governor and can seek to keep that office. v be speaker today if he had stayed – to get executive expe- rience as governor as a qualification for chief executive in Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five de- Washington. cades for the South Bend Tribune. This Gov. Hamlet, unlike the prior Indiana gover-

ing different points of view together, developing connec- Citizen responsibility tions to key players in your community, talking face to face with others who may not agree with you, and communi- By LEE HAMILTON cating your ideas effectively, including to the media. This BLOOMINGTON – Solving problems in our democ- is the surest way I know to understand differences, and racy requires bringing different points of view together, to learn that these differences can exist without personal talking face to face with others who may differ with you, animosity. That, in turn, is a key step toward recognizing and learning that these differences can exist without per- the common ground on which you can build agreement. sonal animosity. Many of the people I know who answered the The question usually comes toward the end of a call of citizenship did so to resolve a specific issue: Getting public meeting. Some knotty problem is being discussed, the railroad signal at a crossing to work; improving food and someone in the audience will raise his or her hand and labeling so diabetics could know how much sugar pack- ask, “Okay, so what can I do about it?” aged food contains; improving a watershed to help a com- I love that question. Not because I’ve ever an- munity manage its water supply. Sometimes, people want swered it to my satisfaction, to address a situation they don’t like: What they consider but because it bespeaks such a to be over-spending, or a politician whose priorities they constructive outlook. Democracy disagree with. Sometimes they just want to contribute to is no spectator sport and citizens the direction and success of their community. are not passive consumers. I’m There is a key lesson that comes from trying to always invigorated by running solve a particular problem: It tends to make you less into people who understand this. ideological and more pragmatic. It forces you to examine But that doesn’t make answering the options in front of you and the resources at hand to the question any easier. help you pursue them. You have to judge whether a given The usual advice that option can gather sufficient support in the community to politicians give is to vote, work go forward, and realize that you can’t solve everything; for a candidate, let your elected sometimes you have to put particular problems aside and officials know what you think, come back to them another day, when circumstances have join an organization of like-minded citizens, and participate shifted. in community life. This is good counsel — but only as far There are plenty of people who find all this as it goes. With a little more time now to answer the ques- frustrating and give up. Many others devote their lives to tion, I’d add a few points. it, whether as community participants, engaged activists, First, it’s important that citizens appreciate how or public servants. Politics is not a game for everyone, and hard it is to solve problems in a representative democracy. there are many other ways to be involved in community Every issue, even a stop sign at a corner, is more complex life. Regardless of the avenue they choose, it’s the people than it appears. The best way to learn this is to become an who step forward who refresh this country and make it expert on a single topic. You can’t study every issue, but stronger. you can pick one and dig in, whether it’s a big problem like Our Constitution’s preamble begins, “We the climate change or a smaller one, such as how to get food people of the United States, in order to form a more delivered to shut-ins in your community. perfect union....” At heart, that’s what getting involved Understanding and appreciating all aspects of means: Shouldering the challenges, sharing responsibilities the issue is the best way to see how and where you can and opportunities that democracy thrusts upon us as we make progress. It also makes you more patient with oth- pursue a more perfect union. That’s what I want to say to ers, including elected officials, who are trying to resolve the people who ask, “What can I do about it?” The jour- other thorny challenges. ney is hard and complicated, but it’s immensely satisfying. It’s also vital to learn that solving problems means Few rewards can match your satisfaction when your fellow working together with all kinds of people. It requires bring- citizens thank you for a job well done. v Page 19

Hunter Schwartz, Washigton Post: Sydney toon depicting Sue in a less than flattering manner for her Leathers is back. The woman at the center of former con- position on a legislative proposal ran in The Times. The gressman Anthony Weiner’s (D-N.Y.) 2013 sexting scandal day after I faced Sue in a hallway at the Statehouse. Her is at the center of another, this time with an Indiana state glare said it all. I was dead meat. v lawmaker. State Rep. Justin Moed, a Democrat, said in a statement to the Indianapolis Star he was sorry for his Charles Hurt, Washington Times: No, Madam “poor judgement.” Moed had responded to an ad Leathers Secretary, we do NOT want to know about your yoga placed, and he sexted and sent her gifts including shoes, habits! Hillary Clinton’s press performance Tuesday after- lingerie, and a leash and collar, according to reports from noon was, truly, everything Americans could have hoped the New York Post and TheDirty.com. He thought he did so for from our former First Lady, Modern Joan of Arc, Lady anonymously, but his name appeared on an Amazon.com Macbeth, Senate carpetbagger and eternal public Woman receipt Leathers received. TheDirty.com published photos Scorned. She was everything she has ever been, always of the Amazon receipt with Moed’s name. In the history of was and ever will be. We are fast approaching the 25th modern political sex scandals, we’ve never seen anyone anniversary of our first date with the Clintons. Bill Clinton like Leathers; her story is so thoroughly a product of its has always been a one-man traveling variety show where time. She’s been at the center of not one but two scan- everybody laughs a little, gets their pockets picked and — dals, both with men she never actually met in person and if you are the right dimensions — a private soiree. Hillary, only sexted with, and she’s capitalized on her notoriety. on the other hand, has but one note, one act, one trick. She’s filmed porn, on her Twitter account she calls herself She is a legal automaton. A disemboweled scandal-dispos- a “political scandal expert,” and she made money from al robot. She is Franken-Secretary, the unkillable Political Moed, who sent her anonymous payments Zombie! America, are you ready for 10 — TEN! through PayPal. For her, the latest scandal — more years of political Hurt Locker? Because is good for business. According to Google that is exactly what we are about to get. Ten Trends, interest in Leathers is now higher than more YEARS of deafening shock, trauma, stifled it’s been since 2013. She has also spent the talk-show screams, political slow motion, scandal, day retweeting links to stories on the scandal. faraway voices, incomprehensible movements. v For Moed, it’s been less pleasant. He was engaged to be married in September and asked for the Albion New Era: Glenda Ritz is going situation to be treated as a private matter. One of the big Matt Getts, to get the last laugh. Pundits are speculating on whether takeaways for politicians is don’t sext Sydney Leathers. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will seek the Republican nomina- But, as Leathers said to the New York Post, “Apparently tion for president. Four years ago, he was a congressman only politicians can pick up on my pheromones.” v who carried some weight in the U.S. House of Representa- tives. A staunch conservative, he was often called upon William Nangle, NWI Times: Flags flying at by national media outlets to speak on behalf of his party. half-staff were suitable recognition for Sue Landske. She Then, Pence ran for governor. It’s not an uncommon move gave most of her life to public service, including 30 years for a political up-and-comer. Build a name for yourself as at the Statehouse. She was not one to attract attention. a legislator and then to run for governor so you can add She seldom argued on the floor of the Indiana Senate. She “executive branch” to your resume. Unfortunately, his first had a quiet but determined way of making her point and term in office hasn’t helped his resume any. To be sure, scoring many a legislative victory. Her longtime friend, Se- Pence remains a staunch conservative. That plays well in nior Judge T. Edward Page, captured it best saying, ”Inside Albion, Auburn, Angola and Kendallville. But to become that velvet glove was a steel fist, a Lake County steel fist.” president of the United States? To do that, a candidate Her passing came as no surprise. That, too, she dealt with would need moderate/centrist votes. And that’s where in a quiet but determined manner. I saw Sue on several Pence’s confrontation with Indiana’s Secretary of Educa- occasions after she left the Senate to wage her battle with tion will come back to haunt him. The lone Democrat cancer. Each time I could detect she was getting weaker. in the Statehouse, Ritz secured more votes than Pence Even so, she talked of the future in a positive manner. I himself. From the beginning of her term, she has become first met Sue during the early 1970s when she was work- a lightning rod for controversy. Pence’s chosen Republican ing in the clerk’s office at the Cedar Lake Town Hall. It was State Board of Education has done, seemingly, everything the early days of government formation in the lakeside it can to undermine the power of the lone Democrat in community. There were many arguments over how best to state office. The Indiana General Assembly has piled on, run the town. Sue’s voice was always that of moderation pushing to have Ritz removed as chair of the State Board and compromise. Her quiet type leadership was evident of Education. Pence would not be painted as a do-nothing during her time as Center Township assessor, and so when governor if he were to enter the national stage. He would the call came to run for the state Senate, she was ready. be painted as a politician who cannot work with others. Only once do I remember being at odds with Sue. A car- v Page 20

over the next 66 years. IFM Inves- or our counties is further evidence of Berry reported tors issued a press statement early their bias, predisposition and hopeless Wednesday stating, “ IFM Investors, incompetence. I hope that members out as chair on behalf of IFM Global Infrastruc- of the press will contact IFA director ture Fund, has entered into a defini- Jim McGoff and counsel Robert Grand INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Mike tive purchase and sale agreement to and inquire why the agency did not Pence is scheduled to announce Tim acquire ITR Concession Company choose to use any leverage it had to Berry’s departure as Republican Party LLC ... “IFM Investors has agreed to gain any concessions from IFM for the chairman on a conference call with pay $5.725 billion for (the Indiana state of Indiana, the Toll Road corridor party leaders Thursday afternoon Toll Road concession). The closing counties or the long-suffering motor- (LoBianco, IndyStar). of the transaction is sub- ists who use the Indiana Toll Road.” Republicans with knowl- ject to obtaining necessary edge of the call confirmed third-party and government Ritz critical of the details Wednesday on authorizations and approvals, condition of anonymity including the approval of the ISTEP testing cost because Berry’s departure Indiana Finance Authority.” has not been announced The Indiana Finance Author- INDIANAPOLIS — The state publicly. An email sent to members of ity, which oversees the highway lease, is recommending that a new company the Republican Party Central Com- said in a news release it has reviewed administer the ISTEP exam, with Pear- mittee said that Pence will talk with the bid and is satisfied IFM can meet son named as the successful applicant them at 3 p.m. Thursday. A call to the responsibilities of leasing the to run the standardized test beginning Berry for comment was not immedi- 157-mile-long highway, according to in the 2015-16 school year, according ately returned Wednesday afternoon. the Associated Press. The announce- to documents released Wednesday Pence’s reelection campaign declined ment caught local officials by surprise (Associated Press). Pearson is among to comment. Berry’s exit comes as Wednesday morning. Lake County the vendors named for a wide range Pence is gearing up for a reelection Commissioner Mike Repay, D-Ham- of tests for Hoosier students, which bid and the party is eyeing ways to mond, said he was surprised to hear total almost $134 million in cost and hold onto strong gains it’s made in of the deal since county consultants are a product of a process the state the Statehouse and Washington in the had earlier said there would be no began last year to find companies past five years or so. Concerns about decision until later this month. for a revamped standardized testing the Republican Party’s fundraising program. Indiana Superintendent of have swirled since former Gov. Mitch LaPorte critical of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said on Daniels left office in January 2013 Wednesday the costs were “astro- and his party chairman, Eric Holcomb, IFA decision nomical” and that her administration departed six months later. But a Berry LaPORTE — The LaPorte learned of the dollar amounts after departure also opens the way for a County Council voted 6 to 1 to ap- the process was complete. Pence confidant to run the party. Jeff prove the Interlocal Agreement and Cardwell, director of Pence’s office related resolution regarding the lease Donnelly sponsors of faith-based initiatives and a Pence of the Indiana Toll Road. County manu/housing bill friend, has been floated as a likely counsel Shaw Friedman said, “It’s our pick for party chairman. judgment that we were treated in a WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. fairer fashion in this process by UBS Joe Donnelly is taking another shot at Toll road leasing and the Special Creditors’ Commit- easing credit for manufactured hous- to Aussie firm tee than by our own Indiana Finance ing, and this time around he says he CROWN POINT — An Austra- Authority which has been unremit- likes his odds better (Elkhart Truth). lian consortium claims it has won the tingly hostile to the notion of a public Donnelly co-authored a bill, introduced bidding war for control of the bank- bid from the outset. The outrageous on Tuesday, that would raise those rupt Indiana Toll Road (Dolan, NWI written questions IFA generated last thresholds to $75,000 and 10 percent, Times).That would spell doom for the week to the County Consortium were respectively. It also would clarify that proposed Lake County and LaPorte further evidence of that and the fact manufactured housing retailers are County’s public-private Partnership the agency issued a press release not loan originators and should be al- with Wall Street to acquire the high- rubber-stamping the IFM deal within lowed to give prospective buyers more way in a deal that promised $5 million hours of the announcement today help in obtaining lending, after the a year in fees to county government without seeking to leverage their ap- new restrictions placed new limits on and millions more in surplus revenues proval for any benefits to the state what they can do in that regard.