Thursday April 24, 2003 Volume 9, Number 32 Page 1 of 8 he The Jurassic Age T of Indiana politics Howey ‘Weak sisters’ governing a lost state By BRIAN A. HOWEY in Indianapolis Back in the mid-1990s, as Mike Pence was building his radio empire with the catch-phrase “conservative, but in Political a good mood about it,” I was developing HPR, a statewide newspaper column and a news magazine. I countered Pence with the phrase, “The golden age of Report Indiana politics.” It was coined because we had just had an American The Howey Political Report is published by NewsLink Vice President (Dan Quayle), two leading statesmen (Sen. Inc. Founded in 1994, The Howey Political Report is Dick Lugar and Rep. Lee Hamilton), some rising stars in an independent, non-partisan newsletter analyzing the political process in Indiana. Congress (Reps. Ed Pease, David McIntosh, Steve Buyer and Tim Roemer), and a national party chairman (Joe Brian A. Howey, publisher Andrew). Indiana boasted several potential presidential can- Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington writer didates (Lugar, Evan Bayh, Stephen Goldsmith, Quayle). Jack E. Howey, editor Paul Helmke was president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. We were inclusive with officeholders such as The Howey Political Report Office: 317-254-1533 PO Box 40265 Fax: 317-968-0487 Attorney General Pamela Carter. There were two competi- Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265 Mobile: 317-506-0883 tive political parties with annual battles for control of the [email protected] legislature. There were a couple of political think tanks, the www.howeypolitics.com Indiana Policy Review and the Sycamore Institute, along with nationally-recognized Hudson Institute. Washington office: 202-775-3242; Business Office: 317-254-0535. Today, at this writing, I must recant the “golden age of Indiana politics.” Fears expressed in my Dec. 20, 2000, Subscriptions: $250 annually via e-mail or essay, “Political Vistas at the End of the 20th Century,” fax; $450 annually including the HPR Daily have, unfortunately, come true. Wire. Call 317-254-1533 or 254-0535. State Sen. Robert Meeks, who chairs the Senate © 2003, The Howey Political Report. All rights Budget Committee, tolled the death knell of what had been a reserved. Photocopying, Internet forwarding, faxing or prosperous, energetic era. “The legislature, we’re a bunch of reproducing in any form, in whole or in part, is a viola- weak sisters,” Meeks, the LaGrange Republican, said. “We tion of federal law and is strictly prohibited without talk a good game, but we’re weak. We’re not willing to do consent of the publisher. “The legislature, we’re weak sisters. We talk a Ticker: Consumer confidence up p. 2 good game, but we’re weak. We’re not willing Bayh and Lugar: Iraq commitment p. 3 what we need to do.” Horse Race04: Andrew a lobbyist? p.6 Horse Race03: Richard leads in $$ p.7 - State Sen. Robert Meeks, to the Indianapolis Columnists: Shella, Howey p. 8 Star Thursday April 24, 2003 Page 2 of 8 what we need to do.” Monday and Tuesday.... Under Meeks’ stewardship, Indiana Earlier this week, school boards is about to pass a budget that is out of bal- convened across the Hoosier state. In ance; that flat-lines Medicaid as the num- what has become an early week ritual, ber of elderly citizens are on the rise; and local communities heard the sour news. eaks out tiny education increases at a time Monroe County Schools cutting 28 LYTLE WILL RETURN; of tougher new standards. The legislature teachers; Shenandoah Schools announcing GIAQUINTA STILL IN is intent on sticking it to Gov. Frank DOUBT: Two Democrats, a dozen teacher cuts; Highland Schools, Reps. Markt Lytle of O’Bannon, a man with no friends in the two cuts; Muncie eliminates three admin- Madison and Ben GiaQuinta General Assembly. istrators. of Fort Wayne, recently At Shenandoah, the Muncie Star missed session days Wonder went out of Indiana Press reported that “350 people left the because of illness. Lytle, In my “Political Vistas” essay, I Shenandoah school board meeting shaking who was released from quoted John Bartlow Martin in his 1947 their heads and wondering what next will King's Daughters' Hospital book, “Indiana: An Interpretation.” happen to their schools.” in Madison yesterday after a It took the Terre Haute Tribune- bout with a digestive disor- “Somwhere, somehow between the Star’s Sue Loughlin to report on Tuesday der, said he planned to beginning of one world war and the end return to Indianapolis today of another, the wonder went out of all the that statewide, 193 school districts report and might be available to wonderful things of Indiana’s past -- the that for the next school year, they will cut vote if necessary (Leslie magic of McCutcheon’s Indian summer the equivalent of 926 full-time teachers, 76 administrators and 650 support staff. Stedman, Louisville Courier- cartoon and Riley’s poems, the boundless Journal). But the return of That's on top of a reduction of 1,200 full- promise of natural gas and Elwood GiaQuinta, who suffered a time staff for this year: 547 teachers, 70 Haynes’ wonderful machine,” Martin mild heart attack more than administrators and 586 support staff. wrote. “A suspicion had arisen that big- a week ago, is less certain, But this isn’t just another ISTA vs. otry, ignorance, and hysteria were as leaving Democrats with no Chamber battle. Despite the warnings of choice but to work with much a part of the Hoosier character as education cuts from the Kevin Brinegars, Republicans on a deal for were conservatism and steadfastness and David Goodriches and Randall Tobiases which they can provide at common sense. One of Indiana’s chief of the Hoosier world, the axe is falling. least one or two votes. exports had long been ideas, but so many That's one reason Bosma “We all knew cuts were coming. We've of these had turned out to be wrong-head- was cautiously optimistic known that all year,” said Linda yesterday that his caucus ed, wicked or useless. Indiana lost its Richardson of the Monroe County would play a key role in friendly tolerance, its conviction that Education Association. “The situation was crafting the final package of things would work out, and it by no pretty evident. It rests on the shoulders of economic development ini- means fulfilled its magnificent promise.” the state legislature." tiatives they have in I asked in 2000 and will ask again, Said Shenandoah school board exchange for votes on the Why did this happen? member Scott Trennepohl, “The problem budget. Martin observed: “Many plain peo- isn't with this board, it's in Indianapolis." ple in Indiana blame the politicians most MEEKS BELIEVES BUDGET With 2,000 teachers rallying at the IS CLOSER: Budget nego- of all for stunting Indiana’s growth. Statehouse Tuesday, it prompted State tiators said Wednesday they Today, Indiana is full of people who never Rep. Chet Dobis to say: “I think educa- are much closer to a com- see the economic or social ends of politics tion is a priority for most of the 150 mem- promise and still think they but are fascinated merely buy the day-to- bers. The pot is the same -- where we dif- may get their work done day business of vote getting, buttonholing, fer is how we divide it.” this week (Jennifer Whitson, horse trading, drink buying -- all the little State government, from the Evansville Courier & Press). trickeries that made president and ward Governor’s Education Roundtable, to the "We hope to get this done, heelers alike. To win a public office is the legislature, had toughened academic stan- absolutely this week," said House Speaker B. Patrick same as to make a touchdown or to hit a dards at the demand of business and home run, and as devoid of meaning.” industry, and are now in the process of Continued on page 3 pulling the rug out from schools. It’s cre- Page 3 of 8 Thursday April 24, 2003 ating what has been a Republican anathe- woes -- Medicaid, bad schools, sewers ma: Unfunded mandates. And it flies in overflowing into rivers -- on a national the face of the party’s generational patron, recession. The flaw there is that if President Ronald Reagan, who asked Indiana’s economy had been restructured Americans in 1982 to “stay the course.” five or six years ago when Gov. Weak sisters do not stay the course. O’Bannon had ample political capital to In fact, Meeks began the week not do so, we would have weathered this Bauer, D-South Bend. only with what will be a legendary quote, recession much better. "We're still hopeful for but by broadsiding new Ways and Means Thursday, but a week con- Chairman Bill Crawford, the man presid- The Jurassic Age ... sists of Friday and ing over budget conferees by suggesting Saturday." Sen. Robert Today, April 24, 2003, may it be Meeks, R-LaGrange, also in a Fort Wayne Journal Gazette article officially proclaimed that we are living in sounded upbeat. "We're that the new chairman was on a learning the Jurassic Age of Indiana politics. closer," Meeks said. "A lot curve. Our best brains and talents have closer." Legislative leaders Ranking Ways and Means receded on the national presidential scene. talked until about 11:30 p.m. Republican Jeff Espich added, “The new I count only two out of 150 in the legisla- Tuesday and said they chairman hasn't even sat in the room ture who could be called “governor” made progress. "I'm really pleased with the way things before.