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OBAMA EVENT RAIN OR SHINE: Barack Obama’s apperaance at the Indiana State Fairgrounds is open to the public, and tickets are not required. The doors open at 10 a.m., and the event begins at 12:15 p.m. For security reasons, bags will not be allowed. Also, no signs or banners are permitted (Indianapolis Star). 
It will be the Illinois senator’s 46th campaign stop in Indiana, and his sixth since his hard-fought May primary election against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Introducing Obama at today’s event will be Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, who was among the short list of finalists to be Obama’s running mate before Obama selected Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. Also speaking to voters before Obama’s arrival will be Rep. Andre Carson, the Indianapolis Democrat who is running in his first general election since winning the seat in a special election this spring to fill the seat left open by the death of his grandmother, Julia Carson; and Jill Long Thompson, the Democratic nominee for governor.
McCAIN CAN’T ESCAPE ECONOMIC MELTDOWN: John McCain came here Tuesday hoping the second presidential debate would help him jar loose a campaign that for the past three weeks has been about the economy, the economy and the economy (The Politico). He didn’t get his wish. Energized in his demeanor, McCain took his case to Barack Obama at Belmont University with waspish intensity, and he came with at least one big new idea on how the country can weather this financial storm. But the transcendent threat of the nation’s economic crisis utterly dominated the evening — another night when millions of Americans did not hear a crisp counterargument from McCain about why the Democrats can’t blame the meltdown on eight years of Republican White House rule. By night’s end, while McCain knocked Obama back on his heels at times, Democrats felt their nominee had made no misstep and that a playing field utterly focused on economic issues still strongly favors the Illinois senator. McCain needed to move the conversation beyond the economy, but a 500-point drop Tuesday of the Dow Jones Industrial Average made it virtually impossible. Much of the debate was a substantive discussion of the $700 billion bailout legislation, the prospect of the economy worsening before it gets better, and the housing crisis. McCain did come with new ammunition on how to challenge his opponent’s seeming superiority with voters on economic issues. “One of the real catalysts, really the match that lit the fire, was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,” McCain said, referring to the government-sanctioned mortgage lenders. “They’re the ones that, with the encouragement of Sen. Obama and his cronies and friends in Washington, that went out and made all these risky loans, gave them to people that could never afford to pay back.” The comment prompted Obama to drop his head and smile. It was one of the first in a series of elbows thrown by both nominees. “Now, I’ve got to correct a little bit of Sen. McCain’s history, not surprisingly,” Obama said. “I never promoted Fannie Mae. In fact, Sen. McCain’s campaign chairman’s firm was a lobbyist on behalf of Fannie Mae.”
CANDIDATES CLASH OVER ECONOMY, PAKISTAN: Barack Obama and John McCain clashed repeatedly over the causes and cures for the worst economic crisis in 80 years Tuesday night in a debate in which Republican McCain called for a sweeping $300 billion program to shield homeowners from mortgage foreclosure (Associated Press). “It’s my proposal. It’s not Sen. Obama’s proposal, it’s not President Bush’s proposal,” McCain said in the debate that he hoped could revive his fortunes in a presidential race trending toward his rival. In one pointed confrontation on foreign policy, Obama bluntly challenged McCain’s steadiness. “This is a guy who sang bomb, bomb, bomb Iran, who called for the annihilation of North Korea — that I don’t think is an example of speaking softly.” That came after McCain accused him of foolishly threatening to invade Pakistan and said, “I’m not going to telegraph my punches, which is what Sen. Obama did.” The debate was the second of three between the two major party rivals, and the only one to feature a format in which voters seated a few feet away posed questions to the candidates. They were polite, but the strain of the campaign showed. At one point, McCain referred to Obama as “that one,” rather than speaking his name. “It’s good to be with you at a town hall meeting,” McCain also jabbed at his rival, who has spurned the Republican’s calls for numerous such joint appearances across the fall campaign. They debated on a stage at Belmont University four weeks before Election Day in a race that has lately favored Obama, both in national polls and in surveys in pivotal battleground states. Not surprisingly, many of the questions dealt with an economy in trouble. Obama said the current crisis was the “final verdict on the failed economic policies of the last eight years” that President Bush pursued and were “supported by Sen. McCain.”
FACT CHECKING: Here are some comments from Tuesday’s presidential debate between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama, and facts explaining the candidates’ comments: McCain: Said one way out of the financial crisis is to “stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don’t like us.” The facts: Although he didn’t spell it out, he was referring — as he has in the past — to purchases of oil from countries hostile to the U.S. The figure is inflated and misleading. The U.S. is not spending nearly that much on oil imports, and roughly one-third of what it does spend goes to friendly countries such as Canada, Mexico and Britain. Obama: “I believe this is a final verdict on the failed economic policies of the last eight years, strongly promoted by President Bush and supported by Senator McCain, that essentially said that we should strip away regulations, consumer protections, let the market run wild, and prosperity would rain down on all of us. It hasn’t worked out that way. And so now we’ve got to take some decisive action.” The facts: McCain has indeed favored less regulation over the years but supported tighter rules and accountability on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years before the start of a financial crisis prompted in part by those giant mortgage underwriters. Obama was not a leader in that unsuccessful effort. Some of the current problems can be traced to legislation passed in 1999 that lifted many regulations over the financial industry. That deregulation was championed by then-Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, a McCain supporter, but also by President Bill Clinton, who signed the legislation, and by former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, now a top Obama economic adviser. McCain: Said he would provide a $5,000 refundable tax credit for families to buy health insurance “rather than mandates or fines for small businesses as Senator Obama’s plan calls for.” The facts: Obama’s health-care plan does not impose mandates or fines on small business. He would provide small businesses with a refundable tax credit of up to 50 percent on health premiums paid on behalf of their employees. Also, large employers that do not offer meaningful coverage or contribute to the cost of coverage would be required to pay a percentage of payroll toward the costs of a public insurance plan. But small businesses would be exempt from that requirement. Obama: Said McCain’s proposal to give people a tax credit in exchange for treating employers’ health insurance contributions as taxable wages amounts to “what one hand giveth, the other hand taketh away.” The facts: Obama’s suggestion that McCain’s health-care plan is a wash for families is misleading. McCain offers families a $5,000 tax credit to help them buy health insurance. The corresponding increase in taxable wages would result in a much smaller cost than the value of the tax credit, at least at first. Over time, the value of the tax credit may diminish as premiums rise. However, the Tax Policy Center estimates that McCain’s plan would increase the federal deficit by $1.3 trillion over 10 years, mainly because it would lead to less tax revenue coming in, meaning it is a true tax break overall. (Associated Press)
CNN FLASH POLL: Who did the best job in the debate? McCain (R) 30 Obama (D) 54; Who expressed his views more clearly in the debate? Obama 60 McCain 30 Who spent more time attacking his opponent? Obama 17 McCain 63
Indiana Governor
WISH POLL HAS DANIELS LEADING 49-45%: The WISH-TV Indiana Poll shows Democrat Jill Long Thompson within reach of Republican incumbent Mitch Daniels in the race for governor. The poll shows that outside factors, including the economy and taxes, will play a significant role in the outcome. Mitch Daniels would like the race for governor to swing on his performance in office. As he campaigned in downtown Frankfort Tuesday he shared the belief that his lead is safe. “The feeling could not be better. So many people, so much encouragement,” said Daniels. Despite the governor’s confidence, the WISH-TV Indiana Poll shows a tight race with Daniels at 49 percent and Jill Long Thompson at 45 percent. The four-point lead is just outside the poll’s margin of error. The horserace number for Daniels is actually better than his approval rating, which the poll pegs at 48 percent. Long Thompson addressed the Indianapolis Rotary Club to talk about the economy, the top issue in the race. She’s aware of her underdog status. “Any candidate needs things to break his or her way in the final days of a campaign. But, it certainly appears to be going in that direction,” said Long Thompson. Though it’s close, more voters have a favorable view of Daniels at 49 percent. Forty-eight percent view Long Thompson favorably. But Daniels wants voters to consider other polls including his campaign’s internal numbers that show him with a bigger advantage. “I guess when it’s over somebody’s gonna deserve their money back, I just don’t know who,” said Daniels. “I’ve said from the beginning I’m going to win this and I think this is very encouraging,” said Long Thompson. Libertarian Andy Horning received two percent of the vote in the Indiana Poll. Another 1 percent of responders voted for neither Horning, Long Thompson nor Daniels.
22% OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS UNDECIDED: Two more interesting findings in the poll indicate Jill Long Thompson is winning more of the independent vote but just barely. Also, 22 percent of black voters are still undecided. That could be where this race is won or lost (Blue Indiana). In the Aug. 29-30 Howey-Gauge Poll, an identical 22 percent were undecided while Daniels had 27 percent. The WISH Poll had Thompson leading Daniels 72-6 percent among African-Americans. The WISH poll also showed Thompson leading in Idnianapolis 48-44 percent.
JLT CAMPAIGN REACTION: “There is a clear momentum in this race and it is evident with yet another poll showing it’s extremely close,” said Travis Lowe, Long Thompson’s campaign manager. “Jill clearly has the momentum because this economy, which was constructed by Mitch Daniels and George Bush, is hurting Hoosier families and they are looking for change. While Jill has been traveling the state talking to Hoosiers about her plan to turn Indiana’s economy around, the Governor continues to ignore the most important issue of this election. In fact, he has yet to present any plan or proposal to fix the economy,” added Lowe. “The people of Indiana want real leadership and that is what they are seeing from Jill.” (Howey Politics Indiana)
THOMPSON DENIES CAMPAIGN HAS MONEY PROBLEMS: With just 28 days remaining in her race against GOP incumbent Gov. Mitch Daniels, Jill Long Thompson is focusing on personal contact with voters (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). That’s because her campaign has been off the air for nearly a month now, and she and staffers for weeks have been saying commercials would start up again “very soon.” She denied, however, that her campaign is struggling financially, noting that several recent polls show the race is tight despite the millions Daniels has poured into advertisements.
‘VERY SOON’ SHE SAYS: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson is spending the week touting her economic plan to voters across the state — trying to draw attention to her campaign after about a month without television advertising (Martin, Associated Press). If Long Thompson can’t afford to hit the airwaves, it makes sense for her to hit the road in hopes of earning news coverage from local newspapers and television stations, said political analyst Brian Vargus. Long Thompson said her fundraising is going well and that she will be back on the air “very soon.” She said she always anticipated that her campaign would be off the air for a time before Nov. 4, when she faces Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and Libertarian Andy Horning in the general election. “I have always believed that both television advertising and personal connections with voters are very important,” Long Thompson said.
JLT TALKS MASS TRANSIT: 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 (Corbin, Evansville Courier & Press). “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. One of Daniels’ biggest initiatives was construction of the Evansville-to-Crane section of I-69, using proceeds from the lease of the northern Indiana toll road. A foreign consortium paid the state $3.8 billion to lease the toll road, funding the state is using for highway, bridge and street construction projects under Daniels’ “Major Moves” program. Long Thompson opposes leasing the toll road. But in an interview, she underscored that none of the Major Moves dollars already allocated or designated for I-69 or other projects would be touched in her pursuit of developing mass transit. That came as something of a relief to Steve Schaefer, executive director of Hoosier Voices for I-69, an Evansville organization that lobbied for state funding for I-69. Schaefer said he had heard Long Thompson might want to tap Major Moves dollars to fund mass transit, and so he was pleased when she did not advocate that. “We recognize the importance of mass transit in the overall discussion; but we are firmly opposed to any shift of Major Moves funds for anything but their intended purpose — and that’s highways and roads,” Schaefer said. Long Thompson’s platform proposes working with local governments to develop intermodal passenger-and-freight projects to connect communities. “You have to have a very objective set of plan options for mass transit, and then determine what really does make the most sense, given economic growth needs and economic development opportunities,” Long Thompson said.
DANIELS CAMPAIGN RESPONDS: Cam Savage, spokesman for Daniels’ re-election campaign, countered that Daniels supports mass transit projects if they make economic and fiscal sense (Evansville Courier & Press). He said that under Daniels, the state’s budget for public transportation has increased 45 percent to $42.5 million. Besides funding road projects, the Major Moves lease generated $120 million that is being used to extend the existing South Shore commuter rail line in the northwestern Indiana and expand bus options, Savage said.
JLT PROPOSES EARLY JOB WARNING SYSTEM: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson has proposed an early warning system that would help the state determine when a business gets into financial trouble so officials could intervene to save companies and jobs (Louisville Courier-Journal). The program would be modeled on one developed in 1993 by the Steel Valley Authority in Pennsylvania, which has been credited with retaining thousands of jobs in a 21-county region. “It’s identifying and looking at the specific issues that can give you a heads-up on whether a business is struggling and then working with them, looking for ways the state can provide specific assistance,” Thompson, who is challenging Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, said yesterday. Asked to respond, Cam Savage, Daniels’ campaign spokesman, said the governor already has taken significant steps to “make Indiana the friendliest state for business in the Midwest,” and he called Thompson’s proposal another idea for “expanding the size, scope and cost of government.” Her newest idea is the early warning system, which would look at utility use reports, public loan defaults and other sources to try to detect when a company is in trouble. Her campaign said the program could also track delayed payments to vendors, another sign that a firm is struggling. “When an early warning is triggered, we will immediately disperse teams of trained professionals who will offer businesses retention services,” Thompson said in her One Indiana Plan.
STATE HAS 31,000 MORE JOBS THAN IN 2005: The state has nearly 31,000 more jobs now than it did when Daniels became governor four years ago, an increase of about 1 percent (Weidenbener, Louisville Courier-Journal). This year, however, the state has lost about 21,000 jobs, a situation that Daniels blames on national economic woes.
MORE ON THOMPSON ONE INDIANA PLAN: Democratic candidate for Indiana governor Jill Long Thompson promoted her “One Indiana Plan” on Tuesday during a stop in Terre Haute (Foulkes, Terre Haute Tribune-Star). The plan, outlined in a 56-page document, would, among other things, overhaul the state’s tax structure, create “green” jobs, improve the state’s infrastructure and reform Indiana’s education system. It also would suspend the state gasoline tax, work to provide a free book each month to Hoosier children up to age 5, change Indiana’s voter ID law, dismantle the newly privatized welfare intake system and provide tax incentives for job creation in Indiana counties based on the economic strength of those counties. “In order for Indiana to be strong, every community has to be strong,” Long Thompson told a gathering of around a dozen people at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers building on East Hulman Drive. “I’m going to grow the economy.” Indiana has an unemployment rate of 6.4 percent, Long Thompson said. That’s the highest level since 1987, she said. Other elements in the One Indiana Plan include bringing broadband Internet to underserved parts of the state, banning “predatory mortgages” and requiring borrowers and lenders to negotiate with each other to reduce home foreclosures. Indiana’s economy can benefit from manufacturing “green” energy components, such as solar panels and wind generation towers, Long Thompson said. Green manufacturing also would help organized labor, she noted. “You can’t put up wind generation towers unless you’ve got laborers and iron workers to put those big towers up,” she said.
DANIELS TO ANNOUNCE HIGH TECH JOBS: Gov. Mitch Daniels will join executives for two economic development announcements Wednesday. The Governor will join executives from a healthcare services company at 10 a.m. in Indianapolis for an economic development announcement and in Yorktown this afternoon.
DANIELS TO BE HONORED BY MANHATTAN INSTITUTE: Gov. Daniels will give brief remarks when he receives a national award for innovation in government from the Manhattan Institute’s Center for Civic Innovation. Steve Goldsmith, former Indianapolis mayor and chairman emeritus of the Center for Civic Innovation, will present the award, which recognizes public servants who have instituted reforms that have enhanced quality of life. The governor is being recognized for his efforts to implement innovative policies and programs that improve state services. Among previous award winners are Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. (Howey Politics Indiana)
DANIELS TO BE NAMED GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR: A national organization is expected to announce that Gov. Mitch Daniels will be named “Governor of the Year” in the next several days. (Howey Politics Indiana)
Indiana General Assembly
HOUSE DEMOCRATS LAUNCH WEBSITE: For all of your information we have a Caucus campaign webpage that you can use to gain background on our candidates. Many have their own campaign websites which you should be able to link to from our page: http://www.indianahousedemocrats.com/
Congress
‘MILLIONAIRE MIKE’ RESPONDS: Less than a month before the Nov. 4 election, Republican Mike Sodrel has launched his first television commercial of the 9th District congressional race — a biographical ad that pokes fun at the “Millionaire Mike” name Democrats have used to attack him (Louisville Courier-Journal). “They should call him Million Mile Mike,” the ad says, referring to Sodrel’s trucking company. The commercial shows Sodrel climbing into the cab of a truck as the voice-over calls him “a self-made man who put a million miles down a lot of roads. With real buses and a dream, Mike Sodrel started his business from scratch.” Sodrel’s campaign manager, Ryan Reger, said the ad is meant to “show the contrast between the real Mike Sodrel and the one his opponent has created.” The campaign of U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, the Democrat in the race, declined to comment on Sodrel’s commercial.
SOUDER GRILLS AIG EXECS: U.S. Rep. Mark Souder questioned top executives from AIG at today’s hearing in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee . The Committee held the hearing to examine the financial excesses that led to the government bailout of AIG. Included below are a few of Souder’s questions: “One of the big frustrations of anyone across America watching this right now is that you keep referencing a market driven, financial tsunami, as if you were not a part of it. The taxpayers have already put in 61 billion dollars (of the 80 billion available). Do you feel that you have any personal responsibility for the current state of our economy? You took incredible risk without warning people and the evidence of that risk is that, by your own explanation, one accounting rule change put your company under and the taxpayers had to step in. How in the world does an executive leave their company so vulnerable, that when they leave, all the sudden the company goes broke? Especially when you claim you were making money before and you act astounded, like everything would have been fine if they had not changed this one accounting rule. The fact is you went belly-up and now you’re sticking it to everyone else in America” Following the hearing, Congressman Souder issued the following statement: “It is absolutely unbelievable that these executives refused to take responsibility for their role in the current financial situation. This unbridled greed and callous abuse of the trust of hard-working Americans’ savings is just so disgusting it is hard to put into words.” (Howey Politics Indiana)
ELLSWORTH, GOODE DEBATE ON BAILOUT: The economy was one of several issues the candidates for the 8th Congressional District seat discussed Tuesday during a debate at Vincennes University’s Red Skelton Performing Arts Center (Evansville Courier & Press). About 120 people attended the debate, hosted by the League of Women Voters and moderated by Lynne Rump, a member of the League of Women Voters of Knox County. The incumbent, Democrat Brad Ellsworth, defended his recent vote for the $700 billion financial rescue package, saying it was necessary to help small banks and business owners trying to get loans. His opponent, Republican Greg Goode, said the package supported by Ellsworth rewards people who made bad decisions. “Quite frankly, I think he should be back in Congress addressing this problem,” Goode said. Ellsworth and Goode agreed on several issues, such as opposing the granting of amnesty to illegal aliens and privatizing Social Security. But there was a clear split on the financial rescue package. Ellsworth, 50, of Evansville, said the federal government will get its money back. If that doesn’t happen, he said, then the government will make sure that the financial institutions are held accountable. “When a crisis hits, that’s when a government is supposed to go into action,” Ellsworth said. “If I had thought for one second that this was a bailout for Wall Street, I never would have voted for this. … There is a lot of blame to go around, but we don’t have time to do that.”
AIG RETREAT SPARKS OUTRAGE: Less than a week after the federal government had to bail out American International Group Inc., the company sent executives on a $440,000 retreat to a posh California resort, lawmakers investigating the company’s meltdown said Tuesday (Associated Press). The tab included $23,380 worth of spa treatments for AIG employees at the coastal St. Regis resort south of Los Angeles even as the company tapped into an $85 billion loan from the government it needed to avoid bankruptcy. The retreat didn’t include anyone from the financial products division that nearly drove AIG under, but lawmakers were still enraged over thousands of dollars spent on catered banquets, golf outings and visits to the resort’s spa and salon for executives of AIG’s main U.S. life insurance subsidiary. “Average Americans are suffering economically. They’re losing their jobs, their homes and their health insurance,” House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., scolded the company during a lengthy opening statement. “Yet less than one week after the taxpayers rescued AIG, company executives could be found wining and dining at one of the most exclusive resorts in the nation.”
Statewides
PENCE LAUDS GAS PROBE: Attorney General candidate Linda Pence today issued the following statement regarding the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy’s upcoming meeting to examine gas prices in Indiana . On September 17, 2008 , Pence questioned the Attorney General’s office as to why they had failed to investigate high gas prices after the average price of gasoline hit $4.17, marking a sudden and across-the-board increase in the state. “I applaud the Commission’s bipartisan effort to investigate high gas prices because until now, no one has stepped forward to take a long, hard look at why. The Attorney General is the one public official who could - and should - investigate, but the office could only offer a telephone message that told Hoosiers who called the gas price gouging hotline that it was not the Attorney General’s responsibility. (Howey Politics Indiana)
State
STATE SHUTS DOWN VILLAGE TITLE: Hundreds of Hoosiers on the verge of buying a government-owned home may have to wait a little longer because the state has suspended the owner of a young but important title company (Louisville Courier-Journal). Brandy Marie Foltz of Indianapolis-based Village Title is being investigated by the Indiana Department of Insurance. She lost her license Friday after failing to turn over subpoenaed documents and appear at a hearing to issue a sworn statement. By Monday, the company’s downtown office was dark, empty and locked. No one answered the telephone at the Carmel office. Employees said both offices were shut. Foltz’s attorney, David Pumphrey, said, however, that Village Title remained open and was “taking care of customers” Monday. “We’re working with the Department of Insurance.” Village Title gets most of its business from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is the only title company in the state that Hoosiers can use for free to buy previously foreclosed, HUD-owned homes. “People can use their own title companies, but HUD pays for Village Title, so that’s a savings,” said John Hall, field office director for HUD’s Indianapolis office. Nearly 400 homes in Central Indiana are awaiting processing by Village Title, said Jon Allee, owner of Indiana Central Homes, which works with Village Title and is HUD’s chosen closing agent.
CARTER ANNOUNCES PHARMA SETTLEMENT: Attorney General Steve Carter announced today that Indiana , along with 31 other states and DC, reached a record $62 million dollar action with Indiana-based Eli Lilly and Company arising from alleged improper marketing of the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa. It is the largest ever multi-state consumer protection-based pharmaceutical action. The Attorneys General alleged that Eli Lilly may have marketed its antidepressant drug Zyprexa for off-label uses and may have failed to adequately disclose the drug’s potential side effects to health care providers. Following a nearly two-year investigation, Eli Lilly has agreed to change how it markets Zyprexa and to cease promoting its “off-label” uses, which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “The agreement provides Hoosiers assurance that their doctors are and will be fully informed about the potential medical impact of Zyprexa,” said Carter. “We are pleased that Eli Lilly has agreed to take measures to ensure that doctors and consumers in Indiana and throughout the nation will be provided with accurate, objective and balanced information.” (Howey Politics Indiana)
FSSA ASSAILED: Automating Indiana’s social services agency is costing too many Hoosiers health and welfare benefits, advocacy groups said Tuesday in Evansville (Evansville Courier & Press). 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. The group is traveling the state this week. Cardwell noted the state has conducted meetings across the state regarding the effect of automating health and nutrition services for seniors and disabled people. “Some got help” at those meetings, Cardwell said. “But when the meetings were over, the FSSA officials from Indianapolis went away and took their help teams of caseworkers with them. … They were not to be seen again in these communities.” Cardwell said he “has opinions” about the Nov. 4 governor’s race, but this week’s news conferences across the state are not intended to be political. “I have been asked by a number of Republicans to go public with this issue,” Cardwell said. “If it wasn’t an election year, it would be easier to deal with this issue, because we could have a more honest debate.” Daniels, speaking to reporters after his most recent debate with Long Thompson, said his administration was under pressure to address a welfare delivery system that was failing when he took office. “I’m not satisfied, but I’m satisfied nothing could be worse than the system we found. You think people are having trouble now, it was 10 times worse before. “We are on our way to fixing a fraud-ridden, waste-ridden and very customer unfriendly welfare system.”
I-65 FIRST BIOFUELS CORRIDOR: Interstate 65 is America’s first biofuels corridor following the conclusion of a project to make E85 ethanol and B20 biodiesel available along the entire length of the interstate from Gary to Mobile, Ala. Indiana has been a leader in biofuels accessibility along the I-65 corridor, Gov. Mitch Daniels announced in a news release (Times of Northwest Indiana). “This initiative is making it even easier for those who travel in Indiana and other states in the heartland to make fueling decisions that have a positive impact on our energy,” Daniels said. Indiana now has 123 biofuels refueling locations, with 31 accessible from the interstate.
STARKE COUNTY ETHANOL PLANT CANCELED: A company says the economic turmoil has scuttled plans to build a $62 million ethanol plant in Starke County (Lafayette Journal & Courier). Fishers-based Bioenergy Development Co. had planned to build the plant near San Pierre, about 35 miles southeast of Gary. But company president Robert Swain says his company has allowed its option on the land to expire and has withdrawn its application for a zoning change. He cites tight credit markets for the decision. In November, Starke County officials gave Bioenergy Development a conditional permit to construct the plant, but area residents had filed suit to stop construction. Swain says that if the economy turns around, he will again consider building in Starke County.
Cities
450 JOBS COMING TO MUNCIE: Officials confirmed Tuesday that Italian manufacturer Brevini will today announce 450 new jobs at a wind turbine plant near Interstate 69 in far western Delaware County (Muncie Star Press). Mayor Sharon McShurley — who noted her role in landing the development — and Rep. Mike Pence issued statements welcoming Brevini. Gov. Mitch Daniels talked about “green energy” developments like Brevini during an editorial board meeting Tuesday afternoon at The Star Press. Some details of the jobs are likely to remain under wraps until the announcement at 3 p.m. today at the Park One/332 business park at Ind. 332 and Interstate 69. But sources indicate the 450 jobs could pay an average of $46,000 a year. In the statement released by her office, McShurley said her friendship with Greg Winkler — former economic development officer for the city of Anderson, more recently a consultant who helped Brevini connect with Muncie and Delaware County — “ultimately lead to the announcement of Brevini locating its U.S. headquarters and building of a manufacturing facility in the Muncie community.”
FORT WAYNE COUNCIL PUSHES HENRY ON CUTS: The Fort Wayne City Council on Tuesday demanded Mayor Tom Henry cut millions of dollars from his 2009 budget to prevent the inevitability of raising income taxes next year (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). While the council members’ emotions ranged from outraged to calculated, they agreed they would have to look at more drastic cuts than normal this year because of the state’s looming revenue caps in 2010. The $180.5 million spending plan is less than 1 percent more than this year’s budget and is nearly balanced, calling for using $300,000 of the city’s reserves to pay for operating expenses. But by 2010, Controller Pat Roller projects a $9.3 million deficit that increases to $11.1 million in 2011 and $13 million in 2012. Councilwoman Liz Brown, R-at large, said she didn’t understand why the mayor didn’t propose significant cuts in the budget to help brace the city for the coming shortfalls.
NEW ALBANY GETS EMERGENCY CASH FLOW: New Albany City Controller Kay Garry should be able to pay the bills — at least for now (News & Tribune). As Garry waits for tax money to be released from the Floyd County Auditor’s office, the City Council voted unanimously Monday to provide her with $1 million for cash flow purposes. The money, transferred from tax-increment financing funds, will go toward the city’s payroll and compensate vendors who file monthly claims.
SALT PRICES TROUBLE CITIES: Last year, St. Joseph County paid about $47 a ton for road salt. This year, the price has tripled to $149 a ton (South Bend Tribune). Mishawaka paid $52.55 a ton for enhanced salt last year, street Commissioner Mike Watson said, but it will be paying $67.58 this year. South Bend is in better shape, since it filled its salt barn with 6,000 tons last spring at a cost of $45 a ton, said Gary Gilot, public works director.
Counties
JOHN ACCUSES WHITE OF MISCONDUCT: Marion County Republican Party Chairman Tom John today called for an investigation into whether Marion County Clerk Beth White misused her office by encouraging voters to early vote for Barack Obama in exchange for their receiving preferential seating at his campaign rally today (Howey Politcs Indiana). “Beth White took an oath to uphold the laws of the State of Indiana. Yet, Beth White went on television to promote efforts by Barack Obama that are legally questionable, if not downright illegal,” said John. “Those in a position to do so, should immediately investigate whether Beth White and Barack Obama have broken the law.” John said his concerns arise out of an interview White gave to WRTV that was broadcast Sunday wherein White told WRTV that, “The Obama campaign is having rallies with incentive if they come down to the rally and come here and vote early, you get preference for Barack Obama’s appearance Wednesday at the Fairgrounds.” John expressed concerns that both the incentive offered by the Obama Campaign and Beth White’s promotion of it on television violated Indiana Code 3-14-3-19, which prohibits exchange of items of value for votes. “To his credit, whenever and wherever Senator Obama speaks, the event becomes one of the hottest tickets in town,” John said. “By offering preferential seating to those who vote early, the Obama campaign is most certainly giving an item of value in exchange for early voting. The public should frown upon such activities, and they should be immediately investigated.” John also specifically criticized Clerk White’s involvement. “I am appalled that Beth White would use her position as Clerk and chief elections official for the county to promote Barack Obama’s rally and help pitch his “incentives ” to vote,” said John. “This was not some idle comment to a reporter. Beth White looked straight at the camera and the voters at home and told them they would get special seats to the Obama Rally if they voted early. That was wrong, and she should be ashamed of herself for misusing her office in such a blatantly partisan manner. ” Video of Marion County Clerk Beth White’s comments on YouTube.
HEAVY EARLY VOTE IN SHELBY: Voter turnout for the Nov. 4 general election already is brisk in Shelby County as 57 people showed up to vote absentee in person in the courthouse lobby on Monday (Shelbyville News). John Williams, who serves as Shelby County’s election deputy, said Monday marked the biggest first-day voter turnout he’d ever witnessed.
HUNDREDS OF NEW VOTERS REGISTER IN FLOYD; 74 VOTE: At 39 years old, Teresa Young has never voted (News & Tribune). That’s about to change. On Monday, she was among the hundreds who flocked to the Floyd County Clerk’s Office to register to vote before the 4 p.m. deadline. “If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice,” the New Albany resident said just after turning in her registration form. “So, I decided to get my voice out there so maybe I’ll make a difference.” She isn’t the only new voter either. This will be the first presidential election Vanessa Haycraft, 37, will vote in. “My instinct tells me I need to [vote],” Haycraft, of New Albany, said after registering to vote. “The way life is, something has got to change.” Linda Moeller, Floyd County clerk, believes issues facing this year’s election will bring record numbers to the polls. Just Monday, Moeller said anywhere from 500 to 600 people registered to vote and 74 cast their ballots with early voting, including herself.
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