V17, N18 Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 HPI Power 50: Can we figure it out? The ‘rubber match’ in 2012 comes as real doubt festers on the political process By BRIAN A. HOWEY in Indianapolis and MARK SCHOEFF JR. in Washington The 2012 Howey Politics Indiana Power 50 is the most troubling compilation this publication has brought into the public purview in the 18 years we’ve existed. The political process is so utterly broken, we are not sure the nation can survive in a way we know and recognize it today. We’ve read a steady stream of commentary - ranging from Gov. Mitch Daniels and President Obama shake hands, then talk in May at the sober Mitch the Indianapolis International Airport. The two could still be on opposite Daniels, to the tickets in what could be an epic election this November. wild-eyed Pat Buchanan, to the globe-trotting thers and grandmothers - to the stewardship of my g-g-g- Thomas Friedman - warning of a financial cataclysm that generation, the Baby Boomers. will leave a very different America for our children and grandchildren. We’ve gone from a nation created by the Continued on page 4 “Greatest Generation” - our father and mothers, grandfa- An open letter to Dan Parker By SHAW R. FRIEDMAN LaPORTE - This is an open letter to Indiana Demo- cratic Chairman Dan Parker. Dear Dan: “We refuse to let the most It’s clear you’re going to be around this year and those of us who desperately wanted a controversial public policy bill change in state party leadership and those who were satisfied with the sta- of the decade be railroaded tus quo are going to have to find a way through and the public denied a to “peacefully co-exist” if we are going to elect a Democratic governor in 2012. fair and adequate input.” As Joel Miller, who was the choice to be state chairman by 12 of the 18 elected - House Minority Leader district chairs and vice-chairs put it so B. Patrick Bauer HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 diplomatically in the Indianapolis Star consistent issue positions over the right after the December 17 state years. Stop pulling punches and start committee meeting, this was a fight demanding that the wealthy and big “within the family” and we Democrats corporations do their fair share. Our generally have a way of patching base and independents want to feel www.HoweyPolitics.com things up, pulling together and work- that Democrats will stand with Main ing for a common cause. Street. The state party has been all One thing both sides can too willing to focus on “process” rather Howey Politics agree on is the stakes couldn’t be than “policy.” Whether it’s standing Indiana higher. We’ve got to erase Republican up to the big utilities that want to hike is a non-partisan newsletter gains in the legislature and win this Hoosiers’ utility bills or demanding that based in Indianapolis. It was governorship back. John Gregg is a the big banks that took bailout money founded in 1994 in Fort Wayne. personable candidate who well rep- start lending to small business again resents mainstream Hoosier values. or insisting that insurance companies He’d be a common-sense governor give a fair shake to their customers, Brian A. Howey, Publisher willing to ensure that state govern- our state party needs to stand up for Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington ment works well for Main Street, the “little guy” again. Eighty-six per- Jack E. Howey, editor rather than Wall Street. Mike Pence, cent of respondents in a recent Time Beverly K. Phillips, associate on the other hand, is an extreme ideo- magazine poll think that “Wall Street logue who is bankrolled by the same and its lobbyists have too much influ- editor wealthy interests who helped crater ence.” Dan, voters will support and our economy in 2008. The choice for reward candidates who are seen as Subscriptions voters couldn’t be clearer. Assaults on standing with average working fami- $350 annually HPI Weekly the wages of average Hoosier families lies. like Right to Work will become the 3. Stop being afraid of $550 annually HPI Weekly and norm if we can’t restore balance in talking about needing revenues HPI Daily Wire. state government. to run state and local govern- 'Call 317.627.6746 Hopefully, Dan, what amount- ment to deliver basic services. For ed to a razor-thin win on a vote of no instance, why should multi-state and confidence (15 to 13 ½) sent you a multi-national corporations be allowed Contact HPI message about some changes you’ve to weasel out of paying their fair share Howey Politics Indiana got to make to position the state party of Indiana taxes? The Multi-State Tax 6255 N. Evanston Ave. as an organization effective in helping Commission estimates that Indiana is Indianapolis, IN 46220 elect Democrats. losing a third of a billion dollars an- www.howeypolitics.com Here, in no particular order, nually to tax shelters and tax dodges. are my Ten Tips to you, Mr. Chairman, Sixty-eight percent of respondents in [email protected] on action you should be taking in that same Time magazine poll believe 'Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 2012: “the rich should pay more taxes” and 'Washington: 703.248.0909 1. State party needs to be 73% of all respondents favor rais- 'Business Office: 317.627.6746 at the beck and call of the gover- ing taxes on millionaires. Let’s talk nor’s campaign. When John Gregg’s about how services are being cut for campaign manager calls needing help, Hoosiers like schools, police, fire, and © 2012, Howey Politics Indiana. give it. It’s not up to you to design local libraries and how those who have All rights reserved. Photocopy- strategy or push your favored consul- done well over the past decade, in- ing, Internet forwarding, fax- tants, vendors or suppliers. Let the cluding high-paid execs and profitable ing or reproducing in any form, experienced team that John Gregg has corporations, need to pay their fair whole or part, is a violation of built around him do that. share. That’s what we are supposed to 2. Your Republican coun- be about as Democrats, Dan; the no- federal law without permission terpart took some tough shots at tion that we’re all in this together and from the publisher. v you when you announced your we have obligations to one another to resignation. Some hit pretty close help build strong communities. to home, like the charge that the 4. Don’t play sophomoric state party hasn’t really taken any political games that undermine HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 our brand. A good example: when you spent $20,000 of mer senator and governor led us from “the wilderness” and state party money sending a mailing to Libertarian voters built the modern Democratic Party in Indiana. He was our in 2010 trying to push the Libertarian candidates for Con- “franchise player” and now he’s practicing law in D.C. and gress in the 2nd and 8th districts. All it did was make us we are going to have to develop a new bench and groom look silly and infuriate both Republicans and Libertarians. future candidates and build party without him. Remember Worse yet was that you used state party funds for a mail- that scene in “Cool Hand Luke” where Luke finally begs his ing to attack the President’s health care plan by making it fellow prisoners to stop living off of him. We can’t look to look like it was a Libertarian mailing. Voters can’t stand Evan anymore and regrettably neither Nick nor Beau Bayh that kind of sneaky politics. Don’t do it. are ready to run for office, so we better be making other 5. Same with being so obsessed with politi- plans in the meantime. cal tactics that are out of step with the public. A 8. You’ve got to be more inclusive than con- good example: political robocalls. I know you think they’re sulting the same three state committee members a useful tool. The problem is they are most often used to you’ve consistently leaned on for years. There’s a viciously cut down candidates at the 11th hour with anony- reason that two-thirds of the elected district chairs and vice mous, hurtful information and many of our candidates chairs gave you a vote of no confidence. You’ve not been have been on the receiving end of the attacks. Voters good at taking advice or insights outside of an immediate can’t stand getting automated, negative phone calls. In inner circle. There are some terrific staff at state com- fact, both Steve Carter and Greg Zoeller rode the issue of mittee like Emily Gurwitz and Peter Hanscom and others campaigning against unwanted phone solicitations into the who need to be given authority to reach out to district and attorney general’s office. We had no business as a state county chairs. Let’s see the state party figure what help party signing onto that lawsuit designed to bring back ro- and assistance can be provided to local parties in 2012. bocalls. The Indiana Supreme Court just backed the AG’s (Another bright spot: attorneys Bill Groth and Karen Horse- efforts to stop these annoying automated phone calls and man with their legal challenge to Secretary of State Charlie it’s time we as a party align with the voters on this issue White.) Look at the Republican state party website for rather than a few cynical political consultants.