February 2012
90 posts
WISH-TV: White Elated for Sentencing →
Former Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White says he is “elated” for being sentenced to home detention after being convicted of several felony counts, including fraud, perjury and theft.
AG Pulling Double Duty In Charlie White Case →
There apparently is some confusion over how the Indiana Attorney General’s Office can handle both the Appellate prosecution in the Charlie White criminal case and represent the Recount Commission in the civil lawsuit.
The link above is an attempt to explain how Greg Zoeller coordinated the double duty.
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Election Commission Votes To Keep Wallace Off the...
The Indiana Election Commission voted 3-1 to keep Republican Gubernatorial Challenger Jim Wallace off the ballot.
Challengers to Wallace’s candidacy said he did not have enough signatures to be on the ballot, falling 14 short of the 500 needed from the 7th Congressional District. Wallace said he had more than enough signatures to be on the ballot and blamed the Marion County Voter...
Do You Like To Watch? →
The Indiana Election Commission is meeting this morning to decide whether a number of candidates will survive challenges and stay on the ballot. You can click on the above link and watch.
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Charlie's Trial (Raw Audio)
The following is audio from the Charlie White trial. The first cut is special prosecutors Dan Sigler and John Dowd. The Second clip is White defense attorney Carl Brizzi. Both cuts run approximately 5 minutes. Due to the importance of this case, the audio is unedited.
Leon-Tailored Interview: Charlie White Prosecution
Leon-Tailored Interview: Charlie White Defense
Editor’s Note: Audio...
One Year for White
A Hamilton County Judge today sentenced former Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White to 1 year home detention and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine for voter fraud, perjury and theft.
White was convicted last month for voting from his ex-wife’s address during the May 2010 primary. White’s attorney, Carl Brizzi, had requested the felonies be reduced to misdemeanors. Doing so...
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Indiana AG: Lugar "Residency" Not an Issue
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office has issued an informal opinion saying U.S. Senator Richard Lugar is a resident of Indiana and did not lose his residency when he and his family purchased a home in Virgina.
Lugar has come under fire by primary opponent Richard Mourdock and Tea Party supporters for listing his former home as his residence, although he and his family have lived in...
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Smoking Bans & Property Rights
The Chairman of the Senate Rules and Public Policy Committee says the battle lines in the smoking ban fight will likely turn on how his colleagues feel about property rights.
Speaking to Indy Politics Ron Alting of Lafayette says every knows about the dangers associated with smoking, the question will be how far lawmakers are willing to go in dictating to a person what he or she can or...
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Unions Sue Over Right to Work
A while back, Indy Politics reported that labor was looking at filing a lawsuit to block Right to Work. Well, they did.
In a news release put out late Wednesday afternoon, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 filed suit in federal court claiming RTW violates for the state and federal constitutions. The are seeking a temporary restraining order.
In their release, the unions...
CW: Dan Paker's Favorite Republican →
The bloggers at Capitol & Washington take Tea Party activists to task saying they are doing the work of the Indiana Democratic Party.
When Lugar Met Mourdock
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar and Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock will meet in their first, and likely only, primary debate on Wednesday April 11.
The debate is being hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission. Details such as time and moderator will be worked out later, however the debate will be broadcast from the WFYI studios in downtown Indianapolis.
The primary is May 8.
Indy...
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Senate Committee to Hear Smoking Ban Today
The Senate Rules and Public Policy Committee will hear legislation today that would give bars and taverns in Indiana 18 months to go smoke free.
The Committee will hear HB 1149, which would ban smoking in most public places except cigar bars, private clubs, casinos and racinos. However bars and taverns would have a year and a half before they would become non-smoking.
Brad Klopfenstein of...
Guest Commentary: Hand-Ups vs. Hand-Outs
It is imperative that we change our system of government to provide positive incentives for people to make good decisions. I am of the philosophy that people respond to consequences for actions, good or bad. This belief led me to author a bill that would help the poorest of our poor elevate out of poverty. House Bill 1007 would drug test recipients of state assistance to ensure that...
The Cheat Sheet Is Out
The latest edition of the Cheat Sheet is going out today. In this edition we have the latest gossip, rumor and political innuendo regarding the following…
Dick Lugar’s unlikely ally in Residency Challenge.
Some new poll numbers in the U.S. Senate and Gov Race.
Statehouse Skeletons
Ed Treacy Goes After Dan Parker (Again)
Political Potpourri
If you are a subscriber, it will be...
Current: Brizzi Talks Charlie White Verdict →
With convicted Secretary of State Charlie White facing sentencing on Thursday, attorney Carl Brizzi speaks to Current about the guilty verdict, the intent to appeal and the decision to offer no defense at trial.
Morris: "99% of Girl Scout Troops Are Excellent"
An Indiana House Lawmaker who accused the Girl Scouts of promoting homosexuality and abortion says he doesn’t have a problem with 99% of the Girl Scout organizations.
Bob Morris (R-Ft. Wayne) sent a letter to his fellow House freshmen saying he could not sign on to a resolution honoring the 100 years of the Girl Scouts history.
A copy of the letter is available here.
Indy Politics spoke...
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Lugar: "I Meet the Residency Requirements"
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar today says despite charges to the contrary, he is a resident of Indiana and meets all the requirements to be on the ballot for the May 8 primary.
Lugar made his comments to the media shortly before speaking to hundreds of Republicans at the 22nd Annual Lugar in Excellence in Public Service Luncheon.
Lugar said he meets the residency requirements to be on the ballot,...
Despite the current dismay some Republicans may...
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So How Does It End?
Although the current session of the Indiana General Assembly began with the bang of “Right to Work” it looks like it will end with a whimper and earlier than scheduled.
House Speaker Brian Bosma has told the media he plans to wrap up by March 9, a week earlier than the original sine die date of March 14.
Indy Politics spoke with Jon Ketzenbeger of the Indiana Fiscal Policy...
The Week Ahead
Mark your calenders, there are quite a few important events coming up this week (and next) in Indiana politics.
Wednesday, Feb 22
Senate Public Policy Committee hears smoking ban legislation - 1:30 p.m.
Gridiron Dinner - Indiana Roof Ballroom - 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 23
Charlie White sentencing - Hamilton County Courthouse - 3:00 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 24
Indiana Election Commission...
POLITICO: They Still Want Daniels to Run for... →
POLITICO is reporting this morning that due to Mitt Romney’s anemic limp to the GOP nomination for President the calls are re-emerging for Mitch Daniels to get into the race, despite the Governor saying, thank, but no thanks.
Southern IN Lawmaker Says They Need to Look Into... →
In a weekend appearance on “Lawmakers” State Senator Vaneta Becker tells Eric Bradner of the Evansville Courier-Press that lawmakers need to take a second look at the Rockport Coal-to-Gas so that ratepayers aren’t on the hook for millions of dollars.
Jim Shella: 21 Lawmakers Won't Seek Re-election →
WISH-TV Statehouse Report blogs on the exodus of lawmakers from the Statehouse this year. 21 in total, mostly Democrats.
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Analysis: The 5th District Follies
I am hoping the race for Indiana’s 5th District Congressional will turn into the greatest political show on earth and not just become another Congressional race.
Think about it. A long-time incumbent who just barely won re-election the last go around by the skin of his false teeth decided to exercise the better part of political valor and exit (stage right, of course). The challengers...
NUVO: How The Smoking Ban Went Up In Flames →
In my regular NUVO column I offer up a theory on how the City of Indianapolis Smoking ban was killed, ironically, by its biggest proponents.
SBT: Decision Expected Soon In Presidential... →
The South Bend Tribune is reporting that St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak expects to decide “very soon” whether criminal charges will be filed in a case involved forged ballot signatures stemming from the 2008 Presidential Primary involving Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton.
Alting; Smoking Ban Should Have a Full Senate Vote
The Chairman of the Indiana Senate Rules and Public Policy Committee tells Indy Politics he plans to call the smoking ban bill next week and his goal is to get it to the full floor for a vote and let its fate be decided there.
The Indiana House passed a smoking that bans smoking in most public places with exemptions for cigar and hookah bars, private clubs and casinos and rations. The House...
Got a Question For the Candidates?
Got a question you’d like to pose for tonight’s 5th District Congressional forum in Fishers? Indy Politics will be one of the moderators. We will be spending part of the day preparing some questions and would like to hear from you. You can e-mail your question to info@indypolitics.org or abdul@indypolitics.org. If you have a good one, we’ll try to get it in tonight’s...
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Tea "Party" Time
Although the Governor has said he will not convene the Indiana Election Commission to hear a tea party challenge regarding U.S. Senator Lugar’s residency and voting status, challengers say they plan to move forward with their complaint.
Indy Politics spoke Wednesday night not only to Greg Fettig of Hoosiers for Conservative Senate to get their reaction to the Governor’s words and...
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Daniels: No Need to Hear Lugar Residency Issue...
Much to the dismay of Tea Party activists who want to see him off the ballot, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels today said he would not use his power under state law to convene the Election Commission to hear a challenge to Senator Richard Lugar’s residency.
The activists say Lugar does not keep a permanent residence in Indiana and therefore does not qualify to be on the ballot. ...
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Local Libertarian Aims National
Former Indiana State Libertarian Party Chairman Mark Rutherford announced this week that he is running to head the National Party.
The National Libertarian Party will pick its Chairman at a convention in Las Vegas later this year and Rutherford says he’s been making the rounds to garner support.
He tells Indy Politics that the public’s frustration with Democrats and Republicans...
5th District Forum in Fishers
Seven of the eight candidates for the 5th Congressional District will meet in Fishers Thursday night for a forum for the first time since incumbent Dan Burton announced he was not running for re-election.
The forum is being hosted by the Hamilton County Young Republicans. It will take place at the Fishers Town Hall Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. The doors open at 6:00.
Scheduled to appear are
U.S....
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Indiana Supreme Court to Review "Questionable"...
In the wake of national attention and allegations that the users of Marion County’s small claims courts are being denied the same civil protections as citizens in other venues, the Indiana Supreme Court announced today the creation of a task force to investigate the practices.
In a news release put out today the Court said the task force would look into what changes may need to be made to...
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Indy Smoking Ban Advocate Still Hopeful
Although he voted for the smoking ban, but supported the Mayor’s veto, City-County Council Member Ben Hunter says he is hopeful the city will eventually have a smoking ban.
Hunter was one of the original sponsors of the smoking ban and says it is necessary, however, he says the Mayor made it clear what he would and wouldn’t sign regarding the smoking ban.
Hunter also says the Mayor...
City Stuff by Matt Stone
The smoking ban was voted on at Monday’s council meeting, and the vote to override the veto was 16-12 along party lines. And if I may speak for much of the media, we’re sick of writing about it and hope that this will be the last time for the foreseeable future.
Mayor Greg Ballard vetoed Proposition 18, the proposed expanded smoking ban, due to concerns he had with the private club exemption. As...
WISH-TV: Indiana Supreme Court Says No Deposition... →
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Lugar Internal Poll Shows 25-Point Lead Over...
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar’s campaign has released internal polling data showing a 55-30 lead over primary challenger State Treasurer Richard Mourdock.
The Lugar campaign says the same poll also shows the Senator with a 64-percent approval rating as opposed to Mourdock’s 39-percent.
Some of the other information released by Lugar’s camp shows…
52-35 lead among men.
...
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Deposing Daniels (Updated with Audio)
The Indiana Supreme Court has just wrapped up oral arguments over whether Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels should be forced to give a deposition in the case involving IBM and the modernization of FSSA.
Lawyers for IBM wanted to compel the Governor’s testimony, saying he is a material witness to the case since he was crucial in the contract being granted and later terminated. However,...
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Bennett: Indiana Schools To Get More Accurate...
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett says the federal waiver from No Child Left Behind will give parents a better picture as to how their schools are performing.
Bennett tells Indy Politics that the waiver means Indiana can more accurately track how well schools are doing, using the most accurate data available and only have to issue one grade.
Under the prior system,...
Commentary: Time for Unions to Get Right to Work
We linked Sunday to an Associated Press story that Indiana’s Unions are making a desperate bid in shops and labor halls across the state to keep their members from bolting. I say, good, and I wish them luck.
This stems from the passage of “right to work” which now makes it illegal for an employer to mandate an employee pay union fees as a condition of their employment. Unions...
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Phelps in the 1st District
Although it is all but guaranteed to send a Democrat back to Congress, Republican Joel Phelps thinks he can win in Indiana’s 1st Congressional District.
Phelps filed his candidacy last week. He says incumbent Pete Visclosky has lost touch with the voters and change is necessary.
Phelps says his priority would be creating an environment for long-term job creation as well addressing the...
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Can Romney Win Over Conservatives?
Although Mitt Romney has won the CPAC straw poll, one local conservative columnist says he still has a long way to go win them over.
Josh Gillespie of Hoosier Access was at CPAC, he tells Indy Politics that Romney gave a pretty standard speech and many conservatives think he will be the eventual nominee.
However, he also says Rick Santorum still has the chance to give the former Massachusetts...
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AP: Unions Expect "Right to Work" To Cost Them... →
With the passage of “right to work” in Indiana, local labor leaders are lamenting over the possible loss of membership since it will no longer be mandatory for employees to pay union fees.
Eight in Five
With the departure of Indiana Congressman Dan Burton from the 5th District Congressional race, eight candidates have now filed for the job, four are either former or current office holders. The list now includes…
Former U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks
Former U.S. Congressman David McIntosh
Former Marion County Coroner John McGoff
Marion Mayor Wayne Seybold
Fishers Attorney Jack Lugar
...
Indy Star: Smoking Ban Veto Sets Up Stalemate →
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard’s veto of the Council smoking ban has set up an impasse over the issue as Democrats do not have enough votes to override it.
Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette: Espich to Step Down... →
As we first hinted in the Friday “Cheat Sheet” long-time Republican Jeff Espich is leaving the House this year after serving for 40 years. The Uniondale Republican has been the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. More details behind Espich’s resignation are in today’s Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette.
RTV 6: Wallace Hopes To Settle Signature Dispute →
RTV 6 reports GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Wallace hopes he can get enough of his signatures verified to make it on the ballot.