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Home , Big tent, Mitch Daniels, Roy Moore

V 11, No 40 Thursday, June 23, 2005 ‘Communitarian’ GOP vs. the ‘anti-’ right Moderate Republicans begin to fight back “I don’t believe in the By BRIAN A. HOWEY in Indianapolis and MARK T. CURRY in Washington D.C. big tent. I don’t believe On Wednesday morning, before the Humanities Council Leadership you get to be that big Summit, Gov. Mitch Daniels accented his moderate, progressive credentials. “If we are going to become a state that is forward looking and ready to com- offending a large por- pete, willing to take risks and try new things, it will take leadership and that leadership tion of your base.” should come from every sector of society. You know what is sometimes viewed as the –– Micah Clark, American definitive history of our state -- the Indiana way -- people of Indiana tend to navigate in the middle of the mainstream, drifting, if anywhere, Family Association of Indiana, a little closer to the more secure edge of the river. to the Indianapolis Star Some of us think it’s time to paddle a little further out into the current. Paddle a little faster. That’s what you do when you try to catch up, if we’re going to be a more tolerant state, more welcoming to immigrant capital as well as immigrant individuals. “We must be a communitarian state,” Daniels The Howey Political Report is published continued. “We are in this together. We will not suc- Gov. Mitch Daniels at the by NewsLink Inc. Founded in 1994, The Howey Political Report is an independent, ceed if any large portion of Indiana does not move Humanities Council leadership forward. The northwest. Small towns. The rural areas. non- newsletter analyzing the political summit. (HPR Photo by Thomas process in Indiana. Leadership of the kind I’m looking at right now pro- Howey) Brian A. Howey, Publisher vides that essential role of reassurance, of explana- Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington Writer tion, of demonstrating it is about all of us working together. There is no limit to what Jack E. Howey, Editor we might achieve.” Three days earlier, Michah Clark of the Indiana Family Association of Indiana Subscriptions: appeared to be anything but “communitarian.” He reacted angrily to Gov. Daniels $350 annually HPR via e-mail; renewing the EEOC non-discrimnation policy. His comment to the Indianapolis Star -- $550 annually HPR & HPR Daily Wire. “I don’t believe in the big tent. I don’t believe you get to be that big offending a large Call 254-0535. portion of your base” -- exposed a fissure within the Indiana Republican Party. It is a The Howey Political Report party where the evangelical can turn out between 25 to 32 percent of a PO Box 40265 primary vote for people such as John R. Price in the 1998 U.S. Senate race or Eric Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265. Miller in the 2004 governor’s race. www.howeypolitics.com That leaves at least two-thirds of the Republican Party in the moderate col- [email protected] Indianapolis Office: 317-506-0883. : Eric Miller makes a million p. 4 Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535. Washington Office: 202-775-3242. 2006 Horse Race: Kennedy mulls p. 5 Business Office: 317-254-0535.

Howey Column: An F-1 thanks to Bob p. 7 ©2005, The Howey Political Report. All reserved. Photocopying, Internet for- Columnists: Kristol, Colwell, James p. 8 warding, faxing or reproducing in any form, in whole or part, is a violation of federal law Ticker: Bayh in New Hampshire p. 9 and is strictly prohibited without consent of the publisher. Covering a Decade of Indiana Politics HOWEY Political Report Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 23, 2005 umn. particular issue and determine for the rest of us, insinuate for Modern Indiana Republicans had been about keeping the rest of us that they are speaking as the majority will. They government out of our private lives; of efficient, limited gov- are not," Hostettler said. ernment; of low taxes. During the Gingrich revolution of 1994, b. Is urging Gibson County to defy a court order it was about term limits, balanced budgets and Congress liv- removing a 10 Commandments monument. Hostettler ing under the same laws as the rest of us. During the Clinton amended a spending bill last week to block federal marshals era, it was about adhering to the “.” from enforcing a court order to remove the monument from This is something we’ve been analyzing since the the lawn of the Gibson County Courthouse in Princeton, Ind. 2004 campaign, when Daniels ran on his moderate and pro- But some supporters of the display have questioned gressive “aim higher” platform where core principles were not Hostettler's effort. "It presupposes the county would not follow to be compromised; where one’s character would not be deni- a court order. That's ridiculous," said Gibson County Attorney grated, while House Republicans used the Jerry Stilwell (Louisville Courier-Journal). "If marriage wedge issue to launch severe and the ultimate ruling is that the monument edgy attacks against Democratic opponents. must go, I feel confident our county com- Clark is the first to denounce the “big missioners will follow the court ruling." tent” that President Reagan articulated three c. And earlier this week, Hostettler decades ago. It is further evidence that the said this, and then retracted it under band of is growing threat of censure: "Like a moth to a flame, wider, stretching far, far to the right. Democrats can't help themselves when it But since the evangelical right took comes to denigrating and demonizing over the Indiana House leadership with the Christians." ascension of House Speaker U.S. Rep. Mark Souder in Iraq. U.S. Rep. also believes and State Rep. Eric Turner, Republicans are a constitutional framers intended this to be a conflicted party even as they control the executive and leg- “Christian nation” when many people, including politically islative branches of government. moderate Christians, disagree. Pence hopes to move legis- They blocked Mayor ’s Indy Works lation such as the Constitution Restoration Act, partly crafted reforms that could have easily been written by a Republican by former Chief Roy Moore, ousted last year mayor (and, in fact, many provisions were blueprints from for refusing to remove a monument from Mayor Stephen Goldsmith’s Republiican administration). It the rotunda of the Alabama judicial center. "That would use prompted Gov. Mitch Daniels to say in Southern Indiana last the jurisdictional powers of the Congress to take some of week, "I'm embarrassed to say members of my party blocked these issues away from the purview of the courts," Pence it.” explained, "particularly when it comes to the acknowledge- They are in an uproar over BMV Commissioner Joel ment of God in the public square." Silverman’s reforms of an agency that has more branches In the Teri Schiavo case, as Congress intervened in than any state except much bigger California and . They what had been a family matter, U.S. Rep. Mark Souder said blocked the anti-discrimination ordinance in the Indianapolis on March 21, “This young woman isn’t unconscious, City-County Council, insisting, as Eric Miller and Councilor comatose or brain dead. And she’s not on artificial life sup- Scott Schneider did, that the people were against it. port. She smiles, cries and responds to those around her. House Republicans opted for tax hikes over gaming, She’s a disabled woman who needs help eating, just as many setting up the spectre of rising property tax bills to be deliv- disabled people do.” An autopsy released last week showed ered to voters just before the May primary and November that Teri Schiavo’s brain was half its former size and that she 2006 elections. In Congress, Republicans invaded the had no cognitive ability or sight. Schiavo family calamity. They are now against term limits. They’ve presided over record deficit budgets. And the rule of What’s the matter with (Indiana)? law has become something to be compromised or defied. In his acclaimed and controversial book, “What’s the And the Indiana GOP continues to press further out Matter with Kansas,” author Thomas Frank observes, "Let us on the fringes. Look no further than U.S. Rep. John Hostettler pause for a moment to ponder this all-American dysfunction. who: A state is spectacularly ill-served by the Reagan-Bush stam- a. Likened the U.S. Supreme Court to the Soviet pede of deregulation, , and laissez-faire. It sees Politburo. "As few as five people in black robes can look at a its countryside depopulated, its towns disintegrate, its cities HOWEY Political Report Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 23, 2005 stagnate -- and its wealthy enclaves sparkle, behind their campaign tactics that helped elect State Reps. Bill Davis, Billy remote-controlled gates. The state erupts in revolt, making Bright, Bruce Borders and last November. headlines around the world with its bold defiance of conven- “What I saw him do beginning in 2002 and even more tion. But what do its rebels demand? More of the very mea- so in 2004 was to play off the national Repuiblican politics,” sures that brought ruination on them and their neighbors in Blinzinger said. the first place. This is not just the mystery of Kansas; this is The evangelical right held sway in the House with the the mystery of America, the historical shift that has made it all push for the marriage amendment, and taxes over gaming. possible." They have set the stage for a perfect storm next April and Frank adds, “And then think of the political changes May. That’s when Daylight-saving time will kick in, along with that this sappy stuff has helped to sell: Privatization. increased property tax bills. Deregulation. Monopolies in every industry from banking to “I fully expect an increased number of Republicans radio to meatpacking. The will have primary oppo- destruction of the welfare nents,” Blinzinger said. “I state. The beatdown of can see Democratic ads the labor movement. The out there that will say, transformation of the “The Governor and House Midwest into the rust belt. Republicans gave the And, shimmering in the Colts a new stadium in heavens above all this, 2005, but they couldn’t the rise of a new plutocra- find any additional money cy, a class of overlords so for your child’s education.” taken with their own mag- State Rep. Phil Hinkle (left) blocked the Indy Works reforms and State Rep. Eric And, Blinzinger said, nificence that they are Turner (right) was instrumental in the taxes over slots debate that will insure that “I see the Christian right moved to compare them- taxes are a prime campaign topic in 2006. (HPR Photo). becoming ever more stri- selves to the Almighty. dent.” “They have chosen a cultural battle where failure is a State Rep. Luke Messer, the executive director of the given, where it’s absolutely certain before they even start,” Indiana Republican Party, said that in the House caucus “dis- Frank said. “And why do that? There’s a hundred ways they cussion on gaming was on-going into the final week of the could challenge that Massachusetts court ruling if they want- session. There was a debate on sin tax. What was ultimately ed to, but they chose to go with a Constitutional amendment, passed was a budget with no general tax, but which allowed the one thing that is absolutely certain to fail. I argue that fail- locals to make those decisions.” ure is but part of the DNA of the cultural wars. The Messer said he was “extraordinarily impressed” with Republicans who have been very, very successful in remak- the way Speaker Bosma dealt with his team. “At the end of ing the economic landscape that we live in don’t deliver on the day, he brought everyone together. Everyone felt good the cultural front. They always lose. Hollywood movies just about our plan. Any solution would have been imperfect.” get coarser and coarser every year. This is one of the most As for Indy Works, he said that was a failure of Mayor interesting aspects of the conservative world –- that these cul- Peterson to stump the state as Mayor did prior tural issues that motivate people by the millions are never to the passage of Unigov. “When you come to the legislature, won. The gigantic contradiction in (is) that the relationships matter,” Messer said. “Not press conferences. It capitalism that they profess to love delivers this started from a combative point of view. There was every rea- culture that they find so offensive and so abhorrent.” son to give the mayor his Indy Works program. Key legisla- tors, Phil Hinkle, Mike Murphy, Bruce Borders, thought it was Grubbing for votes a bad plan. We as a caucus tend to side with the local legisla- Don Blinzinger, a senior vice president at BoseTreacy tor.” and a former aide to House Speaker Brian Bosma, traces the Messer explained that Republicans are now learning further rightward movement of Indiana House Republicans to how much tougher it is to govern. “This balance has not been the acension of Bosma and Rep. Eric Turner, replacing mod- an easy balance to reach for several decades,” Messer said. erates such as former House Speaker Paul Mannweiler and “You’ve had a lot of fiscal conservatives against the social John Keeler. In 2002, Bosma brought in an Iowa political conservative agenda. But without the social conservatives, operative, Steve Grubbs, who came up with the gay-bashing we’re not a majority party. Most are opposed to gay marriage, but they believe there should be certain legal pro- HOWEY Political Report Page 4 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 23, 2005 tections.” Remember the barn-raising Messer said, “We are commited to the big tent.” In HPR’s view, Daniels is a moderate, though he has delivered for the social conservatives on recent abortion legis- Moderates fighting back lation. What the Micah Clarks and Eric Millers don't under- There is evidence that moderate Republicans are stand is that the more they beat on Gov. Daniels, the more beginning to fight back. The First Republicans is a moderate friends he is likely to make in the middle, especially with the group that was started Indianapolis attorney Syd Steele, who "late deciding women" who detest intolerance. Miller’s practices with Bosma’s law firm of Kroger, Gardis & Regas. Advance America can deliver 2,000 people for rallies at the Its first guest speaker was former New Jersey Gov. Statehouse or pump out a burst of e-mails. But they don’t win Christine Todd-Whitman, author of the book, “It's My Party, elections; they enforce litmus tests. Too: The Battle for the Heart of the GOP and the Future of “I wouldn’t call it an escalation,” said Bill Oesterle, a America," She wants GOP moderates to “assert themselves top Daniels confidant, of Clark’s resistance. “My comments to forcefully.” our spring dinner were a fact. Republicans are going to be Her website, www.mypartytoo.com features quotes conscious of differing views. Micah Clark is operating at the such as from President Dwight Eisenhower, who asserted that fringes. Most people don’t believe in a party that is not inclu- the GOP “brings people together, not drives them apart.” And sive.” there is a quote from Reagan, who said he views a modern At the Humanities Council Leadership Summit, Republican party that “is not based on exclusion. After all, you Daniels sought to raise the dialogue. “Let’s think deeper. Let’s don’t get to be the majority party by searching for groups you be profound. Let’s be as smart about this as we can be. won’t work or associate with.” There are minds to change ... and there are apprehensive Indianapolis attorney Gary Welsh, a 1984 Reagan people to reassure, uplift and reach out to.” delegate and former aide to Illinois House Republican Leader He talked of leadership which explains the tough Lee Daniels, started the Advance Indiana blogsite because of dilemmas, a striking contrast to the shrill and reactive his repugnance of what he sees as “bigotry.” response to the BMV closings from leaders such as Senate “You can replace all the references to gays with President Robert Garton. blacks and women and see how calls for discimination “In my inaugural I raised the old image of the barn- against all of them in the past were tied to Christian beliefs,” raising,” Daniels said. “That community exercise where every- Welsh said. “The Party of Lincoln was always on the right one took part; no one stayed home. Our comeback must look side of civil rights.” like that.” 

he parlayed for himself during this six-year period. Eric Miller’s million Equally disturbing is Advance Indiana's discovery that By GARY R. WELSH Miller’s private law firm shared the tax-exempt organization’s www.advanceindiana.blogspot.com pricey office space and utilized the organization’s employee INDIANAPOLIS - Like D.C. Stephenson used the services throughout this period. As the organization’s execu- KKK in the 1920s to personally enrich himself, Advance tive director, Miller was paid $621,168 in salary during the Indiana can report that Eric Miller has used Advance period of 1998 through 2003, averaging $103,528 in annual America’s non-profit status to personally enrich himself pay. A survey conducted by Towers Perrin of 376 nonprofit through inflated six-figure salaries, legal retainers for his law organizations at the same time Miller was earning an annual firm and other acts of self-dealing. Between 1998 and 2003 salary of $109,085 found that the average annual salary for Miller pocketed more than $1 million in tax-subsidized dollars the top executive of an organization with an annual budget of for his salary, legal fees and other benefits from the organiza- less than $1 million was $78,500, more than $30,000 below tion he founded. Miller’s annual pay. Beginning in 2002, the organization also Miller served as the organization’s executive director began making substantial contributions to Miller’s benefits continuously over the past 25 years, stepping down in 2004 to plan to offset reductions in his annual salary. In 2002, the mount his unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for organization contributed $11,000 to Miller’s benefits plan, and Governor. The period analyzed covers but a small period of it chipped in another $14,000 in 2003, upping Miller’s person- Miller’s tenure at the helm of the organization, suggesting that al take $25,000 during the two-year period.  he has personally benefited far more than the million dollars HOWEY Political Report Page 5 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 23, 2005

Forecast: The rhetorical warfare came as the House consid- Indiana 2006 Congressional ered a proposal by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., to put U.S. Senate: Republican: U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar. Congress on record against "coercive and abusive religious Democrat: 9/11 Commissioner Tim Roemer. 1988 results: proselytizing" at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Rep. John Lugar (R) 1,430,525, Wickes Hostettler, R-Ind., criticized Obey and (D) 668,778. 1994 results: Steve Israel, D-N.Y., who offered a Lugar (R) 1,039,625, Jontz similar condemnation of academy offi- (D) 470,799, Bourland (L) cials earlier this year on another bill. 17,343, Barton (A) 15,801. "Like a moth to a flame, Democrats 2000 Results: Lugar can't help themselves when it comes 1,425,150, Johnson (D) to denigrating and demonizing 680,046, Hager (L) 33,896. Christians," Hostettler said (Washington 2006 Forecast: In his Roll Call column, political analyst Post). Democrats leapt to their feet and Stuart Rothenberg says that when Democratic activists demanded Hostettler be censured for "leaked one question from a poll conducted by Garin Hart his remarks. After a half-hour's worth of Yang for the Indiana , they crossed a line U.S. Rep. Hostettler wrangling, Hostettler retracted his that is etched in stone. In attempting to start a political band- comments. The imbroglio broke out as wagon rolling for a Senate bid by former Rep. Tim Roemer, the House conducted an otherwise routine debate on a $409 they attempted to mislead journalists and political observers billion spending bill to fund the Pentagon budget and provide alike." Pollster Fred Yang "did the right thing" and "set the an additional $45 billion for the war in Iraq. Status: LEANS record straight," noting that the "reported 41 percent to 39 HOSTETTLER. percent lead by Sen. Dick Lugar (R) over potential challenger Congressional District 9: Republican: U.S. Rep. Roemer (D) was, in fact, a response generated only after Mike Sodrel. Democrat: Baron Hill. Media Market: Evansville those being polled received positive information about the (11%), Indianapolis (23%), Louisville (55%), Dayton, candidates." Rothenberg adds that "releasing a second ballot (10 percent). People: urban/rural 52/48%, median as if it is an initial ballot is tantamount to political fraud." income $39,011; race white 94%, 2.3% black, 1.5% Hispanic; Roemer "very probably could not" defeat Lugar, "though he blue/white collar: 34/50%; 2000 Presidential: Bush 56%, likely could run a credible race." A "mid-June American Gore 42%; Cook Partisan Voting Index: R+8. 2004 Viewpoint poll for Lugar, which smells far more reasonable Presidential: Bush 59%, Kerry 40%. 2002 Results: Hill and accurate than the informed ballot disseminated by 96,654 (51%), Sodrel 87,169 (46%). 2002 Money: Hill Democrats, showed Lugar leading Roemer 58 percent to 24 $1.144m, Sodrel $1.62m. 2004 Results: Sodrel 142,197, Hill percent. Lugar is well liked, well known statewide and widely 140,772, Cox (L) 4,541. 2006 Forecast: Sodrel voted for the respected." Status: SAFE LUGAR. spending bill amendment that included U.S. Rep. John Congressional District 8: Republican: U.S. Rep. John Hostettler’s language that would urge Gibson County to defy Hostettler. Democrat: Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad a federal court order to remove its 10 commandments monu- Ellsworth. Geography: Evansville, Terre Haute, Greencastle; ment (Louisville Courier-Journal). The Rothenberg Political Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Gibson, Pike, Martin, Daviess, Report profiled this race in its June 7 edition. “In 2002, Hill Knox, Sullivan, Greene, Owen, Clay, Vigo, Vermillion, Parke, won 11 of the 20 counties. But in his rematch with Sodrel in Putnam, Warren and part of Fountain counties. Media Market: 2004, the Democrat won only nine counties and his vote per- Evansville, Terre Haute, Indianapolis. Lafayette. People: centage decreased in 17 of the 20 counties. Even though Hill Urban/rural 58/42%; median income$36,732; poverty 10.7%; previously represented the district, he faces an uphill fight in race white 93.7%, black 3.7%, Hispanic .9%; blue/white col- 2006. One Democratic insider insists that Hill has never really lar: 32/52%. 2000 Presidential: Bush 56%, Gore 42%; Cook acknowledged why he lost, and he must resolve to take the Partisan Voting Index: R+8. 2002 Results: Hostettler 98,952 fight to Sodrel. Last cycle, Hill chose to stay positive and run (51%), Hartke 88,763 (46%), 2004 Results: Hostettler spots involving his wife and family. Hill must also improve his 145,576, Jennings (D) 121,522, Garvin (Green) 5.680. 2006 HOWEY Political Report Page 6 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 23, 2005 fundraising. Unlike 2002 and 2004, Sodrel will be the incum- Deputy Mayor Melina Kennedy is becoming the consensus bent and will likely be able to raise money from political action choice to challenge Brizzi. “She is considering it,” said committees. Hill, on the other hand, will not have the benefits Michael O’Connor, the former deputy mayor now at of incumbency and will need to work harder to raise a war BoseTreacy. “She is very detailed and exacting in her analy- chest. Democrats note that congressman won’t be running sis.” Kennedy was point person for Mayor Peterson on the with the benefit of President Bush at the top of the ticket, Colts deal and she worked extensively on the Criminal Justice Council’s $12 million decision to reduce inmate early release. which could well improve the state’s electoral environment for Kennedy clerked two years for the all Democrats. Hill and the and handled death penalty cases. She also worked on the Democrats are hoping that domestic violence roundtable. The emergence of Kennedy as the overall dynamics of the a Democratic challenger produced a buzz about a “proxy cycle will benefit their party fight” between the Peterson and Daniels camps. “It will cer- and provide an environment tainly be a race that gets the attention of the Peterson team,” to defeat the freshman O’Connor said. Former Daniels campaign manager Bill Republican. But the district’s Oesterle called Brizzi’s re-election the top GOP priority in numbers favor Republicans 2006. But O’Connor cautioned on the Peterson/Daniels mus- slightly, and Hill will have a cle flexing in the wake of the Indy Works and stadium con- tough time convincing voters that they should oust Sodrel toversies. “In the end, people vote for the two people on the after a single term. Status: Tossup. ballot.” Kennedy and Brizzi appeared at a Criminal Justice Council meeting. The $12 million proposal, designed to speed the pace at which people move through the county court sys- Indiana 2006 House tem, follows several cases in which inmates were released early to meet court-ordered limits on jail crowding only to be House District 64: Republican: State Rep. Troy charged later with committing more serious crimes, including Woodruff. Democrat: Open. 2002 Results: Frenz 10,516, murder (Indianapolis Star). Mary Moriarty Adams, chairwoman Davis (R) 8,774. 2004 Results: Woodruff 12,698, Frenz of the Council's Public Safety and Criminal Justice 12,507. 2006 Forecast: Indianapolis Star columnist Matthew Committee, said she believes the plan will win approval Tully wrote of Woodruff: Politically, many see him as a dead because it was drafted by people in the criminal justice sys- man walking -- likely to be tossed from office at the voters' tem. "They provided the options," she said. "They know best earliest possible convenience. All because of The Vote. In what their needs are." Mayor Bart Peterson called the deci- Vincennes, Woodruff hears about it everywhere. "Hey," peo- sion to send the plan to the City-County Council a "historic ple bellow, "what time is it?" It's enough to make Democrats vote in support of finally beginning the process of fixing the drool at the idea of grabbing back a seat they lost by 188 criminal justice system here in Marion County. It's been bro- votes last year. At City Hall, Mayor Terry Mooney made the ken a long, long time." The plan drew criticism from Marion case for second chances: "If Troy learned one thing, it's that County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi because it includes no money he won't say 'never, never' ever again." John Frenz thinks it's for adding jail beds. Brizzi, however, voted in favor of the plan too late. He's the Democrat Woodruff kicked out of office last at the end of the 90-minute Planning Council meeting. year. He is leaning against a rematch but, boy, would he like "People are still failing to appear in court but, all that said, to even the score. Sitting in his office, Frenz played a nasty without the funds necessary to actually add beds in addition GOP radio ad from 2004. While the ad slammed Frenz for to this, it is a step in the right direction," Brizzi said. Brizzi filed breaking his word, he can now laugh at its closing sentence: the charges Monday as what he called a last-resort tactic "When Troy Woodruff gives us his word, we can trust him to against "deadbeat dads" who won't take responsibility for their keep it."Unfortunately for Woodruff, time won't erase those children. They were the first criminal charges for withholding words. Status: Tossup. child support since Brizzi became prosecutor in 2002, accord- ing to his office. The 10 men on the list owe up to $121,709 each, for a total of more than $624,000, Brizzi said Monday at 2006 Local Races a news conference. The missed payments date back to 1983 Marion County Prosecutor: Republican: Prosecutor and include 19 children. Status: LEANS R.  Carl Brizzi. Democrat: Deputy Mayor Melina Kennedy. 2002 Results: Brizzi 103,478, Osborn (D) 89,541, St. Angelo (L) 4,997. 2006 Outlook: Democratic insiders tell HPR that HOWEY Political Report Page 7 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 23, 2005

played proper disapproval after the race, when Tony George Thanks, Bob refused to congratulate the winner. By BRIAN A. HOWEY "(The decision) is going to affect a lot of people. It's INDIANAPOLIS - There’s a reason why we don’t let important that we understand our role in this and make some sportswriters run the (pick one): good decisions," IMS President Joie Chitwood said a.) city (Indianapolis Star). "It's safe to say we're in contact with the b.) state right individuals over the next steps." c.) nation Good. d.) newsroom Sometimes it rains e.) dog pound when the games are to be Witness Indianapolis Star sports columnist Bob played. Sometimes the flights Kravitz, who was steaming in his Detroit hotel room about the are delayed. Sometimes U.S. Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on there are problems with the Sunday. tires. The first question that must be asked is why wasn’t But you shouldn’t fold Bob at the speedway to up the stadium, close the air- witness the third largest port or end the race because annual sporting event on there was one bad day. the planet instead of the I can remember a NBA Finals? The Pistons couple of Indianapolis 500s moved to Detroit from I back in the old snakepit days Fort Wayne more than I where rain, wrecks and con- four decades ago. From I troversey with the governing

300 miles away and I

I body USAC produced deba- watching on TV, he called I cles and angry Foyts, it a “disgrace,” and “deba- Penskes and ... sports writers. I can remember sports writers cle.” These adjectives such as Kravitz whining that the IRL/CART split would ruin came about after only six of the 20 Formula One teams com- the Indianapolis 500 back in 1996 and 1997. Had we listened peted due to the Michelin tire flameout. to them and decided the world’s largest annual sporting event “Simply stated, this race is done,” Kravitz wrote. was forever compromised, we wouldn’t have had the moment “Forget what any contract might say about future events. The we did earlier this month when Danica Patrick helped restore Formula One gang has lost all its credibility with the American the 500’s luster ... on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Had we market, and has torn apart every relationship it needed to listened to them before the first Brickyard 400, we never make this thing succeed.” would have witnessed one of the greatest scenes in Hoosier The local TV stations spent much of Monday going sports history ... the NASCAR drivers kissing the finish line around the city, asking everyone from Mayor Peterson to Joe bricks. It was a scene that truly put into context what the Schmoe “who to blame.” Indianapolis Motor Speedway means to our state. The sports writer was closing the books on an event Indiana is fortunate that we have a visionary like Tony that brings $170 million to Central Indiana each year. It fills up George. our hotel rooms and restaurants. It allows the Indianapolis In George, we have a Hoosier leader who is willing to dateline to appear in thousands of newspapers and maga- think outside the box, take risks, and treat the consumer right. zines worldwide. He doesn’t ask the city and state for handouts. Tony George The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the city of thinks ahead of the curve. He is the kind of guy who will think Indianapolis and countless other entrepreneurs have spent this thing through, make the right adjustments and, with some millions of dollars planning, building and executing the U.S. cooperation and luck, restore Formula One to its position that Grand Prix. makes Indiana one of the great sports meccas of the globe. And it’s not like other major sporting events or series Kravitz is quick to say, “Goodbye, Formula One. haven’t suffered some embarrassing turn of events. I suppose Good riddance, Bernie Ecclestone.” if Kravitz was around in 1919, he would have urged an end to From a purely constructive viewpoint, perhaps Kravitz the World Series. will decide to stay in Detroit.  Actually, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway folks dis- HOWEY Political Report Page 8 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 23, 2005

William Kristol, Weekly Standard - Warning: THIS tively assist in improving the quality of life, while striving to IS SPECULATION. Obviously, I think it's somewhat well- find ways to promote and preserve a feeling of security, safe- informed speculation, or else I wouldn't be writing this. But it ty for the the citizens of Gary.” Sounds like a noble cause is speculation. (1) There will be a Supreme Court resignation until you read between the lines. The ticket stub is good for within the next week. But it will be Justice O'Connor, not three cash raffles, which is fine as long as the Department of Chief Justice Rehnquist. There are several tea-leaf-like sug- Revenue has given its blessing. It hasn’t. The ticket also says gestions that O'Connor may be stepping down, including the “Public Safety is our Real Concern in our Community.” To fact that she has apparently arranged to spend much more shore up that contention, one needs only to check the list of time in Arizona beginning this fall. There are also recent inti- speakers — county Prosecutor Bernard Carter, Gary City mations that Chief Justice Rehnquist may not resign. This Judge Deidre Monroe and Buncich, the candidate for sheriff. would be consistent with Justice O'Connor having confided Kind of seems strange that Gary Police Chief Garnett Watson  her plan to step down to the chief a while ago. Rehnquist wouldn’t be included in that group. But, what do I know? probably believes that it wouldn't be good for the Court to have two resignations at once, so he would presumably stay Jack Colwell, South Bend Tribune - Puzzled over on for as long as his health permits, and/or until after Justice polls? Don't be. The rival polls on a Roemer vs. Lugar race O'Connor's replacement is confirmed. (2) President Bush will both make sense. Any questions? Q. Heck, yes. The poll appoint Attorney General to replace taken for Democrats showed former Congressman Tim O'Connor.  Roemer just two percentage points behind Sen. Dick Lugar. The poll taken for Lugar showed the Republican senator Gary Gerard, Warsaw Times-Union - I ahead by 34 points. Did the pollsters just make up numbers hope GM can turn things around. The last thing to please their clients? A. No. Both had we need is the world’s largest auto manufacturer respected, professional pollsters. Q. Well, how going belly up. I think GM may have lacked a lit- could the findings be so far apart? A. All find- tle automotive vision? I mean really, what did ings probably were not that far apart. In fact, they think, that the Hummer was going to be the they had almost exact percentages showing vehicle of the future? The Tahoe, the Suburban, that a majority of Hoosiers think the nation is on the Yukon, the Escalade? Some companies the wrong track. But, as for Roemer vs. Lugar positioned themselves a little more appropriately percentages, only a result after pushing to with hybrids and smaller vehicles. But, frankly, enhance positive name recognition for Roemer market share is only the tip of the iceberg when you consider was leaked from the poll taken for Indiana GM’s problems. And the financial difficulty GM faces is under- Democrats to test chances in the 2006 Senate race. The poll stated by the numbers you see in the news. A fascinating arti- taken for Lugar was a standard poll, no pushing. Q. So the cle by Nick Barisheff on HoweStreet.com, a noted investor Democrats conducted one of those nasty, negative push polls commentary site, reminds us that while most people think of to destroy Lugar's reputation? A. No. Not according to GM as a car company, it is also a finance company. In fact, sources involved in the Democratic poll. They insist that only 80 percent of GM’s 2004 earnings came from GMAC, its positive information was recited about both Roemer and financial division. Notes Barisheff: “While the auto divisions Lugar before the "who-would-you-vote-for?" question. Q. Do posted losses, the finance division provided all of the profits.” you think that's possible, considering the claimed results? A.  Yes. So does Lugar's campaign manager, Nick Weber, who concedes that "push polls are not inherently negative," but he adds that pushing with positive comments about the candi- Rich James, Post-Tribune - The People United for a dates, especially if it's very, very positive about one, "does Safer Gary are about to pull a scam on the city’s residents. It distort." Q. Do you think the Lugar poll was an accurate snap- doesn’t take much of a detective to figure out that John shot of what would happen if voters had to choose now Buncich, the former Lake County sheriff who is challenging between Lugar and Roemer? A. Yes, for an election right Sheriff Roy Dominguez to win back his job, is at the core of now. It showed these percentages: Lugar, 58; Roemer, 24. the con. The People United for a Safer Gary was established Lugar long has been shown in polls and at the polls to be the in January. In a letter to elected officials inviting them to a most popular political figure in Indiana. He remains so. June 26 gala, People United says, “Our mission is to partner Roemer is not nearly as well known as Lugar in most parts of with city officials and our local police departments to proac- the state. HOWEY Political Report Page 9 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, June 23, 2005

Bayh heading to midyear report setting objectives for his Hoosier soldier administration that can be counted and New Hampshire measured. “It is but a start. I think a rea- killed in Iraq MANCHESTER N.H. - There sonable start,” he said (Fort Wayne CROWN POINT - Army Spc. has been a fair Journal Gazette). “But a great state is Nick Idalski, a little more than a week amount of nation- more than its economy. A great state is shy of his 24th birthday, had been killed al media specula- more than its quality of government. In in action that day by small-arms fire tion about the the end, it’s about the quality of life near Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Idalski was political future of there.” assigned to the U.S. Army's 2nd Democratic Brigade Combat Team, attached to the Indiana Sen. Whitt leaves Second Marine Expeditionary Force. (New governor’s office Hamphsire McDermott reverses himself Union-Leader). Soon, Granite Staters INDIANAPOLIS - Deputy Chief will be able to hear this centrist of Staff Ellen Whitt on RDA appointment Democrat for themselves. The Status has left the office of HAMMOND - Mayor Thomas has learned that Bayh will be in the Gov. Mitch Daniels. McDermott Jr. plans to appoint Purdue state on July 10 and 11. A schedule has Whitt told HPR that University Calumet Chancellor Howard yet to be finalized. Manchester's Steve the burnout factor Cohen to a post on the influential Bouchard heads Bayh's All-America caught up with her. Regional Development Authority, a PAC and is planning the visit. In '04, She was deputy cam- source familiar with the appointment Bouchard worked first with Florida Sen. paign manager from said (Times of ). The 2003-04, laying a Bob Graham, and then, after Graham Whitt appointment would mark a reversal for dropped out, with retired Gen. Wesley good deal of the the mayor, who was criticized by some Clark. groundwork for Daniels’ successful cam- observers earlier this year for announc- paign. She is taking some time off ing intentions earlier to appoint himself Johnson County approves before deciding what career track to to the authority. Gus Olympidis, the take next. chief executive officer of Valparaiso's stadium tax Family Express Corp., confirmed FRANKLIN - The Johnson Councilmen fire across Wednesday he has applied to represent County Council approved a 1 percent Peterson’s bow Porter County on the RDA. Ed restaurant tax on Wednesday night after Charbonneau's name also has been INDIANAPOLIS - Shooting debating the technicalities of the tax, submitted to Porter County officials for across the bow before Mayor Bart such as how much the county could consideration. Others are Northern Peterson announces expected budget earn in interest by collecting the tax Indiana Commuter Transportation cuts, two Republican City-County locally and how much it would cost the District Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Council members criticized the mayor treasurer’s office to print forms and Lowe and Porter Police Commissioner Wednesday for spending priorities they envelopes and process the payments and private security coordinator Arthur said won't reduce crime. Councilmen (Johnson County Daily Journal). Council Heredia. member Paul Reed cast the only vote Isaac Randolph and Scott Schneider criticized Peterson for threatening to against the tax after approving it a week Clay makes second earlier. He said he disagreed with the reduce the number of police officers at a plan by the state and Indianapolis to time when the violent crime rate is not election board appointment pay the Colts $48 million to terminate decreasing, but they did not offer alter- GARY - Lake County the team’s RCA Dome lease . native plans for how to make the budget Democratic Chairman Rudy Clay is work. "We're here today to talk about solidifying his position in his spat with Daniels to issue resources not going to the right place," Clerk Thomas Philpot over control of the Randolph said at a news conference the County Election Board (Post-Tribune). report card in July two council members called at New Clay said Wednesday he will appoint Al INDIANAPOLIS - Next month, Beginnings Church on the Near Salinas Sr. to fill the vacant spot on the Northside. Gov. Mitch Daniels said he will issue a board.