V 15, N21 Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 Coats engages Bayh 12 years later Former U.S. The 1998 race Sen. Dan Coats with that didn’t happen Gov. Daniels, resurfaces Lt. Gov. Skill- man and U.S. By BRIAN A. HOWEY Rep. Buyer INDIANAPOLIS - In the in 2005. very twilight of his Senate career, While Coats Dan Coats stopped by my office at may have NUVO Newsweekly in late 1998 to unfinished recap his career and bid farewell. business, he His career had been one is worried of luck, opportunity and uncanny about the political ability. An insurance ex- direction of ecutive, Coats had joined the staff the nation. of U.S. Rep. Dan Quayle, and then (HPI Photo won that office after Quayle’s 1980 by Brian A. upset of U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh (with Howey) Evan Bayh managing that cam- paign). When Quayle ascended to the vice presidency in 1988, Gov. Services Committee and he used issues like keeping other Robert D. Orr turned to Coats to succeed Quayle in the state’s garbage out of Indiana to win points with voters. Senate after Mitch Daniels turned down the job. Coats won But with Gov. Evan Bayh looking for a payback as 1998 ap- a tough race against State Rep. Baron Hill in 1990, and proached, Coats soured on the Washington political culture in 1992 he ran what HPI would call a textbook campaign that demanded constant fund-raising. He decided to retire. against Joe Hogsett, using a radio ad campaign that spring After an hour-long talk and goodbyes and good to jet out to a big lead that was never threatened. Coats had become a force on the Senate Armed Continued on Page 4 A metal detector at Big Tent By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - President Reagan’s “big tent” Republican Party appears to have one of those big people screeners ready to go before you head under the flap. At least, that’s what the Republican National Com - mittee did in Honolulu last weekend at its winter meeting. ‘Come November, the speaker It unanimously adopted a resolution by Bill Crocker of Texas that calls on all Republican Party leaders “to care - may not be speaker anymore, I’m fully screen” all candidates and to “determine that they wholeheartedly support the core principles and positions not sure, but I know the governor of the Republican Party as expressed in the Platform.” It urges that “no support, financial or otherwise, be given to will be the governor.” candidates who clearly do not support the core principles - State Rep. Chet Dobis and positions of the Republican Party as expressed in the HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 Platform.” Palin, Dick Armey and Rush Limbaugh As Crocker said after the began attacking the GOP nominee, resolution’s adoption: “No more Scoz - Dede Scozzafava, who was pro-choice zafavas, please. No more Specters, on abortion and had backed other please. No more Chafees, please.’” moderate positions. Under withering But the plan wasn’t drawing national criticism from the GOP right, universal praise in Indiana. Asked to Scozzafava withdrew and the Con - comment, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, who servative candidate lost to the Demo- heads the House Republican confer- crat, the first time the district left the Howey Politics ence, declined to comment. Gov. Republican column since the Civil War. Indiana Mitch Daniels referred HPI to Indiana Clark said of the Scozzafava Republican Chairman situation, “It’s hard is a nonpartisan newsletter J. Murray Clark. for me to imagine a based in Indianapolis and Late Wednes- situation where that published by NewsLink Inc. It day, Clark told HPI, would have happened was founded in 1994 in Fort “This was kind of the in Indiana. We do try to do the due dili- Wayne. compromise resolu- tion to several others gence that this takes. that were put forth. I In terms of Indiana, I Brian A. Howey, publisher support this. No.1, it’s don’t know if we have Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington an effort to shine a any plans to do any- Jack E. Howey, Editor light on the differences thing more formal to her than to be mindful Beverly Phillips, Associate of the two parties that had been obscured that this is important. Editor GOP National Committeeman over the last couple Jim Bopp Jr. (Washington Post) It’s important we have Subscriptions: of years and to make candidates. If they are $350 annually HPI Weekly relevant the party going to run under the $550 annually HPI Weekly & platform. The compromise was that Republican Party platform, they need to support that platform. I’m not say - HPI Daily Wire nothing was mandatory. It was just encouraging state and local parties to ing they have to support every tenet, Call 317-627-6746 screen local candidates to make sure but they have to support most of the they agree with the party platform.” platform.” Contact Us He noted that 2nd CD Repub- Howard County Republi- Howey Politics Indiana licans refused to support congressional can Chairman Craig Dunn told HPI, “While I support the concept of having 6255 North Evanston Avenue candidate Tony Zirkle several years ago due to what were considered to Republican candidates who represent Indianapolis, IN 46220 be extreme views. conservative values, I am not in favor www.howeypolitics.com Asked if a legislator like former of imposing a litmus test on candi- [email protected] State Rep. Jerry Bales, a moderate dates. Our Republican voters are Howey’s Mobile: 317-506-0883 to liberal Republican, would have lost best able to sort through the available candidates and decide which ones Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535 official party support, Clark responded, “I can’t answer that. This should start represent our values.” Washington: 202-256-5822 with local Republican leaders. I don’t Dunn said it comes down Business Office: 317-627-6746 look at this as a top down mandate.” to party leadership. “If Republican What about a pro-choice leadership fulfills its role by conduct - ©2010, Howey Politics Republican candidate? Clark explained, ing candidate forums and debates and by utilizing our ability to endorse, Indiana. All rights reserved. “I admire Jim’s intentions. In Jim’s resolution, just because you were pro- then we will have candidates who truly Photocopying, Internet forward- choice wouldn’t leave you out as long represent our traditional Republican ing, faxing or reproducing in as you supported eight of the 10.” beliefs,” Dunn said.”Sunlight is the any form, in whole or part, is a Pence refused to take sides best disinfectant! I do not believe that violation of federal law without in the New York 23rd CD race last fall we should paint our candidates into corners. The Republican Party has permission from the publisher. when national Republicans like Sarah HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 thrived for over 150 years thru many changing economic, that test would not be eligible for financial or organizational social and international environments without a litmus test support from the party. and it will continue to thrive well into the future.” Bopp explained: “With the adoption of the Plat - Indiana Republican National Committeeman form Fidelity Resolution, I withdrew from consideration James Bopp Jr. of Terre Haute proposed the original resolu- the Reagan Resolution and the Accountability Resolution, tion that prompted fierce debate. The New York Times re - since the Platform Fidelity Resolution accomplish our goal ported that Bopp’s original resolution would have required of demonstrating that this party is serious about standing candidates to endorse at least eight out of 10 positions on for our principles, so that disaffected conservatives, such as issues including abortion, gay marriage, immigration and Tea Party members, will be comfortable working with us in President Obama’s health care plan. Candidates who failed defense of freedom, and gained widespread support.” v A happy halfway point By BRYAN AULT INDIANAPOLIS - As the Indiana General Assembly enters “halftime” of the 2010 legislative session, House and Senate leaders took a timeout to address key issues affect- ing Hoosiers across the state on Wednesday. “We’re at halftime,” Senate President Pro Tempore David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said. “We managed to accom - plish quite a bit. Both sides have done a good job.” One such issue is ethics reform. Last Tuesday, the Speaker B. Patrick Bauer and Minority Leader Brian Bosma at Senate passed Bill 214, which lowers the value of gifts that their Wednesday mid-term pressers. (HPI/Franklin Photo by Steve must be reported. “I was very happy with the Senate. We Dickerson) tried to roll up our sleeves and deal with it,” Long said. “It’s much tougher than first blush. Unlike other states, it Long talked of what could be the biggest second hasn’t been driven by a scandal. It’s more transparent, and half issue: unemployment insurance. “We thought this has House leadership.” problem would’ve been solved last year,” Long said. “It The biggest accomplishment of the legislative makes a lot of sense. The recession is so much worse session thus far is the passing of property taxes caps as an than we thought. We’ll see where politics leads this issue. amendment in the Indiana constitution. Hopefully, we can find common ground and a partisan solu - “The Democrats saw the writing on the wall,” tion.” House Majority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said. Long also said he doesn’t expect the statewide “I’m thrilled people get to vote on it.