Loading ...
DEM WANTS LWV TO DO NURSING HOME ABSENTEES: Still stinging from a Republican accusation that one of its workers subverted a nursing home resident’s absentee ballot in May’s primaries, the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party wants out (Evansville Courier & Press). .jpg)
Democratic Chairman Mark Owen has asked the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana to conduct and administer the voting of absentee ballots at nursing homes for November’s general election. Under state law, two-person travel boards — one Republican and one Democrat appointed by the county election board on the recommendations of party chairmen — deliver absentee ballot applications to nursing home residents and leave with the completed applications. They return later with absentee ballots to be completed by the residents with their help, if necessary. Owen says that process offers too much opportunity for partisan mischief. "When you put a highly partisan Republican with a highly partisan Democrat, it’s no surprise when you have partisan accusations of misconduct," he said. "We need to get party workers out of the process, and let it be run in a completely nonpartisan way."
NCLB TURNS 6: Like a difficult child, the six-year-old No Child Left Behind law continues causing stress for region teachers and school administrators (Times of Northwest Indiana). Many contend there is no way everyone will be able to meet the initiative’s demands for proficiency in math and reading by 2014. Put into effect in 2002 during the first term of the Bush administration, the law is supposed to provide stronger accountability for the way in which students perform in school, more freedom for states and communities in using federal education dollars and increased use of scientifically proven education programs. Valparaiso Superintendent Michael Benway said the most positive thing to come out of the initiative is highlighting achievement gaps between low and high socioeconomic students. He said schools have to do a better job of addressing the needs, and there is still "tremendous" work to do in that area. "I, like all educators, support accountability, but I think accountability can take many different forms," Benway said. He said ISTEP-Plus scores, graduation rates and the percentage of students going on to post-secondary education are key indicators. "Still, there are many things that trouble me about (No Child Left Behind)," Benway said. "There is no test that charts continuous progress or continuous improvement. Instead, what NCLB does is say here is the standard (or barrier), and all students must get over it no matter where they started."
Presidential
OBAMA CAMPAIGN, LONG DISPUTE HQ BLOG: 8TH CD Chairman Tony Long disputed claims by the blog Frugal Hoosiers that the Obama campaign is maintaining phantom headquarters (Howey Politics Indiana). "I saw an article attributed to you that the Jill Long Thompson, Barack Obama, and Brad Ellsworth were all operation out of the same headquarters in Evansville," Long said. The article stated that the Obama presence in Indiana is being overstated. The fact is that Brad Ellsworth has an Evansville Campaign Headquarters for his campaign staff and workers. His Evansville headquarters is on Main Street. It is in the former Old National Bank Building. About one block from the Ellsworth For Congress Headquarters, also on Main Street, is the headquarters of the Senator Obama Campaign in Evansville. It is in the same building it was in for the primary. It is a fully staffed office with many volunteers. I was honored to attend and make remarks at a very enthusiastic grand opening some weeks ago. After the Obama Headquarters was opened and running, they invited the JLT Campaign to use some of their surplus space for the JLT Campaign. The JLT Campaign also had a great grand opening which I also attended. This headquarters is also staffed and has volunteers working daily. The Campaigns are using local offices in communities to help volunteers save the costs of traveling due to the Bush gasoline prices. I have heard great things about the Obama staff workers around the area, particularly the two working in Tell City." The Obama campaign also disputed the Frugal Hoosiers report that its Muncie office was a vacant building. Jonathan Swain of the campaign said that the campaign never used the building the blog showed in a photo.
[private}
OBAMA POLICY BOOK OUT SEPT. 9: He’s written million-selling books about his early years and the meaning of public life. Now, Sen. Barack Obama, with the help of his campaign staff, has another side to share with readers: policy wonk (Associated Press). "Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama’s Plan to Renew America’s Promise" is coming out Sept. 9 as a paperback with an announced first printing of 300,000 copies and a list price of $13.95. Looking ahead to the digital market, the e-book, also $13.95, will go on sale the day before. "We are proud to have published two best-selling books by Barack Obama and are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to work with his campaign on such an important and inspiring book at this critical moment in our country," Crown Publishing Group president Jenny Frost said in a statement. The book will include a foreword by Obama, the Democrats’ presumptive presidential nominee, and feature sections _ written by members of Obama for America, his presidential campaign _ on such issues as health care, energy and national security. "Change We Can Believe In" also compiles some of his better known speeches, including his celebrated talk on race and his recent address in Berlin. "Change" will be released by Three Rivers Press, a paperback imprint of Crown Publishing, which published Obama’s "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope." According to Obama’s literary representative, Washington attorney Robert Barnett, the contract is between Crown and Obama’s presidential campaign, not Obama himself.
Indiana Governor
DANIELS POLICY ROLLOUT TODAY ON SCHOOLS: With Barack Obama vacationing in Hawaii this coming week, the attention shifts from Sen. Evan Bayh’s vice presidential prospects to the Indiana gubernatorial race where both campaigns are expected to announce policy rollouts. (Howey Politics Indiana). Gov. Mitch Daniels will begin to articulate his K-12 and higher education plans for a second term beginning with a Monday morning press conference in Fort Wayne. He will discuss school discipline. Democratic challenger Jill Long Thompson is also expected to make policy announcements this week, though time and location have not been announced.
GOV CANDIDATES SET FOR DEBATES: Hoosier voters will be able to compare the candidates for governor side-by-side in three debates in the months before Election Day (Indianapolis Star). Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican seeking his second term as the state’s leader, and his Democratic challenger, former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson, have agreed to take part in the debates, which will be hosted by a new Indiana Debate Commission. Libertarian Party nominee Andy Horning will also take part. The debates, which will be televised live, will be Sept. 16 at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville; Sept. 23 at the Jasper Arts Center in Jasper; and Oct. 14 at the Indiana University Auditorium in Bloomington. Eric Holcomb, Daniels’ campaign manager, said the governor "believes the debates will be an excellent opportunity for him to discuss with Hoosiers the great progress Indiana has experienced in the last four years and further share his positive vision for the future." Long Thompson — who on Thursday picked up the endorsement of the Indiana AFL-CIO — earlier had said she was hoping for as many as seven debates. But her campaign spokesman, Jeff Harris, said the campaign would accept the three offered.
LIBERTARIAN EXCITED FOR DEBATES: Nobody is happier in Indiana than Andy Horning that there will be gubernatorial debates this fall (Indianapolis Star). Horning is the Libertarian Party candidate for governor, and those three debates likely will be his only chance to reach a statewide audience as he competes against Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and the Democratic nominee, former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson. "I’ll debate anybody, anytime, anywhere," Horning said. "I wish there were more than just the three."
DANIELS PLANS TO REBUILD MOSCOW BRIDGE: Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels was in Rush County Friday morning and unveiled plans to rebuild a covered bridge in Moscow (Greensburg Daily News). According to the governor and county leaders the project will required the combined efforts of numerous companies, agencies and individuals and will be completed for a fraction of the original estimated price of nearly $ 4.1 million. "We will have a structure here just as large and just as capable as before. This may be the only way to get this bridge back — it’s the Hoosier way. It is the old-fashioned way, when neighbors came together and would build barns together," Daniels said. As state officials, county commissioners, those involved with the rebuilding process and residents stood on the west side of the former bridge the governor outlined a plan to rebuild the structure. Acting on a request by Daniels, a coalition has been formed to raise private funding for the project. "As much as we all care about the bridge, it would never make the cut for spending Hoosier tax dollars," Daniels said.
Education
CAPS WILL HIT SCHOOLS HARD BY 2011: School funding remains a complicated process in Indiana, but at least two things are clear (Times of Northwest Indiana). Property tax reassessment in Lake County a few years ago resulted in continuing revenue problems for school districts, and districts are stretching their dollars to meet the rising cost of everything from food to gasoline. Tax overhaul legislation signed into law this year, better known as House Bill 1001, calls for the state to pick up 100 percent of the funding formula rather than just 82 percent as it has done in the recent past. The state will support the general fund where most of day-to-day operating expenses come from such as teacher salaries and programs. However, property tax revenue will continue to support other school funds such as the transportation, capital projects and debt service fund. That means schools will still be able to buy new buses, make repairs, pay outstanding debts and construct new buildings. The new state funding formula begins in 2009. At the same time, schools will deal with revenue losses from property tax caps. Valparaiso Superintendent Michael Benway and David White, Valparaiso’s finance director, said they believe the impact of the caps will be minimal in 2009, with a loss of $150,000. The hit will be a little harder in 2010 with an $875,000 shortfall. And in 2011, Valparaiso schools expect to lose $1.5 million, Benway said. "I don’t know how school districts like Gary will cope when they will lose $10 million or more from the budget in 2010," Benway noted.
Cities
ELKHART PLOTS NEW BUDGET: As Elkhart County officials prep for deliberations to craft a 2009 spending plan, they aren’t mulling over many bells and whistles (Elkhart Truth). "I think we probably better be really careful," said County Council President John Letherman, noting the possible reduction in income tax revenue inflows brought on by the faltering economy. "I don’t want to talk about any projects or anything we haven’t budgeted for." If anything, they speak of scaling things back, notably through reductions in county personnel via attrition. Even so, when the dust settles, Elkhart County Auditor Dave Hess doesn’t expect any major alterations in routine county operations that would give cause for pause among the public — new fees or major program cuts, for instance. "I don’t see any dramatic changes," Hess said.
EVANSVILLE PREPARES FOR BUDGET SHORTFALL: At $216.9 million, the proposed budget to operate Evansville city government for 2009 is the largest of Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel’s administration (Evansville Courier Press). That’s 7 percent more than the 2008 budget of $202.3 million. Weinzapfel and City Controller Lisa Acobert say increases in proposed expenditures are primarily for necessary items that have become more costly such as fuel, utilities and insurance, which increased 10 percent from 2008. The sewer operating fund and waterworks general fund increased by $4.3 million and $4.1 million, respectively, the largest increases in the budget. The money will be used mostly for capital construction projects. For the first time under Weinzapfel, city employees will receive a flat $500 raise next year instead of a 3 percent salary increase. That means those who earn more than $16,667 annually will receive a salary increase of less than 3 percent. "Our goal is to live within our means," Weinzapfel said. "We aren’t making changes in health care structure. We’re also looking at 2010, and we’d hate to be in a position where we are giving raises that we would have to take away the following year. We feel that a $500 raise for employees is something that we can financially handle. "Frankly, we’ve seen where the county has done that in the past. We thought it was a good idea worth exploring," he said. For 2010, the city is anticipating a $3.1 million budget shortfall because of House Bill 1001, Gov. Mitch Daniels’ property tax legislation. Starting Jan. 1, the state will assume several levies that had been paid locally, such as the school general fund, welfare, police and fire pension funds and a levy for Marion County.
ETHICS BILL WON’T APPLY TO COUNCIL: A new ethics code for city and county employees will be up for a vote Monday in the City-County Council, but the new rules won’t apply to council members after changes to the original proposal (Indianapolis Star). Five months after Mayor Greg Ballard introduced the ethics overhaul, the council’s Rules Committee on Thursday voted unanimously to send the amended proposal to the full council. Bolstering ethics in government was a campaign promise for Ballard last fall.The plan would decrease the number of people filling out statements of economic interest, clarify what constitutes a conflict of interest, impose new post-employment and gift restrictions, and prohibit on-the-job political activity and nepotism. John Cochran, the mayor’s special counsel who worked on the proposal, said it made more sense in the end to develop different standards and enforcement for council members, in the same way the state distinguishes members of the General Assembly.
LAFAYETTE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF TAX DELAY: Lafayette and West Lafayette city officials will take advantage of the state’s 2009 budget deadline extension, the mayors said Thursday (Lafayette Journal & Courier). Last week the state extended the deadline from Sept. 30 to Dec. 1, giving local governments more time to adopt next year’s budgets. It’s unknown whether the later budget adoption will impact 2009 tax bills. But Cheryl Musgrave, commissioner of the Department of Local Government Finance, said the state is still committed to certifying budgets by the Feb. 15 deadline to ensure on-time billing. Because of delays, the 2008 tax bills have not yet been mailed out. Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said it will probably be "in the city’s best interest" to delay the process while it sorts out the impacts of new state laws, the final tax levy numbers and other financial issues. He said the new budget adoption schedule is still being determined.
UNIONS PREFER TAX HIKE TO LAY OFFS: Asked last month to suggest ways to avoid a projected budget deficit of as much as $6 million next year even without a raise for employees, nine unions representing about 1,500 city employees gave this reply Friday: Increase local income taxes (News Sentinel). "Laying off employees would represent a cut in services. My job is to protect jobs, but everything we do is with the citizens in mind," said James Ridley, president of Professional Firefighters Union Local 124, who said the income-tax increase would allow the city to avoid cuts in public safety and other services while providing employees a raise. The city’s four-year collective bargaining agreement with its unions expires at the end of the year, Ridley said – with no negotiations currently under way and little time to agree upon a new contract. If the city accepts the unions’ proposal, employees would receive a 3 percent raise and continue to work under existing contracts until a new agreement can be negotiated. No work stoppage or slowdown is planned if an agreement cannot be reached, however, Ridley added.
RICHMOND SEES TAX DROPS: Richmond homeowner Richard Wolfinbarger was expecting lower property taxes on his home, but was still surprised when he opened his bill (Palladium-Item). Taxes on Wolfinbarger’s South 15th Street home were down 40 percent from last year to a little more than $300 for the year, about equal now to what he paid five or six years ago. "It was a pleasant surprise," said Wolfinbarger, who’s lived in his home for 38 years. "We’re happy. Most people would give body parts for taxes like we have." The drop in homeowners’ taxes varies widely, Wayne County Treasurer Linda Corder said. Reductions range from 20 to 50 percent, with the average around 30 percent, Corder said. "Centerville’s reductions weren’t as great as some in Richmond," Corder said. "Centerville bills were down 21 to 30 percent."
Economy
AMERICAN SENTRY GUARD CLOSES SUDDENLY: American Sentry Guard, a Greenwood company named to last year’s Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies, has closed (Indianapolis Business Journal). Officials with the maker of high-tech surveillance systems could not be reached for comment, and doors at its offices in a former Stokely Van Camp tomato cannery were locked yesterday. A representative of property owner Revel Underwood Inc. said a maintenance worker called last week to say moving trucks had arrived to take away company equipment. Revel Senior Vice President Rob Schick said the closing came as a surprise, and that he hasn’t had contact with the company since the closing. "They had a great product," Schick said. The firm as of last year had 43 employees and annual revenue of $8 million. A former employee who asked not to be identified said in an e-mail that Chase bank called in a note and shut the business down.
PILGRIM CLOSES; 170 JOBS LOST: Middlebury-based Pilgrim International has announced it is temporarily closing its facilities in Elkhart County. WSBT-TV in South Bend reports more than 170 people are affected by the shutdown. The company says it hopes to eventually resume operations.
Counties
FORECLOSURES AN UNEXPECTED REVENUE BOOST IN LAKE COUNTY: A mortgage crisis forcing more than 5,000 Lake County families into foreclosure in the past year and a half has a silver lining for Lake County officials (Times of Northwest Indiana). The proceeds now are the source of a political battle over who should control money that resulted from the misfortune of county homeowners. Lake County Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez has collected administrative fees for auctioning off a growing number of foreclosed properties in the wake of the subprime loan housing meltdown. The sheriff’s collections have grown to $1 million, more than enough money for him and other officials to fight over. County Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, said she will ask the council Tuesday to take that money out of the sheriff’s hands — a fund the council had previously earmarked for law enforcement expenses — and use it to pay a number of pressing bills.
[/private}
No tag for this post.
Related posts
This entry was written by and posted on August 11, 2008 at 9:59 am and filed under Daily Wire. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.
Post a comment(Latest is displayed first) or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
Brian — Saw my first JLT ad last evening….sure looked to me like the guy in the background was wearing a “Property of UAW” T-shirt. Odd shirt to illustrate a campaign with so much out-of-state union/liber interest group support. Curt