Indiana News Update

Election officials assure voters: Isolated glitches are being resolved
Voters should remain confident in Marion County’s election system despite a series of mistakes affecting a few hundred voters, officials said Wednesday. The most high-profile problem has been ballots in three precincts that erroneously omitted the Indianapolis Public Schools referendum question, sparking dozens of calls from people trying to figure out whether they should be voting on that issue.

Peterson, Ballard to push ballot measure

 

An election will bring together former Mayor Bart Peterson and the man who took his job in November. Peterson will join Mayor Greg Ballard at 2 p.m. today at a news conference to build support for a measure on Tuesday’s ballot that would transfer property assessment duties from townships to counties. Peterson, who has been teaching and out of the public eye since losing his bid for a third term, will join Ballard at the office of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. This will be their first joint public appearance since last year’s election.

Election Countdown: Indiana 75th State District
The race to represent the 75th district in Indiana’s House of Representatives pits incumbent Democrat Dennis Avery against Republican challenger J.D. Strouth. In our continuing “You Decide 2008″ coverage, Fox 7 talked with both men about what they felt were the race’s key issues. The legislature took a major step during the 2008 session to change the state’s property tax system – a move Strouth agreed with. “I want to limit and cap property taxes,” he said. “We need someone looking after the taxpayers’ best interest. And, I’m going to do that.” “I think we need to look at House Bill 1001, which was the property tax bill, to make sure that there’s fair taxation, because that did provide a cap on the percentage of taxes that are paid,” said Avery. Avery said if he’s re-elected, for better or worse, he’ll be dealing with the repercussions of HB 1001.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

A house divided, or, the Indiana General Assembly
One of the most critical contests for Republicans and Democrats alike this year is being fought well outside the presidential spotlight, but the stakes for Indiana voters are just as high. Republicans are expected to keep their grip on the state Senate, but the closely divided Indiana House is up for grabs again, as it has been for two decades. Democrats have a slim 51-49 advantage now, and any change could affect Hoosiers where they live and work.

Gloves off in District 63 race
A hotly contested race for the Indiana House District 63 seat has taken a sharply negative turn in the final week before the election. A direct-mail piece for Democrat John Burger claims Republican Mark Messmer sent Burger an e-mail threatening his family. Messmer adamantly denies ever threatening Burger, contends his actual e-mail message must have been “doctored,” and says he might file a defamation lawsuit against Burger. To prove no threatening e-mail was sent, Messmer said he offered to have his computer hard drive forensically examined by police

RBA will go to General Assembly for funding
The Northwest Indiana Regional Bus Authority is seeking backing for legislation that would fund bus service throughout the region and rescue failing bus companies such as Hammond Transit. “Our plan is to work with the railroad (South Shore) and folks at the Indiana Transportation Association to come up with a legislative funding plan that would help build public transit in Indiana,” said RBA Chairman Dennis Rittenmeyer. Rittenmeyer’s call comes less than a week after Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, said he would introduce legislation to fund the South Shore extension but dismissed the idea of seeking funds for buses.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

Mitch, Jill differ on plans to streamline government
A commission made a big splash in political circles nearly a year ago when it recommended sweeping changes that would alter the face of local government in Indiana. Among its proposals: Eliminate township governments. Have one elected county chief executive who would appoint county officials now elected, such as the sheriff, assessor and auditor. Small school districts would be consolidated so they have at least 2,000 students. A few of the 27 recommendations, including one that the state assume all child welfare costs, were enacted in this year’s legislative session. Whether many or any of the remaining ones wins approval in the session that starts in January could well rest on who wins the governor’s race — Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels or Democrat Jill Long Thompson.

2 doctors agree office is in need of an overhaul
The two candidates running for Marion County coroner agree on one thing: The troubled office needs some major change. Most immediately, Republican Dr. John Pless and Democrat Dr. Frank Lloyd Jr. agree that the main problem to address is chronic delays the office has had in getting death certificates to the families of people who die. The certificates are needed to process insurance and other estate matters.

Libertarian denounces child agency
Libertarian candidate Andrew Horning’s unconventional campaign for governor often has struggled to gain attention. With eight days left before the election, Horning convened a sparsely attended news conference Monday to condemn what he called a pattern of “abuse of power” in state and local government. He said if he were elected, he would abolish the Indiana Department of Child Services and reassign the child-protection caseworkers to courts. Horning holds an ultra-literalist view of the 1851 state constitution and contends the Department of Child Services is unconstitutional.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

Indiana loses 3,300 jobs in September
Indiana lost about 3,300 jobs in September, putting it among 41 states that saw fewer jobs last month, according to preliminary numbers released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But there’s also some good news for Indiana. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 6.4 percent in August to 6.2 percent in September. Indiana’s unemployment rate was the lowest of its neighboring states, although it was slightly higher than the national rate of 6.1 percent.

Lots of talk about change, even in the governor’s race
Harley-riding, business-minded Republican Mitch Daniels roared in as Indiana’s governor four years ago and shook up a state averse to change at a dizzying pace. He canceled state workers’ bargaining rights on his first day and never slowed down, erasing a $600 million budget shortfall in his first year, winning approval of statewide daylight saving time after a three-decade battle and hiring private companies to manage state resources in a quest for savings and efficiency. But in a year in which change is a key theme in the presidential race, President Bush’s former budget director finds himself in a surprisingly close race against an underfunded opponent who gets more comments about her short hairstyle than about many of her proposals.

Will law change spur more student transfers?
When lawmakers adopted House Bill 1001 last spring, they unwittingly revamped the way public schools accept transfer students. For years, school districts weren’t reimbursed by the state for transfer tuition students. Schools could accept them at their own discretion and charge a fee. In some districts, it’s as high as $5,000 a year. That method helped schools recover the money to educate the student, and it effectively kept the number of transfer tuition students low.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

Democrat ends ad drought
Democrat Jill Long Thompson will begin airing her first general election television ad in weeks today in her campaign to oust Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels. Long Thompson says in the 30-second spot that Daniels “would have us believe Indiana is doing as well as can be expected,” but she thinks the state could do much better. She said the state can improve its high school graduation rate and avoid losing thousands of jobs, and she criticizes Daniels for outsourcing some Indiana government jobs to other states and countries. She says if she were governor, the state would not do that.

State Chamber backs Daniels
Breaking with its tradition of not endorsing gubernatorial candidates, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce on Monday endorsed Republican incumbent Mitch Daniels for the Nov. 4 election. The organization that represents nearly 5,000 businesses statewide noted Daniels’ efforts to balance the state budget and keep Indiana’s business climate competitive relative to other states.  Although the state Chamber endorses candidates in legislative races, it has not endorsed a gubernatorial candidate in its 86-year history, Chamber President Kevin Brinegar said.

Democrat, independent seek to pick off Cherry
State Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield, has enjoyed a 10-year tenure in the Indiana General Assembly, but in a quirky year – and with only 15 days to go until Election Day – he finds himself facing a challenge from a Democrat and an independent that he never expected. Cherry’s 53rd District includes turf in three counties – Shelby, Rush and Hancock. In northern Shelby County, Cherry’s district encompasses about half of Hanover Township, all of Van Buren and a sliver of Moral.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

Daniels’ campaign funds top Long Thompson’s
Gov. Mitch Daniels has about four times more cash than Democratic rival Jill Long Thompson as the election enters its final days. Campaign finance reports filed today with the Indiana Election Division showed that Daniels began this year with $6.7 million and has raised another $7.2 million. He spent nearly $13 million, leaving $1.1 million in cash on hand at the end of September.

May the best educator win
Elkhart County will be represented by a new face from Senate District 12 in the Legislature come January, but the background of our newest state senator will be in education, regardless of who wins Nov. 4. Incumbent State Sen. Marvin Riegsecker, R-Goshen, decided not to seek another term and died earlier this month after a battle with cancer. Republican Carlin Yoder and Democrat Don Metzler-Smith, former chairman of the county’s Democratic Party, are vying to replace the veteran senator in Indianapolis.

Toll lease money latest flap in governor’s race
Claims by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson that about $1 billion in state funds from the Indiana Toll Road lease have been invested in risky ways are misleading, Republican state Treasurer Richard Mourdock said Wednesday. “We are doing very well with the entire portfolio, thank you very much,” Mourdock said. Long Thompson first raised the issue Tuesday night, saying about $1 billion of the $3.8 billion the state got from leasing the Indiana Toll Road in a 2006 initiative deemed Major Moves had been invested unwisely.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

Legislators consider new rules for teen drivers
A group of lawmakers approved preliminary proposals Tuesday that could mean more restrictions for teenage drivers, such as a cell phone ban and a requirement for at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice before getting a driver’s license. Similar proposals have gained little traction in the Statehouse during previous legislative sessions. But a legislative study committee approved draft legislation Tuesday that would create more regulations on drivers under the age of 18.


Governor hopefuls debate
The third and final gubernatorial debate took on a different tone in more ways than one as the participants gathered around a table Tim Russert-style and answered some unconventional questions about integrity and character. About 1,000 Hoosiers listened to Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, Democrat Jill Long Thompson and Libertarian Andy Horning during the 60-minute debate at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Competitive House District 31 race draws money, controversy
Its potential to decide the balance of power in the Indiana House of Representatives and memories of an extremely close 2006 election are drawing big money, lots of in-your-face campaign mailings and statewide interest in the House District 31 race.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

Horning offers six-point economic plan
The economy will no doubt be one of the main topics of discussion among the candidates during Tuesday’s gubernatorial debate. Libertarian candidate Andy Horning showed off a six-point plan that he says will help Hoosiers weather this financial storm. While the banking industry and investors wait to hear details from the administration on the bailout plan, Libertarian Andy Horning outlined his plan to aid struggling Hoosiers with this struggling economy. “Every Hoosier homeowner will see a 50-percent reduction in property taxes, period. Second, there will be an immediate end to foreclosures related to property taxes. No one should lose their home to property taxes and if Andy Horning is elected no one will,” said Lisa Ann Kelly, Horning’s running mate.

Seal of approval
Meet Brian Gordy, Indiana Artisan.  He’s the first person in Delaware County to earn that title locally. But what does it mean? A lot. It means that Gordy will be able to mark all of his work with an Indiana Artisan seal. He’ll be eligible for special grants. He’ll be able to sell his work at gift shops all over the state and his studio location will be marked on a new Indiana Artisan Trail. And that, Gordy said, is just the beginning.

Long touts state’s abortion legislation
State Sen. David Long believes the issue of ensuring abortion patients have the proper follow-up care should be handled at the state level. Long and U.S. Reps. Mark Souder, R-3rd, and Mike Pence, R-6th, spoke Monday about their support for legislation restricting abortion rights prior to attending the Allen County Right to Life annual banquet at Grand Wayne Center. Republican Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman was scheduled to speak at the banquet.

No placeholder vies in 73rd District
With his son hoping to become lieutenant governor, Dennie Oxley Sr. said he will serve his full term if elected to the Indiana House of Representatives, regardless of the outcome of his son’s election. “I wouldn’t be running for the office if I didn’t intend on fulfilling the term. I’ve said that from day one,” said Oxley Sr.  His Republican opponent for the House District 73 seat, Steve Davisson, has questioned whether Oxley Sr. would serve out his two-year House term or just be a placeholder so his son, Dennie Oxley II, could be reappointed to his old House seat if the Democrats lose the governor’s race.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

Legislators can posture, but not lower gas prices
There will be lot of huffing and puffing going on in Indianapolis today when politicians seeking re-election next month gather to explore gas prices in Indiana.  A commission comprised of Indiana House and Senate members plans a Statehouse hearing ostensibly to examine gasoline pricing policies in Indiana. Never mind that by the time they are gaveled into session, the pump price at some Indianapolis stations might have dropped below $3 a gallon — a more than 33 percent decline from just weeks ago when plans for this session were being hatched.

Dem says no ‘Major Moves’ will shift to mass transit fund
Although Democratic candidate for governor Jill Long Thompson wants Indiana to pursue mass transit, she would not dip into the funds for Interstate 69 or other Major Moves projects to do so, she said. “Those are priorities, the decisions have already been made; the planning is already in place. I believe it’s good planning,” Long Thompson said Tuesday. She voiced her support for the continued construction of the I-69 extension through Southwestern Indiana, noting how the earlier construction of the interstate gave an economic boost to the northeast region of the state.

Governor says high school’s not enough
Hoosiers need more adult education and job training if the state is going to compete economically, Gov. Mitch Daniels told The Star Press Tuesday.  ”If you asked me to identify one objective we ought to work on over the next four years, it’s this one,” Daniels said. At the newspaper’s invitation, Daniels met for an hour with The Star Press editorial board, answering questions about education, the worsening financial markets, property taxes, and economic development.

State welfare system changes decried
Automating Indiana’s social services agency is costing too many Hoosiers health and welfare benefits, advocacy groups said Tuesday in Evansville. Changes implemented under Gov. Mitch Daniels’ administration at the Family and Social Services Administration have substituted computers for caseworkers to the detriment of citizens who lack computer knowledge, said John Cardwell, chairman of the Indiana Home Care Task Force. Cardwell and representatives of the Indiana Alliance for Retired Americans and United Senior Action spoke at a news conference at the Labor Temple.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist

Indiana News Update

State’s race for governor is taking center stage
With all the attention being given to the election for president and the issues surrounding the presidential and vice presidential candidates, it is easy to overlook the fact that this is a gubernatorial election year in Indiana. The governor sets policy and influences decisions on taxes, education, transportation and health care. Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels is challenged by Democrat Jill Long Thompson and Libertarian Andrew Horning. In this Sunday Soapbox, tell us which candidate you favor and why. Explain which issues involving Indiana are most important to you in regard to the governor’s office.

Vote early if you can’t make it to the polls Nov. 4
Early voting began this week in Indiana and for those worried about time constraints on election day, it is a good way to make sure their ballot gets cast in this historic election. Turnout on election day is expected to be heavy, with long lines and possible waits. Those who will be out of town or worry they won’t have time to make it to the polls or stand in line on election day can vote early, either in person or by absentee ballot.

$106 million available for heating assistance
Indiana has a record $106 million ready to help low-income residents pay their heating bills this winter as higher heating costs and a slumping economy are expected to make it an especially difficult season for many. “Cold days are coming. High bills are coming,” Gov. Mitch Daniels said Monday. “We want to make sure that Hoosiers are assisted.” The $106 million in aid includes $103.7 million in federal assistance – about double the $51.8 million basic grant received for last winter. The state also has $2.5 million remaining from a contingency fund last year.

‘Mayor of Rock an’ Roll’ faces challenge from former coach
A Knox County schoolteacher is challenging a former mayor and incumbent in the race for Indiana House District 45. Rep. Bruce Borders, R-Jasonville, 45, supports a constitutional amendment in 2009 for property tax caps, with a statewide voter referendum in 2010, while Democratic challenger Rick Marshall, 52, does not. Each says Indiana must encourage alternative fuels to reduce dependency on oil. The 45th District contains all of Sullivan County and sections of Daviess, Greene, Knox and Vigo counties. Some cities and towns in the district include Bicknell, Monroe City, Wheatland and Sandborn.

Sam Turpin – Indiana Lobbyist