Todd Rokita as the boss from hell!

Rep. Todd Rokita

Hope all of you out there have had a good August. And the IR gang hopes all of you have a good Labor Day weekend next week. Now let's get down to business. Previously INDY REPUBLICAN has written about the nasty GOP Senate Primary battle between Congressmen Luke Messer and Todd Rokita. Click here and here for our previous posts on this. 

Recently some facts have come to light that show a less then flattering view of Congressman Todd Rokita (affectionately referred to by the IR staff as "dipshit"). A very special and gifted INDY REPUBLICAN reader alerted all of us to an article published on August 18th, 2017  at POLITICO.COM written by John Bresnahan and Rachel Bade entitled "The agonizing, 8-page memo on how to chauffeur a congressman".  Mr. Bresnahan and Ms. Bade relay to their readers just what all being a driver for Congressman Rokita entails. IR has included our commentary in parentheses alongside the article by POLITICO. Bresnahan and Bade write:

Empty his trash. Always have hand sanitizer and gum at the ready. And don’t bother with “unnecessary conversation” — the congressman doesn’t have time for your chitchat. (Simply put the Congressman is above you. And as a lowly driver you are not worthy of speaking to him)

Demanding, high-maintenance bosses are notorious on Capitol Hill. The late Sen. Ted Kennedy's staff had to walk his dog, poop pick-up and all. Former Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison made her male aides carry her purse.

The latest addition to the list: Rep. Todd Rokita, an Indiana Republican running in one of next year's most competitive Senate races.

Who knew it could take eight pages of instructions on how to properly escort a member of Congress around his district? Yet there it is, laid out in mind-blowing detail, in a memo obtained by POLITICO that's sure to make any young, eager-beaver political aide shudder.

Tasks listed in the document, entitled “Instructions on Staffing and Driving — District Version,” include handing Rokita a cup of black coffee upon picking him up at his home, acting as a physical barrier between him and trackers looking to capture embarrassing footage of the congressman, and “avoid[ing] sudden acceleration or braking” while driving. (Congressman Rokita is still struggling at 47 years of age to accept the fact that while driving a car sudden speeding up and slowing down may occur. So please don't scare him to much while driving him. He cannot afford to strain his mind that much)

“The goal is to provide as smooth a ride as possible,” reads the instruction manual, co-authored by a former chief of staff to the congressman and Tim Edson, Rokita’s ex-communications director-turned-campaign spokesman.

Drivers are expected to transport not only Rokita’s toothbrush and toothpaste but also stock and tote around the district a nearly 20-item supply box that Rokita’s staffers call “the football.” The contents include gum, hand sanitizer, business cards, bottled water, napkins and Kleenex, lozenges, a stapler and stapler remover, Post-it notes and Shout wipes, among other items. 

Rokita needs a hanger in the car for his jacket. Never allow him to be photographed with a drink in his hand. And never forget, the memo states multiple times in boldface, underlined letters, to remind the 47-year-old to bring the essentials. (Todd is so overwhelmed with his vast awesomeness to remember things that most school children remember with ease. So he needs to be coddled.)

Picking up Rokita from his home is a chore, to say the least. Drivers are asked to “please have a cup of black coffee available for him” and to “empty the trash bin if there’s anything in it.” They’re also instructed to “back the vehicle out of the garage and turn it around so you can exit the driveway when Representative Rokita gets in the car.”

“Make sure you pull the car far enough forward that exhaust fumes won’t get in the garage,” the memo adds. (Todd needs plenty of coffee to stay awake and he has subpar skills at avoiding negligible amounts of exhaust fumes. So please spare him the exhaust fumes so that he doesn't suffocate walking 12 feet to his car)

Rokita should be informed of any turns and sudden stops while driving, according to the manual. The less talking, the better, it says: “He often uses the travel time to make phone calls, catch up on email, read and prepare for the day’s meetings and events. Please do not interrupt his prep time with unnecessary conversation.” (Translation: Congressman Rokita doesn't view you the driver as a person. So don't annoy his holiness by speaking to him)

Staffing Rokita's events seems to be a task made for Superman. Drivers are expected to collect contact information from “as many people as possible” and ensure the information is “quickly entered in to the relevant databases.” At the same time, they're supposed to be taking pictures for social media, “notes of all interactions” Rokita has with constituents, identifying reporters and sending Rokita’s communications director a summary of exchanges he has with the press. (Shouldn't Rokita's press aides and other congressional staff have already taken care of this? Why is the driver responsible for also being his secretary? Can Todd not delegate roles at all?)

Another must-do: Keep Rokita hydrated.

“When you arrive at the event, get Todd a non-alcoholic drink that he can carry with him as he visits (water, diet soda, and coffee are best),” the manual reads. (Because left to his own devices Todd will forget to drink any liquids and die of thirst. Either that or on his own he goes straight for alcohol because he can't tell the difference between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages)

Tips of the trade in the instruction manual include faking it — “The best way to make a good first impression is to look like we know what we are doing” — and ensuring that Rokita doesn’t talk to too many reporters. (Or better yet the best way to make a good impression is to know what you are doing! And since Todd is scared of his own shadow he has to be protected from speaking to reporters, lest they breathe fire on him)

As for dealing with reporters, “Generally less is more,” the document reads, later adding: “TER should not be allowed to talk to any reporters for more than the allotted time.” (Because after the allotted time Todd will immediately suffer a panic attack and make a fool of himself)

Drivers are also expected to protect Rokita from any attendees who they suspect are there only to gather opposition footage of him. The instruction manual warns that trackers could try to catch him in an awkward or embarrassing moment.

The driver is told to “maintain a physical position between TER and the tracker” but warned “do not touch, bump, punch, choke or verbally attack the tracker.” (We feel it is important that you know we don't want the Congressman's drivers to physically assault people. We see how telling you to keep a physical distance between Todd and the tracker might be misconstrued to mean "get medieval on the tracker". Because chauffeurs also double as bodyguards. At least they do working for Todd Rokita)

“This is the type of behavior they are hoping to provoke,” the manual reads.

Drivers are also responsible for keeping Rokita on schedule — but there are guidelines even for that.

“Do NOT say to TER, ‘Todd we have to go,’ or ‘You have an appointment with XYZ,’” the manual reads. “Instead, politely tell the person/people TER is speaking with that you need to get TER on the road.”

The day ends for a Rokita driver much as it began: with the "football" and the trash.

“When you arrive at TER’s house at the end of the day … empty the trash bin … and go over the football checklist and make sure all items are there,” the instructions read. “If anything needs [to be] replenished, report those to the next day’s driver ASAP.”

If anyone is interested you can read the whole 8 page memo here: http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3933393-Scan.html#document/p3/a368852

INDY REPUBLICAN would like to thank our wonderful reader who sent us this article. You know who you are!

We all will be writing more about our good buddy Todd "The Clod" Rokita more in the near future. If this memo is any indication of what kind of "man" Todd Rokita is then let's all pray he gets his ass whipped in next years primary!

Workforce Development Commissioner Steve Braun Resigns Expected to run for Todd Rokita's Congress Seat

Workforce Development Commissioner Steve Braun

Hayleigh Colombo over at the Indianapolis Business Journal has reported that the Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Steve Braun has resigned his post. Hayleigh Colombo reports in her article:

Steve Braun, the state’s Department of Workforce Development commissioner, plans to resign from his post at the end of August.

Gov. Eric Holcomb’s spokeswoman confirmed the news Wednesday to IBJ but declined to say why he was leaving.

"You'll know soon," said Stephanie Wilson, the governor's press secretary.

Braun, a former state legislator, was hired to lead the agency in late 2014 by former Gov. Mike Pence and retained by Holcomb earlier this year.

Braun's resignation will be effective Aug. 30, Wilson said.

She said she did not have a resignation letter she could immediately provide and said it was up to Braun to explain his reasons for leaving. Braun’s spokesman did not immediately reply to IBJ’s request for comment.

Colombo also notes that Braun's brother Mike Braun is also a candidate in next years republican senate primary.

Word on the street is that Braun is going to announce soon that he intends to run for Todd Rokita's seat in congress. Steve Braun before he was made DWD Commissioner was state representative for former DWD Commissioner Scott Sanders. Scott Sanders is now the Executive Director of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). How Sanders ever got his current job after totally bungling DWD is a mystery to many. While Sanders was at DWD the states project to modernize its unemployment insurance system was completed in 2013. Over five years after it's original deadline for completion and at double the original cost.

Readers of Advance Indiana and Ogden on Politics may recall the story of whistleblowers who reported how mismanagement at DWD caused the state's unemployment insurance trust fund to go broke. Which necessitated the state having to borrow upwards of $2 Billion from the federal government to keep paying unemployment benefits. Indiana was one of the first states to borrow from the federal government and had to borrow from the feds from 2008 to 2015. Gary Welsh and Paul Ogden's accounts of the mismanagement of DWD can be read here, and here.

IR thinks that Steve Braun is simply another party hack who should be kept out of any public office.

State Senator Mike Crider to run for Luke Messer's Congressional Seat

State Senator Mike Crider

Hello fellow truth seekers! You may remember back in June we blogged about the possibility that Vice President Mike Pence's brother Greg might run for Luke Messer's seat. Well today State Senator Mike Crider has announced that he will run for Messer's seat. So if Greg Pence is going to jump into the ring he is going to have some competition.

WSVX-FM reports the news of Crider's announcement here:

Today Republican State Senator Mike Crider formally announced his campaign for election to Indiana’s 6th District in the US House of Representatives. Crider, who represents Senate District 28, is seeking to replace incumbent Rep. Luke Messer (R-Shelbyville) who is running for US Senate.

“At a time when our nation is facing serious threats to our national security, the national debt has reached staggering proportions – saddling future generations with trillions of dollars in debt, federal government spending is far out-pacing revenues, and Congress is mired in gridlock and partisan bickering, I feel called to use my experience as a law-enforcement professional and my track record of passing tax cuts and pro-growth policies to help lead our country out of this crisis,” Crider said.

“Hoosiers, like all Americans, want our federal government to get down to business and solve the problems at hand. During my tenure in the Indiana Senate, our state’s unemployment rate has declined to 3.1 percent, below the national average. During last year alone, our unemployment rate experienced the largest decline (1.4 percent) in the nation, and during the first half of 2017, the Indiana Economic Development Commission has secured commitments of $5.4 billion in investments with plans to create nearly 18,000 new jobs with an average wage of $28.60 per hour. These are the kind of results folks are demanding from Washington, and I want to be part of the solution.”

WSVX gives some background information on Mr. Crider's life before he decided to run for congress:

Before being elected to the Indiana State Senate, Crider spent 30 years at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). During that time, he was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels to serve as director of the DNR Division of Law Enforcement. He retired with the rank of Colonel.  Crider graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1981 and the FBI National Academy in 2003. He now chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation, and is ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Military.

INDY REPUBLICAN must confess that Mr. Crider's having been appointed to any position by the traitor former Godfather Governor Mitch Daniels makes us uneasy about him. But we will evaluate him on his merits.

The article goes onto give more details on Crider's campaign:

His campaign Chairwoman is former State Senator Beverly Gard, also of Greenfield, whom he replaced in the Senate after her retirement in 2012.

“Sen. Mike Crider will be an outstanding Congressman,” Gard said. “His very successful service in our State Senate is invaluable. I had my eye on Mike for some time and recruited him to replace me when I retired in 2012. His integrity, work ethic, experience, and remarkable ability to bring people together to make good public policy are exactly what we need in our next Congressman.”

According to Dana Caldwell, Crider’s Campaign Finance Chairman, the campaign already has more than $100,000 in committed contributions. Caldwell is a Shelbyville businessman.

“I am excited to be on Mike’s team because I trust him, and I am certain Indiana will trust him too, Caldwell said.  “Mike and I have known each other for most of our lives. We played sports against each other for many years growing up. Mike has always been one to do his ‘homework’ no matter what the task he is facing. He is a rock with a solid foundation. If elected, Mike will be one of the best Congressmen we have ever had. “

The rest of the article gives the following information about Crider's family life, where he lives and a rough outline of the congressional district he is running in:

Crider served as a member of Neighborhoods Against Substance Abuse for 20 years, and was president for seven of those years. He and his wife Sherri live in Greenfield and have two sons and four grandchildren.

District 28(Mike Crider's State Senate District) includes all of Hancock County and portions of Marion and Shelby counties.

Indiana’s 6th Congressional District is composed of Bartholomew, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Henry, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Shelby, Switzerland, Union, and Wayne counties and a portion of Scott County.

Nobody here at IR seems to have heard much about Mike Crider. He is referred to in a Ogden on Politics blog post from 2013. Click here to read that post.

Senator Rand Paul nails it on Afghanistan

Senator Rand Paul R-Kentucky 

Like the late great Gary Welsh and Paul Ogden we at IR oppose nation-building and most of us backed Senator Rand Paul for President last year. In fact most of us wrote in Rand Paul, Paul Ogden, or Ronald Reagan for President last year. Last night President Donald Trump issued a call to send more soldiers into Afghanistan in order to continue our decade long war. This is a reversal from then candidate Trumps promise to withdraw from Afghanistan he made while running for President. What concerns INDY REPUBLICAN greatly is the continued push by many in Washington to centralize more power into the executive branch and to further dilute Congresses responsibility as a separate and equal branch of government. 

Fortunately there are some in congress who understand this. And foremost of them is Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. The Senator has written the following opinion piece which masterfully outlines the issues with President Trumps Afghanistan policy. Senator Paul also outlines the true conservative republican view of the separation of powers. 

Here is Senator Paul's counterpoint to President Trumps Afghanistan speech tilted "Sixteen years on, it's past time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan":

The Trump administration is increasing the number of troops in Afghanistan and, by doing so, keeping us involved even longer in a 16-year-old war that has long since gone past its time.

The mission in Afghanistan has lost its purpose, and I think it is a terrible idea to send any more troops into that war. It's time to come home now.

Our war in Afghanistan began in a proper fashion. We were attacked on 9/11. The Taliban, who then controlled Afghanistan, were harboring al Qaeda, and after being warned, and after an authorization from Congress, our military executed a plan to strike back. Had I been in Congress then, I would have voted to authorize this military action.

But as is typical, there was significant mission creep in Afghanistan. We went from striking back against those who attacked us, to regime change, to nation-building, to policing their country for them. And we do it all now with an authorization that is flimsy at best, with the reason blurred, and the costs now known. We do it with an authorization that was debated and passed before some of our newest military personnel were out of diapers. This isn't fair to them, to the American people, or to a rational foreign policy.

The Afghanistan war going beyond its original mission has an enormous cost. First and most important is the cost to our troops. Deaths, injuries and unnecessary deployments causing harm to families are certainly the most important reason as to why you don't go to wars that aren't necessary.

Then comes the taxpayer. We have spent over $1 trillion in Afghanistan, and nearly $5 trillion on Middle East wars in the past 15 years. Would we not be better off with $5 trillion less in debt or using these funds in other, more productive ways?

Nation-building should not be our job, and it has consistently been a fool's errand for us, particularly in this region. There is no reason to believe we can do it in Afghanistan, and certainly no reason to believe we can do it without a permanent, costly presence in the country.

So I strongly disagree with the administration's actions here. I've spoken to the president, and I know he wants to end this war. We've all heard him say it. But talk won't get it done. Although I've been informed that the president rejected larger expansions of troops than the one announced this week, that's not good enough. He should have rejected this one and stuck to his principles. He knows this war is over, and he - unlike the last two presidents - should have the guts to end it for real, on his watch.

Regardless of the argument over the number of troops, I also will insist my colleagues take up a larger argument over the power to declare war. I believe we have allowed the executive to exercise far too much power in recent years.

This is one of the reasons I objected just before the recess when the Senate moved to consider the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). I have an amendment that I will insist be considered that would repeal the 2001 AUMF on Afghanistan. That AUMF is outdated, overcome by events, and provides a feeble bit of cover for people who still want to be there.

If the president and my colleagues want to continue the war in Afghanistan, then at the very least Congress should vote on it. I'll insist they do this fall, and I'll be leading the charge for "no."

Paul is the junior senator from Kentucky.

Eric Holcomb Day tomorrow at the Indiana State Fair. Can the GOP sink any lower?

An alert reader sent Indy Republican an email from the Indiana GOP. The email mentions that it is Eric Holcomb Day at the Indiana Republican Party booth at the Indiana State Fair tomorrow. Here is a flyer for Eric Holcomb Day:

We have seen plenty of egotism in politics over the years. But a sitting governor having his own day is just insane! Obviously being in office has done nothing to remove Holcomb's demonically dark eye circles. If anything his singing into law over 40 tax hikes has made him appear even more evil.

Goodbye to the Rhinestone Cowboy

Indy Republican is sorry to report that the great singer Glen Campbell the writer of the great classic "Rhinestone Cowboy" passed away at age 81. In tribute to him we are posting a video of Rhinestone Cowboy. RIP Glen Campbell!

Former Democratic State Senator Jim Arnold considering challenge to Congresswoman Jackie Walorski

Former State Senator Jim Arnold-D Laporte

Today Dan Carden of the Northwest Indiana Times reported that 2nd District Congresswoman Jackie Walorski-R may find herself challenged for reelection next year. Dan Carden reports: 

The veteran Hoosier lawmaker, former LaPorte County sheriff and current member of the LaPorte Community School Board said Monday that he's been approached by influential Democrats who urged him to think about the race.

"I have been asked to consider it. I don't know how many others have been asked," Arnold said. "I have to say the encouragement has been overwhelming from what few people I've spoken to."

Arnold said it's only in the past few days that he's begun discussing with his family, and reaching out to local party leaders, about whether he should run.

"There's a lot of variables that I have to take into consideration," he said. "I'm still thinking about all the pros and cons."

He expects to make a final decision around Labor Day.

IR knows very little about Jim Arnold beyond what is mentioned in Dan Carden's article. We all here remember that Walorski was a state representative before she was elected to congress in 2012. She narrowly won reelection to her state house seat in 2006 after voting for Mitch Daniels "Major Moves" program. Word on the street was is that she felt slighted by Daniels because he seemed unwilling to help her out after she voted for "Major Moves" as it was unpopular in her district. Also our sources tell us that Congresswoman Walorski was sometimes called "Chewbaca". IR is not sure why so we will put a photo of the Congresswoman and a photo of Chewbacca below and see what all of you think!

Congresswoman Jackie Walorski-R

Chewbacca the Wookie 

Will someone finally blame Mitch Daniels for his foul ups with FSSA's Welfare Privatization?

Mitch Daniels after his lobotomy 

You would think after the better part of a decade we the taxpayers would finally be able to put former Governor Mitch Daniels now infamous welfare privatization scheme behind us! But if today's story in the Indianapolis Star is to be believed we maybe nowhere near the finish line on this.

Earlier today Fatima Hussein and Tim Evans wrote "IBM owes $128M in welfare privatization". Mr. Evans and Miss Hussein give some background on the ongoing pissing match between IBM and the State of Indiana:

The state of Indiana has won a judgment for $128 million in damages in a lawsuit against alleging IBM breached its 2006 contract to modernize delivery of welfare services by the Family and Social Services Administration.

Marion Superior Court Judge Heather Welch awarded the damages in an order today, according to a statement issued by Barnes & Thornburg, which represented the state in the lawsuit. The suit has been going on since the state terminated IBM's contract in 2009 claiming the company's performance was poor.

IBM intends to appeal the latest ruling "which is contradicted by the facts and the law," says Clint Roswell, an IBM representative in an emailed statement to IndyStar.

"IBM worked diligently and invested significant resources in its partnership with FSSA to help turn around a welfare system described at the time by Indiana’s governor as one of the worst in the nation," Roswell said.

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled in 2016, according to the statement, "that IBM was owed around $50 million for certain unpaid fees and equipment charges, but rejected over $53 million of IBM’s other claims, and held that IBM had breached its contract with the State as a matter of law." 

The Supreme Court then sent the case back to the trial court to determine the amount of the state’s damages.

The net result of today’s ruling, the statement said, is that IBM now owes the state more than $78 million, plus interest at 8 percent from the date of the judgment.

Evans and Hussein provide a condensed account of the events leading up to today's ruling:

The case stems from a $1.37 billion,10-year contract that IBM and Indiana entered in 2006. It was hailed at the time as the solution for fixing one of the nation’s most-troubled welfare systems.

The state, though, canceled the contract three years later after a flood of complaints about the system from clients, their advocates and federal officials. At the time, the state had paid $437 million to IBM.

The two sides sued each other for damages. In 2012, a Marion Superior Court judge awarded $52 million to IBM.

In 2014, though, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the ruling and ordered a determination of damages suffered by the state. Indiana was seeking $177 million in a breach-of-contract countersuit against IBM. The Indiana Supreme Court then took up the case.

John Maley and Peter Rusthoven of Barnes & Thornburg, issued a joint statement saying they were gratified by the latest decision. “We are very pleased the court awarded $128 million in damages for IBM’s failure to keep the important promises it made to the State of Indiana,” the statement said.

“This has been a long, tough battle with a big corporation that refused all along to take responsibility for its poor performance," the statement said. "This hurt Hoosier families most in need, who depend upon the help of the Family and Social Services Administration. Today’s ruling is another victory for those families, for our State, and for all our citizens and taxpayers. It also vindicates the consistent determination of former Governors Mitch Daniels and Mike Pence and now Governor Eric Holcomb that IBM must be held responsible for not doing what it promised.”

As frequent readers of the late Gary Welsh's Advance Indiana blog and Paul Ogden's Ogden on Politics blog will note. The state bears at least as much and probably more of the blame for screwing up Indiana's welfare programs! John Marley and Peter Rusthoven might want to avoid pointing fingers. According to rumor the biggest reason why Mitch Daniels did not run for President in 2012 is because the Obama administration would have had the US Attorneys Office in Indianapolis investigate and possibly prosecute many key players in the whole IBM-FSSA-ACS debacle. The fact that IBM is going to appeal the most recent decision in this case should give former Indiana Governor now Vice President Mike Pence pause about ever running for another office! This problem won't go away even if IBM loses. Also Marley and Rusthoven are probably hoping nobody will ever ask them about their law firms representing the state, while having a non waivable conflict of interest in doing so since they also represent ACS as well. Click here to read more about the conflict of interest. 

The late Carl Moldthan who worked for Mitch Daniels and argued against the privatization of welfare services warned of problems that would emerge back in 2005. But Mitch Roob was hell bent on privatization. And as Gary Welsh pointed out IBM was most likely a placeholder put on so that they could be later fired and Roob's former employer ACS could step in.

Here are some extracts from both Gary Welsh and Paul Ogden's work documenting the whole FSSA nightmare:

Carl Moldthan's time at FSSA:

"When Moldthan arrived at his his new job, Mitch Roob wasn't quite sure how to best utilize him. Because there had been so much talk about privatizing the services administered by the county welfare agencies, Moldthan suggested he be tasked to visit all of the offices, learn better what they were or were not doing right and make recommendations to Roob and his management team. Roob thought that sounded like a fantastic idea so off Moldthan went to visit every single county welfare agency--all 105 of them--over the next several months. During the course of his visits, Moldthan would make no fewer than 70 suggestions to Roob and his superiors on ways of improving the agency's operations, changes if implemented, he claims would have resulted in hundreds of millions in savings. Little did Moldthan know at the time that his common sense ideas would be met with scorn, laughter or otherwise summarily rejected by his superiors and would culminate in earning him a trip to Roob's office where he would be undressed for being the most disloyal person Roob had ever met."

"What Moldthan came to learn was that Roob was going to privatize the work done by those county welfare agencies come hell or high water. Anyone who didn't believe in privatization should leave, an offer Moldthan gladly accepted after less than a year on the job. Moldthan also learned that Roob had no intention of saving money from privatization. After all, the county welfare agencies comprised only $180 million of FSSA's multi-billion dollar budget, representing just 7% of the agency's entire budget. Surely there were other more effective ways of findings savings at the agency than getting rid of your front-line workers."

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2010/07/republican-view-of-fssas-failed.html?m=1

Moldthan's warnings to Mitch Roob:

"Moldthan found a broken system. Moldthan pleaded the case for an alternative solution to privatization recommended by the consulting firm hired by Roob, but Roob and others rebuffed him."

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2012/07/judge-dreyers-decision-vindicates-carl.html?m=1

Gary Welsh explains Mitch Daniels and Mitch Roob's real plans for FSSA:

I have always steadfastly maintained that it was never the intention of the Daniels administration to put IBM in charge of this major undertaking. I've contended that IBM's role was that merely as a placeholder to provide cover to Mitch Roob from criticism that he was steering the state's largest contract in Indiana history to his former employer (ACS). 

"Underscoring my view, Judge Dreyer noted evidence in the record that ACS's lobbyist, Joe Loftus, was lobbying state officials behind IBM's back to have it assume control of the contract and to oust IBM despite ample evidence that many problems with the implementation involved tasks performed by ACS. He cited testimony that Loftus "used his political contacts with the administration to help his clients, ACS and Arbor, with respect to Modernization" and "Anne Murphy relied on Joe Loftus as a source of information in her dealings with IBM." Judge Dreyer found that ACS was interfering with IBM's contract "by directly lobbying the Governor, and the State was unable or unwilling to redirect the revenue necessary to adequately fund Modernization with IBM." Judge Dreyer found that Loftus' lobbying actions were creating distrust among the contract partners. He cited an e-mail exchange Loftus had with Roob in which he said, "I expect to get a lecture today from IBM reminding me that they are the Prime." Loftus added, "They just don't get it." Dreyer found that Loftus' communication behind IBM's back "presumably violated its contract with IBM and the state was in violation of the terms of the MSA, which provided that IBM was the sole point of contact with regard to contractual matters." Loftus' communications included conversations directly with Gov. Daniels and one of his top staffers, Betsy Burdick, who is the sister of Brian Burdick, the Barnes & Thornburg attorney who signed the contract on behalf of the firm to represent the state in its lawsuit against IBM despite its obvious conflict of interests. Loftus' actions were that of a snake in the grass, completely stabbing IBM in the back to win the contract for his client. Dreyer noted that ACS officials testified that Loftus' communications behind IBM's back "were contractually prohibited." As Dreyer put it, "The Court is unable to find that IBM breached the contract by failing to adequately manage ACS at the same time ACS and the State were talking behind IBM's back."

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2012/07/judge-dreyers-decision-vindicates-carl.html?m=1

For the life of me, I do not understand why a criminal investigation has not been launched by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office. This has got to be one of the most corrupt deals in the history of Indiana state government. Hundreds of millions of federal tax dollars were being misspent simply so big campaign contributors of Gov. Mitch Daniels could make a lot of money with no concern at all to the services being provided using those tax dollars. One of the administration's biggest critics in the state legislature is a Republican lawmaker, State Sen. Vaneeta Becker (R-Evansville). “The whole thing could have been avoided if the state from the beginning had just provided new computers and additional training to caseworkers,” she told the Star's Mary Beth Schneider. “A lot of this could have been avoided and a lot of costs.” Gov. Daniels, for his part, was totally unapologetic about the outcome and says he expects the decision will be overturned on appeal. Even if the state loses on appeal, he told Schneider that the more than $52 million the state will be required to pay IBM was irrelevant because they "are so tiny compared to the savings we’re achieving.” The state has spent more than a half billion dollars to date on the privatization effort. What do you expect from a guy who told Congress when he was OMB Director that the Iraq war would only cost taxpayers $50 billion? Oh, and did I mention that Gov. Daniels put a former paid consultant for ACS, Mike Gargano, in charge of FSSA after Roob's successor, Anne Murphy, left the agency after a short stint running the agency?

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2012/07/state-paid-barnes-thornburg-96-million.html?m=1

There were lots of hiccups along the way, some of them IBM's fault, some of them the fault of subcontractors like ACS, some of them the fault of FSSA and some due to circumstances beyond both parties' control attributed to the explosion in claims caused by the Great Recession. The undisputed facts show the state devised metrics for measuring IBM's performance and an overwhelming number of those metrics were on target. What few were under-performing were moving in the right direction when Gov. Daniels abruptly terminated IBM's contract and handed its work over to ACS entirely to fulfill, which I believe was the objective all along. Roob just needed IBM as a placeholder not to make it so obvious he had steered one of the most lucrative contracts in the state's history to his previous employer, although everyone knew that was his objective all along beyond a shadow of a doubt.

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2014/11/supreme-court-has-given-its-cue-to-ibm.html?m=1

Gary Welsh predicted Indiana would try to screw over IBM:

Sometimes justice works, and sometimes justice works in mysterious ways. This is one of the most corrupt and sad chapters in recent Indiana government history. There should have been criminal prosecutions for what took place involving this contract in the Daniels administration and what continues to take place to this day. Unfortunately, I don't see much upside for IBM finding justice in this state, and its attorneys would probably be well-advised to pick up its marbles and go home without being stripped too bare of its clothing before leaving the state by the wheels of justice in Indiana, which can work in very mysterious ways. IBM should have realized it was lying down with dogs when it got involved in this taxpayer feeding frenzy years ago and the inevitable result of waking up with fleas.

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2014/11/supreme-court-has-given-its-cue-to-ibm.html?m=1

Paul Ogden on FSSA debacle and Barnes and Thornburg's conflict of interest representing the state and ACS:

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.

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2012/07/judges-opinion-shows-how-acs-lobbyist.html?m=1

Indy Republican appreciates your support on the Carmel Carousel Petition

This past week we have published several blog posts. Covering the efforts by Tim Hannon and several other patriots in Carmel to try and stop RINO Mayor Jim Brainard and the Carmel City Council, from further raiding taxpayers money. We have received an extremely positive response to our posts and also have received many thousands of visitors to our site. A special thanks is due to Eric Morris of Veterans for Peace, Indianapolis for making all of us aware of this situation before the Indianapolis Star reported on it. We are not knocking the Star in this instance. The piece written by Andrew Clark was well written. We are just thrilled that we were able to bring Mr. Hannon's petition to your attention before anyone else did. You can read our posts on the Carmel petition fight here and here.

We would like to end this blog post by directing your attention to the following blogs that we feel are deserving of your support. We do not agree with everything on these blogs. And in some cases we disagree with them much of the time. But all of these blogs provide a valuable service and are worthy of your support and please spread the word about this blog and the following blogs.

Eric Morris's Veterans for Peace, Indianapolis blog: http://veteransforpeaceindianapolis.blogspot.com/?m=1

Paul Ogden's Ogden on Politics: http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/?m=1

Jon Easter's Indy Democrat: http://indydemocrat.blogspot.com/?m=1

Matt Stone's Indy Student/Matthew Stone dot org: http://indystudent.blogspot.com/?m=1

Indianapolis Star covering Carmel residents fight against taxpayer-funding of a Carousel

Last week we had covered the story of a petition by Tim Hannon and other Carmel residents to oppose Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard's scheme to fund a carousel. Indy Republican is thrilled to report that today Andrew Clark over at INDYSTAR is covering Carmel residents fight.

Writing in today's Indianapolis Star Andrew Clark reports: 

A petition aiming to stop Carmel from buying an antique carousel is gaining steam online.

Tim Hannon, a longtime resident, started the petition Thursday and will send it to the Carmel City Council. It had almost 150 signatures by midday Monday.

Hannon told IndyStar he is concerned about Carmel using taxpayer money to pay for the carousel. He suggested the City Council look for companies or individuals who would want to donate money toward the carousel and perhaps receive a plaque in exchange.

He also opposes the city taking out bonds to pay for luring a luxury hotel. He said if the free market doesn't support a luxury hotel, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard should seek a midrange quality hotel.

"These projects in particular just seem unnecessary, given the readily available alternatives," Hannon said.

The carousel and hotel are part of two bond packages the Carmel City Council will likely vote on in August.

Carmel City Councilor Ron Carter said an agreement for the city to purchase the carousel is in place, contingent upon the council voting to pass the bonds. It would likely be installed in the Arts & Design District, Midtown or City Center.

We have been curious about what Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard thinks of Tim Hannon's petition. Andrew Clark was kind enough to think of that as well. Our good friend Clark writes:

Brainard, who has seen the petition, responded in an email: "It is always good to listen to criticism but still apply judgment based on years of study, planning and experience." Brainard also said 4 percent of Carmel's debt is paid by residential property taxes and that the city's credit ratings are very high.

Carmel City Councilor Ron Carter put in his two cents as well:

Carter said the complaints that have been raised against the carousel remind him of the complaints that were raised when Carmel was building its City Hall in the 1980s.

"As you go through the history of the community, there have been bold moves by not just the mayor, but by the City Council, and the mayor and Council in combination," Carter said. "I look at this as another situation of that nature." 

You can see the petition on change.org. 

Well Mayor Brainard and Councilor Carter nice to see that you think taking other people's money to finance your personal tastes in buildings is a "bold move"! 

We want to share with all of you, but especially with Jim Brainard and Ron Carter a response to them from the Indy Republican mailbag:

"Mayor Brainard & Carmel City Council are not representing the whole of Carmel in the wasteful spending of the taxpayer's money.

Why not finance this carousel out of your own pocket, Mr. Mayor?

Well? What do you have to say Mayor Brainard? Why don't you finance the carousel out of your own pocket? Our readers would love to hear your response?

Indy Republican Gives Awards for Helping to Fight The Good Fight

To give credit where credit is due. The writers of Indy Republican have decided to show our appreciation to the following people who have helped to pickup the torch that the late great Gary Welsh lit in 2005.

So to the following individuals IR is proud to induct you into a august order of men and women who have exemplified the qualities that were shown by Gary Welsh. This order is called The Welsh Saints! After all your names have been listed you will all see the Welsh Saints Coat of Arms which we pray that you will all enjoy!

So here are the new members of the Welsh Saints: Charlie White, Charles Navarra, Eric Morris, Christine Scales, Paul Ogden, Jon Easter and Matt Stone.

Gentleman and Lady, our most sincere thanks for all you do. Now behold your Welsh Saints Coat of Arms! Display it with pride:

Welcome to the Club!

Petition to stop Carmel taxpayer funding of a carousel and luxury hotel

A reader has shared a petition by Tim Hannon of Carmel to keep the government of Carmel from wasting taxpayers money. Here is the text of the petition:

Carmel City Council is voting whether to add to our municipal debt by purchasing an antique carousel and building and operating a luxury hotel in the city center.

Although a carousel might be nice, it will cost over $5 million to buy and refurbish, purchase land, build an enclosing structure and operate.  The city council should seek out a donor or donors (individual and corporate) to finance it.

The mayor has also requested funding to build and operate a “4.5 to 5 star” hotel, arguing that a luxury hotel is needed to attract corporations but providing no details on which corporations refuse to move here or threaten to leave without it. He further contends the city needs to provide $15 million for the hotel because the private sector can’t justify the economics, and dismisses the alternative of an upper mid-market business hotel (Marriott, Renaissance) as not “prestigious" enough.  A luxury hotel would not serve business interests as most businesses and all government contracts have caps on allowable hotel rates, nor would it provide an affordable option for leisure travelers wanting to stay downtown. The city council should also decline this proposal.

If anyone wants to sign this petition it can be found at this website address: https://www.change.org/p/carmel-city-council-stop-carmel-taxpayer-funding-of-a-carousel-and-luxury-hotel?recruiter=79494066&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_for_starters_page

Todd Rokita-Luke Messer Primary Battle getting nasty Part II of II

                   

Luke Messer                            Todd Rokita 

As promised we are continuing our coverage of the Messer-Rokita brawl. Yesterday Congressman Luke Messer announced that he is running for the US Senate. So far no word from Congressman Todd Rokita on whether or not he will throw his hat into the ring for the Republican Senate nomination next year. Earlier this week Tony Cook of the Indianapolis Star reported here on some unusual activity that has been occurring on Luke Messer's Wikipedia page.

Cook reported:

A slew of recent edits to Rep. Luke Messer's Wikipedia page closely align with his likely primary opponent Todd Rokita's campaign attacks, setting off a new round of finger pointing in what is expected to be one of the most hotly contested U.S. Senate races in the country.

Over the past month, Messer's page has been edited to emphasize his work as a lobbyist, his decision to move his family to Washington, D.C., and a controversy involving his wife's lucrative part-time legal work for the city of Fishers.

The edits were made under user names that make it difficult to identify the person behind the changes. But Wikipedia editing logs show that Messer's page is the only one they've edited, suggesting they are more interested in influencing Messer's image than providing objective information.

The Rokita campaign has routinely criticized Messer in recent months as a "lobbyist turned politician" who left Indiana for "one of the wealthiest suburbs of Washington D.C."

Messer's campaign, meanwhile, has shot back, accusing Rokita of peddling negative stories and attacking Messer's family.  At one point, an official with the Messer campaign told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette that “Rokita has a history of making unhinged comments."

In response to inquiries from IndyStar, the Rokita campaign denied editing Messer's page, suggesting instead that the Senate seat's current occupant, Democrat Joe Donnelly, was behind the changes. 

"Joe Donnelly and his allies are clearly good at editing websites ... ," Rokita campaign spokesman Tim Edson said. "That said, most of what they’ve posted about Luke Messer’s record seems accurate."

Donnelly campaign manager Peter Hanscom laughed at the assertion that Donnelly's campaign was behind the edits.

"We have absolutely nothing to do with it," he said. "It's childish behavior. This is not the way you win a United States Senate seat."

Indiana Democratic Party spokesman Will Baskin-Gerwitz also said party members were not behind the changes.

According to Cook's article the Messer campaign does not believe that Senator Donnelly's campaign is behind the editing of Messer's Wikipedia page. 

Tony Cook continues:

Messer's campaign said the edits — which include a new section about immigration intended to make Messer sound less conservative — are obviously geared toward a Republican primary audience.

 "Of course it's Rokita," Messer campaign spokesman Jason Kneeland said. "Typical of the level of ugliness we've seen from him. Nobody has declared in the Senate race, but Todd has already established he will say or do anything to get elected. I just don't think that works long-term here in Indiana."

Cook writes that their have been some edits to Todd Rokita's page as well. But Tony Cook states that the changes to Rokita's page have been "mostly positive". 

If the Wikipedia drama is not enough to pique people's interest. Another plot twist emerged today on the "Luke and Todd Show." Kaitlin Lange over at Indystar.com wrote a piece called "Trump and Pence camps at odds over best choice for U.S. Senate: Messer or Rokita?"

As Ms. Lange reports it appears that the President and Vice Presidents key Hoosier supporters are splitting over who to back for the Senate.

Lange writes:

Associates of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence appear to be at odds over the best candidate to run for a hotly contested U.S. Senate seat in Indiana.

For months, multiple people close to Pence, along with his brother Greg Pence, have thrown their support to Rep. Luke Messer, R-Shelbyville, as the Republican choice to run against Democrat Sen. Joe Donnelly in the 2018 election.

On Thursday, Rex Early, the Trump Indiana State Chairman, and Tony Samuel, the vice chairman, joined the fight, sending a letter suggesting support for Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indianapolis. 

“Of the members of Indiana’s congressional delegation, Todd Rokita is the only one that actively and specifically campaigned for candidate Trump — never wavering and never jumping on and off the Trump Train,” the two said in the letter.

It was a clear jab against Messer. But Early and Samuel went on to say they weren’t endorsing a candidate yet, adding there are multiple qualified people considering running.

It is important to remember that Todd Rokita still has not yet officially entered the U.S. Senate race. So far only Luke Messer has. But all indications are that Rokita will enter the race eventually. We can't see any other reason why Rokita's people would be lining up the endorsements and fundraisers they are unless they plan to run for the senate. Kaitlin Lange goes onto report the following response from the Messer for Senate campaign quoting Vice President Pence's brother Greg Pence:

"I can say I know and like both Rex (Early) and Tony (Samuel). While, I respect them, there are some inconsistencies in this statement. In fact, Congressman Rokita endorsed Sen. (Marco) Rubio (for president),"  said Greg Pence, who is also the chair of Messer's finance committee. 

IR has previously reported on Greg Pence's possible run for congress here. Since then Indy Republican has heard conflicting stories about whether or not Greg Pence will run for his brothers former congressional seat. So at this point we are not sure what to think. Anyway getting back to Messer and Rokita.

Lange continues her report:

Messer's campaign also pointed out Rokita's recent opposition to Trump's Federal Aviation Administration reforms, as well as policies Messer supported that they say line up with Trump's agenda, such as finding funding for a Mexico border wall by eliminating tax credits for illegal immigrants. 

Messer supported Jeb Bush for president early in the primary and gave money to Rubio's campaign.

Trump's approval rating is low in general, but he still has a 86 percent approval rate among Republicans, according to Gallup. Rokita's campaign is trying to appeal to those Trump supporters.

While Rokita himself has been a Republican office holder since 2002, he may not have as much support from the party establishment. The Indiana Republican State Committee passed up Rokita when he attempted to become the party's gubernatorial candidate after Pence dropped out of the race last year. Instead they chose Gov. Eric Holcomb, whom Pence endorsed.

In 2011, Republicans rewrote congressional boundaries following the census and ultimately wrote Rokita out of his own district.

Lange also cites a political scientist for their take on whether being associated with Donald Trump will help a candidate running statewide next year or hinder their campaign.

Andy Downs, a political scientist at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, argued having the support of those with Trump ties may not be as helpful as it was during the election year. 

"Feelings about Trump change very rapidly, but there are still a fair number of people who like Pence," Downs said.

So far we have one candidate for senate and one probable candidate who have each lined up notable supporters and fundraisers. IR is not as yet ready to make an endorsement in next years GOP Senate Primary. We can say with great confidence that we will not support Todd Rokita should he decide to run. We have never really thought well of Congressman Rokita and the likely conduct of some of his supporters in throwing the kitchen sink at Luke Messer shows that there is good reason to believe Rokita is trying to keep others from looking into his past.

IR has in the past cited a blog post written by the late great Gary Welsh in which he cited allegations made by former Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White about information he discovered about his predecessor Todd Rokita's conduct as Secretary of State. Welsh wrote:

I would be remiss if I didn't remind people that former Secretary of State Charlie White reported his predecessor, Todd Rokita, to the state's Inspector General and the Marion Co. Prosecutor, for similar violations after he and his staff uncovered campaign-related documents on the state's computers in his office when he took office. The spouse of one of the employees cited in the Inspector General's report on Bennett's office was at the center of those violations in the Secretary of State's office. Both the Inspector General and the Marion Co. Prosecutor's Office refused to investigate White's allegations. The State House media has refused to report on White's allegations because they don't like him and want him destroyed.

Gary Welsh was referring to how Todd Rokita is alleged to have used employees of the Indiana Secretary of State's office to perform campaign related work for his 2010 congressional run. Just like former Indiana Schools Superintendent Tony Bennett was alleged to have used some of his employees to due political work for him on government time. Something tells us that if Todd Rokita should pull the trigger on a run for the Senate this and other issues will pop up to bite him in the ass! At the very least they should!