Friday.April 11, 1997 • Volume 3, Number 26 Page 1of8 1• •Id Republicans have .••••••.:.- .... THE ----· lost their soul Gingrich, Indiana Senate stray on taxes INDIANAPOLIS - The Republican Party has lost its soul. HOWEY Both nationally and in Indiana, the GOP is floundering on a series of issues that could cause them problems in the 1998 election cycle. POLITICAL When history is written of the so-called "Republican Revolution'' and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Indiana's three mem­ bers of the historic class of'95 - David Mcintosh, Mark Souder and John Hostettler - will have played key roles in the drama. Souder and REPORT Hostettler were at the epicenter of beginning of the end of Gingrich. Not only had the first Republican Speaker in 40 years been upstaged The Weekly Briefing On Indiana Politics by a White House photo on Air Force One, but Souder and Hostettler rebuked him over a budget vote and a subsequent cancelling of The Howey Political Report is published 40 times a year by fundraisers in Evansville and Fort Wayne in January 1996. NewsLink,Inc.Founded in 1994, The Howey Political Report is This past month, it was Souder who was one of 11 an independent, non-partisan newsletter analyzing the political Republicans who embarrassed the Republican hierarchy by rejecting process in Indiana. It neither endorses candidates nor advocates positions of public policy. an increase in committee funding. That was followed by scathing attacks from William Kristol and Mcintosh over Gingrich's position Brian A. Howey on no tax cuts until the budget is balanced. editor and publisher On the state level, it was only four years ago that new The Howey Political Report Office: 317-926-1433 Republican Chairman Al Hubbard confronted Republican members 2625 N.Meridian St., Suite 1125 Fax: 317-254-2405 of the Indiana Senate about enacting a cigarette or hospital tax. Indianapolis,IN 46208 [email protected] History has proven Hubbard correct, as the state sits on a surplus of Daytime number: 317-254-2400,Ext.273 almost $2 billion (pension liabilities not included). Yet Indiana NewsLink Home Page: http://www.inoffice.com/hpr Senate Republicans have pushed through a series of legislation that can be only described as bad politics. Subsaiption information: $250 annually for 40 The first was a gasoline tax hike, which in light of a $2 billion editions via fax or first class mail. Call 317-926-1433. surplus is an absurdity because recent Republican anti-tax dogma. © 1997, The Howey Political Report. All rights reserved. Then came Senate Finance Committee Chairman Larry Borst's 36 Photocopying, faxing or reprodudng in any form. in whol~ or in percent legislative pay hike, and the ramrodding of a telecommunica­ part, is a violation offederal law and is ~prohibited without consent of the publisher. tions reform package that independent analyses has been deemed a continued on page 8 ((QUOTE" OF THE WEEK INSIDE F E A T U R E S ------- • Play of the Week: Arneritech's hang up page2 "That is not in my memory... :" • Horse Race: No Mcintosh Senate bid page3 - State Auditor Morris Wooden, to the • HPR Interview: State Rep. Brian Hasler pages4-S lndlanapolls Star, on whether he had been warned • Columnists: Kitchell, Howey, Mannweiler page6 by staffen to check Into aUegatl ns of sexual har­ • Legislative campaign '98 issues emerging page7 rassment by his depulJ, Tom WIWams. Indiana's fastest growing source ofpolitical news ------~---·--------~-·=-------------· Friday,April 11,. 1997 Page 2 of 8 01I 8th CD Deff1ocrats me12t for five hours to plot TICI<JER 1998 1 T A p E strate f~Y a~1ainst ~ep.John Hostett~er VINCENNES - Last Sa1turday, 90 Demo­ last year, holding represe 11tatives accountable on c· r :rn l~[U crats from the 8th CD gathered to coalesce a working family issues," AFL-CIO spokeswoman 0 PLAY OF THE WEEK: Hous;·e united front against U.S.R,ep.John Hostettl•er. Deborah Dion told Gerard Shields of the Evan­ Democrats fold the card$ 1l111 The five-hour meeting drew former con­ sville Courier. Senate Bill 426, 1the telec1om­ gressman Frank McCfoskey, most of the dis­ Curt Smith, Host~ ttler's chief of staff, muication refonn bill. Thili trict's Democratic mayors, and state party ,offi­ told HPR, "The AFL-CIO ls attempting to prove paves the way for a good pop­ cials like Mike Harmless and Robin Wmston. to the world they didn't 1, raste $35 million last ulist issue to work on dur.in9 As HPR reported more than a monith year. They are continuiri~, a program that was the 1998 legisla1tive race!i. ago,Sta1te Rep.Brian Risler has emerged as the less than successful.It .seems they :atre trying to concensus candidate. Hasl·~r is a freshman froo set up the issues mix. Greene County who come~; from a family with a "They want to t a.l ( about educa.tion and ••• lengthy political history. Hasle:r had served on corporate welfare.Few congressmen have a bet­ Gov.if ralllk O'Barmon is fondling the staff of McCloskey.. t•er record on corporate 1· •elfare than John Lake County a comucop[;!1 of "Hasler is still tlhe guy ·that most people Hostettler?' difficult political problem$. are energized about:' said Democratic 'consul­ Smith noted th1~ the 1996 ad campaign Speaking before The lrinws tant Chris Sautter. "Thi~ Posey County people against Hostettler beg<rn in June. "This is editorial board over the 1· 1~ rri­ said th·e party shouldn't endorse a candidate unprecedented in that th ~y've started three ble congestion on the Bllrman and that's because L11ey are pu:~hing Weinzapfel?' months earlier this yeu:· Expr•essway,O'Bannon sai~ he Jonathon Wein:zapfrl, tr· e 1996 nominee And Smith estimates the AFL-CIO spent hoped thattolls could b1! Hted who lo.st by just over 3,000 voJ,~s.attended the $1 million against Hostettler in n~cable,radio, in Lake and Porter countites on meeting and debriefed 11:hose present. While he direct mail and people 011 the ground during the Indiana Toll Road dt11ru11g was non-committal on his pfans,he is comider­ 1996. the six-month construction ing a run for the Indiana Senc.I e or House. As for 1998, Srr lt 1 said, "It looks like a seas1rm. That prompted 11 1 ~ DOT All this comes amidst :L new $700,000 very strong year for Republicans. We hav·e every to scamble with an expla111a­ AFL-Cm television and radio ad blitz against reason to believe the Wlb lte House problems will a tion that the idea proba ID l'.1' Hostettler and 18 other Repub ican congress­ escalate:' Continued on page 3 men. "We're kind of blilding on what we did Page 3 of 8 Friday,April 11, 1997 Mcintosh ducks Senate; HQ RSE R A ( E TICKER Gilroy wants to debate T A P E TRENDLINE: U.S. Rep. David Mcintosh hasn't slammed the door completely shut, but he told the Anderson Herald-Bulletin, "Most people in the district said they liked the job I wouldn't work. uwe believe it was doing as congressman and wanted me to stay. I have not ruled it out, but chances are I will would be very, very difficult to not run for the Senate. I should be focusing on becoming a good congressman with the White lifttolls,"said INDOT's Phil House investigation and other activities:' As for Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy, sources say Schermerhorn. "I don't think she had intended to return from her Florida vacation with a decision on whether to make the it's going to work out." Senate race or run for re-election. Gilroy has accepted an invitation to "debate" other potential O'Bannon also suggested a Senate candidates Peter Rusthoven and Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke at 9 p.m. Thursday deal with the federal govern­ April 17 on WIBC-AM in Indianapolis. The show will be hosted by WIBC political reporter ment might be worth pursu­ Eric Bermen. ing to waive the $2 one-way • •• fees on the Chicago Skyway. The Chicago Tribune respond­ THE NEWT AND BILL SHOW: It's time to check and see how the potential national ed to that idea saying that millstones are faring in the latest public opinion polls.In the latest CNN-USA Today-Gallup while O'Bannon's idea has Poll (whew!), House Speaker Newt Gingrich reached an all-time low with a 25-percent some merit, it would be foolish approval rating. In the same polling sequence, President Bill Clinton was basking in a 59-per­ to lift the tolls there now that cent approval rating (1,009 people; March 24-26, +/- 3 percent). Roll Call's Morton Kondracke the Skyway is finally prof­ posed the question: "How come scandals haven't hurt President Clinton? 'IWo explanations itable. The Tribune suggested come to mind: I.) It appears the public doesn't trust the press or Republicans, and 2.) at least redudng the fare to $1.50. so far, no one has produced solid evidence of serious presidential wrongdoing." As for who a clear plan for solving the country's problems, 15 percent said Clinton, 12 percent said the On the second Lake County Republicans,29 percent said both, and 41 percent said neither.Finally, on taxes, the question front,O'Bannon has raised the was,"Should Republicans postpone tax cuts in budget plan?" 70 percent said no and 21 per­ ire of St.John residents cent said yes. steamed about his dedsion to update the county's 1997 2000 REPUBLICAN PRF.SIDENTIAL RACE: A February survey conducted by pollster property tax rates which will Anthony Fabrizio had the race like this: Colin Powell 22 percent; Jack Kemp 14 percent; cost many homeowners Elizabeth Dole 12 percent; Dan Quayle 9 percent; George W.Bush 7 percent; Steve Forbes 6 $1,000over1996 levels.