The best ‘listening’ session ever? · under a bus and let the mea-die. If hewas serious would...
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The best ‘listening’ session ever? Tuesday, May 1, 2007 V13 N35 By LARRY BORST INDIANAPOLIS - Sometime in the waning days of the 2007 legislative session, Speaker Pat Bauer must have had a revelation. A revelation that this was the time for him to not to be completely political. A revelation that Gov. Daniels really was a “good guy” and a person that, legis- latively, deserved a few of those items listed in the administration’s tattered legislative agenda. What began in January as a ses- sion that was labeled as the Speaker vs. the Governor, ended with both being able too declare “victory.” Up until the “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 - For House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, it was “the greatest session in Indiana history.” State Sen. Bob Meeks noted, “The House may make the headlines, but the Senate gets things done.” Gov. Mitch Daniels said Monday morning, “I want to commend every member of the General As- sembly. People who feared gridlock or paralysis instead saw another session of dra- matic change and progress for our state.” In some sense, it was. The 44-cent-per-pack ciga- rette tax increase creates what Gov. Daniels describes as “the most important health care legislation of our lifetimes.” It came after a furor erupted when the House initially re- jected the bill. Daniels explained, “I have asked a host of people whether they can think of a better example and nobody has. I am excited about the passage of the plan and what it can mean for uninsured it means for Hoosiers and for low-income children, and, of course, to try to bring down the second-highest smoking rate in America.” There was a second - by almost all accounts - hon- estly balanced budget after a decade of smoke and mirrors. And there was $92 million for full-day kindergarten, $33.5 million in 2008 and $58.5 million in 2009. But .... As after past General Assembly sessions, HPR will tell the story of this one through the key personalities that Gov. Mitch Daniels and House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer listened to each other and found common ground. (HPR Photos)
Transcript of The best ‘listening’ session ever? · under a bus and let the mea-die. If hewas serious would...
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
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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.
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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)
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“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-
