The best ‘listening’ session ever?Tuesday, May 1, 2007V13 N35

By LARRY BORST INDIANAPOLIS-Sometimeinthewaningdaysofthe2007legislativesession,SpeakerPatBauermusthavehadarevelation.Arevelationthatthiswasthetimefor

himtonottobecompletelypolitical.ArevelationthatGov.Danielsreallywasa“goodguy”andapersonthat,legis-latively,deservedafewofthoseitemslistedintheadministration’statteredlegislativeagenda. WhatbeganinJanuaryasases-sionthatwaslabeledastheSpeakervs.theGovernor,endedwithbothbeingabletoodeclare“victory.”Upuntilthe

“Four years after President Bush landed on an aircraft carrier and declared ‘mission accomplished,’ we are still in a war where more than 100 Americans have died in just the month of April. - Sen. Obama

Pat Bauer’s revelation

See Page 3

By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-ForHouseSpeakerB.PatrickBauer,itwas“thegreatestsessioninIndianahistory.” StateSen.BobMeeksnoted,“TheHousemaymaketheheadlines,buttheSenategetsthingsdone.” Gov.MitchDanielssaidMondaymorning,“IwanttocommendeverymemberoftheGeneralAs-sembly.Peoplewhofearedgridlockorparalysisinsteadsawanothersessionofdra-maticchangeandprogressforourstate.” Insomesense,itwas.The44-cent-per-packciga-rettetaxincreasecreateswhatGov.Danielsdescribesas“themostimportanthealthcarelegislationofourlifetimes.”ItcameafterafuroreruptedwhentheHouseinitiallyre-jectedthebill. Danielsexplained,“Ihaveaskedahostofpeoplewhethertheycanthinkofabetterexampleandnobodyhas.IamexcitedaboutthepassageoftheplanandwhatitcanmeanforuninsureditmeansforHoosiersandfor

low-incomechildren,and,ofcourse,totrytobringdownthesecond-highestsmokingrateinAmerica.” Therewasasecond-byalmostallaccounts-hon-estlybalancedbudgetafteradecadeofsmokeandmirrors.Andtherewas$92millionforfull-daykindergarten,$33.5millionin2008and$58.5millionin2009.But.... AsafterpastGeneralAssemblysessions,HPRwilltellthestoryofthisonethroughthekeypersonalitiesthat

Gov. Mitch Daniels and House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer listened to each other and found common ground. (HPR Photos)

Page 2 Tuesday, May 1, 2007

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lastsessionweek,theSpeakerwasfirmly in control. There was even somedoubtthattheSpeakerwouldallow any significant legislation, other thanthebudget,topass. Thetoneofthelegislaturewasabouttobecomedifferent. ThecourseofthelegislaturechangedwiththepronouncementbyDr.LarryDeBoerthatIndianaprop-ertytaxpayers,onaverage,werelookingata24percenttaxincrease.Thisthenassured,thatthepursuitofanylongrangepropertytaxcontrolprogramwouldbeforgottenforthesession.Instantreliefbecamethewatchwordasitwasin2006.And,iftherewaseveradoubtaboutnotlegalizingslotsatracetracks,thosethoughtscompletelydisappeared.Onetimemoneywasneeded.Thefranchisefeesfromtheslotsbecameanecessityinordertolowerpropertytaxbillsfor2007and2008. The final property tax relief programwaspurecompromise.TheGovernor’ssuggestionofanewCoun-tyBoardofTaxReviewwasincludedintheprogramaswasasmallamountofLocalOptionmoney.Oneafterthoughtbymany:IftheentirepropertytaxbillwillistobedeductedontheFederalforms,butthen,willthefollow-uprebate,betaxableasotherincome? TheGovernorandmanyDemocratswerelockedinonprovidinghealthinsuranceforthelowincomeuninsured.AfteraslowstartSen.LongfoundaSenateRulethatallowedforaSenatevoteforanincreaseinthecigarettetaxandpushedtheideaalong. Budgetstendtocometo-gethermoreeasilywhenthereisanadditionaltwobillionplusdollarstospendforthenextbiennium.Compro-misesweremadeandthenewmoneywasspent:$550Mmorefortaxrelief,$200Mmoreforuniversities.$681Mmorefortheschoolformula,$92MmoreforFDK,$223MmoreforMed-icaid.Theschoolformulasomewhatfavorsurbandistricts,thecomplexityformula was simplified, but most edu-catorsseemhappy.

Themembersof2007GeneralAssemblydidtheirjob.MuchoftheGovernor’sagendawasaccomplished.Therealsoseemedtobeaminimumofpoliticalposturing. SpeakerBauerablydemon-stratedthatlegislativeexperienceisinvaluablewhenallofthelooseendsofsuchcomplexissuesneedtobetiedtogetherinordertocompletethepackage.v

Kill Bill, Vol. 2By ABDUL HAKIM-SHABAZZ INDIANAPOLIS-DemocraticWays&MeansChairmanBillCrawfordgetstheblameforMarionCountyconsolidationfailingtopassoutoftheIndianaGeneralAssembly.It’snothingpersonal,it’sjustafact.AndthesoonerpoliticosinMarionCounty

acceptthatreal-ity,thebetteroffalotofthemwillbe.Here’swhyCrawfordgetstheblame.MayorBartPetersonhasbeencallingforconsoli-

dationtostreamlinelocalgovernmentandprovideforsav-ings and efficiencies. Republican Sen. JimMerrittputthedealonthetablethat would have provided for fire and trusteeconsolidation,thetwolargestexpendituresintownshipgovernment.BillCrawfordsaid“no”andofferedupfire and township assessor consolida-

tion.Crawfordsaidthetrusteeswereoffthetablebecausetheydoagoodjobofadministeringpoorrelief. Ifthetrusteesdoagoodjobofadministeringpoorrelief,thenwhydidCrawfordofferanamendmentbackin2005whichcalledfortrusteeconsolidation?Itfailed46-50andCrawfordwasoneofthe“yes”votes.Idon’tseeanythingchangingsincethen,exceptthebalanceofpoliticalpowerhasshiftedinMarionCountyfroma7-2Republicancontrolofthetownshipstoa6-3Democratandfouroutofthesixareblack(whichprobablyhasmoretodowithitthananythingelse).Idon’tnecessarilyblameCrawfordforwantinghispowertoholdontopowerlikeathirdworlddictator.Heck,thatwastheonlyrea-sontheRepublicansopposedconsoli-dationandwhat’sgoodforthegoosewasgoodforthegander’sdomesticpartner. However,atleastCrawfordshouldhavethepoliticalcouragetoadmitthatiswhyhethrewMayorBartPetersonunderabusandletthemea-suredie.Ifhewasserioushewouldhaveendorsedthemeasuremostlikelytostreamlinethemostgovern-ment.Bybeingmoreconcernedaboutprotectingtownshipgovernment,Crawfordhasputpublicsafetyinjeopardybecausetherecentcontractsreachedbetweenthecityandit’spolice and fire unions were predicated upon,inpart,bythepassageofIndyWorks.v

Tuesday, May 1, 2007 Page 3

LISTENING: From page 1

pushedtheevents:

Luke Kenley Justafewweeksago,theGeneralAssemblyseemedpoisedtobeginwhatcouldbedescribedasaprofoundshiftofgovernment.Underaplanthatwaslaunchedlate-inmid-March-byStateSen.LukeKenley(No.21onthe2007HPR50Most Influential List),thestatewouldhaveas-sumededuca-tionoperatingcostsaswellasthoseofjuve-niledetention. Butinthe final week whenaLegis-lativeServicesAgencyreportshowedthatresidentialpropertytaxeswouldgoupanaverageof24percent,mostofthelong-termpropertytaxreformbrokeaway.Instead,thereis$550millioninatwo-yearspasmofpropertytaxrelief,thatwillbringtheaverageincreaseto8percent,courtesyoftheslotsbill. Someobserversfeltthatthecolossalstrokeofslotsshouldhaveprovidedlong-termrealignment.Whilethere was some incremental flexibility for municipalities in an0.25percentincometaxoption,itjustdidn’tseemthatbold.Itremainstobeseenwhatvotershearin2008. “It’sastart.Weobviouslyhaveshort-termandlong-termissuesinpropertytaxes,”saidDaniels. KenleysaidonWXNT’sAbdul in the Morning Showthat“thepropertytaxbillis85percentonthewaytorealreform.We’vegotafewthingsweneedtokeepworkingon.Theremaybeafewthingsthatwillhappenthatwillbeunintendedconsequences.It’sunfortunatebutit’sanecessarypartandatleastweknowwe’remak-ingchangeanddrivingawayfromapropertytaxbasedsystem.”Kenleysaidthatacapitalprojectsreviewboardhasbeenaddedtoeverycounty.“Potentiallythatcouldbeahugeimpact,”Kenleysaid.“Peoplearenotusedtorealgrassrootsdemocracy.Ithinktheywilldobetterontheirbuildingsandcontrolcosts.”Kenleysaidthatlocalspending

willdecline“becausewechangedthesystemtobecometransparentastowhoisraisingtaxes.”Currently,Ken-leysaid,“theconsumer-theycan’ttell.Alltheyknowisthey’re(taxes)aregoingup.” Butthefactis,thiswasahistoricmissedoppor-tunity.Kenleyisapolicywonkwhohasatinearwhenitcomes to the political ramifications. This 2007 “perfect storm”ofpropertytaxeswasforeseenbyjustaboutevery-oneintheStatehousecommunityduetotrendingandtheinventorytaxcomingoffthebooks,nottomentionschoolcapital projects and police and fire pensions. Gov.Danielsdidnotpickupthiscrusade,soitwaslefttoSen.Kenley,whoworkedhardandcameupwithwhatwethoughtwasabold,innovativeplan.Butitwastoolateandtoocomplicatedtobedigested.IttookonlyoneLSAreporttothrowthemonkeywrenchintotheworksandthatshiftedtheentirefocusfromthelong-termtotheshort-term. Theproblemnowis,thereisn’tlikelytobeanotherslotsandahugeinfusionofcashthatcanhelpbridgeprop-ertytaxes. TheLafayette Journal & Couriereditorializedthismorning:Intheareaofpropertytaxes,theLegisla-turedisappointedonceagain.The“rebates”authorizedbylawmakersarecumbersomeandineffective.Thisisnotrelief,butamakeshiftattempttopacifytaxpayers.Perhapsworse,themoneybeingusedfortherebatesreliesonrev-enuefromgamblingenterprises.Notexactlyapredictablerevenuesource.Themoneyfortherebatesissupposedtocomefromfeespaidtoallowslotmachines--upto2,000ofthem--atIndiana’shorsetracks.Everyyear,taxpay-ersaskforrealrelieffromthegrowingburdenofpropertytaxes,andeveryyear,lawmakersfailtodeliver. OnethingisclearaboutKenley:HeisquicklyassumingthemantleofformerSenateFinanceChairmanLarry Borst. His hand was in every key piece of fiscal legislation.

Mitch Daniels Thiswasthe“silentsession”forthesmartestmaninthebuilding.Hedidagreatjobofpushingandor-chestratingwhatturnedouttobea44-centcigarettetaxincreasethatwillhelpinsurehundredsofthousandsoflowincomeHoosiers. Healsogotapartialvictoryonfull-daykindergar-tenthathadeludedGovs.FrankO’BannonandJoeKernan. ButunlikeGovs.DocBowen,O’BannonandKer-nan,whenapropertytaxreformopportunitywasathand,hedidn’tassumethealpharole.Hepreferredtoletthelegislaturehashitoutinapolicymoshpit. Askedwhyherefusedtomakepubliccomments(totheStatehousepresscorpsonaweeklybasis),heanswered,“Itwasjustaboutresults.Whenwethinkthatmaybestbeaccomplishedwithalotofcommentaryand

Sen Kenley: The new Borst.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007 Page 4

maybeevenforcefullanguage,we’lltrythat.Ifwethinkbeingmorequiet,doingourworkinprivatedirectlywiththelegislators-andIwouldpointouttravelingthestateandhelpingourfellowcitizensseethereasonfornewin-novationsornewpolicies-we’lltrythat.It’sonlyabouttheresultsandIwillstandontheresultswejustachieved.” Askedifhe“learnedalot”from his first two sessions,Danielssaidyes,but“Ialsostandontheresults of the first coupleofyears,too.Sureyoulearn,butI’velistenedalottomembersofthelegislaturethatwillhelpusgettoasuccessfulout-come.”Itwasasifhewasrespond-ingtothe2006campaignbeefDemocratsusedtoretaketheHouse:“Hedoesn’tlisten.” Thegover-norshiftedhisMO. “Iwasmorethanhappytoletthemoccupycenterstageandtheyperformedverywellonit,”hesaid. DemocraticHouseSpeakerPatBauerteasedthathewaslonelywithoutDanielsbutadmittedthegovernorwouldhavecomplicatedmattersinthepublicarena(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).“Ithinkbystayingoutofit,hedidn’tblowupthings,”Bauersaid. “Hisnewfoundreticencehehadduringthesessionwasdeliberatelydoneinordertoallowthelegislaturetoperformitsduties,andhetriedtoplayasupportiverole,”Kenleysaid(Indianapolis Star). Gov.DanielseffusivelypraisedBauer.“Hedidaverygoodjob”onthebudgetandthepropertytaxreliefpackage,”thegovernorsaid,sayingthatthe“uncontrolledescalation”ofpropertytaxeshasbeen“stoppedorslowed.”Heacknowledgedthat“there’salongwaytogo”onproperty tax reform. He applauded the flexibility the plan willgiveforlocalgovernmentstoraiseincometaxandcutpropertytaxes.Buthesaidabigchallengewillbetoslowandcontrollocalspendingandurgedlocalgovernmentstoconsolidate. “We took a first step on the long term with the passageofthebillthatgivesincometaxoptionstolocals,”Danielsremindedreporters.“Iwouldjustpointoutthat

wereitexercisedstatewideitwouldresultintwiceasmuchinpropertytaxesastheslotsmoney.Morethantwiceasmuch. But a first step in a direction we talked a lot about is flexibility; a shift away from property taxes to other sources.Thenextstephastobegettingatthetruerootoftheproblemandthatislocalspendingwhichtakesyouin

thedirectionofconsolidationandinthedi-rectionofgreatefficiencies, fewerredun-dant offices “ Danielscalledtheslotsbill“thebestoptionavail-ableandIwillsignit.”Hesaidhehadthreeconditionsforaslotsbilltopass:thateverycentbereturnedtotaxpayers,thattherebeanetreductioningamblingstate-wide,andthatthestategets

“reasonablevalue”forthe2,000slotmachinesthatwillbeplacedathorsetracksinAndersonandShelbyville. “Giventheincrediblepriorityofpropertytaxrelief,togetuspastthetrendingimpact,thiswasthebestavail-ableoption,”Danielssaid.Hesaidhewouldhavepreferredtheslotlicensesbeauctionedoffinsteadofacceptingthe$500millionfromtheownersofthetwotracks.“I’dhaveratherseenanauction.Ithinkthat’stheonlywayyouseewhatsomething’sworth.Ithinkweshouldhavegottenmore,”Danielssaid.“Timewilltellwhetherwegotfullval-ueorsomethingelse.”HesaidtheIndianaTollRoadleasegot“59timesearnings,andthiswillbe4timesearnings.” Danielscalledthecigarettetaxincrease“themostimportanthealthcarelegislationofourlifetime.”Hesaiditwillprovidehealthcareforlowincomechildrenandcutthesmokingrate. HepraisedDemocratStateSen.ViSimpsonandStateRep.CharlieBrownforgettingitpassed.Danielssaidhestartedthesessionwith12initiativesandsevenwereapproved,twopartiallyOK’dandthree(HoosierLotteryfranchising,theIndianaCommerceConnectorandabasicskillstaxcredit)failed. Gov.Danielswasaskedifthe2008electionwillkeepotherbigagendaitemsatbayuntil2009.

Gov. Mitch Daniels and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman at Monday’s presser, his first at the State-house in over a month. He will be hitting the road today and Wednesday with press confer-ences at Gary, South Bend, Terre Haute, Evansville, and Clarksville. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Tuesday, May 1 2007Page 5

“Itakegeneralexceptiontoyourpremise,”Danielssaid.“Iheardthesamethinglastyear:it’stheshortses-sion...nothingmucheverhappens.ThisyearIheardalotofpeoplesay,‘Allwereallyhavetodoisthebudget’andwiththedividedGeneralAssembly,we’dbeluckytogetthatdone.Idon’tacceptthataboutnextyeareither.I’malreadyatworkthinkingaboutthosethings.Wedon’thaveadaytowasteletaloneasessionoftheGeneralAssemblyinmakingprogressonbigissuesthatmightmakethisagreaterstate.We’veprovedwecandothatinaverybipartisanway.” MondaynightattheAllenCountyGOPLincolnDayDinner,Danielslaidoutgoalsfornextyear’slegislature(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).Hesaidhewouldliketoseefull-daykindergartenimplementedstatewideonaquickertimetable.Healsosaidhewantstoseemoremoneyforschoolstogiveteachershighersalariesandsmallerclassroomsandmorestepstoshiftthetaxburdenawayfrompropertytaxes.Ifthestatesuccessfullypaysoffitsdebtsandputmoneyasideforanemergency,thegovernorsaidheisdeterminedtoseethestatecuttaxes.

B. Patrick Bauer SpeakerBauer,likeDaniels,acknowledgedthevoices.“Weensuredthepublichadavoiceontheseis-sues,”Bauersaid.“Theyspokeclearlyandwelistened.” Bauersaidthatfromthebeginning,Democratssoughttobring“bipartisanbalancebacktotheoperations.The2007sessiondemonstratedthewisdomofthatap-proach.” Bauerasked,“Rememberwhathappenedin2005,when one party controlled the governor’s office and both theIndianaHouseandSenate?Thatsessionendedwithpassageofabudgetthatincreasedpropertytaxesbycloseto$1billion,andlaidthegroundworkforthepropertytaxcrisisthatIndianafacestoday.Today,HouseDemocratsandSenateRepublicanshaveworkedtogethertoproduceabudgetthatishonestlybalanced,increasesschoolfundingandprovidestaxreliefthatpropertyownersactuallywillbeabletosee.Itistheresultofanopenprocessthatrequiredbothsidestoworktogetherandgavethepublicachancetohaveinput.MuchcreditmustgotoStateReps.William

CrawfordandBobKuzmanfortheirhardwork.” Still,ifanyonewasresponsibleforshiftingthefo-cusfromastructural,long-termpropertytaxsolutiontotheshort-term,itwasBauer.HecomplainedacoupleofweeksagothattheKenleyproposalsweretoomulti-dimensional. BauersaidonMonday,“Iamparticularlypleasedthatwewereabletoprovide$550millioninpropertytaxreliefoverthenexttwoyearsandbegintheprocessofcreatinglastingpropertytaxreformforyearstocome.Thismarksareturntopastbipartisanlegislativecommitmentstoprotecttheinterestsoffamiliesandownersofhomes,businessesandfarms.” ButonSunday,Democratsseemedtobetryingtoconvincethemselvesthatthe“two-yearbandageonthemummy,”astheChamber’sKevinBrinegarcalledit,wouldsell."Alotofpeopledon'tseetheeffectsofwhatwe'vedonehereintheGeneralAssembly,"Kuzmansaidofalet-terthatwouldbesenttohomeownersnextNovember. TheSouth Bend Tribunereportedintoday’sedi-tionsthatthepassageofthepropertytaxrelieflegislationappearstohaveendedthe“fiscalArmageddon”projectedbylocalofficialsfollowingpassageofcircuitbreakerlegisla-tionayearago.“Thedisasterstheywerepredictinghavebeenaverted,”Bauerexplained. Bauerwasinthemaelstromofoneofthemostcontroversialpiecesoflegislation,SJR-7,thegaymarriageban.ItstalledintheHouseRulesCommitteebydesign.ButthewayBauerpreparedthatscenariowasingenious.Astheissuereacheditscrescendo,thespeakerorchestratedsomeofIndiana’stoppubliccorporations-Lilly,Cummins,Wellpoint,Emmis-toreleaseletterssayinghowthelegisla-tioncouldpreventthetypeoftalenttosettleinIndiana. Itprovidedhismemberscoveranditsnuffedtheamendment. AskedaboutBauerleavinghisofficeinahuffSundaysurroundedbystatepolice,Gov.DanielssaidonMonday,“Idon’tthinkIdidanythingtoagitatehim.Therewasplentyofcircumstancetobeagitatedabout.Itwasatenseanddifficultdayandhewastryingtogetalotdone.IthinkhedidaverygoodjobofdockingsomeverylargeboatsandIhavenothingbutcomplimentsforthewayhehandledhisleadershipresponsibilities.”

David Long SenatePresidentProTemDavidLongfinishedhisfirstsessionwithgenerallyhighmarks.TheFortWayneJournalGazettegavehima“B”grade,inpartforinsertingapayraiseforSenateleadershipinthefinalhours(BauerandKenleyreceived“As”,Danielsa“C”). ButmembersoftheRepublicancaucusaregivinghimhighmarks.“Longdidastellarjob,”saidStateSen.BrentWaltz.“Hegotconsensusfromwomen,theconserva-tives.Helistenedtoeveryone.Itwasthecaucusthatmadethedecisions.”

Bauer & Bosma: Starts with a handshake .... (HPR Photo)

Tuesday, May 1, 2007Page 6

(Louisville Courier-Journal). AndHouseandSenateRepublicanshad“palpabletensions,”asonememberdescribed,inpartstokedwhenStateRep.MikeMurphyre-ferredtotheSenateasthe“HouseofLords.”

Brian Bosma ItwasatoughsessionfortheHouseminorityleader.Hiscaucushadtoendurebud-getamendmentsthatwerenot entertained. On the final weekend,Gov.DanielssaidhewasactuallyhopingthatBauerwouldbeabletocommand51Democraticvotesforthebud-gethewillsign. Itpassed51-49.

Bosmacalledthepropertyrebates"terriblepublicpolicy.It'sasillyideatotakepeople'smoneyandthensendthempartofitback.Itdoesn'thavetobethatway.Wecouldlowerbillsnow.Ifyouthinkyou’regoingtogohomeandpeoplearegoingtothankyouforthis,guessagain.” Bosma’sspinwasthis:HouseRepublicansstoodfirm to protect Hoosier property taxpayers from outra-geouslyhighincreasestotheir2007propertytaxbills.Atthebeginningofbudgetnegotiations,nothingwasdonetoaddresstheprojected24percentaveragepropertytaxincreaseacrossthestate.HouseRepublicansdemanded$300millioninpropertytaxreliefoverthebienniumforHoosierpropertytaxpayers.The$300millionrequestedwouldhavebroughttheannualincreaseinpropertytaxratesto5to6percent. Bosmahastobelievethatthepropertytaxpatchwillplayinhisfavorwhenheseekstoreclaimthespeaker-shipin2008. HewatchedthecollapseofSJR-7,whichmeansthatsocialconservativeswillhavetorestartthethree-yearprocess.Healsosawamoratoriumoncharterschools. And,byseveralaccounts,HouseRepublicansfeudedwithSenateRepublicans.

Bob Meeks StateSen.RobertMeeks,R-LaGrange,wasequallyproudofthebudgetbill(Wensits,South Bend Tribune).“Ithoughtwedidexactlywhatwesetouttodo,”Meekssaid.TheLaGrangeRepublicansaidthelegislationprovidesabalancedbudgetthatstayswithinexpectedrevenues,fundslocalschoolsandhighereducationand,“diditall

OthermemberstoldHPRthattheProTemwasorganized.“IthoughtDavidLongdidavery,veryeffectivejobinmanagingtheprocess,”saidStateSen.JohnnyNugent,whoarrivedintheSenatein1979andwatchedthelastProTemporetransitionfromtheindictedChipEdwardstoRobertGartonin1980.“Therewereafewlittlebumps,butitwentaswellasitcouldhave.Thissessionwasasuccessduetothatmanagement.” Lt.Gov.BeckySkillmansaid,“IthinkmostoftheSenatemem-berswouldtellyouthatitwasratherseamless.TheSenateisstaid,procedural,traditionalandthatcontinuedthroughwithDavidLongastheleader.Hegainedalotofrespect,notonlyamongthemembers,butfromthosewhoareoutinthehallwayandfromtheadministrationaswell.Hewasgreattoworkwith.” Thesessionwasn’twithoutdisappointments.Longsaidhiscaucuswasn’tparticularlyhappythatakeypartofitslong-termplanwasjettisonedduringfinalnegotiations.“Wegot85percentofthatloaf,andit’sstillagoodone,”hesaid,echoingstatementsfromSen.Kenley. NugentsaidthatLonghandledthatsetback“inaveryprofessionalmanner”andadded,“Attheendoftheday,youwriteabillthatcanpass.” Longalsoconcededthattheestimatesreleasedinthewaningdaysofthesessionthatpredictedhighertaxbillsthanexpectedpushedthefocusontoimmediaterelief.“Thenumberssurprisedeveryone,”hesaid(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).“Itforcedustoputmorethanwere-allythoughtwasprudentintopropertytaxrelief.” Longplayedabigroleintheslotslegislation.Gov.Danielswantedanoverallreductioningamingif2,000machinesweregoingtobeaddedtoHoosierParkandIndianaDowns.The“reduction”cameviaHB1510,whichwillprovidesfundingfor16newpoliceofficersattheIndianaGamingCommissiontorootoutmorethan10,000illegalgamblingandgivestheagencythepowertorevokealcohol,tobacco,lotteryandbusinesspermitsforretailersfoundviolatingstatelaw. “Thatwasveryimportant,notonlyinneutralizingthenetgainoftheslots-at-the-tracksbillbutreallycreat-inganetlossofillegalgamblinginthisstate,”saidLong

Senate President Pro Tempore David Long got good marks from just about everyone this session. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Thursday, May 1 2007 Page 7

withoutataxin-crease.”

Bill Crawford SourcestellHPRthatinthebudgetnegotiations,Craw-fordspentagreatdealoftimeseekingto“clipthewings”ofGov.DanielsonsuchtopicsasMajorMovesfunding.SomuchsothatitleftlittletimetonegotiateandthatpromptedtheDemo-cratstocomebackwithastrongerpositiononeducationfundingwhiletampingdownHouseRepublicanat-temptstoadd$100millioninpropertytaxrelief. ButCrawford’smostconspicuousmomentcameattheendwhenheallowedMayorBartPeterson’sIndyWorkspackagetocollapseovertownshiptrustees.WithlateencouragementfromGov.Daniels,StateSen.JamesMerrittpushed a plan that would achieve the fire consolidations viaavotefromthecitycouncil-notthetownshipboards-butitallowedtownshipassessorandtrusteedutiestobeshifted to the mayor’s office. ThatwasadealcrusherforCrawford,whowasprotectinghisally-CenterTownshipTrusteeCarlDrummer-andfourothernewlyelectedDemocratictrustees(thoughWarrenTownshipTrusteeJeffBennetthasagreedtocon-solidatewithIFD). WXNT’sAbdulHakim-ShabazzsaidthatCrawfordproposedanamendmentina2005IndyWorksbillwhenRepublicansheldmostofthetownshiptrusteepositions.Crawfordsaidthatthen-StateRep.EddieMahernhadcar-riedthatlegislation.“Ihaveneverproposedtheeliminationoftrustees,”Crawfordsaid.

Bart Peterson Iftherewasabigloserinthissession,itwasIndianapolisMayorBartPetersonwhosawhisIndyWorksplancrumbleatthehandsofWays&MeansChairmanBillCrawford.Othermayorsdidn’tfarewelleither.TheJournalGazettegavethemacollective“D”grade. On Saturday, Peterson warned that if fire consolida-tionwasnotachieved,“It'salmostasurethingthatwewillendupincreasingincometaxesbyone-tenthof1percentinordertoaccomplishourpublicsafetygoalshereinIndianapolis. We're fighting a war against crime. We need moneyand/orcostsavings"(Indianapolis Star).

ButIndyWorksdiednot due to fire consolidation,butoverthepreservationoftownshiptrusteesandassessors.Inessence,thetwoparty’sflipped po-sitions.Inthelasttwosessions,itwasHouseRepublicansthatskeweredIndyWorks. Mergingthedepart-

mentswouldproduce$15millioninsavingsperyear,Petersonsaid.Themayororiginallycalledforeliminatingtownshiptrustees,shiftingtownshipassessordutiestothecounty assessor's office and merging Marion County's town-ship fire departments with the Indianapolis Fire Depart-ment.OnSaturday,hedroppedhispushtoeliminatetheassessorsandtrustees. Earlierthissession,DemocratsintheHouseap-proved a bill that would allow the fire and assessor merg-ers,whileRepublicansinchargeoftheSenatepassedaversion that would allow the fire consolidation and elimina-tionofthetrustees.TheSenateversion,though,wouldleave fire merger decisions up to township boards, while theHouseplanwouldleaveittotheCity-CountyCouncil,whichPetersonprefers.OnFriday,Petersonwassupport-ingandcountingonlegislationcarriedbyCrawfordforfire consolidation. Mayoral spokesman Justin Ohmiller said themayorwaswillingtocedeconsolidationoftownships.Butitallcamecrashingdownovertheweekend.Askedifhesplitwiththemayor,Crawfordsaid,“Absolutely.WhenIintroducedthebillatthemayor’srequest,IstatedveryclearlythatIwouldnotincludetrustees.Thereasoniswhenyoulookatitinsubjectiveanalysis,itisthecountyassessorthathastheabilitytoassumeresponsibilityofthelocaltownshipassessors.Youneedasocialworkerframe-workandthetrusteesaremoresubjectiveinadministeringrelief.” MarionCountyRepublicanChairmanTomJohnsaid,“Petersonpromisedourcitizensmillionsinsavings,buthisownDemocratPartydeliveredonlymoregovern-ment.OurpartyofferedthemayoreverythingheoriginallyaskedforinhisIndyWorksproposals,andintheend,hecouldn’tevengethisownparty’ssupport.Thisisanutterfailureofleadership.”v

Gov. Daniels tried to help Mayor Peterson get Indy Works passed late this session, but it found opposition from House Democrats. (HPR Photo)

Tuesday, May 1, 2007 Page 8

2008 Presidential Polls Republican Date Giuliani McCain Thompson Romney Comp. SpreadZogby 03/22-03/26 27% 13% 9% 9% Giuliani+14%USAToday/Gallup04/13-04/15 35% 22% 10% 9% Giuliani+13%Rasmussen 04/23 - 04/26 30% 14% 14% 11% Giuliani +16% Time 04/05-04/09 35% 20% 10% 10% Giuliani+15%CNN 04/10-04/12 27% 24% 11% 10% Giuliani+3%Cook/RT 03/29-04-0134%17%10%6%Giuliani+17%FoxNews04/17-04/18 35% 16% 8% 10% Giuliani+19%PewResearch03/21-03/2533%23%--%8% Giuliani+10LATimes/Bloombg04/5-04/09 29%12%15%8%Giuliani+22NBC/WSJ 04/20-04/23 33% 22% 17% 12% Giuliani+11%

Democrat Clinton Obama Edwards Gore Comp. SpreadZogby 03/22-03/26 32% 22% 13% Clinton+10%USAToday/Gallup04/13-04/15 31% 26% 16% 15% Clinton+5%Rasmussen 04/23 - 04/26 30% 32% 17% -- Obama +2% Time 04/05-04/09 33% 26% 25% --% Clinton+7%CNN 04/10-04/12 30% 26% 12% 15% Clinton+4%Cook/RT03/29-04/0141%17%19%--Clinton+24%PewResearch03/21-03/2535%26%16%12%Clinton+9%FoxNews04/17-04/18 41% 20% 12% 16% Clinton+21%LATimes/Bloomb04/05-04/0933%23%14%13%Clinton+10NBC/WSJ 04/20-04/23 36% 31% 20% -- Clinton+5%

Hoosier Support:Giuliani ($172,450 raised in Indiana):MarionCountyProsecutorCarlBrizzi,StephenGold-smith,TimDurham,BeurtSerVass,SteveHilbert.McCain:Gov.MitchDaniels.Romney ($83,750):AttorneyGeneralSteveCarter;SecretaryofStateToddRokita,JamesBopp,DanDumezich,BobGrand,ChrisChocola.Thompson:U.S.Rep.SteveBuyer.Edwards ($85,000 raised in Indiana):RobinWinston,9thCDChairMikeJones,AnnandEdDeLaney,BruceKehoe,JamesVoyles.Clinton ($71,000):BrenSimon.v

Bren to host brunch with Hillary CARMEL-TheClintonsarereturningtoCarmel. U.S.Sen.HillaryClintonwillattendaSaturdayfundraiserhostedbyBrenSimon.ItisacontinuationofalongrelationshipbetweentheClintonsandSimons. “AlotofpeoplehavepreconceivednotionsaboutwhoHillaryisandwhatshe’slike,”saidSimon,whoisholdingthebrunchfor200to300peopleatherHamiltonCountyestate(Gannett News Service).“Oncetheygetintotheroomwithherandtheylistentoher,everythingchanges.Theytotallygetwhosheisandhowcapablesheis.She’snothinglikethemediahasportrayedher.” SimonsaidClintonisthebestcandidatebecauseshe’s“theonethatcanhitthegroundrunning.”Obama observes ‘Mission Accomplished’ CHICAGO-U.S.Sen.BarackObama,whohasa2percentleadinthelatestRasmussenPoll,releasedthefollowingstatementontheAnniversaryofthe“MissionAccomplished”speech.“FouryearsafterPresidentBushlandedonanaircraftcarrieranddeclared‘MissionAccom-plished,’wearestillinawarwheremorethanonehundred

AmericanservicemembershavediedinjustthemonthofApril.WegrieveforthemtodayandurgethePresidenttoavoidmak-inganothertragicmistakebysigningthebillthatwillendthiswarandbringourtroopshome.Wearenowonesignatureawayfromendingthiswar.ThemajorityoftheAmericanpeopleandtheirCongressnowagreethatthereisnomilitarysolutiontothecon-flict in Iraq."v

Bren Si-mon with President Clinton (top) and Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Page 9 Tuesday, May 1, 2007

2007 Mayoral Carmel:Republican:MayorJamesBrainard,JohnKoven.2003 Republican Primary Results: Brain-ard5,067,Wilson1,707,Snyder1,034.2007 Forecast:Eventhoughthereisanearnestdebateonthecity’sdebt,it’shardtofathomBrainardlosingthisprimary.Primary Status: LikelyBrainard

Crown Point: Repub-lican:MayorDanKlein,GayleVanSession;DemocratDanJordan,KarinMason,DavidUran.2003 Republican Primary Results: Klein1,447,VanSession1,157,Roth760.2003 General Results: Klein(R)4,289.Isailovich(D)2,158.2007 Fore-cast: Here’sthePost-Tribune’sRichJamestake:CrownPointRepublicanswerethirstingforawinnerin2003after12 years of Jim Metros, the city’s first Democratic mayor. DanKleinwontheprimarywithjust43percentofthevote,astwostrongfemalecandidates-includingthisyear’schallenger,GayleVanSessen-splittherest.VanSessenlosttoKleinbyascant300votes.Yet,Kleinhaspickedup more barnacles than most first-term mayors. The city’s firefighters are adamant about ousting Klein, who has tried tomicromanagethedepartmentandhasgonethroughfire chiefs about as frequently as Britney Spears goes intorehab.Kleinalsohashadatendencytobealittlelessthanforthcomingaboutissuesinthecity,asituationthathasdrawnthewrathofsomedevelopers.Kleinalsohasdrawntheireofsomeold-timeRepublicansbyvirtu-allyshunningcountyGOPChairmanJohnCurley,whileheplaysballwithmoney-manDanDumezichandSecretaryofStateToddRokita.VanSessen,ontheotherhand,angeredsomefolksbyherreactiontoher2003loss.Yet,VanSessen,theexecutivedirectoroftheChamberofCom-merce,worksdailywithRepublicanbusinesstypes.WordisthatsomeDemocratsaregoingtocrossoverandvoteforVanSessen,largelybecausetheyremainupsetaboutsomeofKlein’scampaigntacticsagainstWayneIsailovichinfall2003.DoesallthatmeanVanSessenwillwin?Notnecessarily.ThisisstillCrownPoint,thelastbastionofreal,old-schoolRepublicanisminLakeCounty.Whethersomeofthemcanbringthemselvestoputawomaninthemayor’soffice remains questionable. Primary Status: TOSSUP. East Chicago:DemocratMayorGeorgePabey,CouncilmanAnthonyCopeland,EdwardWilliams,AliciaLopez-Rodriguez.2003 Democratic Primary Results: Pastrick4,083,Pabey3,805,Randolph2,289.2003 Gen-eral Results:Pastrick(D)3,571.Santos(R)1,027.2004 Special Democratic Primary:Pabey6,697,Pastrick3,514,Randolph140.2004 Special General Results:Pabey5013,Santos(R)417.2007 Forecast: CopelandhadoutspentincumbentMayorPabey$63,449to$58,931.

Pabey reported raising no money since the last filing period inJanuary(Post-Tribune).CandidatesAliciaLopez-Ro-driguezandEdWilliams'campaignsreporteddonationsof$16,000and$15,000respectivelyfromapoliticalactioncommitteecalledtheUnitedPoliticalFundofLakeCounty,whichrecentlychangeditsnamefromCitizensforCvitkov-ich,formerNorthTownshipTrusteeGregoryCvitkovich'scampaigncommittee.CopelandwonhisfederalcourtbattlewiththecityWednesday,earninghimselfapermittoholdapoliticalrallyinacitypark(Times).Cityadmin-istratorshaddeniedCopelandapermitforaMay5rallyinVeteran’sMemorialParkbecauseofalongstandingcitypolicyforbiddingpoliticiansfromusingpublicparkstopon-tificate before elections. But Robert Miller, chief judge in the federalNorthernDistrictofIndiana,agreedwithCopelandthatthecitypolicyviolatedtheFirstAmendmentrighttoengageinfreespeechinpublicforums.MillerorderedthecitytograntCopelandthepermitanddeniedthecity’sre-questthatCopelandposta$10,000bondforthepermitincaseanyonewasinjuredattherally,whichisexpectedtoattractatleast200people.“Whenthemayorgetselected,hethinkshecontrolseverything.Hedon’t.Thesearepublicparks,”Copelandsaid.Primary Status:LIKELYPABEY. Elkhart:Democrat:CouncilmanArvisDawson,DickMoore.Republican:CouncilmanJimPettit,NeilHer-man,MartinMcCloskey.2003 General Results:Miller(R)4,730,Perron(D)3,533.2007 Forecast: WegiveMooreaslightedgeoverCouncilmanDawsonontheDemside.DittoforPettitfortheGOP.Primary Status: LEANSDAWSON;LEANSPETTIT. Fort Wayne:Republican:AllenCountyCom-missionerNelsonPeters,MatthewKelty,IvanHood,Wilbert“Duke”Brown.Democrat:TomHenry,FredSteinke,TomCook.2003 Results:Richard(D)27,251,Buskirk(R)19,701.2007 Forecast:Therehasbeenaperceptibleshiftinthisrace...again.FormerAllenCountySheriffJoeSquadritoandformerpolicechiefNealHermanendorsedPeters.InsiderstellHPRthatthe6-3votebytheFortWayneCityCouncilontheHarrisonSquareprojectisan-otherindicatorthatthepublicismorealignedwithPeters’positionthanKelty,whoactivelyopposedit.PetershasbegunaheavyrotationofTV.GoinginKelty’sfavorishisevangelicalbasethattendstoturnoutinlow-voteprima-ries.Oursourcessaythisraceistooclosetocall.Primary Status: RepublicanTOSSUP;Democrat:SafeHenry. Gary: Democrats:MayorRudyClay,KarenFree-man-Wilson,ChuckHughes,DarrenWashington,JohnHenryHall,LarryAnderson,Ulysses(Lish)Burnett,LarryEvans,NormanL.Roby,PierreStrickland,TheresaMosesSturdivant.Republican:JaysonReeves,CharlesR.SmithJr.2003 Results:King(D)10,028,Smith(R)1,201.2007 Forecast:We think Clay wins easily in a crowded field. Status:LIKELYCLAY Hobart:Democrat:MayorLindaBuzinec,Brian

Tuesday, May 1, 2007Page 10

Snedecor,DonaldPotreibic. 2007 Forecast: TheTimes of Northwest IndianaendorsedBuzinectoday.Post-Tribune’s RichJames’columnwrote:Democrats,ontheotherhand,neverhavehadaproblemvotingforwomen,whichispartlywhyHobartMayorLindaBuzinecisseek-ing a fourth term. But almost 12 years in office is a lot of timetomakeenemies.Buzinechaspickedupmorethanherfairshare.Herleast-favoritefanrightnowisBrianSnedecor,herprimaryopponentandthemanwhosteppeddownaspolicechiefafteraccusingthemayor-muchlikeKlein-ofmicromanagingthedepartment.WhileHobartpoliceareunderstandablyworkingforSnedecor,soarethecity firefighters. When Buzinec temporarily closed a fire station, proposed using part-time firefighters and tried to assumecontroloftheFireCommission,thereactionwasn’tpretty.AndBuzinecangeredsomefolksoverthedowntownredevelopmentproject,aswellasthepro-posedsaleofRobinsonLakePark.So,dotheBuzinecnegativesmeanSnedecor’sawinner?Notnecessarily.AlthoughSnede-corisviewedasagenuinelynicefellow,he’sshortongovernmentexperience.AndtheunknownfactorisDonPotrebic,aformerHobartandcountycouncilman.I’vegottothinkhiscandidacyhurtsBuz-inec. Primary Status: LEANSBUZINEC. Jeffersonville: MayorRobWaizJr.TomGalligan.Republican: 2003 Democratic Primary:Waiz2,187,Galligan1,708,Muncy252,Ogden166.2003 General Results:Waiz(D)3,711,Raymond(R)2,354,Fisher(L)118.2007 Forecast: GJeffersonville’sDemocraticprimaryformayorisshapingupasadeci-siononleadershipstyle.Waizsaidthechoiceisbetweenhis“cooperationandcollaboration”leadershipincontrastwithformerMayorTomGalligan’s“confronta-tionandlawsuits.”Galligansaidvotershavetodecideif“theywanttomuddlealong”withWaiz,“ordotheywantamayorwhoisproactive?”“Igotthingsdone,”Galligansaid(Hershberg,Louisville Courier-Journal).Thedifferenc-esbeinghighlightedbythecandidatesintheircampaignsfortheMay8primaryarestickingwithvoters.“Rob’simageismorereservedandbuttoned-downandcautious,”saidMikeNelson,66,aJeffersonvilleresidentwhoisre-tired.“Tommyismoreaggressive.Heismoreofanactiveperson.”AmongtheeconomicdevelopmenttrophiesthatWaizclaimsarethe1,000-jobexpansionofJeffboatInc.inrecentyearsandthemoveofMedVentureInc.,ahigh-techmedicalequipmentcompany,fromLouisvilletoJefferson-ville.GalligansaidamonghisachievementsareattractingmanybusinessestotheClarkMaritimeCenterandother

locationsanddevelopmentoftheriverfront’srestaurantrow.“WewenttoFinland”toresolvelitigationwiththeDeMarsHakaDevelopmentCo.,whichownedkeyriverfrontpropertyneededfordevelopment,Galligansaid.Primary Status: TOSSUP. Kokomo:Democrat:CouncilmanGregGood-night,CouncilmanBobHayes,AndyCastner.Republican:MayorMattMcKillip,CouncilmanRickHamilton,TomHam-ilton,LewisG.Freeman.2003 Primary Results:Repub-lican:McKillips1,565,Donoghue972,Bolinger327,McKay243,T.Hamilton38.Democrat:Castner1,360,Lushin1,358,Alexander969,Ellis34. 2003 General Results:McKillip(R)5,229,Castner(D)4101,Dunlap(I)832.2007 Forecast: WebelievethatGoodnightisinthedriver’sseatontheDemocraticside.AndwethinkthatMcKillipsurvives

intheprimarybecausehisevangelicalsupportislikelytoturnout.Primary Status: LEANSMcKILLIP;LIKELYGOODNIGHT. Terre Haute: Democrat:MayorKevinBurke,JamesHorrall,DaleSmith,JohnWalters.Republican:DukeBen-nett.2003 Democratic Primary Results: Burke6,339,MayorAnderson2,436,Jenkins2,414,Walters148.2003 General Results:Burke(D)7,338,Bennett(R)3,847.2007 Fore-cast:WethinkthatBurkebreaksthethree-primaryincumbentlosingstreakanddispatchesformerChiefHorrall.Butitwilllikelybeclose.Primary Status: LEANSBURKE. Michigan City: Democrat:MayorChuckOberlie,JoieWinski,JimLaRocco.2003 Results: Oberlie(D)3,316.2007 Forecast:FormerLaPorteCountyDemocraticchairmanShawFriedmanisbackingMayorOberlie.Primary Status: LeansOberlie. New Albany:Democrat:

MayorJamesGarner,DougEngland.Republican:RandyHubbard. 2003 Democratic Primary Results: Garner2,512,Scharlow814,Clemons714,Goldberg552,Kersey68,Tuttle48. 2003 General Results: Garner(D)5,971,Overton(R)3,893,Hughes(L)196.2007 Forecast:Thisappearstobeabarnburner.Primary Status: TOSSUP. South Bend:Republican:JuanManigault,TerryMiller.Democrat:MayorStephenLuecke.2003 General Results:Luecke(D)10,598,Schmidt(R)4,188. 2007 Forecast: Webelievethisracehastightened.Acoupleweeksago,wethoughtManigaultwasthemantobeat,butoursourcesaretellingusmanyoftheoldguardaresidingwithMiller.Primary Status:TOSSUPv

Mayor Burke breaking ground on 13th Street. He hopes to beat the Demo-cratic primary jinx next Tuesday.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007Page 11

Jack Colwell, South Bend Tribune-Whatissacredtozealotsofonefaithoftenisevilwitchcrafttobelieversofanotherphilosophy.Soitiswithprivatiza-tion.Privatizingwhatlonghasbeenrunbygovernmentisviewedbyitsadherentswithanalmostreligiouszeal. They firmly believe private interests, working with a profit motive, can do a better jobthangovernmentemployeesinmyriadar-easofprovidingservicesforthepublic.Oppo-nentsoftenviewprivatizationproposalsasriskyschemes,politicalwitchcraftaimedmoreataquick fix than long-term improvement in ser-vice. They firmly believe many of these propos-alsaredesignedtorewardcorporatefriendsandobtainpoliticalcontributions.Assooftenisthecasewithsuchdiametricallyopposedviews,thetruthliessomewhereinbetween.Nodoubtaboutit.Governmentbureaucracycan be inefficient. Corporate bureaucracy can be inefficient, too.Crooksingovernmentjobscanbilkthepublic.Socancorporatecrooks.Dedicatedemployees,whetherpublicorprivate,areakeyingredientinmakinganysystemwork.IndianaGov.MitchDanielsisoneofthecrusadersforprivatization.Hecitesexamplesofhowturningtothepri-vatesectorcanreduceduplicationandcosts.Danielsnoteshowsixdepartmentalprintshopsinstategovernment“satsidebysideafewblocksfromthenearestKinko’s.”WhethersendingallthebusinesstoKinko’sisthesolutioncanbedebated.Buttheduplicationofserviceswithsixprintshopsseemsimpossibletodefend.Danielsprivatiza-tionoftheTollRoad,sellingtherighttooperateitfor75yearstoaprivateconsortium,alsoseemsimpossibletodefendtomanywholiveneartheroadandwillpaymuchhighertollstohelpfundprojectselsewhere.Nowtheissueisprivatizingofprisons.TheriotattheNewCastleCorrec-tionalFacilitybringsdebateoverthewisdomorlackthereofintheDanielsadministrationcontractwithGEOGroupofFloridatoruntheprisonandthedealwithArizonatohousemorethanathousandofitsinmatesinthatfacility.“Prisonfor profit is not a good idea,” said House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer,D-SouthBend.HesaidthegovernorshouldhaveknownthatbringingArizonalaw-breakerstothestatewasnotinIndiana’sbestinterests.Danielsbrushedoffthecriticismasjustanothercaseofjumpingon“anydifferentidea.”Hesaidthedealenablesthestatetoobtainrevenueforprisonspacethatwasnotbeingutilized.Privatizationdisputesarenoteverywherealongpoliticallines.TheyareinIndianabecauseofthepushbyDanielsforprivatizationofnotjusttheTollRoadandprisonsbutalsootherhigh-ways,otherservicesandtheHoosierLottery.Heisatruebelieverintheconcept.Democraticlegislatorsbelievejustas firmly that he is going too far and ignoring public opin-ionandthepublicgood.DemocraticaswellasRepublicangovernors,however,havelookedatorproposedprivatiza-tioninsomeotherstates.v

Matt Tully,Indianapolis Star -Gov.MitchDanielscontinuedhismissing-governorroutinelastweek,avoidingthespotlightafterariotbrokeoutattheNewCastleCorrectionalFacility.AsTuesdayafternoonarrived,

smoke-filled images from the Indiana prison filled time on local and national television. It’d behardtoimagineamoreappropriatemo-mentforagovernortoaddresshisstate--tostandbeforetheTVcamerasandsaysome-thingaboutthebuckstoppingathisdeskwhilepromisingtotakeeverycorrectivestepthatneedstobetaken.ButDanielshidlikeHowardHughes,continuinghismonths-longstrategy

ofavoidingcontroversyintheapparenthopeofboostinghisre-electionchances.Andifthe“Where’sMitch?”routineweren’tbadenough,Danielsexacerbateditwithaspin-doctoredstatementthatcalledtheriota“rela-tivelyminor”incident.Minor?Thiscertainlywasn’tAttica.Butitalsowasn’tminor.Daniels’tight-lippedstrategyhasincludedmonthsofavoidingpublicpositionsoneverythingfromgamblingtosame-sexmarriage.Atarecentpoliti-caldinner,hesaidasilentMitchis“lesslikelytostepinit.”That’strue.Still,it’ssadtoseeaformerstraight-talkerkeepinghismouthshutlikeafrightened6-year-oldinthedentist’schair.Thoseclosetothegovernorsayhetiredofseeinghiswordssparkcontroversy.Heseemstoforgetthat most of the flaps came when he lectured smugly or actedliketheonlysmartguyinIndiana.There’samiddlegroundbetweensanctimoniousandsilent.Danielsshouldclimb out of his bunker and find it. Indiana needs a leader whoiswillingtospeakup.YoumightrememberthedayswhenDanielsdidjustthat.v

Lesley Stedman Weidenbener, Louisville Courier-Journal-Inthelate-sessionnegotia-tionsaboutpropertytaxrelief,anintriguingproposalbyaSenateRepublicantoeliminateadecades-oldpropertytaxreplacementsystemfellaway,lefttobediscussedinfutureyears.TheplandrawnupbySenateTaxChairmanLukeKenleywouldhavestoppedthesubsidiesthestatepaystolocalgovernmentstokeeppropertytaxbillslower.That’sdonethroughacreditagainsttaxesowed.Youcanseeitonyourtaxstatement.Kenleywantstostoppayingthe$2billioninannualsubsidiesandthenusethemoneyforschoolexpensesandotherstate-relatedfunctionsthatarenowpaidforwithpropertytaxes.Theplanwouldamounttoasortofswap.Althoughthetaxcreditswouldgoaway,sowouldsomepropertytaxlevies.So,atleastinitially,theimpactontheaveragepropertyownerswouldbenegligible.Kenleysaysthatovertime,however,propertytaxeswoulddecreaseasthestatetookovertheincreas-ingcostsofschools.Butintheend,theproposalprovedtoocontroversialforthenarrowlydividedHouse,whereDemocratscontrolwitha51-49margin.v

Tuesday, May 1, 2007Page 12

istrationadamantlydisagreed,sayinganitemizedlistwasunconstitutionalbecausethelegislativebranchwouldbeintrudinguponexecutivebranchduties Besides, INDOT needed flex-ibilitytopayforsurprises.“Itrynottotalkintermsof(veto)threats;butwemadeitveryplainthis(itemizedlist)wasunacceptableinitsoriginalform.Thebiggestreasonwhyisthatit’s really foolish to limit our flexibility,” DanielssaidMonday.

Palfrey apologizesfor outing Tobias WASHINGTON-AwomanapologizedMondayforoutingaformertop State Department official as a clientofherescortservicebutsaiditwasnecessarytoprovehercompanywasdoinglegalbusiness.AfederalgrandjuryindictedDeborahJeanePalfreyinMarchonchargesofrunningahigh-classcallgirlringinthenation’scapitalfromherhomeinVallejo,Calif.Shemaintainstheescortservicedidnotengageinprostitution.PalfreysaidsheturnedoverphonerecordstoABC Newshopingthedocumentswouldunveilthousandsofclients,suchasRandallTobias,andcompelthemtotestifyonherbehalf.To-bias,whoresignedFridayasheadoftheBushadministration’sforeignaidprograms, confirmed to ABC News that he used Palfrey’s escort firm, Pamela Martin&Associates,butsaidheonlyreceivedlegalservicessuchasmas-sages.ProsecutorsaccusedPalfreyofseekingtointimidatewitnessesbyoutingthempublicly.Palfrey’scivilattorneysaidhedoesnotknowhowmanypeoplewillbeoutedbyABC,whichisplanningtoairareportFridayonits“20/20”newsmagazine.

Pence says his support for Iraq War not open ended BERNE-U.S.Rep.MikePence,R-6th,hasfromtheoutsetbeenastaunchdefenderofAmerica’smilitarypresenceinIraqandPresidentBush’srecenttroopsurge(Decatur

Daily Democrat).LatelastweekPencealsohadharshwordsforCapitolHillDemocrats,whopassedlegisla-tionthattiedfundingforthemissioninIraqtoatimetableforwithdraw-ingtroopsfromIraq,saying“thesupplementalappropriationsbillisfiscally irresponsible and constitution-ally flawed and I cannot support it.” ButFriday,duringastopinBerne,PencesaidhissupportoftheUnitedStates’militarypresenceinIraq,whilecurrentlystrong,isnotopen-ended.“Tome,thereisnolong-termmilitarysolutioninIraq;onlypoliticalanddiplomaticsolutions,”Pencesaid.“Andit’sthepresident’sstrategytoprovideenoughmilitarysupporttoallowtheotheravenuestotakeplace.But,ifbytheendoftheyearwearenotabletosecureBaghdad,oriftheIraqisdonottakethestepstoachieve...allthatisnecessaryfortheirgovernmenttobesuccessful,thenweshouldreconsiderour tactical profile in Iraq. “There is nomilitarysolutionforIraq,andwedon’thaveanopen-endedcommit-mentthere,”hesaid.

Ex-GOP officialpleads guilty FORTWAYNE-Ajudgesen-tencedtheformerexecutivedirectoroftheAllenCountyRepublicanPartytothreeyears’probationMondayforforging11townshipcandidates’signatureslastsummer(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette).DouglasT.Foy,41,ofthe6900blockofOrdwayDrive,waschargedinDecemberwith11felonycountsoffalselymakingadec-larationofcandidacyorpartofadec-larationofcandidacybetweenJune29andJuly3.HefaceduptothreeyearsinprisononeachchargeandwasscheduledtofaceajurytrialFriday.Instead,hepleadedguiltyMondaymorninginAllenSuperiorCourttoallchargesaspartofapleaagreementwithprosecutors.

Peterson, Gonzales,Brooks take aim at crime INDIANAPOLIS-MayorBartPetersonwilljoinUnitedStatesAttor-neyGeneralAlbertoGon-zales,UnitedStatesAt-torneySusanBrooksandcommunityleadersatapressconferencediscuss-inganti-gangandcrimepreventioneffortsat1:30p.m.today.

Compromise cameon I-69 funding INDIANAPOLIS-ThesessionendedatmidnightSundaywiththeLegislaturepassingatwo-year,$26billionstatebudgetthatincreasesschoolfunding,provides$550millioninpropertytaxrelieflaterthisyearandallocates$1.03billioninfund-ingforhighwayprojectssuchasthesouthernsectionofI-69(Evansville Courier & Press).Gov.MitchDanielssaidMondayhewouldsignthebudgetbillintolaw.Theconstructionfundisstockedwithproceedsfromthe2006leaseofthenorthernIndianatollroad,moneytheIndianaDepartmentofTransportationintendedtouseonhighwayprojectsacrossthestate.Itincludes $119 million for the first two yearsofI-69constructionthroughSouthwesternIndiana.ButthebudgetHouseDemocratsapprovedinFebru-aryappropriatednofundstoINDOT.SenateRepublicansaddedthefundingbackinApril,promptingHouse-Senateconferencecommitteenegotiationsovertheweekend.HouseDemocratsarguedtheycouldnotallocatealumpsumtoINDOTwithoutaguaranteetheagencywouldbuildI-69andotherhighwaysonitsprioritylistandnotsubstituteotherprojects.Projectsshouldbeitemizedwithinthestatebudget,Democratssaid.SenateRe-publicansandtheRepublicanadmin-