Is Governor Holcomb Going to call the General Assembly into Special Session?

Governor Eric Holcomb 

It appears our esteemed Governor is so hard up for company that according to INDYSTAR’s Tony Cook, Kaitlin Lange, and Arika Herron good old Eric may just decide to call the recently adjourned members of the General Assembly back into session  Of course that’s 150 legislators at a cost of around $30,000 a day at taxpayer expense just so the Governor can feel more secure about himself.

Cook, Lange and Herron writing for the Indianapolis Star have the following information: 

Gov. Eric Holcomb faces a big decision after the General Assembly unintentionally allowed several bills — including two of the governor's top priorities — to die on the chaotic final day of the 2018 legislative session. (Note to everyone at home: the legislators didn’t “accidentally” let Lil Eric’s priorities die. Like him they are uninspiring and lifeless. They just died due to their own ineptitude)

“After meeting with Speaker (Brian) Bosma and Senator (David) Long, I’ll look at all that can be done to complete unfinished business — whether that’s by administrative or legislative authority, if needed," he (Eric Holcomb) said.

State House Speaker Brian Bosma RINO

More details could emerge Monday, when Holcomb is scheduled to hold an 11 a.m. news conference at the governor's residence.

The biggest points of contention that Governor Holcomb appears to have are over two bills. One dealing with funding for school safety, the other bill dealing with driverless cars.

The Star reports that Holcomb was so anxious to get some of his pet bills passed that he tried to extend the deadline to one a.m. from midnight for the legislators to adjourn.

Cook and Co. report the legislators response to Holcomb’s temper tantrum: 

Ultimately, lawmakers decided to disregard the directive amid legal questions about the move, bringing the session to a close with five bills still pending on the House floor. Casualties included two tax-related measures and a takeover plan for school districts in Muncie and Gary, in addition to the school safety and driver-less vehicle bills.

As to the costs to we the people in terms of tax dollars the Star says:

Lawmakers would receive $173 per day, including weekends, while in session. That means a special session would cost taxpayers nearly $30,000 for each day of a special session — and that doesn't include mileage lawmakers would receive for driving to and from Indianapolis once a week.

Such spending could be unpopular among Republicans who control the General Assembly, especially in what could be a tough election year. More Democratic challengers have filed to run against Republicans this year, and special elections in other states have resulted in gains for Democrats, even in districts that went heavily for President Donald Trump in 2016.

The Star gives lawmakers reactions to a special session being called as being mixed to say the least:

"Much will depend upon what the governor feels he can do regarding certain key issues without legislative action, such as money for school safety programs," State Senate President Pro Teme David Long said. "There are also key economic development issues and tax relief measures that should be addressed."

He (David Long) said it's not clear what the precise cost would be, "but if it occurs, our focus will be to keep it as short and inexpensive as possible."

His counterpart in the House, Bosma, initially seemed less interested, suggesting Thursday that leftover issues from the session could be dealt with administratively.

"I don't see anything on this list that's going to require (a special session)," he said.

But his tune changed on Friday after consulting with Holcomb's office. (IR is surprised it took Bosma THAT long to cave to his master Holcomb)

"We have had discussions with the governor’s team and have made it clear we will cooperate in every way if we determine any remaining items require legislative action," he said. "If a special session does occur, it will be limited to very a small number of critical issues, which remained on the table at the close of the regular session."

Even if Holcomb does call a special session, the timing could be complicated by an ongoing review of the Department of Child Services.

Back in January we had reported on the resignation of DCS Director Mary Beth Bonaventura which led to the current review of DCS. The review of DCS could complicate matters so much that if a special session is called now another may have to be called to deal with DCS.

More from the Star:

Democrats called for action this session, but Republicans put them off, insisting on waiting for results of the review, which are due June 21. If urgent legislative action is needed, they said, they would consider a special session.

But those promises now put them and Holcomb in an uncomfortable position. Do they wait more than three months to take care of issues like school safety? Or do they schedule a special session soon and risk the need for another one later this summer?

Those are difficult questions, especially in an election year with primaries just around the corner in May.

One thing is certain: If the governor calls a special session this year for any reason except to address problems at DCS, Democrats will pounce.

All we at IR can say is Holcomb and the other so-called Republicans in our State Legislature have seriously shot themselves and all Hoosiers in both feet! With control of the Governors office and both state houses there should be no reason at all they should need to call a special session. But largely because the Indiana GOP was to busy raising our taxes, and trying to coverup the absolute disaster that is the Department of Child Services started by former “Godfather” Governor Mitch Daniels. The taxpayers will be on the hook for even more money. Speaking of DCS is anyone at the state going to look into DCS and the murder of Tajanay Bailey over a decade ago? Tajanay Bailey’s blood cries out from the ground for justice! We can just picture Gary Welsh pounding away furiously over this if he was here now. The torch which Gary Welsh lit for all of us is being picked up!  It will burn away all the impurities that fester in this state and in the rest of these United States! Our countrymen stand up! Stand Up! All men and women of good faith and force the Governor and the lawmakers to fear We the People! Remember there has never been nor ever will be a night so dark to prevent the coming day. We are convinced that the Hoosier State will never atone of it’s sins but through the work of intractable, stubborn individualists such as ourselves, Paul Ogden, Christine Scales, Charlie White, everyday hoosiers who choose to never submit to ruthless politicians, and the master himself Gary Welsh. Gary’s soul lies a moldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on! 

Governor Holcomb’s Workforce Development Plan Could Cost Indiana $49 Million

Governor Eric Holcomb 

Tony Cook and Arika Herron over at IndyStar reported earlier today that the Indiana Manufacturers Association normally a Holcomb ally. Has yanked it’s support from Holcomb’s plan to reshape the state’s Workforce Development programs. 

Cook and Herron writing:

Holcomb's office publicly acknowledged for the first time Monday that the state will need a waiver from the U.S. Department of Labor to continue receiving $49 million in federal funding for Indiana workforce development programs.

"We do not have a federal waiver at this point," Holcomb's spokeswoman, Stephanie Wilson, said. "However, Gov. Holcomb and his team have been in communication with the federal Department of Labor and Secretary (Alexander) Acosta, and we believe our actions are in line with the secretary’s pledge to provide states flexibility to do what’s right."

The Indiana Manufacturers Association announced Monday it was withdrawing its support for Holcomb's proposal. Association President Brian Burton said he considers the potential loss of federal funding a critical flaw.

"This bill becomes law effective upon passage," he said. "So without a waiver, we could be in violation of federal law."

Cook and Herron make reference to the specific legislation that is the source of such tension between legislators and many business leaders throughout Indiana SB 50:

Senate Bill 50 replaces the state's Workforce Innovation Council with a new Governor's Workforce Cabinet that would have fewer members and more authority over the nine state agencies that administer about $1 billion in various workforce development programs.

But the new cabinet would not conform with federal rules for states' workforce investment boards, the governor's office confirmed Monday.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requires a majority of the board to be business representatives who reflect the state’s major employment sectors. It also requires two members from each chamber of the state legislature.

Holcomb's proposal would not include any state lawmakers and just under half would be actual business representatives. The majority of the board will be filled with state agency and education officials, with one member from a community-based organization.

States that don't meet federal requirements are at risk of losing their funding. Indiana receives about $49 million a year through the federal program. That money goes to programs that support out-of-work adults and at-risk youth, including WorkOne, the state’s employment centers.

Click here to read all of Cook and Herron’s excellent piece.

IR and Company are all wondering why Holcomb would want to antagonize the Indiana Manufacturers Association during what is shaping up to be a really bad year for Republicans. The IMA if they get mad enough could and should do everything they can to make Holcomb’s life hell. Back in November we reported on Holcomb’s administration being sued for $1 Billion over trucking fees by powerhouse GOP lawyer Jim Bopp.

Tony Cook also reported on that in November. Between pissing off the state’s Manufacturing, Trucking Industries and everyday Hoosiers by signing into law last year over 45 tax and user fee hikes. Holcomb should be run out of town on a rail. That may or may not happen but let’s all do what we can to kick Holcomb’s ass out in 2020. Barring that we make his life hell. Let’s do this for Gary Welsh. 

Update: Hayleigh Colombo has also written a good piece about the IMA’s opposition to Holcomb’s Workforce Development plan click here to read her article. And please reach out and tell Tony Cook, Arika Herron and Hayleigh Colombo to keep up the good work.

Matt Tully throws stones at fellow a$&hole Todd Rokita

Matt Tully 

Earlier today the IR gang checked out IndyStar and found a semi decent article written by the papers resident mental midget Matt Tully. We checked through our archives and the last time we decided to punish ourselves by mentioning the king of the Indianapolis Circle Jerks was last year when we discussed Tully’s bromance with Carmel Mayor Jim “Crash” Brainard. In his most recent opinion piece for the Star. Tully writes about what a useless tool Congressman Todd Rokita is.

Tully writes:

The most cynical cheap shot artist in Indiana politics today, the 4th district congressman took his behavior to a new low in recent days. He did so by taking an unfair shot at an Indiana city he should be trying to help, but one he couldn't help himself from trying to hurt in his quest for political gain.

But befitting his campaign of empty red-meat rhetoric, Rokita went to Twitter last week to unfairly and inaccurately label Gary a “sanctuary city” in "our own backyard." There could be only one goal in doing this: To infuriate what will likely be a small primary electorate by exploiting the negative feelings many in Indiana feel toward Gary. Rokita’s angry and laughable “we’re-not-going-to-take-it-anymore” campaign has been based on little more than inciting ill will toward liberals, Democrats, those who disagree with him, and now, apparently, entire cities.Still, this is a new low.

Real leaders who seek to represent the state try to bring us together. They remind us that we are better off when all of our state’s communities do better. Not Rokita. And while it is not the least bit surprising given his past rhetoric, it is jarring after years of watching true Republican leaders, such as former Gov. Mitch Daniels, work to help Gary move forward.

What do you expect from a guy who has lived on taxpayer-funded paychecks for two decades but who now tries to portray himself as an outsider?

To be fair to Mister Tully it is no secret that this blog is no fan of Todd Rokita. And Tully is correct to point out how Todd has spent much of his adult life living at taxpayer expense. But Tully is all to aware of the sins of his beloved masters former Governor Mitch Daniels and former Senator Dick Lugar. Tully though when he had a chance to call Dick Lugar on the carpet for his having committed voter fraud for 35 years. Or to seriously investigate Senator Evan Bayh’s voter issues. Tully as documented by Paul Ogden and Gary Welsh.

Tully proceeded to attack those of who rightfully questioned the Indianapolis Press Corps unwillingness to go after Lugar and Bayh. We applaud Tully for highlighting some of Todd Rokita’s shortcomings. But Tully has shown once again how he is nothing more than a shill for the Indiana Political Elites. It appears that he and his “Circle Jerk Club” as Gary Welsh called Tully and his minions. Is alive and well. Strangely for a man who is well connected to very powerful people. Old Matt is very insecure and thin skinned. As many of us here have learned after attempting to communicate with Matt Tully via Facebook, Twitter and other means. Tully is so thin skinned that he will block anyone who asks him serious questions. Indy Republican has a message for our old friend Tully. The message is this: “You may have thought that the untimely passing of Gary Welsh meant you could avoid being called out on your bullshit. Once again as you usually are you were wrong Tully. Gary Welsh and Paul Ogden lit a fire under all of us. We will not stop until you and your circus freaks are out of business. Gary Welsh maybe dead. But let’s just say death is no barrier from Gary calling you out.” Good night fellow malcontents. As for you Tully go to Hell you piece of crap.

Links to some of Paul Ogden and the late great Gary Welsh’s posts about Tully/Lugar/& Bayh:

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2011/10/star-columnist-pounds-desk-about.html?m=1

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2011/10/matt-tully-proves-why-star-cant-be.html?m=1

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2012/03/columnist-matthew-tully-ignores-no-1.html?m=1

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2012/03/matt-tullys-selective-outrage_7048.html?m=0

For more information search Paul Ogden and Gary Welsh’s blogs. Type in Matt Tully on their blogs search engines.

Did Mike Pence engage in Nepotism to give his Nephew a Cushy Political Job?

Mike Pence and Donald Trump

On Friday February 23rd, 2018 CNBC's Christina Wilkie reported that the Republican National Committee (RNC) had since September 2017 been paying tens of thousands of dollars in rent for office space in Trump Towers in New York. In addition several thousand dollars has been being paid to John Pence the nephew  of Vice President and former Indiana Governor Mike Pence. The money from the RNC is being used to pay for office space for use for President Trump's reelection campaign. Of which John Pence is the campaign's deputy executive director. 

Christian Willkie reports:

Campaign finance experts who spoke to CNBC said this type of spending by a party committee on behalf of a campaign is highly unusual but legal, and it appears the RNC disclosed it correctly.

"This is permissible and it's being reported properly, but why they are doing it is a mystery," said Brendan Fischer, senior counsel for the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center. "One would think the RNC could be spending their money more effectively right now on the 2018 campaign, rather than spending it to pay Trump's rent."

So far, the party has spent more than $290,000 to cover the Trump campaign's expenses since September, the first month it paid the Trump Tower rent or Pence's salary. Before then, both expenses had been paid directly by the Trump campaign.

John Pence had begun receiving a paycheck from the RNC on Sept. 15, 2017.

Pence's salary was $12,000 a month at the Trump campaign, and the RNC appears to be paying him the same or nearly the same amount, judging from the state and federal payroll taxes withheld.

Ms. Wilkie's article does go onto to question the wisdom of the RNC spending so much money on the next presidential race in 2020 rather than devoting resources to this years midterm races. We recommend that everyone out in cyberspace reads her article here. But our concern is mostly on why is John Pence so valuable to be paid a $12,000 a month salary? The only reason he seems to have been hired is because he is related to Milquetoast Mike Pence. 

John Pence

Ballotpedia gives the following background information on John Pence here:

John Pence graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2011. Attended Indiana University School of Law graduated in 2015. Worked as an extern at the U.S. Justice Department on Criminal and Civil Matters. Worked as an associate at Ice Miller in Indiana from 2015 to 2016. 

At only 28 years of age John Pence is a tad young and inexperienced to be given such a high level position on a presidential campaign.

We did find one other item of interest regarding John Pence. In a Washington Post article from February 7th, 2018 Emily Heil did report that John Pence is currently dating Giovanna Coia who is a cousin of Kellyanne Conway a senior advisor and spokesman spokeswoman for President Donald Trump. 

Ms. Coia might actually be a good match for John Pence seeing as they are both trading on their family connections to enhance their own standing. Not only does the swamp need to be drained in Washington, D.C. It looks like the political classes gene pools could use a filter.

John Pence and Giovanna Coia

Here is a money saving suggestion for the RNC from Bill Kristol:

Why not cut out the middle man? Send your RNC contributions directly to the Trump organization and family, or the Pence family.https://t.co/1vQOwLvyRX

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) February 23, 2018

California Democrats decline to endorse Senator Dianne Feinstein for Re-Election

Senator Diane Feinstein 

IR has learned that longtime political retread Senator Diane Feinstein has failed to secure enough votes from the California Democratic Party to get their endorsement to run for a sixth term to the U.S. Senate. Which has all of IR scratching our heads wondering: “Considering that California Democrat’s have endorsed Jerry Brown for California Governor several times. Just how bad is Senator Feinstein that they won’t endorse her?” Click here to read more about Feinstein’s issues.

Fox’s Steve Hilton Explains why State Government Corruption is such a threat

Yesterday Steve Hilton the host of Fox News’s “The Revolution” gave a monologue on why we need to drain the swamp at the state level. We found this video to be very well done and informative. IR used to love much of the Fox News Channels programming. But have grown fed up with its transformation into a propaganda arm for Donald Trump. We still like Shepherd Smith, Brit Hume, Brett Baier, Chris Wallace and Juan Williams. But they are now minority voices at FNC. Seeing Hilton’s monologue gives us hope. 

Here is Hilton’s piece:

Christine Scales tells Fake Republican Jim Merritt why Indianapolis Roads are so bad

Many times on this blog we have praised Indianapolis City-County Councilor Christine Scales and criticized Marion County Democratic Republican Party Chairman and State Senator Jim Merritt for his nonsense. Links to our past posts on Christine Scales and Jim Merritt can be found here, and here. Merritt issued this statement earlier this week about the current state of Indianapolis's roads:

Chairman Jim Merritt Comments on Road Conditions

INDIANAPOLIS – Today Marion County Republican Party Chairman Jim Merritt spoke out in frustration on the shameful conditions of our roads.

“It’s been less than a month since I first spoke out about the deplorable conditions of our roads and they’ve only gotten worse. When I first challenged the administration on their lack of action to repair the crumbling roads in Indianapolis, there were about 1,700 open cases of potholes. Only three weeks later, we have nearly 5,000 reported cases of potholes,” said Merritt.

“Why isn’t the Mayor using all of the $50 million dollars given to the City from the State for road and infrastructure projects now? Perhaps he doesn’t think we need it. Or is he waiting until next year when he’s up for re-election to spend it in order to score some cheap political points? Our roads aren’t just degrading at an alarming rate, they’re becoming a danger to the citizens of Marion County. There is no question the Mayor of Indianapolis has countless responsibilities. We expect our Mayor to pick up the trash, plow the snow, fill our potholes and keep us safe. Right now this Mayor is not making the grade.”

“Pothole Joe can put on a reflector vest for the cameras and act like he has a solution to our pothole and infrastructure problems, but the media sees through that and more importantly, the residents of Marion County see through it. It’s time for Pothole Joe to stop playing games and actually get serious about fixing our streets.”

To this Christine Scales torched Merritt with this reply on her Facebook page:

Fact Check GOP County Chair Merritt's Road Condition Blame Game:

IF.... the $400 million in ReBuild Indy dollars received from the water rights sale hadn't turned into a slush fund, we wouldn't be where we are today.

IF:...millions in ReBuild Indy funds-ordained to fund only roads, sidewalks, bridges, and some drainage projects hadn't been used to remodel a wing of the City Market, spent on a Cricket Field, spent to shore up Blue Indy, and other non-priority projects....

IF....Asphalt contractor's work had been held to industry standards the newly resurfaced roads under Ballard wouldn't be in the deteriorated condition they are in today.

IF...Sen. Merritt wouldn't burden Marion County with unfunded mandates in the Statehouse that overburden our City budget, we would have more money to dedicate to infrastructure.

"Chairman Jim Merritt Comments on Road Conditions
INDIANAPOLIS – Today Marion County Republican Party Chairman Jim Merritt spoke out in frustration on the shameful conditions of our roads."

Councilwoman Scales is of course calling Merritt out on former Republicrat Mayor Greg Ballard's asinine Blue Indy, a Cricket Field, and scores of other useless projects which have only served to drain the life blood our of Indianapolis. We are not aware of any replies yet by Merritt to Scales statement. We would be greatly surprised if Merritt even attempts a reply. The man is a useless fool who the Marion County GOP should kick to the curb. As long as Merritt or another toady like him is in charge of the Marion County GOP the party is assured of nothing but continued disaster.

We Need More Gadflies Not Less

Gadfly

noun, plural gadflies 

1. : any of various flies (such as a horsefly, botfly, or warble fly) that bite or annoy livestock

2. : a person who stimulates or annoys other people especially by persistent criticism  

• a political gadfly

IR, Paul Ogden, Charlie White have all been accused of being gadflies. Usually meant to convey the impression that people like us exist only to irritate or annoy others with our blogging and activism. We will not speak for Misters Ogden and White. Speaking for ourselves we choose to hold public officials and others accountable when they act contrary to the values they are supposed to uphold. If by speaking truth to power we irritate some people we say GOOD! If it was not for gadflies like Paul Ogden and the late great Gary Welsh. Dick Lugar would still be decomposing in his Senate seat from a state in which he has not resided since 1977. A more recent example of the need for gadflies is provided in Paul Ogden's most recent post Indianapolis Terminates Ballard-Era Electric/Hybrid Car Contract; Will Blue Indy Be Next? Paul discusses how after several years of him and the late great Gary Welsh banging the drum against former Indianapolis Greg Ballard's Indy-Vision boondoggle. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has decided to cancel this ill advised deal. Yes it took many years. But the point is that the contract was eventually cancelled. Not all of our heroes share our enthusiasm for being the monkey in the wrench of our political parties. Jonah Goldberg of National Review and host of the outstanding "The Remnant" podcast voiced his opinion of how he feels having to be the political odd man out:

People who think I enjoy being the skunk in the garden party on my own side of the garden are wrong. I hate this shit. Hate it.

— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018

Although we can understand Jonah's frustration we cannot share it to any significant degree. We tend to share the view of The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol in this matter:

Being a nice guy, @Jonah doesn't enjoy being the skunk at the garden party on his own side of the garden. But considering what some on our side--if it still is our side--are now saying or doing, I'm convinced being a skunk at that garden party is both necessary and honorable. https://t.co/CWqjGnShWQ

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) February 20, 2018

On that note we would also say that if we are going to be the skunk's on the Republican Parties lawn we might as all stink together!

Checkout Jon Michael Vore's Infomatics411 Blog

Longtime readers of Advance Indiana will remember Jon Michael Vore the author of the Hoosier Hysterias blog. Well Mr. Vore has a new blog called Infomatics411. The IR gang highly recommends that you take a look at Jon's new blog and also checkout his brilliant blog Hoosier Hysterias. Keep up the good work Jon!

Jeopardy Host Alex Trebek to Moderate Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Debate

Alex Trebek

Continuing with the trend of the intertwining of celebrity and politics. CNN’s Maegen Vazquez reports on Alex Trebek’s being chosen to host Pennsylvania’s upcoming Gubernatorial Debate:

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry announced on Tuesday that it has extended an invitation to the 2018 gubernatorial candidates for a 45-minute debate at their 34th annual Chamber Dinner this October. Trebek will also serve as the dinner's keynote speaker.

Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr said in a statement that Trebek's "background hosting one of America's most beloved television quiz shows make him uniquely qualified to moderate what is sure to be a lively and informative gubernatorial debate." 

The host also told the Hill that he'd "love" to moderate a presidential debate. 

"Unlike some of the other moderators -- I'm not going to disparage them -- but I have a different approach," he said in 2013. "I would not let the politicians get away with standard responses. I would try to pin them down, even though I might look bad doing it."

IR thinks that Mr. Trebek will make a good moderator and would love to see him moderate a presidential debate. Go get em Alex!

Indy Republican’s View of last nights GOP Senate Primary Debate

After all the coverage we have devoted to the GOP Senate Primary. We all tuned into the Primary Debate between Congressmen Luke Messer, Todd Rokita and State Representative Mike Braun.

After the Moderator WIBC’s Tony Katz’s opening of the debate. The candidates proceeded with their opening remarks. Todd Rokita started out by welcoming Mike Braun to the Republican Party, and snidely saying welcome back to Indiana to Congressman Luke Messer. Rokita is referring to State Representative Braun’s past history of voting in the Democratic primaries reported on by fellow blogger Paul Ogden click here to read Paul’s post on Braun. As to his saying “Welcome Back to Indiana” to Luke Messer he is recycling the nonsense line that Messer is not an inhabitant of Indiana. Messer owns a house with his mother in Greensburg that he and his family stay at when he returns to Indiana from Washington, D.C. Unlike Senator Dick Lugar who sold his property in Indiana in 1977 and preceding to put the address of the house he sold on his tax returns, voter registration, and even his campaign paperwork he filed for his abortive 1996 Presidential Campaign. Click here and here to read Gary Welsh and Paul Ogden’s posts on Dick Lugar. 

In contrast Braun and Messer refrained from making condescending remarks about Rokita or each other. The two men also didn’t behave in a self righteous manner as Rokita did by bragging about how great he was and we should vote for him because he claims to sleep in his Washington office. Rokita may have opened himself up to attacks by bragging about his service as Indiana Secretary of State. As we have documented on this blog Rokita’s questionable past as Secretary of State here. 

On healthcare the candidates largely argued that Congress has done nothing to make healthcare better. Unlike some of our fellow conservatives and Luke Messer we are not in favor of eliminating the filibuster in the Senate. In fact we say extend the filibuster to the House to guard against majoritarian rule. 

Messer and Rokita both tried to tap dance around whether they would support President Trump’s Parental Leave proposal. State Rep. Braun was the only one of the candidates to say they did not support the Parental Leave program. Tony Katz did a good job as a moderator although he understandably seemed to get irritated at times with Todd Rokita. Totally understandable Todd is an extremely annoying person. Probably his being a control freak doesn’t help his case much. 

After watching the debate we would have to say it was a net loss for Rokita. His manner made him come off as just a self serving office seeker with an inflated ego. We rate the debate a draw between Mike Braun and Luke Messer if for no other reason than both men actually behaved as men and did not sink to Todd Rokita’s level.

If anyone wants to watch the debate. Click the video below:

Christine Scales Calls Out Indianapolis GOP Councilors for backing Stephen Clay

City-County Councilor Christine Scales 

Earlier today Indianapolis City-County Councilor and friend of the blog Christine Scales wrote a letter to the editor of the Indianapolis Star in which she criticized the move by Council Republicans to vote Democrat Stephen Clay in as Council President.

Here is the text of Councilor Scales Letter to the Editor:

“Politics makes strange bedfellows.”  That quote aptly describes the recent forged alliance between City-County Council Republicans and Democrat Council President Stephen Clay. The public remains puzzled by this odd coupling, even as their union appears misbegotten and doomed.

In his Jan. 12 Letter to the Editor, Republican Councillor Scott Kreider attempted to rationalize why all but one member of their caucus would vote for Clay as council president. Kreider’s reconstruction of his caucus’s mindset and events that led to Republican votes securing Clay’s presidency contradicts the reality of what transpired and why.

Clay is someone with whom Republican councillors have ideologically zero commonality. In 2012, every Republican councillor voted against Clay’s appointment to the Police Merit Board. Council meeting minutes give evidence to Republican statements about Clay’s political partisanship. Now, once numerous complaints about Clay's divisive partisanship have been replaced with Kreider’s claims of Republican’s newly found faith in Clay’s bipartisan leadership abilities.

Kreider’s laundry list of complaints against the Democrat majority included accusations of stalled or killed Republican proposals due to partisan gamesmanship. It’s a matter of public record however, that more Republican proposals move smoothly through the Council process to successful passage, than not. It was Kreider and his Republican caucus who authored Proposal #6. This controversial proposal created a new crime prevention grant funded with nearly half a million dollars. It passed 24-1. A search of other successfully passed council proposals will prove that this Indianapolis City Council enjoys greater bipartisanship than any led by the Republicans.

In his letter, Kreider also bemoaned the fractures within the Democratic caucus over Council leadership--  as if this has caused them anything other than delight. He failed to mention that behind the scenes, he and fellow Republican councillors continually fed the conflict, playing both sides, wheeling and dealing their votes in exchange for committee chairmanships. When then-Council President Maggie Lewis refused the use of council committee chairmanships as bargaining chips, the Republicans found Clay willing to do their bidding.

The slights Kreider magnifies into justification for handing Clay the council presidency pale in comparison to political shenanigans historically engaged in by the Republican Council Caucus. After the November 2011 elections, in their last months as the Republican majority and without a Council vote to approve the funds, well over $200,000 was paid to a GOP political operative to redraw the council district boundaries. In order for their 11th hour gerrymandering to work, Republican councillors and Mayor Greg Ballard also sought to eliminate the four at-large seats, all held by Democrats at that time. The Republican dominated Indiana Legislature granted their request. 

In his Letter to the Editor, Kreider apparently hoped all his reasons for finding promise in a Clay presidency might be found plausible to IndyStar readers. What he seemed to have forgotten was that I was a member of the Republican Caucus in January of 2017.  At that time, Republican Caucus Leader Mike McQuillen suggested we Republican councillors have some "fun" with the council presidency election. Instead of voting for Lewis, who enjoyed her Democrat Caucus's support at the time, McQuillen encouraged us to vote for Clay. His motivation was that Clay would be so ill equipped to serve in that role, and make so many mistakes that Clay's actions would raise the public's ire against all Democrat councillors, not just Clay. Republicans would then enjoy the public's support in votes during the next municipal election cycle to reassume the majority on Council. I, and a handful of other Republicans opposed playing partisan games with such an important matter. With the 2019 council elections looming, and without me to rain on his political parade, it appears that Minority Leader McQuillen found a caucus more receptive to carrying out his plot.

Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows. The Clay coup orchestrated by McQuillen and his caucus affirms the truth of that quote. While explanations to account for the whys and wherefores of votes donated to Clay abound, Republican Caucus members only dig themselves in deeper to their deception to avoid accountability for their destructive partisan gamesmanship. We elected councillors can do better and we will -- if those among us will abandon selfish, desperate desires for greater power and work as humble servants in unity of purpose that will ensure the well being of our community. 

Christine Scales

Indianapolis City-County Councillor

Is Blogging Worth It? Yes it is!

It has been almost two years since IR started to opine on the Central Indiana Blogsphere. We started writing a short time before our good friend Gary Welsh passed away. At first we thought we had to write as often as Gary did in order to be a good blogger. But as we have continued to speak our minds on the things that matter most to us. We have experienced great joy. We have managed to increase our output greatly since we began. But we no longer feel a need to compete against our friends Gary Welsh, Paul Ogden or Jon Easter. Don’t get us wrong we look up to all of these men and strive to have the same good qualities they do. But we must be ourselves above all. We miss Gary Welsh to this day and we feel his loss now as much as we did when he died. But we also feel as much gratitude and brotherly affection for him and his work as we ever did. All of our lives are better off that he lived. IR has gained to our great satisfaction an excellent readership. We only have hundreds not the thousands of daily readers that Advance Indiana had and our readership is still far below that of our friend Paul Ogden’s Ogden on Politics blog. But we have never been happier. Pliny the Elder said: 

“True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in writing what deserves to be read; and in so living as to make the world happier for our living in it.”

Gary Welsh, Paul Ogden, Jon Easter and ourselves have made the world around us happier for having lived in it. So we will keep firing away as we deem necessary at the villains of the world. We must do so on our own terms and no one else’s. We would encourage anyone who wants to blog to do so. But always remember that your blog should help lift you up not wear you down. If it starts to wear you down take a break. The world will not stop nor will the sun stop shining if you take time away from blogging.

For a thoughtful treatise on being yourself click here to read this piece by Joyce Meyer. 

Indy Democrat’s Jon Easter’s Excellent Coverage of The Stephen Clay Drama

Pastor Stephen Clay 

While IR continues to take a little breather from our regular blogging. We want to refer you our readers to Indy Democrat’s Jon Easter’s posts about the embattled President of the Indianapolis City County Council Stephen Clay. We were going to write about this ourselves. But when we read Jon’s articles we knew we couldn’t top them so we are sharing links to his fine work. Please take the time to read the following posts and give a little shout out to Jon Easter and let him know his work is much appreciated.

Here are the posts for your reading pleasure:

http://indydemocrat.blogspot.com/2018/02/council-dems-say-bye-bye-to-clay.html?m=0

http://indydemocrat.blogspot.com/2018/02/wthrs-milz-talks-to-duke-oliver-about.html?m=0

http://indydemocrat.blogspot.com/2018/02/clays-leadership-continues-to-draw-fire.html?m=0

http://indydemocrat.blogspot.com/2018/01/wrtv-report-calls-into-question-clays.html?m=0

http://indydemocrat.blogspot.com/2018/01/council-committee-chairs-show-politics.html?m=0

http://indydemocrat.blogspot.com/2018/01/council-shocker-clay-elected-council.html?m=0

Indy Republican presents our readers with Mozart and Neil Diamond for your listening pleasure

We are working on several blog posts right now as well as working at our full time job. So we thought all of you out there could use some good music to unwind with. So we present the following Mozart’s “Eine Kline Nacht Musick:

Neil Diamond’s indelible ditty “Sweet Caroline”:

Enjoy! And we will get back to you as our schedules permit. Thank you all for your continued support!