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BALLARD ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL WITH CHEST PAIN: At approximately 1:30 p.m. yesterday Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard was admitted to Community East Hospital with chest pains and shortness of breath. Doctors ran an EKG and the Mayor underwent a stress test, the results of both tests were normal. The Mayor was released from the hospital at 4:30 p.m. yesterday and will continue to wear a heart monitor for further observation. He will keep his normal schedule (Howey Politics Indiana).
DEMS SEE NARROW MARGINS; SWEEP: November’s elections may come down to “narrow margins” as one state official predicts, but Democrats rallying Saturday said they’re in it to win it — top to bottom (Terre Haute Tribune-Star). “The way we’re going to win Indiana for Obama is to get every Democrat working together,” said Terre Haute City Council President Todd Nation (D-4th) at a Jill Long Thompson for Governor Open House on Saturday afternoon..jpg)
“I didn’t want the Democrat party message to get diluted by having more than one location,” he explained, noting that the building at 509 Wabash Ave. is serving as a central location for all Democrat candidates this fall, all fighting for what Nation called a “clean sweep.” Thompson’s representatives handed out literature and information to about 16 Vigo County residents while sharing BBQ ribs and homemade potato salad. State Sen. Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute), described the Democrat Party as a “family,” noting they might be dysfunctional and fight amongst themselves, but in the end “we stand shoulder to shoulder.” Skinner predicted “a race by narrow margins,” but told the group of supporters that 2008 is definitely “our election to lose.” In his sixth year as a state legislator, Skinner was open about working with the incumbent Gov. Mitch Daniels. “Actually, you don’t work with Mitch Daniels,” he said. “He tells you what to do and expects you to be dumb enough to believe him.” In launching her campaign for the state’s top seat, Thompson has solicited advice from a number of state officials, including Skinner. An act, he said, which differs greatly from the current administration. “Mitch Daniels doesn’t care or ask what anyone thinks,” he said.
OIL FALLS TO $113: Oil prices fell Tuesday in Asia to a 3-month low as a stronger dollar and weakening crude demand from China weighed on investor sentiment (Associated Press). Light, sweet crude for September delivery fell $1.45 to $113 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by late afternoon in Singapore. The contract lost 75 cents overnight to settle at $114.45, the lowest close for a floor session since May 1.
Indiana Governor
DANIELS TO ANNOUNCE NESTLE EXPANSION: Gov. Daniels will join executives from global food and beverage giant Nestle for an economic development announcement at 9 a.m. today (Howey Politics Indiana).
THOMPSON TO UNVEIL HEALTH PLAN: Jill Long Thompson will be in Indianapolis to announce her health care proposal today. The announcement is another in a series of policy proposals that Long Thompson is unveiling as a part of her "One Indiana Plan" to rebuild Indiana’s economy. The news conference will begin at 3:30 p.m. at McGinty Conveyors at 5004 West Washington Street on Indianapolis’ west side (Howey Politics Indiana).
DANIELS TARGETS SCHOOL DISCIPLINE: Gov. Mitch Daniels used a Fort Wayne event Monday to unveil a campaign proposal that would give teachers legal immunity for good-faith actions taken to maintain order in their classroom or discipline unruly children (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). It was the first of four education-related initiatives he is set to announce this week. “Students can’t learn and teachers can’t teach in classrooms where kids are disruptive,” Daniels said. “Some teachers are afraid to restore order when needed because they fear legal harassment. It’s unacceptable that a teacher would have that hesitation.” But at least one local Democrat said the state already has a law on the books covering teachers who act within the scope of their employment to enforce disciplinary guidelines. “I suppose this is just a campaign issue,” said Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne. “I think it’s really a solution in search of a problem – a law that is unnecessary.” Daniels held a news conference at the Fort Wayne Community Schools Grile Administration Center in front of nearly 50 administrators, board members and employees Monday morning. He did not have any statistics on how many lawsuits had been brought, but he believes many are hidden and dealt with internally or through settlements.
THOMPSON-OXLEY AGREE: Daniels’ fall challenger – Democrat Jill Long Thompson – said she and her running mate both come from teaching backgrounds and agree that the state needs to take all necessary steps to ensure discipline in the classroom (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). “And after four years in office, they are glad to see the governor finally taking an interest in Indiana’s teachers and their students,” said Jason Tomcsi, press secretary for the Long Thompson campaign. Her campaign said that the idea was worthy of consideration, but added that Daniels hasn’t done enough for teachers during his time as governor (Louisville Courier-Journal). "After four years in office, the governor’s finally taking an interest in schools and education," Thompson spokesman Jeff Harris said.
BENNETT LAUDS DISCLIPINE PLAN: Dr. Tony Bennett, Republican candidate for Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, applauded Gov. Mitch Daniels on Monday for his commitment to restoring discipline in Hoosier classrooms (Howey Politics Indiana). "I believe very strongly that any approach to reforming our education system must begin with creating safe, disciplined learning environments," said Bennett. "As someone who has seen discipline problems from every angle, I can tell you that this is smart policy and the governor and I share this priority. As superintendent of public instruction, I will do everything in my power to help Hoosier teachers set the right tone in their classrooms, beginning with support of this legislation."
DANIELS AMBLES INTO HANNAFEST: The town of Hanna had a triple celebration Saturday - its sesquicentennial, its first visit by a sitting governor and the annual Hannafest (Michigan City News-Dispatch). A sesquicentennial marks 150 years. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels rode his motorcycle into town mid-afternoon. Dressed in blue jeans and a worn brown T-shirt, the governor easily blended into the crowd as he made his way from booth to booth at the festival. He said he was there "to say hello to as many people as I can."
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Indiana General Assembly
BMV SURCHARGE WOULD FUND ACADEMIES: Indiana’s regional police training academies want legislators to bolster their funding by placing a $1 surcharge on annual license plate renewals and other Bureau of Motor Vehicles transactions (Associated Press). The fee would raise about $12.5 million, or $1.8 million for each of the seven academies where local police officers are trained. State Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond, introduced the bill for the BMV surcharge this year, but it did not advance during the legislative session that ended in March. "As long as the law-enforcement training academies need funding, I’ll be looking for ways to support them in that effort," he said. Last year, Mrvan engineered a one-time state grant of $150,000 to supplement funding that the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Gary receives from local casino revenue and membership dues. He and state Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte — a former LaPorte sheriff — pitched the BMV fee to a legislative study committee this month. The Northwest Indiana academy, founded in 1982, provides training to nearly 60 law-enforcement agencies in seven counties, said Executive Director Timothy Wardrip, a former Merrillville police officer.
SUTTON TARGETS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURES: Democrat Myron Sutton announced plans to seek greater protection against mortgage foreclosure Monday as part of his bid for Indiana House District 15 (Times of Northwest Indiana). Sutton, a former Newton County sheriff, said lenders should be required to consider insurance costs and property taxes when determining whether a prospective borrower can afford a home loan. He also wants Indiana to prohibit penalties that make it difficult for home buyers to refinance risky subprime mortgages. "As Newton County’s sheriff, it was my job to conduct sheriff’s sales," Sutton said, referring to auctions of foreclosed homes. "I’ve seen the pains of foreclosures: court orders evicting people from their homes, families losing their farms, the stress placed on those trying to save their home. Plus, the foreclosure’s effect spills over to the entire neighborhood and community. Surrounding homes suffer a decrease in price because nobody wants a boarded up home on their street."
REP. LEHE REACTS: Lehe, a three-term legislator, noted that he supported recent legislative efforts to reform the troubled home loan industry, including a 2007 law that strengthened state licensing of mortgage brokers. Last week, Indiana revoked the licenses of 361 brokers who failed to comply with the new requirements (Times of Northwest Indiana). Lehe also said voters continue to tell him their top concern is controlling government spending, which he said doesn’t match up with Sutton’s record as sheriff.
JOHNSON NOMINATED IN HD19: Republican Bill Johnson finally made it onto the Nov. 4 ballot Monday, three months later than he planned (Times of Northwest Indiana). A caucus of 11 GOP precinct committee members gathered here Monday night to vote unanimously to name the 54-year-old businessman the party’s nominee to run against incumbent District 19 state Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point. Johnson, a political newcomer, lost in the primary last May to Crown Point Republican Andrew Webster by only 24 votes, but will now replace Webster, who withdrew from the general election recently, citing undisclosed personal reasons. "I’m humbled. I’m awestruck. I’m proud of everyone who has helped me. I expect we will get only one-tenth of the money the Democrats will use against us, but will be touching every door, hitting neighborhoods like you never saw before," Johnson told the caucus after the vote.
HERBSTER TAKES AIM AT REP. NIEZGODSKI: Dan Herbster announced his candidacy for the Indiana House of Representatives for House District 7 challenging State Rep. David Niezgodski (Howey Politics Indiana). Dan is a new face in local politics, and wants to use his teaching experience and familiarity with legislative matters to serve the residents of our district. He also announced Kip Wellin’s acceptance of the campaign chairman position. Kip was Dan’s high school government teacher and basketball coach. Kip also has years of experience in the business world and in the classroom.
MAYORS WANT RED LIGHT BILL: Both Lafayette and West Lafayette mayors said Monday they’ll lobby state lawmakers to create a law authorizing municipalities to use red light cameras (Lafayette Journal & Courier). Passing a state law authorizing the use of the cameras may be the only option left for local officials who want to use the technology. Steve Carter, the state’s attorney general, issued an opinion on Friday saying the legislature must create a law before municipalities can use the cameras to catch drivers who run red lights. Both cities have placed the cameras at intersections to research how many drivers they would catch. Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said he’d be interested in talking to state lawmakers that represent the area about passing such a law. "I’m certainly going to talk to them about re-looking at that or at least trying some pilot program," Roswarski said. Lafayette set up a test camera at the Kossuth and Main streets intersection for a 24-hour period on May 8 and 9 to get a sense of the extent of the problem.
Congress
DONNELLY ANNOUNCES DRILLING BILL: An energy bill introduced right before the U.S. House went into recess until September is one that could see trillions of dollars flow back into the U.S. economy over the next 10 years, said two local members of Congress advocating the bill together (South Bend Tribune). U.S. Reps. Joe Donnelly, D-Granger, and Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, spent part of Friday traveling together on behalf of the National Conservation, Environment and Energy Independence Act. The act would open for drilling an area known as the outer continental shelf — parts of the sea floor not in the deep ocean, but too far away to be seen from shore. And the $2.6 trillion in royalties from leasing those lands to oil and natural gas companies would be redistributed to the U.S. Treasury, to coastal states, and to programs dedicated to conserving energy and improving efficiency. Some 30 percent each, or $780 billion over 10 years, would go to both the U.S. Treasury and to states with coastline adjacent to the underwater drilling areas. The remaining 40 percent, or $986 billion, would be split among programs designed to improve conservation efforts, restore the environment, develop renewable energy resources, capture carbon emissions and improve nuclear waste storage. "We can’t drill our way alone to energy independence, and we can’t conserve our way alone to energy independence," Donnelly said.
Cities
BALLARD, ANDERSON CLASH OVER BUDGET: Mayor Greg Ballard presented his $1.1 billion budget to the City-County Council on Monday night, kicking off a battle with Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson over a proposed cut in jail funding (Indianapolis Star). Ballard administration officials said the county-run jail can be run more efficiently and that Anderson must share in a county-wide effort to achieve a balanced budget. In his speech, however, Ballard did not mention his proposed $5.5 million cut to the sheriff’s department. His six-minute presentation was interrupted by audience applause only once — when he said the city would spend less next year than the previous year. "It is time to get back to the basics," the Republican mayor said. "The 2009 budget focuses on government’s core responsibilities, and it sets forth our plan to provide fundamental services without borrowing against the future." Ballard’s proposal would turn a $26 million deficit in the city’s operating budget into a $4.8 million surplus, though that turnaround does not include nearly $11 million in sewer improvement capital expenses. It calls for spending about $45 million more than this year on priorities such as the police and fire departments, road work and abandoned housing, while cuts were proposed for city parks and the arts, as well as the Sheriff’s Department. One surprise in the speech came when Ballard said the city "cannot eliminate funding for the arts," which he had proposed earlier this month. Aides said that while the budget would trim $500,000 from arts budgets next year, the mayor’s budget included setting aside at least $1 million per year unless other funding sources can be found.
SANDERS, ANDERSON REACT: Joanne Sanders, the Democrat minority leader, said she was concerned by the lack of detail in the mayor’s speech (Indianapolis Star). "There’s almost nothing here about staffing numbers," Sanders said, noting that past budgets listed staffing levels for each department. "And in the few minutes he spoke, there was no mention of the jail money he cut." Anderson, a Democrat, said Monday that cutting the county jail’s budget would reverse many years of work to get out from under a federal lawsuit over crowded jail conditions. The proposed 6 percent cut to his department would come after years of budget increases to improve and expand the jail system. "In the midst of a war on crime, the citizens of Marion County cannot afford a cut in public safety," the sheriff said. U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker last summer lifted a consent decree after 35 years of federal oversight prompted by what the courts deemed to be unconstitutional conditions in the jail. Barker’s decision followed a period that saw a jail expansion, court-ordered inmate releases, annexes to hold a growing number of inmates and the inception of a night court to more quickly process criminal suspects.
JOHN BLASTS PETERSON: Marion County GOP Chairman Tom John gives his take on Mayor Ballard’s proposed 2009 city budget. John blames the city’s current budget woes on Mayor Bart Peterson’s "lack of political foresight" and "crass political calculations." To back his view, John cites the following: City Spending was not put in budget. While the former mayor tried to claim he kept spending under control (despite increasing known spending by over $300 million in his two terms), it has become clear those claims were an election year ploy. Multiple areas of known spending were simply not put in the budget and claimed to be spending cuts, including: $10.5 million in scheduled DPW transportation infrastructure improvement (road maintenance); $4.2 million in IFD overtime; $2.8 million in scheduled labor contract increases with the Sheriff’s office; $128,000 in scheduled labor contract increases with the Department of Public Works; $65,000 in scheduled labor contract increases with the Department of Metropolitan Development; The City borrowed to pay for operating expenses.
LILLY HELPS BALLARD WITH CHUCKHOLES: Mayor Greg Ballard announced that a collaborative partnership with Eli Lilly and Company’s Lean Six Sigma has resulted in a new, streamlined approach to addressing the mounting chuckhole problem in Indianapolis. Lilly donated their time to assist the City in solving this increasing problem. The Chuckhole Kaizen Response, designed to address chuckhole complaints within a 2 day turnaround, was the result of a 3 day event attended by cross-functional team members of City employees, facilitated by a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Lilly. A small number of Lilly’s Black Belts are applying this methodology to specific projects in the community (Howey Politics Indiana).
HENRY MOVES TO STEM MERIT BOARD: Mayor Tom Henry on Monday expanded the public safety board in hopes of quashing the creation of another, but the City Council’s lead supporter said a new board will go forward (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). Henry released an executive order expanding the size of the Fort Wayne Board of Public Safety from three to five members. The two new members will be retired police officer Steve Boerger and retired firefighter Bob Elder. The announcement came one day before the City Council is scheduled for a final vote on the creation of a merit board for the Fort Wayne Fire Department. The commission has been aggressively opposed by Fire Chief Pete Kelly.
SALT COSTS TRIPLE: Highway administrators responsible for keeping streets clear always hope for mild winters. But this year, they’re virtually praying (Post-Tribune). Salt for de-icing roads has nearly tripled in cost over the past year, Lake County Highway Superintendent Mark Malczewski learned recently, from $36.18 per ton to $101.89 per ton. Salt cost the county $18.39 a ton during the 2006-2007 winter season, when the Highway Department spent $404,246 on 21,981 tons, according to county records. That same load of salt would cost the county $2,239,644 next winter. "We’re sitting here in shock," Malczewski said. "I mean, we knew it was going to go up, but this is just devastating for us."
FIRESTORM FOR KOKOMO COUNCIL: Negotiations between Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight and Kokomo Firefighters Local 396 appear to be at a crucial point, with Local 396 president Rick Daily making another plea for additional manpower Monday night (Kokomo Tribune). Daily, backed by 14 rank-and-file firefighters, first asked Kokomo Common Council to intervene in negotiations two weeks ago. Contract talks are ongoing, but both sides are also making preparations for an arbitration case. Monday, Daily showed council members a memo from Goodnight, offering to reinstate two recently laid-off firefighters if the union would accept contract terms. Those contract terms haven’t all been made public, but it’s understood Goodnight has asked all city employees to forego a raise next year — and accept changes to their health benefits. Daily indicated the loss of the two firefighters is affecting public safety. Laid off since June 26, the two were trained as emergency medical technicians in hopes of allowing the city to have two ambulances available at all times. Ambulance 2, operating out of the Boulevard/U.S. 31 fire station, has been operating for years on an “as manpower allows” basis.
Counties
VANDERBURGH TO LOSE PROSECUTOR POWER: The number of major drug cases prosecuted in Vanderburgh County next year could fall because of money problems detailed publicly on Monday (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). After the first day of 2009 budget hearings, the president of the county’s fiscal body said Prosecutor Stan Levco probably won’t get the $258,923 he is seeking to absorb the loss of a federal drug-fighting grant. Parking attendants’ foot patrol among targets of efficiency study The Edward Byrne Memorial State Justice Assistance Grant now pays for the only three full-time felony drug prosecutors in Levco’s office, plus a secretary to support them. This year, the county kicked in $132,308 as a local match. But federal spending on the grants was slashed by hundreds of millions of dollars nationwide, meaning Levco now needs the county to pick up the entire $258,923 tab if his drug prosecution unit is to continue at full strength in 2009.
CID, DOMINGUEZ BATTLE OVER CHOPPERS: The sheriff launched a public relations campaign Monday to stop the county government’s austerity program from shooting down an effort to upgrade his helicopter fleet (Times of Northwest Indiana). The council is set to vote today on a motion to remove more than $1 million from an account the sheriff had earmarked to use as a down payment on new helicopters that cost $4.2 million to purchase. He said they are needed to replace two 37-year-old helicopters now approaching the end of their service life. The $1 million comes from fees the sheriff has been collecting since late 2006 from conducting the sale of some 5,000 homes that have fallen victim to the mortgage foreclosure crisis. County Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, said she will ask the council today to take that money out of the sheriff’s hands and use it to pay a number of pressing bills. She said the county is facing a $15 million shortfall because of state-mandated property tax cuts and keeping all government agencies open and solvent is a larger priority.
STEUBEN DAIRY EXPANSION DENIED: Steuben County officials have denied a request by a dairy to nearly double the size of its herd to 1,600 cows (Associated Press). DeJong Dairy Leasing sought a special zoning exemption to expand its confined feeding operation near Fremont in the northeast Indiana from 900 cows. The Steuben County Board of Zoning Appeals denied the request Monday on a 3-2 vote. Some neighbors said they were concerned about odors and pollution from the dairy as well as the impact of trucks on area roads. DeJong environmental consultant Brian Daggy said the dairy would employ the latest in manure management equipment.
Education
FORT WAYNE SCHOOLS BUDGET GROWS 1%: It’s the budget year most Indiana school districts have been dreading but one that Fort Wayne Community Schools has been planning on for nearly five years (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). While other public school districts are making cuts in their budgets to accommodate for revenue shortfalls, the Fort Wayne budget increased by nearly 1 percent over last year. The board heard a presentation on the 2009 budget of more than $286 million at its meeting Monday night. The increased budget is thanks to $11 million in cuts that were made in 2003 and never restored, Superintendent Wendy Robinson said. Cuts were made to staffing, custodial budgets and a number of other areas, and while positions were put back as money was available, the district has been working with $11 million less ever since, Robinson said.
Economy
AM GENERAL GETS TAXI CONTRACT: AM General received some good news Monday (South Bend Tribune). The Vehicle Production Group LLC, which has a contract with AM General to build taxis, received the financing it needed to go through with the project. Taxi production is projected to begin during the first quarter of 2010 in Mishawaka, according to a release from the Vehicle Production Group. "This is wonderful news," said Craig Mac Nab, AM General spokesman.
MORE RV LAYOFFS COMING: Another round of layoffs is on the way for workers at Newmar RV. The company says they’ll lay off a small number of remaining employees Wednesday, according to WSBT-TV News. In February, they laid off nearly 120 workers, about 13 percent of their work force. Last month, they laid off another 20 percent, about 160 people. That only leaves about 630 of the original 900 workers.
AMAZON TO OPEN THIRD INDIANA FACILITY: Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) plans to locate a distribution center near Indianapolis International Airport, creating more than 350 jobs by 2011 (Inside Edge). The global online retailer is scheduled to begin hiring managers, warehouse supervisors and more than 200 warehouse associates in the coming weeks. Amazon.com has previously announced plans to open a fulfillment center in Lake County and a distribution center in Boone County.
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