V16, N35 Thursday, May 12, 2011 Bosma eyes expanding Dem chairs Speaker will seek redistricting panel; time for ‘breather’ on abortion front By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma told Howey Politics Indiana in an exclu- sive interview that he is open to us- ing more Democrats as committee chairs, will push for a constitutional independent commission to redraw future legislative and Congressional maps, and said it is time to “take a breather” on abortion restrictions. House Speaker Brian Bosma with his “Winston Churchill” poster in his Statehouse office. It Bosma recounted the chess became his mantra during the Democratic walkout. (Indiana House Photo) board maneuvers he made deal- ing with House Minority Leader B. Democratic walkout, the elevation of Reps. Steve Stemler Patrick Bauer during the walkout, and acknowledged that and Chet Dobis as committee chairs from the opposite he had matured and handled the crisis differently this year party, and how his caucus reacted to new legislative maps than he might have as a younger Speaker. Bosma also said that threw six into three districts and another four who he believes that the 19-member House freshman class will would face a Democratic incumbent. The interview fol- yield future leaders in the Indiana General Assembly and lowed what Bosma called a “landmark” session that yielded beyond. historic education legislation while altering the mapping The Speaker spoke with HPI for almost 45 minutes on Tuesday and recounted his handling of the five-week Continued on page 3 The mystery of Mitch By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - Since I began writing a column in 1985, and since I began publishing this newsletter in 1994, there haven’t been many “We need to make stuff. This is times where I’ve sat at the com- puter, blankly stared into the screen also where a clean energy and found myself at a crossroads for words. economy is being built. I want But today, roughly 7 hours all those new jobs right here in before the most anticipated speech by a Hoosier First Lady in history, I Indiana.” sit unsettled. The Hoosier pundit of - President Obama, at Allison today has been forced to become Transmission in Indianapolis HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, May 12, 2011 a reader of Tea Leaves. And not his podium, Daniels said, “Guess we from one of the Tea Party tribes. It’s added a few more cars to the freight because of Our Governor, who pur- train, right Brian?” posefully set in motion more than a Yes, governor, you did. The year ago this whole notion that he only thing that could have made it a www.HoweyPolitics.com just might run for president of these more splendid presentation is if Chris United States. Van Allsburg (“The Polar Express”) had It brought back memories drawn the pictures. Howey Politics of my first dinner with him - ironically We were told first things first: Indiana in 2002 at the Willard Hotel in Wash- his business at the General Assembly is a non-partisan newsletter ington, just a few blocks from the had to finish. based in Indianapolis. It was White House - when there was little After months of repeat- founded in 1994 in Fort Wayne. doubt of his intentions. Back then, he edly saying “No” when it came to the was on the verge of resigning OMB, presidential question, sine die was to he was going to come back home to be the glorious gate where Daniels Brian A. Howey, Publisher Indiana and try would cross the Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington to rescue the watershed with his Jack E. Howey, editor “Mississippi of designs back on Beverly K. Phillips, associate the North.” Or Washington. the middle finger We were editor of the South, told a decision or however you would come within Subscriptions want to put it. “weeks.” And we $350 annually HPI Weekly We looked at our calen- didn’t know all dars and counted $550 annually HPI Weekly and the contours of 14 days between HPI Daily Wire. his guberanto- sine die and to- 'Call 317.627.6746 rial flirtation, of night’s First Lady RV1 and Becky address. Yesterday and Mickey and Joel, or his affinity for in Columbus, Daniels teased us some Contact HPI Hank Williams, Jr. music. But there more, “It is absolutely by the end of Howey Politics Indiana was the distinct notion that this was a the month … but I won’t tell you what 6255 N. Evanston Ave. man with a plan. One source told me month.” Indianapolis, IN 46220 Mitch Daniels had a blueprint for what I tell the national and local www.howeypolitics.com he wanted to accomplish. press, “What’s she gonna do? Get up If you look at the arc of his there and say, ‘I’m not going to let my [email protected] governorship, other than his perplex- husband run for president?’” 'Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 ing lack of interest in 2008 Indiana Perhaps she will give Mitch to 'Washington: 703.248.0909 House races - allowing that “Car America. 'Business Office: 317.627.6746 Bomber” Bauer back to the Speaker’s Informed and reliable rostrum - the sense was keen that sources tell HPI that at an elementary there was a blueprint. school groundbreaking in Johnson © 2011, Howey Politics Indiana. Two weeks ago as his educa- County, Cheri Daniels gave an astute All rights reserved. Photocopy- tion reforms were rampaging to a and well-delivered speech. ing, Internet forwarding, fax- finish along with those pesky “social This past week has become a ing or reproducing in any form, issues” in the Indiana General As- riot of political emotions. We were tan- whole or part, is a violation of sembly, HPI’s headlines read, “Freight talized with his arrival at the tarmac train of change at Statehouse,” a play- last Friday. What was he saying as federal law without permission ful reference to his 2004 Republican he wagged his forefinger in President from the publisher. v convention nomination speech. And Obama’s face? when he celebrated the passage of the There was another round of reforms at a Saturday morning press- self-deprecating humor and rumors er, as I placed my tape recorder on of presidential policy at the American HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, May 12, 2011 Enterprise Institute foisted on us by “bloggers in pajamas” paigns to Daniels disagreed about whether the personal (for the record: I am not a blogger, and shower and dress history of Cheri Daniels would ever be a vulnerability or every morning before working on HPI). We were fascinated even germane to the race. when Gov. Chris Christie and Speaker Boehner suggested The Post reported further: Asked by reporters that Daniels would be a good nominee. There was a degree in the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday about the uptick in of political lust when Daniels was asked Tuesday if he could attacks against him, Daniels responded, “Exposing yourself beat Obama. “I don’t know the answer to that. to harsh and sometimes cruel and untrue things You wouldn’t go in with the idea it’s completely is not something you do lightly.” hopeless and I see no grounds for doubting that Earlier this week, we learned that tonight a credible, positive Republican alternative can’t the presidential campaign will not be broached. succeed. I think the chances would actually be It reminded me of a GI Joe quote from a quite good.” comic book of yore: “One must learn patience if We watched as Newt squirmed and one wants to win the battle.” had to walk through his marital minefield as he You almost get the sense that Daniels is in- entered the race; just as the Huffington Post terested in how he might be attacked. He raises became the first national news outlet to delve a his head out of the foxhole to see where the little deeper into the Daniels’ marital history (a arrows land before he sprints across the battle- history that I know about but have not sen- field. sationalized, because there is no evidence to date that it Tonight Cheri Daniels takes the stage and a would have a bearing on his performance as President.) plethora of national reporters will be on the risers to gauge HuffPo reported: “In 1993, Cheri Daniels left her every nuance, from the corners of the smiles to the flicker husband with their four daughters and married another of every eyelash. Between Friday and Sunday, when an man in California. She returned a few years later, reconciled initial assesment comes forth from Maureen Dowd to Mika with Daniels, and the two were remarried in 1997. That is, Brezinski, from George Will to David Brooks, perhaps Our in a nutshell, the story.” Man Mitch will have enough data to survey a torturous road The Washington Post reporting today: In exchange ahead. The governor will likely never see a clearer path for for anonymity, an official for another GOP prospect pro- a Republican presidential nomination, and a 50/50 shot at vided contact information for the ex-wife of the man Cheri the ultimate prize. Daniels married, in the years between her divorce and Hanging in the balance is the most precious thing remarriage to Daniels. Other officials at potential rival cam- he and his family have - domestic peace and tranquility. v it assured that some of the practices that took place during Bosma, from page 1 the walkout did not occur. For instance, us talking on the process and bringing about the most far-reaching abortion phone about an issue or a resolution and it being presented restrictions of any state in the nation.