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U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly has returned from Iraq and he sees progress. "I feel we've made progress, and the other part is I feel we can see an end game in sight," Donnelly, D-Ind., told reporters on a conference call today from Washington. "It isn't we just keep plugging away in the hopes something will turn out right. Gen. (David) Petraeus is working a plan and we seem to be heading toward a place where the Iraqis can be self-sustaining and we'll have a smaller presence in the background. Things are better than they were in their first few months of deployment." That was the message from Gen. David Petraeus. "In his view, things have improved almost across the board," Donnelly said. "There's a confidence and a feeling the progress is being made and there is an end in sight to our significant military presence." The only area where there doesn't appear to be improvement is in the Iraqi national government, "which has proven itself to almost be dysfunctional," Donnelly said. "The provincial governments have been working together with each other almost in spite of the national government." (Howey Politics Indiana photo by Brian A. Howey)
March 30, 2006 - U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh visited New Hampshire intending to accomplish more than raising money for local candidates and winning friends at the four publicized events he attended. He also hoped to convince voters he possesses the style and substance that can lead democrats to victory in the 2008 elections. Bayh is shown here talking to environmental activists in Concord, N.H. Several newspapers posted favorable reports online, according to HPR's Mark Curry, covering the Bayh campaign. Bayh told a group of young democrats "The destiny of your generation is at stake," the Foster's Daily Democrat reported. The Portsmouth Herald quoted a former mayor of Port City: "It’s obvious he’s very experienced as a speaker," Robert Shaines said. "He’s very charismatic." Read Curry's complete Bayh presidential campaign coverage in this week's edition of The Howey Political Report. To subcribe, see the top of this homepage. (Bayh Flickr Photo)
March 28, 2006 - Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Indiana’s 8th District, called on the U.S. Senate to pass the House immigration plan and oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants. “Giving lawbreakers amnesty is wrong,” Ellsworth said. “We need to crack down on illegal immigrants, not give them an excuse to break the law.” Ellsworth called for Senate passage of a measure sponsored by Republican Representatives James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and Peter King of New York that passed the House in December. It is intended to increase security on the nation’s borders and require employers to verify job applicants’ immigration status before hiring them. “For far too long folks in Washington have ignored this problem,” Ellsworth said. “Now, illegal immigrants account for one of every twenty workers, taking jobs from Americans and breaching the security of our homeland.” Ellsworth's opponent, U.S. Rep. John Hostettler, has been a leading advocate of a crackdown on illegal immigration. Meanwhile, at least two Hoosier Republicans were lining up against the House Republican plan. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., questioned whether any bill will end up on President Bush’s desk because the Senate is unlikely to go along with the approach adopted by “zealots” in the House last year, according to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. “A good number of people there wanted a (campaign) issue and wanted to say they had met the issue rather than were serious about facing a huge American dilemma,” Lugar said. And U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, one of 17 Republicans opposed to the House plan, derided it and call it "the most divisive issue" facing Republicans. (HPR Photo)
March 27, 2006 - Former congressman Andy Jacobs Jr., (top right) praised his successor, U.S. Rep. Julia Carson (bottom left) during an appearance on C-SPAN Sunday in which he read from his book "The 1600 Killers: A Wake-Up Call for Congress." Jacobs said, "She called me just before the vote," in 2002 that authorized President Bush to go to war in Iraq. "Because of that vote, she expected to lose the next election. She cast it nevertheless. She was going to give up her job and I believed she was doing the right thing. Julia is a big hero to me." Carson won re-election battles in 2002 and 2004. Jacobs' book, with new chapters, walks through post-World War II presidential decisions that resulted in armed conflict and death. The War in Iraq is casting a troubling shadow over the Indiana political scene, where President Bush's job approval rating is below 40 percent. Jacobs is a Marine battle veteran of the Korean Conflict. Also shown here are former congressman and 9/11 commissioner Lee Hamilton (top left) and U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)
March 24, 2006 - President Bush raised $500,000 for U.S. Rep. Mike Sodrel on Friday. Sodrel called it "a real important boost for my campaign." His probable Democratic opponent, Baron Hill, said in Bloomington that if "money wins elections, Ross Perot would be president." Bush noted that the U.S. economy grew by 3.5 percent last year and that Indiana's jobless rate was 4.7 percent. "Cutting taxes for the American people was the right thing to do. We got a record to stand on. If you want the government in your pocket, vote Democratic." (HPR Photo)
March 24, 2006 - President Bush shakes the hand of U.S. Rep. Mike Sodrel Friday afternoon in Indianapolis. Bush said in his speech, "It's in Indiana's interest to send Mike Sodrel back to Congress. I like a man who doesn't run a poll to tell him what to do." Using the refrain, "Mike Sodrel understands," Bush defended the most volatile issue in Indiana right now, the war in Iraq. "Removing Saddam Hussein has made the nation and the world a safer place. I need Members of Congress who support a plan for victory in Iraq. Mike Sodrel understands that and is a strong supporter of the military." Bush called the Iraq insurgency "an ideology of darkness" and said it would be defeated with "a philosophy of light and liberty." (HPR Photo)
March 24, 2006 - President Bush arrived in Indiana once again around 1:30 p.m. Friday March 24. He is expected to raise about $500,000 for U.S. Rep. Mike Sodrel at the Murat Center in Indianapolis. "This is a real important boost for the campaign," Sodrel said before the President landed at Indianapolis International Airport. Developing. (HPR Photo)
Gary Mayor Scott King resigned Thursday, citing family financial pressures and the need to put his kids through college. "This job was just an incredible experience. It's a great job -- except for the pay," King, second from left, explained at a morning press conference. "I have a great love for this city, but I have a greater love for my family. It's that time for me." The move ended days of speculation, with rumors ranging from him taking a job with the Daniels administration to a pending indictment. Over the past several years federal agents have been eyeing Gary city and school government. But last week, an indictment had been dropped against Deputy Mayor Geraldine Tousant, who then resigned. That set in motion King’s decision to bring former nine-term North Township Trustee Dozier Allen Jr., on as deputy mayor. There was speculation that Allen would serve out King’s term that expires in 2007. But Lake County Democratic Chairman Rudy Clay expects to hold a caucus within 30 days to choose a successor. King said he wants to pursue other professional opportunities. He is a defense attorney and talked about doing government consulting. King’s resignation completes what has now become a wholesale turnover in Lake County’s big city mayors, after East Chicago’s Bob Pastrick was defeated by George Pabey in December 2004 and Tom McDermott Jr. defeated Duane Dedelow in Hammond in 2003. In another key power alignment, Clay was chosen by the Indiana Democratic Central Committee to succeed former Democratic county Chairman Stephen Stiglich, who twice failed to muster a quorum for re-election a year ago. Stiglich died last summer. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)
March 31, 2006 - Indiana newspapers have been PMSing on the time issue last weekend as Indiana prepared to synchronize with the global economy. The Indianapolis Star centered its coverage on one Martin County School bus driver who will lose “half his income” because he will have to drop one of his routes. Is there a trend there? The Evansville Courier & Press described it as as “time troubles head east.” The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reported that Gov. Mitch Daniels was to blame for bar owners missing an hour of last calls on April 2, and the Star followed suit on Thursday. It also described Rep. Troy Woodruff’s “infamous vote.” In the Vincennes Sun-Commercial, a counter revolt is underway to switch back to Eastern time. Pulaski County is now on “commerce time” after the feds refused to allow it to switch back to Eastern. The May primary election will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. there (or is that 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.?) The Associated Press reported that half of the state's 22 drive-in movie theaters could close. The lone beacon of reporting was the Columbus Republic, which quoted city leaders as saying the extra hour of daylight in the evening could prompt more Hoosiers to get exercise. And the news wasn't totally bad. Gov. Mitch Daniels (shown here in Rockville with the Parke County Courthouse clock behind him) gave bars an extra hour to stay open this Saturday night. Even so, it has been bitchy. Grumpy. Hoosiers and their reporters are kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)
April 1, 2006 - Indiana House Democrat Leader B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend) blasted Gov. Mitch Daniels over the Chamber's economic report and this weekend's coming switch to Daylight-saving time. “It is no surprise that the governor thinks his administration is making progress. The facts tell a different story. Recent public opinion surveys indicate that this governor has approval ratings below 40 percent, depths reached only by his former boss in Washington, D.C." Bauer continued, “Then, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce – certainly one of this governor’s staunchest supporters – issues a report that says our state has slipped in its economic performance, getting only a C-minus. Even the Chamber cannot ignore the faults of an administration that has seen more than 8,000 jobs leave Indiana since this governor took office. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysts, Indiana personal income has slipped to 33rd in the country. The average Hoosier makes only 90 cents for every dollar earned by the typical American worker. Among the Great Lakes states, only Michigan ranks lower than Indiana in income growth. Per capita income growth in Indiana was more than a full percentage point behind the national rate last year, which means we’re continuing to lose ground. Indiana ranks 46th in the nation in the education level of its work force. Perhaps it is fitting that this governor chooses to issue this report just before one of his accomplishments is about to become reality. This weekend, Indiana will observe daylight-saving time, a change forced into law by this governor, despite the strong sentiments expressed by the people of this state that they did not want to move their clocks." The Daniels administration says the state is actually gaining jobs. And Bauer opposed what Daniels calls the "jobs bill of a generation" - the Major Moves transportation plan. (HPR Photo by Brian A. Howey)
April 9, 2006 - Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita has issued a statement explaining the state's role in addressing issues concerning the failure of some vendors to provide certain Indiana counties proper ballots prior to the start of Absentee Voting on April 3, 2006. Rokita wrote, "In addressing one of the requirements from the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Indiana's counties took on a huge responsibility when they overwhelmingly favored negotiating their own terms with vendors to not only eliminate punch card and lever machines where they existed, but to also make sure all precincts had accessible machines in Indiana as federally mandated. Although I am deeply concerned about this issue, it is the responsibility of the counties to resolve this with their vendor. I applaud many counties that have saved millions in taxpayer money by making prudent purchases on behalf of their voters. I have worked diligently to help passage of state laws that impose stricter penalties against vendors who sell uncertified equipment in Indiana. Though Indiana law does not currently allow for it, I will continue to urge the enactment of laws that permit the Secretary of State to penalize vendors who recklessly fail to meet their duty to Indiana counties and Hoosier voters." (HPR Photo)
April 11, 2006 - An estimated 20,000 immigrants from the Indianapolis area and another 5,000 in South Bend rallied late Monday afternoon, part of a national show of force surrounding the political solution that imploded in the U.S. Senate last week. Immigrants are seen here silhouetted behind the U.S. flag, a poignant image of people seeking the American dream. But those protesting were not just Hispanics. There were Africans, Peruvians and other nationalities who turned out to reveal their voice in the American heartland. South Bend Mayor Dennis Luecke welcomed the demonstrators and called for "fairness" in immigration reform. (HPR Photo by A. Walker Shaw)
April 16, 2006 - Gov. Mitch Daniels and Lieutenant General H. Stephen Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, conduct a re-enlistment ceremony for three members of the Indiana National Guard, (left to right) Corporal Bernard Prater of Frankfort, Sergeant Scott Drake of Etna Green and Specialist Francisco Verduzco of Lake Station in Iraq on Saturday. Daniels joined two other governors in making the surprise Easter weekend trip to the war zone. All re-enlisted for a period of six years. Gov. Daniels participated in Easter services with Indiana troops serving in Iraq, attending an early morning service in Baghdad before departing for Afghanistan. “When I knew I had the opportunity to be here this particular weekend, I thought it was the single best time for me to personally come and demonstrate on behalf of all of our citizens how much we value these people and how mindful we are for what they are doing for the rest of us. There is no other time I could imagine, with the possible exception of Christmas, that would rival this for communicating how truly grateful we are,” Daniels said during a teleconference from Iraq on Saturday. He attended a Catholic mass with the three other governors on the Department of Defense sponsored trip. Following the services, the group spent much of the day traveling to Afghanistan. They were expected to attend an evening reception with Afghan governors before concluding events for the day. On Monday, Daniels will meet with Indiana troops deployed to Afghanistan and participate in other meetings. Sunday was the third day Daniels has spent in the Middle East on his surprise visit. Since leaving the United States on April 13, he has toured facilities, watched demonstrations of emergency response activities, and visited Indiana National Guard and active-duty units in Kuwait and Iraq. On Saturday, he awarded a Purple Heart to an Indiana National Guardsman who was shot in Iraq and returned to active duty the same day, and he has conducted two ceremonies to re-enlist 13 Guardsman.(Photo courtesy of Gov. Daniels)
April 15, 2006 - Gov. Mitch Daniels re-enlists Indiana National Guardsmen in Iraq on Easter Sunday. The Governor did so with 13 guardsmen in two separate ceremonies. (Photo courtesy of Gov. Daniels)
April 27, 2006 - "Until we do what it takes to liberate ourselves from petroleum imports, we will find ourselves in a tragic and intolerable position of funding both sides - both sides - of the war against terrorism, and that must stop," Sen. Bayh said during a speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's national conference March 3. (HPR Photo by Mark Curry)
U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh speaks at IUPUI
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