A blog dedicated to carrying on the work of Gary Welsh's Advance Indiana by continuing the fight for the Republican Principles of limited government, free speech, advocate for good government, rule of law, civil liberties, and opposing cults. We oppose the Church of Scientology. Send any requests, news tips, or gossip. Email: 6vwts@notsharingmy.info. Use the Contact Form on the right side of the screen. Follow on Twitter: @IndyRepublicanX
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Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Did Governor Eric Holcomb’s Administration Improperly Waive Safety Fines for Amazon?
In November 2017, while the public bidding war for Amazon’s HQ2 was still playing out, Stallone and his boss, Indiana OSHA Director Julie Alexander, called Amazon officials to talk about the citations and fine related to Terry’s death, according to the article. Stallone recorded the call, and Alexander can be heard telling Amazon officials how to reduce the fines and shift the blame to “employee misconduct,” according to Reveal.
In a podcast posted by Reveal that included some of the audio from that conversation, Alexander is heard telling Stallone “I hope you don’t take it personally if we have to manipulate your citations.”Stallone told Reveal that a few days after that call, he was called into a meeting with Indiana Labor Commissioner Rick Ruble and Holcomb, who allegedly brought up the Amazon deal and said it would mean a lot to the state to land the headquarters.
Ruble then told Stallone to either back off the Amazon case or resign, according to the story. Stallone told Reveal that he quit soon afterward.
Holcomb’s office denied that meeting ever happened.
“The claim against the governor is absolutely untrue,” Holcomb spokeswoman Rachel Hoffmeyer said.
Ms. Erdody points out that the Indiana Department of Labor on September 14, 2018 waived all proposed fines against Amazon. Click here to read the IDOL’s settlement with Amazon. Click here for the story by Reveal News which sparked interest in this case. Also check out Reveal’s podcast “Amazon: Behind The Smiles”.
Our story doesn’t end here though. Governor Eric Holcomb and has responded in a most interesting way to media inquiries into their alleged conduct surrounding Amazon and the death of Phillip Lee Terry. In a follow up article on December 4th, 2019 Lindsey Erdody wrote:
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Labor insist that the investigation into an Amazon employee’s death in 2017 was handled appropriately, even though the safety violations that were initially issued were eventually dismissed.
Reveal, part of the not-for-profit Center for Investigative Reporting, recently highlighted the investigation as part of a report on working conditions in Amazon facilities across the country. The Indianapolis Star also published the Indiana-specific section of the Reveal article, which alleges Holcomb was involved in getting Amazon’s fines eliminated after the September 2017 death of a maintenance employee in Plainfield as part of a strategy to win Amazon’s coveted HQ2 project.
Holcomb has repeatedly denied the allegations, even taking the unusual step of issuing cease-and-desist letters to Reveal and the IndyStar. On Tuesday, he said he believes the Department of Labor and the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration handled the case correctly.
Let’s stop and think for just a minute here. The Indianapolis Star and Reveal publish a story alleging that Governor Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Labor Commissioner sought to avoid making Amazon pay a fine in the death of one of it’s employees. All so that the state could hope to lure Amazon into placing a distribution center in Indiana. But rather than logically refute the story. Mad King Eric AKA High Tax Holcomb decides to do his best imitation of a Soviet apparatchik and send cease and desist letters to Reveal and The Indianapolis Star merely for exercising their free speech rights, and for upsetting Governor Cry Baby. Such behavior from former Governor Mitch Daniels personal slave is not surprising. Indiana deserves better than Eric Holcomb. This is clearly the age of the second rater as far as Indiana government goes.
Click here to read the text of Governor Holcomb’s childish cease and desist demand letters.
Fortunately several Indiana journalists have decided they are not going to bend over and let Holcomb slap them into submission. Neither Reveal or The Indianapolis Star have backed down or retracted there stories regarding Holcomb and Amazon.
The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel published an editorial denouncing Holcomb’s antics. The Indiana Society of Professional Journalists also wrote an open letter to Eric Holcomb criticizing his attempts to quell free speech. We will end this post by reproducing the SPJ’s letter in full:
Dec. 3, 2019
Honorable Eric J. Holcomb
Governor of Indiana
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Dear Gov. Holcomb:
The Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists takes exception to your call for the Indianapolis Star and Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting to cease and desist reporting stories about your administration’s handling of worker safety investigations at Amazon facilities in Indiana.
Our organization, which represents professional journalists throughout Indiana, feels this move is a threat to press freedom.
According to Article I, section 9 of the Indiana Constitution: “No law shall be passed restraining the free interchange of thought and opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print, freely, on any subject whatever: but for the abuse of that right, every person shall be responsible.”
In our view, your cease-and-desist letters, issued on Nov. 29, are designed to intimidate reporters and journalists looking into your administration. The letters also add to the overall climate in the nation that looks to undermine the credibility of journalists and media outlets.
Although you might not agree with the contents or conclusions of the report in Reveal and the Indianapolis Star, an unusual call by your office for a cease-and-desist order against the media could chill efforts to report an ongoing story.
Indiana Pro SPJ stands behind the efforts of local and national journalism outlets to report issues of public importance and hold leaders accountable. If there are disputes over accuracy, there are ways to address those concerns without issuing a cease-and-desist order.
Indiana should set an example for the rest of the nation to follow when it comes to press freedom. Our officers would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss this issue further.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors
Indiana Professional Chapter
Society of Professional Journalists
For more information, please contact:
John Russell, chapter president
(317) 250-6261
Michael Puente, chapter vice president
(312) 342-0056
UPDATE: An alert reader directed us to an op-ed and a report over at IndyStar you should all see about Holcomb’s dirty deeds. Click here and here for more information.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Happy Veterans Day
Monday, November 4, 2019
Open Letter To Senator Rand Paul
Libertarians, constitutional conservatives, and classical liberals believe in protecting whistleblowers to expose government corruption. Trump Republicans believe in exposing whistleblowers to protect government corruption.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) November 5, 2019
I call on Rand Paul to have the courage to immediately find the other Rand Paul. The Rand Paul I used to admire. The Rand Paul who wasn’t emasculated by Donald Trump. https://t.co/bWquqRMlgq
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) November 5, 2019
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
A Closer Look at Trump’s GOP Presidential Challengers
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Some R.E.M. Mood Music
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s Continued Dive Into Madness
Monday, September 30, 2019
Carmel Businessman to Primary Governor Holcomb
The IR posse has been deluged with work and article requests this past month. We came across an article written on September 10th, 2017 by Lindsey Erdody for the Indianapolis Business Journal in which Ms. Erdody wrote about Brian Roth. Erdody writes that Brian Roth is:
Friday, September 13, 2019
Erick Erickson Keeps Running Towards Gomorrah
Just a reminder that Pete Buttigieg is an Episcopalian, so his understanding of Christianity isn't very deep or serious.— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 31, 2019
Why do you have to say stuff like this?— Aristotle Papanikolaou (@atpapanik) July 31, 2019
Speaking truth to power— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 31, 2019
— FierceWarriorNStilettos (@InactionNever) July 31, 2019
Trump has said he has never felt the need to repent. Buttigieg doesn’t feel the need to repent of his sexual sins. Between them, only Trump possesses the humility to not lecture Christians about their faith given his unrepentant state.— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 31, 2019
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Ex-Congressman and Radio Host Joe Walsh Challenges Donald Trump for GOP Presidential Nomination
Saturday, August 10, 2019
The Suicide of Jeffrey Epstein w/update
A guy who had information that would have destroyed rich and powerful men’s lives ends up dead in his jail cell. How predictably...Russian.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 10, 2019
He reportedly tried to kill himself two weeks ago. And is allowed to finish the job now? Bullshit.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 10, 2019
Powerful Democratic and Republican figures breathing a huge sigh of relief—as well as a Harvard professor or two.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 10, 2019
Friday, August 9, 2019
Then there were four...Another Texas Republican Calls it Quits
Sunday, July 14, 2019
INDY REPUBLICAN’s Tribute to Advance Indiana’s Gary Welsh
Friday, July 12, 2019
Indiana's Inspector General Continues to Cover Up Crime
The Inspector General’s office launched an investigation in October 2018 following a complaint about a Department of Correction supervisor selling essential oils during work hours.
According to the complaint, an IDOC employee told investigators the supervisor approached her about selling products during an IDOC meeting and gave her a product sample.
“Employee also indicated that she saw another DOC employee give the supervisor money during state time for what she assumed was payment for the purchase of essential oils,” read the OIG report. “Employee alleged that the supervisor recruited at least three other DOC employees to sell the products.”
In an interview with an OIG investigator, the supervisor said she began offering and promoting products through a private company during the fall of 2017, but stopped when IDOC launched an internal investigation.
The supervisor also said three of her Department of Correction subordinates joined the company and engaged in the business outside of work.
The OIG investigation found the IDOC supervisor received a percentage of the application fee for the three IDOC employees who obtained company memberships through her.
IDOC investigators found an email the supervisor sent from her state email related to the essential oils business.
“Although the investigation revealed the supervisor engaged in limited misuse of state property and a violation of DOC policy, her misuse of state property was low in volume and spread over a time frame of several months,” read the report.
The Office of Inspector General found “insufficient evidence” to bring a formal complaint against the IDOC supervisor before the State Ethics Commission.
“The evidence did not clearly show how much state time the supervisor spent promoting or offering products because some of this activity occurred during the supervisor’s lunch hours and after state work hours,” read the OIG report, dated May 23.
But fear not fellow hoosiers! Because even though the IG has declined to bring a formal complaint against the IDOC employee who by their own admission engaged in a commercial venture on state time. An offense that could get an employee terminated by the state. The IG has agreed to take the following action so that they not be forced too often to pretend to investigate wrongdoing at the state:
The OIG recommends the Indiana Department of Correction distribute a written notice to all IDOC employees reminding them that if they engage in any outside business, they must do so on their own time without using state time or state property/resources.
The Inspector General also recommends IDOC and its supervisors use caution when talking to subordinates about outside businesses they’re involved in.
Yeah have IDOC actually explain to DOC employees that they aren't supposed to engage in outside business on state time. That'll teach people not to commit ghost employment! As for recommending that IDOC and the supervisors their us caution when discussing outside business at DOC. Why not just tell them NOT to talk to anybody at work about outside employment? You know due to something called common sense and professionalism.
Lastly the Inspector General's office had this final bit of Solomon-like wisdom to offer the DOC:
“The OIG encourages DOC to consider providing additional training or instruction for all DOC employees in supervisory or managerial roles on the ghost employment and use of state property rules,” read the report. “Employees in authoritative positions often have the ability to wield undue influence over their subordinates, even if unintentional.”
Our response to the IG is "No Shit"! There are single celled organisms that know that people in authority have the ability to wield undue influence over their employees. Kudos to Kara Kenney for this outstanding report. Feel free to read the IG's so called report here if you wish. This reminds us all here of a similar case of blatant ghost employment reported on by Kenney back in 2012. Both Gary Welsh and Paul Ogden blogged about the case at that time. Paul Ogden had this interesting observation of that case:
Let me get this straight. I write a memo to the Commissioner of the Indiana Department that my supervisor was misappropriating money from the title insurance division that I ran and committing other legal violations. Within minutes of getting that memo, I am immediately fired and left two years short of my pension. I'm not alone. Whistleblowers who are routinely fired by the state and I am not aware of a single one who has ever prevailed in court. Judges do not enforce the laws protecting state employee whistleblowers.
If you are a state employee who dares to report ghost employment, the whistleblower can expect to be fired and have absolutely no recourse. Meanwhile the state employee who commits the ghost employment gets a short suspension and continues on in state employment or gets his full pension should he choose to retire.
In the interest of saving taxpayers money at this point the Indiana General Assembly should just abolish the Inspector General's office. After 14 plus years of existence it has only served to shield wrongdoers from being held accountable. And to punish those employees who have tried to uphold the laws and protect the taxpayers money. In the past the IG has used their office to cover up and protect former Indiana Secretary of State and Congressman Todd Rokita. The administration of former Governor Mike Pence further allowed the Inspector General's Office to cover up wrong doing by a former BMV official.
Inspector General Lori Torres |
Given the track record so far of Governor Eric Holcomb we can expect more, not less of these incidents to occur. Seeing as Holcomb is a servant to his demonic master Mitch Daniels it is not surprising that he has appointed Daniels flunky Lori Torres to the post of Inspector General. Torres was Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Labor for part of Daniels time as Governor. So naturally she has continued to do the bidding of her masters in hoosier politics. What we suggest to our readers is that they write, call and email Ms. Torres and her office until she decides to actually do her job. Also contact Governor Eric Holcomb, as well as your state legislators about this. Tell them that Gary Welsh called and he wants to give them all an earful.
You can reach Miss Torres at:
Office of the Inspector General
315 West Ohio Street, Room 104
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
Telephone: 317-232-3850
Toll free: 866-805-8498
Email: info@ig.in.gov
Twitter: @LoriTorres2013
Governor Eric Holcomb when he exits his coffin can be contacted at:
Office of the Governor
Statehouse
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2797
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Erick Erickson Goes Off The Deep End w/Update
If Epstein had done what he did with teenage boys and dressed them in drag, undoubtedly a number of people out to get him would instead be defending him.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 9, 2019
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Narcissism Thy Name Is Donald Trump
All of us here called President Obama the “Narcissist In Chief” with justification when he was the in office. We had hoped whoever followed him wouldn’t also deserve that title. But Donald Trump as he is prone to do has decided to be Barrack Obama on Steroids. We conservatives and republicans need to realize that if something is bad coming from Obama or Hillary having Trump do it does not make it any better. Those of us like Paul Ogden, George Will, Joshua Claybourn, Charlie Sykes, Joe Wilson, and Bill Kristol who have stayed true to our conservative principles in the face of Trumpism. We must continue to hold our ground. History will thank us for it. Unless we want our national two party system to keep going down the path of being a “Unibrow Party” system of socialist authoritarianism. We must and will resist the growing pressure to be mindless drones working for a matrix of fat cat political hacks and empty talking heads. For the sake of our brothers gone before us like the late, great Gary Welsh. Like Barry Goldwater, Bill Buckley and Ronald Reagan. Let us seek to bind up the nations wounds. We shall fight for the ideals of the founders. Praise be to God! AMEN!Our Country is the envy of the World. Thank you, Mr. President! https://t.co/2h8mvu16YX
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2019
Saturday, June 29, 2019
GOP Strategist Mike Murphy Explains Why Trump Is Beyond Saving
Evergreen tweet.
— KristolConvos (@KristolConvos) November 27, 2017
(Full convo: https://t.co/vMFU8s5u1O) pic.twitter.com/DxZ72wjR1J
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
IBM Ordered to Pay $78 Million to the State Ending Decade Long Lawsuit
Both parties filed breach complaints, and the Marion Superior Court initially determined modernization’s failure was not a breach of IBM’s contract. Instead, the state was ordered in 2012 to pay IBM $49.5 million for the costs of equipment and assignment fees.
Barnes & Thornburg attorneys John Maley and Peter Rusthoven, counsel for the state in the IBM litigation, released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying they are pleased with the court’s ruling.
The State, i.e. FSSA, ended up suing IBM to recover under the contract. IBM countersued, claiming that the State breached the contact through its termination. But who does the Daniels' administration insist the State hire to represent the State? None other than Barnes & Thornburg the very law firm that represented ACS in lobbying to get the contract and still represents ACS to this day.
Let me summarize what appears to have happened. ACS lobbies state officials to oust IBM so ACS can have the lucrative Medicaid privatization contract to itself. ACS eventually succeeds. The State sues IBM, perhaps to counter the inevitable breach of suit IBM was about to file. After, IBM sues, the State hires Barnes & Thornburg, ACS's attorney to represent the state.
The State appears to be nothing more than a proxy for ACS. This case is essentially ACS v. IBM, yet we taxpayers are on the hook to pay Barnes & Thornburg, ACS' attorneys, $9.6 million. That is uttterly outrageous.
Given that federal money here is involved, I too wonder why there has not been a federal investigation opened up by the FBI into this matter. There certainly should be now that the facts here expose troubling, if not illegal, conduct by government officials and private lobbyists.