clinton, obama in a hoosier zone

Politics Indiana V14 N34

By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-TwopollsshowtheDemocraticgubernatorialracewithinthemarginoferror.TheracecontinuestobeovershadowedbytheClinton-Obamapresi-dentialshowdown.IndianapolisStarcolumnistMattTullyallbutdeclaredtheJillLongThompsoncampaignthebestofthelot.Andthecandidatessparredovergaspricesandhealthcarethisweek.That’sthenutshell.Butourconclu-sionisthatthisraceishostagetogreaterforcesandsinceit’ssotight,anyoneofanumberofcrosscurrentsbeyondthetwocampaigns’controlcouldbedecisive. Just glance at virtually anyHPIDailyWirethisweekforampleevidencethatthegubernatorialracehasbeenshuntedintosecondarystatus.Clinton-Obamaisreceivingmostofthepoliticalattention.Aclassiccase

“Two heroic hearts who for a short time, traveled toward the sun and singed the vivid air ... with their honor.’ - Ethel Kennedy, reciting a poem while standing under the Kennedy-King Memorial in Indianapolis on April 4, 2008

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Clinton, Obama in a Hoosier zonePresidentialcandidates connecting withthe peopleBy BRIAN A. HOWEY FORTWAYNE-Withanunfortunatebowlingex-periencebehindhim,BarackObamawaschallengedtosinkan18-footerbyTimRoemer’ssonMatthewintheauxiliarygymatWayneHighSchoollastFriday,whileinthenextroommorethan5,000Hoosiersanxiouslywaited.Obamatookoffhiscoat,tooka bounce pass and let it fly, rippingthroughthecordswithoutahintofrim. Whatfollowedwasnearly90minutesofadoration.Butthiswasnoordi-naryday;noordinarygym.WayneHSisonthesouthernfringeofFortWayne.Tothenortharetheoldersuburbs

ofWaynedaleandthentheurbancoreoftheSummitCity,ravaged20yearsagobythecrackcocainecatastrophe,andidledInternationalHarvesterandFalstaffplants.WayneHighservessuburbsandexurbs,andjustbeyondthetidylawnsofthenearby homes, there are cornfields, the

I-469loop,thesmallcitiesofBlufftonandDecatur,Gene

Sens. Clinton and Obama have been appear-ing before back big, enthusiastic crowds. This morning, Obama dropped by the Sunshire Cafe in South Bend to talk to laid off workers. (HPI Photos by A. Walker Shaw & Brian A. Howey)

See Page 3

A shunted primary

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inpointisWednesday’seditionoftheIndianapolisStar,whereJimSchellinger’shealthcareproposalwasassignedtoacampaignbriefinapo-liticalroundup.ThesecondextensivepublicpolicypositonbySchellingergotmuchgreaterplayintheTimesofNorthwestIndiana,LouisvilleCou-rier-Journal,SouthBendTribuneandEvansvilleCourier&Press.Schellinger’spresseratthedowntowncanalgotlittleTVexposure,eventhoughHillaryClintonandBarackObamawerenotinthestate.Schellinger’splanfocusesonfourareas:makinghealthcareac-cessibleandaffordable;reducingcostsandincreas-ingaccuracy;increasingenrollmentandpreventivecare;andensuringafuturesupplyofhealthcarework-ers.“WehavetofocusonmakingsureeveryHoo-sierhasaccesstoqualityhealthcare,”Schellingersaid.“Ibelievehealthcareisarightforeveryone,notaprivilege.” Nearly750,000Hoosierscur-rentlylackhealthcare,and123,000ofthemarechildren.“Thefactthatsomanychildrenlackbasiccareiscom-pletelyunacceptable,”Schellingersaid.Schellinger’splanfocusesonpracticalsolutionstoongoingproblemssuchasthesharingofpatientinformationamonghospitals,reducingprescrip-tiondrugcostsfortheuninsuredandthedevelopmentofthehealthcareworkforcetomeetincreasingneed.Theplanalsowouldmakeiteasierforsmallbusinessestoprovidehealthinsurancethroughpartnershipsandpoolingwithprivateinsurancecom-paniesthatwouldbeoverseenbythestate. “As someonewhorunsasmall business, I know firsthand the challengesofprovidinghealthcaretomyemployees,”Schellingersaid.“Smallbusinessesarethebackboneofourstate.Ifwewantthemtogrow

andprosper,weneedtomakesuretheyhavetheresourcestheyrequireto provide quality benefits to their em-ployees.Thisplanprovidesanattain-ablevisionforimprovinghealthcareinIndiana,It’snotaplanI’musingtorunforgovernor.It’smyplanforwhenIamgovernor.”Theentireplancanbeviewedat:www.PickUpIndiana.com.

The Thompson campaignsaidtheplanwillbecostlytotaxpay-ers.“Ashe’sdonethroughouthisca-reerasacorporateCEOwhoregularlylobbiesforincreasingpropertytaxesto pay for his firm’s building proj-ects,Mr.Schellinger’sapproachistosimplygototaxpayersandaskthemtowriteanothercheck,”saidThomp-soncampaignmanagerTravisLowe.“Mr.Schellinger’splancreatesmoregovernmentbureaucracy,putsinplacemoremandatesonbusinessesandschoolsandgenerallythrowsmoremoneyatthesysteminthehopesoffixing it, This contrasts significantly withJill’sapproachtohealthcarereform,whichthrough‘pooling,’makeshealthcaremoreaffordableandac-cessibletoindividualsandbusinesses,withoutburdeningtaxpayers.” Tully’sanalysisgivesthedistinctimpressionthatSchellingerhasunderperformed.HeassailedSchellingerforsquanderinghisbigmoneylead,being“invisible,”running

HOWEY Politics Indiana Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, April 10, 2008


“syrupyads”andsoundinglikea“heartlessCEO.”Thompson,hesaid,”startedwithbetternameIDandhasraisedenoughcashtobecompetitiveonthecrucialTVcommercialfront.”HeusedThompson’scallforagastaxsus-pensionlastweekasanexample.Schellingerresponded,“Youcan’tbalancethebooksbasedononesideoftheledger.”Alas,theheart-lessCEO.Thequestionis,wasanybodypayingattention? Schellingercommunica-tionsdirectorJenniferWagnerobserved:“IwasalittlestunnedbyMattTully’scolumn.Wemadeupallthisground,about22points,inthepolls.WegotahugeendorsementforJoeKernan.JudyO’BannonhasbeencampaigningforusinSouthernIndiana.Tosaythatwe’renotcampaigningismind-boggling.”SchellingercampaignmanagerTimJeffersnotedthecampaignhasspent900grossratingpointsinIndianapolisandisalsoupinLouis-ville. Something else jumped outatus.OnFriday,Thompsonunveiledherthree-tieredjobsprogram.It’sagreattopiconanissuelikelytodeterminetheraceinNovember.ButFridayistheworstdayofthenewscycle(unlessyouthinkyoucangetreporterstoreworkthestoryforbigSundaynewspapereditions,whichdidn’thappen).ThestorygotlostamidstthecoverageofBarackObama’sFortWaynetownhallmeetingandtheIndianapolis40thanniversaryoftheKennedy-Kingeventsof1968. TheMarch31-April1Research2000pollhadThompsonleading42-41percent,whileSurveyUSAhadSchellingerleading41-39percent.GiventhatThompsonhadhada30-pointleadlatelastsummer,thefactisthatwhilesheisstillwithinthemarginoferror,Schellingerhassignificantly closed the gap. “Obviously, he’s caught some

fire,” Reseach 2000 pollster Del Ali toldtheSouthBendTribune.Butthat fire seems more akin to a Blue Tipmatchasopposedtothepresi-dential flame throwers. The good newsforThompsonisthatshehasa15-percentleadwithwomen(19percentundecided)anda10-per-centleadamongAfrican-Americans,andispositionedtocapitalizeontheClintoncampaign’sgoalofturningout the female vote and Obama firing upblacksupporters.Schellingerhasa16-percentleadamongmen,the

demographicmostlikelytobeovershadowedinthecomingprimary. Our take on this race isthatbeingovershad-owed by the presidential race, it is likely to be influenced and determined by outflows from that campaign. If the pollslaterthismonthshowtheracewithinthemarginoferror,itsimplycouldgoeitherway.WegiveSchellingeran edge in field work but Thompson appears to be better positionedtofeedoffthepresidentialcampaigns. ComingUp:SchellingerisexpectedtounveilhiseducationprogramonFridayandgovernmentreformnextweek.ASchellingerdirectmailpiecefeaturingtheKer-nanendorsementisabouttohitthemail.SchellingerandThompsondebateat7p.m.Tuesday,April15,atIPFW’sMikeDownsCenterinFortWayne.ThedebatewillbebroadcastlivebyIndianaNewsCenter’sWISENBC33,andmoderatedbyIndianaNewsCenter’sanchorLindaJackson.Thedebatealsowillbestreamedliveonwww.indianas-newscenter.com.TherewillbeajointappearanceonKevinRader’sSundaymorningWTHR-TVshow.AdebateinTerreHautefellthrough. Primary Status:Tossupv

Clinton, Obama,from page 1

StrattonPorter’shistoricLimberlostsanctuary,andguncountry.Perhapsnotaspronouncedasthe8thand9thCongressionalDistricts,whereaSaturdaybarbecuedrawsF-150sandSilveradoswithgunracksinthewindows,butit’sconservative,2ndAmendmentterritory. After Obama paid homageonthis,the40thanni-versaryoftheassassinationofDr.MartinLutherKing,andharkenedbacktoKing’s“arcofthemoraluniverse”which,hesaid,“islong,butthatitbendstowardjustice,”Obamatookquestionsinthetownhallformat.IthadbeenanotherbloodyweekinFortWaynewithaspateofhomicidesthatpresseddetectives.AfemalequestioneraskedObama,

“Whatareyougoingtodoaboutgunsandgunviolence?”Foracandidatehopingtocarryplaceslikethe8thCDacouplehundredmilestothesouthwest,wheremanyDemocratswillvouchresoundinglyfortheir2ndAmend-mentrights,thiswastrickyterritory.Obamaplungedin.Hestartedwithahistorylesson,aHoosierhistorylesson. “We’vegottwotraditonsinthiscountry,”Obamasaid.“Wehaveatraditionoflawfulgunownershipthatdatesbacktotheearlystageofthiscountry.Anditdatesback to Indiana being settled. People had firearms for protection,forhunting,forfood.That’spartofourtradi-tionthat’sbeenpassedonfromgenerationtogeneration.”It conjured images of bearded pioneers with rifles, shout-ing“Who’shere?”throughthedenseforests,oreventhe


ThanksgivingDayhuntsatdawnagenerationago. “Wealsohavetherealitythatinoururbancommu-nitiesinparticular,gunviolenceiscompletelyoutofhand,”Obamasaid.ThisbroughtimagesofanotherIndiana,liketheharboratEastChicago,orPontiacStreetinFortWayne,ortheMeadowsinIndianapols.“Sothequestionis,howdowebalancethoseissues?”Obamaasked.“Ibelieveinlawfulgunownership.Ibelieveinthe2ndAmendment.ButwhatIalsobelieveinisthatitisimportantforustohavesomecommonsenserestrictionsinplacetokeepgunsoutofthehandsofchildren,outofthehandsofcriminals,andsowhatthatmeansis,strengtheningthebackgroundcheckssotheyaretightened.” Throughout this,Obamapromptedthe“allrights”and“amens”fromthecrowd,perhapsathirdAfrican-American.“Makesurethatthegunshowloopholeisclosed,”Obamasaidintheverycongressionaldistrictthatproducedacandidatewhowonbycampaign-ingattheverygunshows.“MakingsurethatATFisabletoshareguntracinginformationsothatgunsthatareusedinacommitmentofcrimearetracedbacktotheunscrupulousgundealersforusingthem.Allofthosestepshavetobetakenandbalancedwiththelawfulownershipofgunsandsportsmenandhuntersbeingabletodowhattheydo.” Again,nohesitation.Theremarksweren’ttheslowmeasuredtonesofapoliticiantryingtosteerclearof a mistake. These were the confident words of a candi-dateinwhatwepunditscall“thezone.”Therhetoricrollsoff the tongue resolutely. With fortitude. With confidence. Andthen...thesegue...almostasifAntonioSalieriwasanticipatingthenextheavenlybarsfromMozart.“Ihavetomakeonelastpointaboutgunviolence,”Obamasaid.“It’simportanttogethandguns,cheapillegalhandguns,offourstreets.Itisalsoimportantforourcommunitiesandouryoungpeopletohaveadifferentwayoflife.Andsoitgoesbeyondguns.Itmeansinvestinginearlychildhoodeduca-tion.Itmeansnotjusttalkingabouthowgreatteachersare,rewardingteachersbygivingthembettersalaries,Itmeansafterschoolprogramsandsummerschoolprogramssothatourchildrenhaveconstructiveactivitiesthatwillkeepthemoffthestreets.Itmeansmakingcollegemoreaccessible,two-yearandfour-yearcolleges,whichiswhyIproposea$4,000tuitioncreditforeverystudenteveryyear.” The crowd wasinfull-feed.Everyfewsen-tenceswereembracedwithapprovingvoices.“Itmeansmakingsurethemoneyisn’tleftbehindonNoChildLeft

Behind,”Obamacontinued.HetalkedofDr.King’slegacyofademandfor“personalresponsibility”and“cleansingyourselves”and“turningtheothercheek.”ItbecameapassionplayandObamacontinued,“We’recomplainingaboutwhat’shappeningtoourschoolsorouryoungpeoplebutwe’renotdoingourjobatall.Wecan’ttalkabouttheteachersifwecan’tturnofftheTVsets.Ifyourchildmisbehavesinschool,don’tturnaroundandblametheteacher.” Thecrowdatthispoint,20minutesintothetownhall,wasmezmerizedandtheapplausewasspontaneousandthunderous.

Andthisiswhat’shappen-inginthespringof2008acrossIndiana.Twocandidatesinthezone.“HillaryClintonhad5,000peoplejustasexcitedatMisha-wakaHighSchool,”St.JosephCountyDemocraticChairmanButchMorgansaid.“Botharetremendouscandidates.Wecan’tlose.” LastmonthattheAn-dersonWigwam,alegendaryIndianabasketballgym,another5,000peoplecheered,screamedandwhistledforHillaryClinton,ameretwomilesfromthehulkingGMplantsthatbroodedovertheAndersonSpeedway.Thedecline

ofthedomesticautoindustryspawnedunemployment,crime,divorce,abuse,homicidesandsomuchpainastobeuncalculable.Theadulationlastedalmosttwoandahalfminutes.“IknowhowenergizedandresilientthepeopleofAndersonare,”Clintontoldthecrowd.“Whatyouneedisapresident.” “I want to get serious foraminute,”Clintonsaid.“AsEvansaid,we’vegotsomebigchallengesahead.WecannotcontinueonthepathofGeorgeW.Bush.Itdoesn’twork.Weknowwhatkindofleadershipworks;whatkindofleadershipisrequired.Andthat’swhatthiselectionisabout.Wehaveareallymomentouschoiceaheadofus.”AhushsettledovertheWigwam.“WehavetoelectapresidentwhostartingonJan.20,2009,willbringournationtogether.setsomebiggoalsagain.andcalluponAmericanstoworkforimmediateresults.Thereisn’tanythingAmericanscan’tdooncewemakeupourminds.Iamoptimisticwecanturnthiseconomyaround.Duringthe1990smorethan20millionjobswerecreatedinAmerica.Familyincomewasrising.Morepeoplewereliftedoutofpoverythanatanytimeinourhistory.Lookwhathashappenedsince.” Succinctly,Sen.Clintonsetthechallenges,toldthecrowd what was unacceptable, affirmed what was at stake,

On the 40th anniversary of Dr. Marin Luther King’s assassination, Obama reached back to talk of King’s “arc of the moral universe.” (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Thursday, April 10, 2008Page5

andstruckthe“cando”tonesthatwonaworldwarfromtheveryplantsthatstoodidleonthisveryday. Andtherewasredmeat.“GeorgeBushinheritedabalancedbudgetandsquanderedit,”Clintoncharged.AmericaisborrowingmoneyfromtheChinese.“WeevenoweMexico,”shesaid.Relyingonforeignoilandmoney“isarecipefordecline.Itisgoingtobeuptothenextpresi-denttostandupandloudlysay,‘Nomore!’”TheWigwamsoundedlikeRoyTaylorhadjusthitashotathebuzzer. At South Bend Washington HighSchoolWednesdaynight,Obamatalkedofthe“bethemadeontheAmericanpeople”andtalkedofthehundredofthousandofhandshe’sshookandthehundredsofbabieshehadkissed.“I’mgoingtokissthatone,he’scute,”Obamasaid,spyingayoungmotherinthecrowd.“Notrightnow!”hecontinued,laughing.“Shewasgoingtopassthebabyup.”Lessthanaminutelater,hewassaying,“Iwantyourvoicesinmyearasyourpresident.” TheimmediatechallengefacingObamaandClintonistowinIndianaonMay6;towinasmanydelegatesastheycan.But there is a sense that for the first time since1964andLBJ,aDemocratcouldactuallycarrythestate. ObamamadeabroadappealthatcouldresonatewhenhetalkedabouttheIraqWar,forwhichpollshaveshowedseriouserosionofsupportsincethedisastrousyearof2006.“Tragically,ithascostus4,000livesofbraveAmericansoldiers,”ObamasaidatFortWayne.“Thousandsmorehavebeeninjured.Ithasbeenastrategicdisaster.ItdistractedusfromawarthatneedstobewoninAfghani-stan.ThebigstrategicwinnerisIran,whichismorepower-fulnowthanwhenweinvadedIraq.”ThesearewordsthatindependentsandmanyRepublicansacknowledgetobetrue. Obama linked ittotheeconomicwoesthatrecentpollsrevealcouldturntheupcomingelection.“Butoneoftheaspectsthathasnotbeentalkedaboutasmuchuntilrecentlyisthecost,”theIllinoisDemocratsaid.“Wehavespentoverhalfatrilliondollarssofar.Wearewellonourwaytoexceedingonetrilliondollars.That’swithaT.Onthewaytotwotrilliondollars.Forthatmoney,wecouldhaveprovidedhealthcaretoeveryAmerican.Wecouldhaveprovidedascholarshiptoeverystudent.Wearespending$400millionaday,$10billionamonth,moneythatcouldhavebeeninvestedrighthereinFortWayne.RighthereinIndiana.” Themoney,Obamasaid,couldbe“puttingpeoplebacktowork,rebuildingourinfrastructure,rebuildingourschools.rebuildingourhospitals.There’sdirectinteractionbetweenthewarinIraqandoureconomy.”HiscurrentTV

adsmentionthisandthe$3.50gasHoosiersarepainfullypayingatthepumpthisweek.“WeareinaweakerpositiontodealwiththoseissuesbecauseoftheenormousdebtstakenonbyGeorgeBushasaconsequenceofthiswar.” To date, the Clintons haveappearedin19Hoosiercities.WhenObamatookthestageatSouthBendWashingtonHighSchoolWednesdaynight,itmarkedhisthird appearance, with at least five more coming between nowandSaturday.OncethePennsylvaniaprimarycon-

cludesonApril22,thetwoDemocratsareexpectedtobecrisscrossingthestate.Hoosiershaven’tseenthiskindofexposuretopresidentialcandidatessince1968.Andtheyareembracingtheattentionwithgustoandsincerity.OnSaturday,ObamawillreturntotheverygymatBallStateUniversitywhereRobertF. Kennedy made his first campaign stop, toldthecrowdthatwhitepeoplewerefairandblackscouldgetafairshake,onlytolearnofDr.King’sshooting. ThepresidentialexposureinIn-dianasinceMarch15hascomedespitebiggerstatesthatmightseemtorequiremoreattention.WhiletheClintonssatu-

ratedIndiana,Hillary’sdouble-digitleadinPennsylvaniabe-gantodwindle.FormerIndianacongressmanTimRoemercalledIndianaa“microcosmoftheUnitedStates”andidentified the stakes. “When the senator came in, he talked ofhowimportantIndianais,”Roemersaid.“IfBarackwinsIndiana,itputspressureonHillarytogetoutoftherace.” AsObamaandRoemertalked,therecamethebasketballchallenge,withthecandidatestrippingoffhissportjacketandhittingtheaforementionedjumper.“Hehadgreatrotation,”Roemermarveled.Likeacandidateinazone. ENDORSEMENTS: Iftherewasanendorsementthatwasaneyeopener,itwasRepublicanBillRuckle-shaus,thedeputyattorneygeneralwhoresignedduringthe“SaturdayNightMassacre”attheheighthofPresi-

dentNixon’sWatergatescandal,whoendorsedBarackObama.“SenatorObama’sabilitytoattractnotonlyDemocrats,butalsoRepublicansandIndependents,makeshim uniquely qualified to buildthebroadcoali-tionsneededtoaddressournation’schallenges,”

Ruckelshaussaid.ObamawasendorsedbySouthBendMayorStephenLuecke,MichiganCityMayorChuckOberlieandGoshenMayorAlanKauffmanonWednesday.v

Sen. Clinton at the Wigwam in Anderson. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)


Woody Myers: From the junction of medicine, business & politics NDIANAPOLIS-HPI’sBrianA.HoweysatdownwithDr.WoodrowMyersathis30S.MeridianSt.,campaignheadquarterstotalkabouthis7thCDcampaignonTues-day: HPI:HaveyoueverreadKevinPhillips’book“AmericanDynasty”? Myers:No,Ihaven’t. HPI:It’sfascinatingandhereinIndianaDemo-craticpolitics,wealsohaveadynastictradition.HowisitrunningagainsttheCarsondynasty?

Myers: Myoriginalplanwastowaituntilthetermshewouldhaveoccupiedin‘09wasoverandthenI’dhaveayearormoretoprepareandIcouldhaveleisurelybreakfastsandluncheswithallthemajorfolksinthedistrictanddoitthemoretraditional,old-fashionedway.Thatdidn’thappen,unfortunately.ThegoodLordhadother

plansforMrs.Carsonandthatchangedtheschedule. HPI: Soherewehavethegrandson.What’sitbeenlikerunningagainsttheCarsondynasty? Myers:Idon’tconsidermyselfrunningagainsttheCarsondynasty.Ifyoulookattherecord,Iwasoneof Mrs. Carson’s most active supporters. I dare you to find someone who was more actively financially involved. My sonworkedforheronthecampaign.Ibelievedinherandworkedwithher,soIdon’tconsidermyselfrunningagainstanykindofdynastyatall.IhaveagreatdealofrespectforallthecandidatesIknow. HPI: Youhaven’tmetHippieJoeStockett? Myers: Icouldn’tpickhimoutofthecrowd. HPI:Probablytheonewithlonghair? Myers:ButforthepeopleIknow,thevotersaregoingtohavesomechoicesthistime.They’regoingtohavetodotheirhomework,listentousandmakeadeci-sion.They’vegotsomegoodchoices.AndreCarsonnowhastheincumbencybreaks,sothatmakesitamoredif-ficult challenge. It is a spirited contest. HPI:Carson’sTVadsays“I’malreadyinCon-gress.” Myers: (laughs). HPI:Doyousensethesameweightofincumben-cywithAndreCarsonthatyouwouldwithJulia? Myers:Igetthesensethatvotersareprettysmart.TheyknowthatAndreisadifferentpersonthanMrs.Carson.Thevotersaregoingtohavetomakeadeci-sionbasedonwhattheyseeofhimandwhattheyseeoftheothercompetitorsandwhattheyseeofme.Ourgoalisgoingtobetousethenext30daystoshowthatI’mthemostexperiencedchoice;thatI’vegotthetalent,enthusi-

asmandenergytogetthejobdonebetterforthemthananybodyelse.Butultimatelytheygettodecide.I’mbasi-callyapplyingforajob. HPI:Ihearthewordexperienceand,ofcourse,we’reseeingthatwithHillaryClinton,andyetIhearyousay“change”andIhearthatfromBarackObama.You’retalkingaboutexperienceandyetyou’reanagentofchange. Myers: Well,you’venailedourbrochure.Thankyou,BrianHowey,formakingitwork. HPI:You’retryingtogetthebestofbothworlds. Myers:IthinkIamthebestofbothrecords.Ihavelivedmycareeratthejunctionofmedicine,businessandpolitics.EverythingIhavedonehasinvolvedthosethreeaspectsofwhatwedoinAmericanlife.Ihavebeenapublicservantatthecitylevel,statelevelandfederallevel.Ihaveworkedatthesecondlargestmanfuacturingcompanyintheworld,FordMotorCo.,andI’veworkedforthelargesthealthcarecompanyintheUnitedStates,Wellpoint,andI’vetakencareofpatientsatWishardHos-pital.IfyouspendanytimeattheWishardHospitalemer-gencyroom,thatistheplacewherealltheproblemsofMarionCountyconverge.You’vegotchildabuse,you’vegotneglect,you’vegothomelessness,alchoholism,you’vegotdrugabuse,gunviolence,everythingthatiswrongwithso-

cietyendsupultimatelyintheWishardER.I’vehadtheopportunitytoseewhataffectsthepeoplewhoselivesarenotgoingintherightdirectioninthiscounty.IhaveinsightintothoseexperiencesandIwanttodosome-thingaboutthem, HPI:WhenyouwereIndianahealthcommissioneryouactu-allywouldworkshiftsatWishardER.

Myers:Idid. HPI:Tellmehowyoudidthat. Myers: ThegoodnewsisthedirectorofERal-lowedmetodothatFridayandSaturdaynights.TheothergoodnewswasIdiditforfree.Theydidn’thavetopayme;theycoveredmymalpracticeinsurance.Igottheopportunitytoseewhatwasgoingoninthecom-munity,tocontinuetopracticemedicine,toteach.Igotagoodchancetoworkwithmedicalstudents,internsandresidents.FormeitwasalotoffunanditgavemealotofthingstocommunicatewiththemaboutwhatIdidandwhattheyaregoingtodowiththeircareers.Iknowthatexperience benefitted me. I hope it benefitted my patients. Ifact,oneofthemostinterestingthingsthathashap-


penedtomeonthecampaignsofaristhatpeopleItookcareofatWishardhavecomeuptomeandsaid,“Youdon’trememberme,butyoutookcareofmyMominER.”Thatwasjustanotherexperiencethatledmetothecon-clusionthatthiswasanotherexperienceandthiswasthenextbestwaytousemytalents. HPI:YouwereIndianahealthcommissionerwhentheAIDScrisisbegan,throughRyanWhite.YouworkedatFord,Wellpoint.Howwouldtheseexperiencesmakeyouagoodcongressman? Myers:I’veseeneveryaspectofhealthcare,andhealthcareisreallyametaphorforeverythingelseinsociety.I’veseenitasaphysician,certainlywithsomeoftheproblemsthathaveoccurredinmyfamily.I’maguard-ianofmy96-year-oldaunt.I’veseenhealthcarefromthepointofviewofbusinesseswhoaretryingtocreateprod-ucts,fromthepointofviewofinsurancecompaniestryingtohelpemployers,fromcompanieswhoaretryingtomakenewandbetterproducts.Myowncompany,MyersVentures,hasmeontheboard of five different health care companies,fourofwhicharenowpublic.Andinthosecompanies,theyallhaveinnovativeproductsthataregoingtoimprovewhatwe’reabletodotodayforpatients.I’veseenhealthcarefromeveryvantagepointthereis.WhatI’velearnedfromthatisthepeoplewhohavethebesthealthcareplans,whohavethebestexperi-encesinthehealthcaresystem,arethepeoplewiththebestjobs.Thepeoplewiththebestjobsarethepeoplewhohavethebesteducation.WeinIndianapolisandCentralIndianahaveproblemsinallthreeareas.ThegoodnewsiswehaveafairlygoodpublichealthinfrastructurewithWishard,MethodistandSt.Vincent’s.Whatwedon’thavearegoodplacestogotogetcareonanurgentbasis.Wishardissofullonmanydaysittakes30daystogetanappointmentforanout-pa-tientvisit.That’soneofthefewplacesyoucangoifyoudon’thaveinsurance.We’vegottomakeimprovements.Withrespecttojobs,weclearlyneedtodomoretobringjobstoCentralIndianapolis.Ithinkwe’redoingafairlygoodjobinBooneCounty,inHendricksCounty.Someofthepeoplewhowillworkinthoseplantswillcomefromthe7thCongressionalDistrict.We’vegottodoabetterjobinsideIndianapolisaswell.We’vegottoprioritizethevacantfactories.Thosearethekindofjobsthataregoingtoofferhealthcareplanssopeoplecangetthepreventionandcaretheyneed.Finally,forpeopletotakeadvantageof

thosejobs,we’vegottodoamuchbetterjobofeducation.Indianapolisissecondworstinthenationinhighschooldropouts.C’mon!That’sunforgiveable.Idon’tblameGeneWhite.He’sbeenabreathoffreshairtoIPS.He’sgottoget help. He’s been given a $20 million budget deficit to fight. We are spending $5,000 a second in Iraq. If my math iscorrect,whatwespendinanhourinIraqwouldwipeawayGene’s$20millionheadache.Weoughttobebring-ingthosedollarshome. HPI: Thedropoutrateisarealblackeyeforthecity.Should16-year-oldkidsjustbeabletodropout?Shouldn’ttheyberequiredtogointo,say,militarypreporAmericorpsorsomething?Whentheydropout,itgivesthemafreepasstodestruction. Myers: Ofcoursenot.Theproblemiswe’vegot16-year-oldsmakingverybaddecisions.Youhaven’tgotparentssteeringthemintoadifferentdirection.Howcan

weexpecta16-year-oldtohaveanyunderstandingofwhatthecon-squencesare?Wehavetomakeitenticingforthemtostayinschool.We’ve got to make it difficult to leave school.WeneedtoempowerpeoplelikeGene(White),notburdenthem. HPI: What’syourtakeonuni-versalhealthcareinMassachusetts? Myers: I think they have terrific goals.ButI’mabelieverthatwehavetoworkatthefederallevel.Wecan’tdependon50statestofigure out their own way. We have to recreateoursysteminthemodeofuniversalaccessforeveryone.Whatthatmeansiswehavetomakethiswonderfulsystemavailabletoallourcitizens.WhenIwaschiefmedicalofficer at Ford Motor Company, Ford

hadplantsin38counties.Ivisited20ofthem.IwouldvisithospitalswheretheaverageFordworkerwent.Iwouldalsovisitthehospitalwheretheexecutiveswouldgo.Igottocomparehealthcaresystemsinabout20countieswiththeoneIknowsowellhere.MyconclusionisIwouldnottradeoursystemforanysystem,anywhereelseintheworld,includingCanada,England,includingSingapore.Evenwithourproblems,wehavethebestsystemintheworld.Thequestionis,howdowemakeitbetter?Howcanwegiveeverybodyaccesstoitandgetridofthewasteandinefficiency. The only people in my family that have elec-tronicmedicalrecordswereColaourdogandFriskyourcat.Theveterinarianshaveanelectronicsysteminplace.Anyvettakingcareofanypetcangettherecordimmedi-ately.Whycan’twedothatwithpeople?That’sthekindofproblemIwanttosolve.Wehavetohaveleadership.We

Dr. Myers with his 96-year-old aunt at his cam-paign kickoff last winter. (Myers Campaign Photo)


Rexford’s crazy villageBy BRIAN A. HOWEY NASHVILLE-ThepowerwasoutatmyweekendcabinonMondaynight.Thisinterferedwithmyplan,whichwastosipabourbonandreadRexfordC.Early’sbook,

“It’saMightyThinPancake(ThatDon’tHaveTwoSides).”SoIcurledintoaball by the fireplace and began reading by the flickering light, just like ol’ Abe LincolnoncediddowninSpencerCounty.About20minutesintothebook,mywifeapproachedmewithapuzzledlookonherface.Whatinthehellwassofunny?Well, the first 20 pages of Rex’s book. HereIlearnedthatRexhadmis-takenhishearingaidsforcashews.Early

wasnamedafterFDR’sdomesticadviser,RexfordTug-well,whowas“alittlelightintheloafers”andaBolsheviksympathizer.OrasEarlyputsit,“Iwasnamedafteragaycommunist.”Theearlychaptersofthebookrevealahard-scrabbleoriginforthefutureRepublicanstatechairman,

likethisone:“Momwaspregnantwithmewhenthebankfore-closedontheirsmallmelonfarm.” Andthestorythatreallysplitmysidewasthe Wheatfield, Ind., shithouseratnamedFredwhowasalwayspresentwhentheun-armedandindisposedEarlyhadaconstitu-tional,butwheneverheshowedupwitha.410Winchester,Fredwasnowheretobefound.RexfordEarlyfooledhimwhenhebroughtouta.22pistol,mayFredrestinpeace.ItledhimtotellaBalti-

moreSunreporteratthe1992RepublicanNationalCon-ventionthatDickLugarwas“smarterthanashithouserat.” “Much to my chagrin,heprintedthat,”Earlysaid.“andMartyMorrissaidthatthesenatoractuallyreaditintheWashingtonnewspapers.HeaskedMartywhatthatphrasereallymeant.IthinkthatMartysucceededinconvincinghimthatwasoneofthehighestcomplimentsthatRexcouldgivesomeone.” I first met Early in 1987. He was the Republican

havetohaveonestandard.WehavetomakeMedicareandMedicaidleadtheway.TheDepartmentofDefenseandVAhavedonesomeveryinnovativethingswithhealthcare.Weneedtohavethatexportedoutofgovernmenttotheprivatesector.ThoseatethekindsofthingsIknowabout,careaboutandwanttodo. HPI: Massachusettsnowhas380,000people,alittleoverhalf,inthesystemandit’sswamped.Doweevenhavethepersonnelresources? Myers: No,wedonothavethecapacity.Myprofessionmadeamistakeoverthelastcoupleofdecades.Weunder-producedthestaffneededtotakecareoftheBabyBoomgeneration.Thereisgoingtobeadoctorshort-ageandanurseshortageeven,ifwewentalloutnow.Weneedtoincreasesubstantiallythenumberofdoctors,nursesandpharmacistswearetrainingintheUnitedStatessowecantakecareofourownpeople.Weareimportingsomeofthebestmindsfromothercounties...thatneedthemthere.WeusedtohavetheDoctor’sManpowerBu-reau,butthatgotkilledthreeorfourpresidentsago. HPI:Howdoyouwintheprimary? Myers:Onevoteatatime. HPI: Thebuzzinpoliticalcirclesisyouhavenonaturalconstituency,unlikeReps.MaysorOrentlicherorAndreCarson. Myers:Idoasmanyinterviewsaspeopleletmedo,gotoasmanykaffeeklatches,neighborhoodmeetings,communityforums,meet&greets.IalsousetheresourcesavailabletometogoonTVandradio.

HPI:Howmuchareyougoingtospend?I’veheard$1mil-lion (the Indianapolis Star on Wednesday put the figure at $800,000). Myers: Idon’tknow.We’llputinwhateverittakestobeeffective. HPI:WhatimpactistheClinton-Obamaracehav-ingonthe7th? Myers:Thegoodnewsisthere’salotofexcite-ment.Thebadnewsisthere’salotofexcitementaboutthatrace.Theyarebringingoutnewvoters.Theyarecre-atingalotofbuzzinIndianaandthat’sgoingtoincreasetheturnout.Butitcrowdsavailablespacetogetyourownmessageout.Ihavetobeevenmoreaggressivetomakesureourvoicesarebeingheard. HPI: Areyouseeingnewvoters? Myers: OneofthemostfunexperienceI’vehadcampaigning was finding a long line on Washington Street ofpeoplewaitingforthefreeDaveMatthewsticketsforObamaatIU.Iworkedthatlinefrombeginningtoend.ThosearethevotersIneedtoget.Theyarecomingintotheprocesswithanopenmind.IfIhavetodependonthevoterswhohavevotedinthedistrictforthelast50yearsIprobablywouldn’tbesuccessful.v

Thursday, April 10, 2008Page9

ontheRecountCommission(DavidHamiltontheDemo-crat)andEvanBayhwasthenewsecretaryofstate,whowasgreetedwithatriplerecountinvolvingU.S.Rep.JohnHileraswellastwostatereps.Thethreesimultane-ousrecountswereamongthemostharrowingstoriesmytwocolleaguesandIattheElkhartTruth,SusanDillmanandPhilSchermerhorn,andIhadevercovered.Onedayabovethedoorintherecountroomwasasignthatread,“Shit Happens.” It was the first time I had ever heard that phraseandDillmantoldme,“That’stheworkofRexEarly.”ThisoccurredwellbeforeForestGumptookcreditforthephrase. Early’s recollectionoftherecountwasfamiliar,sincehehadtoldmethestories,likeridinginEvanBayh’s“new,usedcar”wherehesmokedcigarettesanddumpedacupofcoffee.“Evanlookedlikeapersonwhohadjustdrunkagallonofthatstuffyoutakebeforeacolonoscopy,”Earlynotes.“Evandidn’tvolunteerdrivingafterthat.”EarlyiscorrectwhenhesaysthatBayhangeredlocalDemocratsinElkhartCountywhenherefusedtothrowoutabunchofunsecuredballots.“Icouldtellfromearlyonintheprocesshewantedtobefair,”Earlywrites.“Nowhewasalsoverylikable.IjusthateditwhenIdecidedIlikedhim.” IhadanotherfrontrowseatinthetitleofEarly’sbook.IwasthepoliticalreporterfortheFortWayneJournal-Gazette.In1992,IspentanafternooninthebackseatofacarwithHillaryClintonwhenshecametothecitytocampaignforherhusband.Thefirst thing she said to me was, “How’sPaul?”TheClintonsandFortWayneMayorPaulHelmkewereYaleclassmatesandbud-dies.HelmkehadcontributedtoBill Clinton’s first campaign. In 1993,PresidentClintoninitiatedaneconomicstimuluspackagethatinvolvedataxincrease.MayorHelmke,afutureRepublicanU.S.Senatenominee,appearedbeforetheSenatecommitteetotestify...for...thestimuluspackage.“IamsureeveryonethoughtRepub-licanMayorHelmkewouldspeakagainstit,”Earlyrecalled.“Wrong.Asstatechairman,IwrotearatherblisteringlettertoHelmkeabouthistestimony.Someway,theFortWaynepapersgotacopyofmyletter(ItcouldhavebeenbecauseIsentthemacopy.)Itmadeafrontpagestory.”Ibelievethatstoryhadmybyline,withEarlysayingofthetaxincreasethat“it’samightythinpancake....”It’saphrase

hehadusedoftenandhereheusedittoadmonishMayorHelmke. TherewasanotherfunnystoryaboutChairmanEarlyandJournal-GazettereporterHowey.SteveShinedecidedtorunforAllenCountyRepublicanchairmanafterOrvasBeersannouncedhewouldretire(inpartduetothefiasco in the 1992 congressional primary when a wacko namedChuckPiersonwontheprimaryoverBeers’choice,acollegestudentnamedPhilTroyer,fortherighttochal-lengeU.S.Rep.JillLong).IrememberTroyerlashingoutatBeersandgoingtoOrvaswiththequote.“Hesaidthat?”Beersasked.Thispoliticallegendseemedhurtandsoondecidedtoretire.Beersendorsedhislong-timeFortWaynechairmanandShine,adiscipleofBeers,rananyway.ShineconductedkaffeeklatchmeetingswitheveryprecinctmanandwomaninAllenCountyandmadehiscasewith,bytheway,dailycoverageofhiscampaignintheJournal-Ga-

zette.Afewdaysbeforethecaucus,IaskedEarlyaboutShine’schancesandhesaidsomethinglike,“IfyoubelieveSteveShinewillbethenextchairmanthenyoubelieveintheEasterBunny.”Well,Shinewonwithover60percentofthevote.Itwasastunningupset.Still,tothisday,IliketoremindEarlythatIstillbelieveintheEasterBunny. Throughout Early’s booktherearewonderfullyjuicymorsels,likehowaconstrictedGeistReservoirplayedintothedefeatofU.S.Sen.BirchBayh;howDanQuaylewasGov.Whitcomb’s“golfcoursein-spector,”andtherewasthetriptothe1972GOPconventionwhentheIndianadelegationplane’slandinggearwasstuckata45-degreeangleandEarly,seatedbehindlegendary8thCDChairmanSethDenbo,heardhimprayaloudtoGod.Early:“IwasnotsureIwantedtocallGod’sattentionthatSethDenbowasevenontheplane.”Earlywassupposed

todropoffacopyofhisbookbeforeIleftfortheNashvillecabin,butheforgotmyaddressandendedupgabbingwithmyneighbors.Itoldhimthathismemorydeprivationhadalteredmyweekendreadingplans.“Iamgoingtobereading‘ItTakesaVillage,’thankstoyou.”v

Publisher’s Note:There’saserioussidetoEarly’sbook,dealingwiththedemiseofIndiana’spoliticalpartiesandtheinertiaintheIndianaGeneralAssembly.WatchforPartIIofourreviewof“It’saMightyThinPancake.”

Rex Early and Greg Garrison doing some heavy loafin’ on Election Night 2007 at the Murat Center. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)


2008 Congressional Congressional District 5: Republican:U.S.Rep.DanBurton,Dr.JohnMcGoff,ClaytonAlfred.Democrat:ChesterKelsey,MaryEttaRuley,KennyStall.Geography:MediaMarket:Indianapolis,FortWayne,SouthBend.People:Urban/rural73/27%;medianincome$40,381;Poverty9.5%;Race84%white,8%black;5Hispanic;Blue/whitecollar:34/50%.2006RepublicanPrimaryResult:Burton61,150,Alfred6,869,Wakley4,822.2006GeneralResult:Burton(R)133,118,Carr(D)64,362,Shar-low(L)7,431,Miller(I)18.2008 Forecast:Burton’scampaignisfullyengagedwithaTVadthatrecallsthecongressman’sabusivefather,hisdaysasagolfcaddieandshoeshineboy.Theadsaysthe5thCDvot-ershave“takenashine”totheirlong-timecongressman.TheBurtoncampaignhasdoneTV,radioandgoneontheattack,evidencethattheincumbentistakingtheMcGoffchallengeseriously.ThetopU.S.militaryanddiplomaticofficials in Iraq agreed Wednesday with a Hoosier Republi-can’sassessmentthatahastywithdrawalfromIraqwouldleave a vacuum that terrorists would fill (Smith, Fort Wayne JournalGazette).IfU.S.troopspullout“beforecondi-tionsaremet,”AmbassadorRyanCrockersaidtoRep.DanBurton,“youwouldseeaspiraldown,andthatwouldleadto expanded sectarian conflict at levels we have not seen before.Itwouldbringneighbors,especiallyIran,intothefight, and it would create space for al-Qaida to take root on Iraqisoil.”Burtonsaidit’simportantforthepublictohearthatmessagebecausethewarisunpopular,andaspeoplechoosetheirnextpresident,theyneedtoalsochoosebetween“aprecipitouswithdrawal”and“hanginginthereanddefeatingal-Qaidaandtheterrorists.”InaseconddayofcongressionalhearingsonthestatusofthewarinIraq,Gen.DavidPetraeusalsoagreedwithBurton,citingrisksofleavingtoosoon.TheMcGoffcampaignwascirculatingaFeb.7,2007,RollCallarticlethatlinkedBurtontoJackAbramoff,theconvictedCapitolHilllobbyist.TheRollCallarticlenotes,“AsfortheBobHopetournament,theStarreportedthatBurtonmayhavepaidatleastpartofhisannualentryfee-thisyear’swas$12,000-tothechari-tableeventoutofhiscampaignaccount,whichmaynotbeacceptablegiventhatFederalElectionCommissionrulesallowMemberstogivecampaignfundstocharityonlyiftheydon’tgetanythinginreturn.AndthedonationsBurtondidmakefromhiscampaignaccounttoEisenhowerMedicalCenter,themaincharityinvolvedwiththeBobHopeevent,apparentlywerepartofBurton’spledgetogiveawaycontributionshehadreceivedfromincarceratedlobbyist

JackAbramoff.”TheMcGoffcampaignisobviouslyseekingtohighlightBurton’sethicalstatusinapoliticalatmospheretheyhopewillbesimilartotheonein2006thatsawthreeHoosierincumbentcongressmenlose. Primary status: LeansBurton

Congressional District 7: Democrats: U.S.Rep.AndreCarson,StateRep.CaroleneMays,StateRep.DavidOrentlicher,Dr.WoodrowMeyers,JosephStockettIII,FrancesNelsonWilliams,LarryLedford,PierrePullins.Republican:StateRep.JonElrod,CatPing,LawrenceShouse2008 Outlook: Th.TheIndianaDemo-craticPartyendorsedCarson.“TheIndianaDemocraticStateCentralCommitteeisproudtosupportCongressmanCarson’sre-electioneffortandknowhewillcontinuethetraditionofpublicservicethatthepeopleofIndianapolisdeserve,”saidChairmanDanParker.“CongressmanCarsonhitthegroundrunninginCongress,andwelookforwardtoworking with him as he fights for Hoosier working families inWashington.”Carsonsaid,IamhonoredtoreceivetheendorsementoftheIndianaDemocraticPartyandthankChairDanParker,theIDP,andsomanypeopleinIndianapolisfortheirsupport.ItisgratifyingtoreceivethebackingofpeopleacrossIndianapoliswhohavewatchedmegettoworkinCongressandseethatIamprovidingmuch-neededrelieftoworkingHoosiersstrug-glingwiththerisingcostsofhousing,gas,groceriesandhealthcare.”TheDCCCputmorethan$250,000worthofindependentexpendituresintoCarson’sMarch11specialelectionagainstElrod(TheHill).CarsonwontheDemocrat-ic-leaningseatthathadbeenheldbyhislategrandmother,Rep.JuliaCarson.Afterhewon,theDCCCaddedCarsontoits“Frontline”program,whichdirectscampaigncashtovulnerableincumbents,eventhoughsevenDemocrats,includingtwostatelegislatorswhoviedforthespecial-electionnomination,willchallengehiminaMay6primary.“TheDCCCdidawonderfuljob,”saidCBCExecutiveDirec-torJoeLeonard.“Anyrelationshiphasstressfulmoments.ThemembersoftheCBCarelookingforwardtotheDCCCworkingaseffectivelyasitdidinRep.Carson’sraceinfutureraces.”DCCCChairmanChrisVanHollen(Md.)saiditisstandardinclosedistrictstosupportincumbentmem-bers,evenwhentheyfaceaprimary.“We’vetreatedhimlikeanyotherFrontlinemember,”VanHollensaid.“Thisdistrictisnotaslamdunk.”Primary Status:LeansCarson

2008 Indiana Legislature HD4: Republican:StateRep.EdSoliday,ShawnOlson.2008 Outlook:WordisthatthesameRighttoWorkforcesthathelpedGregWalkerdefeatSenatePresi-dentProTemporeBobGartonin2006aretakingaimat


Soliday.Thatmakesthisraceworthwatching. Primary Status: LEANSSOLIDAY HD24:Republican:StateRep.RichMcClain,RickEller.2008Outlook:ThisisarematchbetweenMcClainandformerCassCountyCommissionerEller.WethinkMcClainisinadecentpositiontowinrenomination.PrimaryStatus:LikelyMcClain. HD40:Republican:StateRep.GregSteuerwald,DaveBerryman,ZachRice.2008Outlook:Thisonebearswatching. Steuerwald won a caucus to finish the term of StateRep.MattWhetstoneandhasbeenendorsedbySen-ateFloorLeaderConnieLawson.ButtheGOPappearstobefractured.PrimaryStatus:LEANSSTEUERWALD HD49: Republican:StateRep.JohnUlmer,WesCulver. 2008 Outlook: Ulmerhasareputationoflackluster,self-funded,unorganizedcampaigns.CulverisaGoshenbusinessmanwhoisgettingsometraction,runningagainstasittingduck.Anddon’tlookfortheHouseRepub-licanstocometohisrescue.TheypaiddealybailingoutUlmerinthefallof2006.Primary Status: LEANSCULVER HD50:Republican:StateRep.DanLeonard,TerryAbbett,GarySnyder.2008 Outlook: WebelieveLeonardisinprettygoodshape.FormerHuntingtonMayorTerryAbbettisreportedtohavehealthissues.SynderisaformerTaylorSchoolBoardmemberintheKokomoareawhomovedtothedistrictlastyear.WethinkLeonardsur-vivesthischallenge.Primary Status:LIKELYLEONARD H90:Republican:StateRep.MikeMurphy,MatthewHam-ner.2008 Outlook: TheFOPendorsedHamner.WhileMurphyisslatedandshouldbefavored,whathappensifalotofRepublicanvot-ersareluredintotheDemocraticprimarytovotefor7thCDandtheClinton-Obamarace?Primary Sta-tus: LEANSMURPHY. SD30: Republican: StateSen.TeresaLubbers,KenMorgan.2008 Outlook:Morgancontinuestopushhisanti-taxmes-sageinanefforttounseatSen.Lubbers(AdvanceIndiana).Morganisrunningalow-budget,door-to-doorcampaigntogethismessageouttovoters.WhenMorganbeganhiscampaign,heanticipatedthathomeownerswouldreceivetheirtaxbillsbeforethisyear’sMay6primary.A note on his flier shown above notes:“Youwon’tgetyourtaxbillsuntilAFTERtheelections.Coinci-dence?”Primary Status:Likely

Lubbers SD42: Republican: JeffSponsel,MaxEllison,JeanLeising,JohnHeaton.Democrat:WarrenGoodrich.2008 Outlook:RetiringStateSen.BobJackmanissup-portingJeffSponsel(ShelbyvilleNews).InaletterdatedApril4,JackmanendorsedSponsel,whonowservesaspresidentoftheShelbyvilleCommonCouncil.“ThroughmyexperiencesattheStatehouse,Ihavelearnedthatitisveryimportanttotrustyourcolleaguesandbuildcoali-tions with them to be able to pass legislation that reflects theneedsofthecitizensofthisdistrictandstate,”Jackmanwrote.“Noonepersoncandothisalone,butIfeelJeffisthemostresponsibleindividualtorepresentthisdistrictbecauseofhiscommunicationskillsandrespectfortheciti-zens.”KeyquestioniswhetherJackmanwillcommitanyofhis$50,000warchesttoSponsel.LeisinghasmuchhighernameID(inthe75percentrange)andverygoodfav/un-favs.Theformersenatorisexpectedtoraisemorethan$50,000.ShepickeduptheendorsementofIndianaRIghttoLifeandtheIndianaFamilyCouncilPACsonWednesday.Primary Status: LeansLeising.

2008 Indiana Statewides ATTORNEY GENERAL: Republican:Indi-anaElectionCommissionerChairmanTomWheeler,Deputy

AttorneyGeneralGregZoeller,KyleHup-fer,ValparaisoMayorJonCostas. Demo-crat: LindaPence.2008 Convention OutlookSecretaryofStateToddRokitawon’trun,givinghisnodtoCostas.ZoellerisexpectedtohavethesupportofAttorneyGeneralSteveCarter.HetoldtheLouisvilleCourier-Journalintoday’seditionhewasstillweighinghisoptions.ButtherealendorsementthatwillcarrydramaticheftisthatofGov.MitchDan-iels.WhileaTimesofNorthwestIndianastorysuggeststhatDanielsandCostashaveafriendlyrelationship,thegover-norwasn’treadytosignalhissupport.SpokeswomanJaneJankowskisaidthatDanielswouldhavea“recommendation”sometimeinthefuture.WithDanielsfromIndianapolis,Lt.Gov.SkillmanfromBedford,andNewAlbanySchoolsSupt.TonyBennettliningupfortheticket,Costasmakesgeographicalsense.ButthewinnerwillalmostcertainlybetheonewithDaniels’imprimatur. Convention status: TOSSUPv

Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas enters the at-torney general race with the endorsement of Secretary of State Todd Rokita. But will he get the nod of Gov. Daniels?


National, local problemshave same sourceBy MORTON J. MARCUS INDIANAPOLIS-INDIANAPOLIS-Housingremainsoneofourmostdomesticindustries.Thelaborusedtobuildthehousesthemselvesisstilllocal.Muchofthewoodmaybeimportedbutotherproductsweputintoourhomes(furnaces,plumbing,appliances,etc.)arestillprimarilymadeintheU.S.fromdomesticparts.Allthatischanging.

Moreandmoreworkisbeingdoneoff-siteandmoreofthecomponentsinstalledhavefor-eignorigins. Now,withoutourthink-ing about it, the financing of ourhomeshasbecomeanarticleofinternationaltrade.Onceuponatime,ourhouseswere financed locally. We went toJimmyStewartatthelocalsavingsbankandborrowedthemoneyforourhomes.ButthefolkloreofAmericatookover

and home financing became an article of policy and then a commodityboughtandsoldinternationally. Whatisthatfolklore?WehavebeensoldtheideathateachandeveryAmericanwantsanddeservestoownahome.That’scalledtheAmericandream.Wesubsidizehome-ownershipbygivingfederalincometaxdeductionsformortgageinterest,propertytaxes,andcertainhome-buyingtransactionfees.Thisiscleargovernmentinterfer-enceintheinvestment/consumptiondecisionsofAmeri-cans.UncleSamstandsreadytohelpyouyearafteryearinpayingforyourhouse.Dowehearconservativesprotest-ing?Thisisprobablyamassivegifttowealthiertaxpayers.Dowehearliberalsprotesting?Wehearnoprotestbecausewehavecometoaccepttheideathathome-ownershipisgoodwithoutquestionandgovernment(allofus)shouldsubsidizeit. Why should we do this?Because,proponentswilltellus,home-ownershipleadstobettercitizenship.Peoplewhohaveastakeintheirneighborhoodstendtobehavebetter,takecareofproperty,vote,andgiveoursocietystability.Suchargumentswarmmyheart.Whynotapplythatsameargumenttoautomobileownership?Let’sgiveallAmericansthemobilitytheywantanddeserve.In-terestpaymentsonautoloansandtaxesforlicensingcarsshouldbesubsidizedbecausethosewhohavemobilitycangettowork,school,doctors,andothernecessarydestina-tionswithhumandignityiftheyhavecars. Askanyteen:“Ifyouain’tgotwheels,youjust

ain’tnobody.”Federalsubsidiesforhome-ownershiphavebeen reinforced by the depression-era financing concepts thatstartwiththeFederalHomeLoanBanks,theFederalHousingAuthority,theFederalNationalMortgageAssocia-tion(FannieMae)andtheFederalHomeLoanMortgageCorporation(FannieMac).Allofthesearegoodprogramsthathavehelpedmillionsofusliveinlook-alikelargehomesonlargelotsinsprawling,poorlystructured,energy-gobblingcommunities.InIndiana,wehavefollowedthenationaltrendbyofferinghome-ownerslowerpropertytaxratesthanareprovidedtootherpropertyowners. Why? “Well, them home-owners,themisgoodfolkandvotin’folktoo.”Today’sunresolvedpropertytaxcrisisinIndianaandtheinternationalsub-primemortgagemarketcollapsearebothdirectresultsofthisingrained,irrationalinsistenceonhome-ownershipasanarticleofpublicpolicy.Thereisnothingwrongwithhomeownership.I’mforit.Butthereissomethingwrongwithwidespreadapprovalofgovernment’spreferentialsupportforthisformofassetaccumulationandresourceutilizationpreference. Shouldn’tgovernmentpolicybeneutralwhenitcomestohowpeopleinvest?Whyencouragepeopletoputtheirmoneyintohousingwheneducationoroldcoinsmight be more profitable or pleasurable? Shouldn’t govern-mentpolicyencouragelandusedecisionsthatareben-eficial to all of us over the long term? Does committing a largeamountoflandtourbandevelopmenttodaygiveusthecommunityandenvironmentwewillwanttomor-row?v Mr. Marcus is an independent economist formerly with IU’s Kelley School of Business

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Jack Colwell, South Bend Tribune: ThehugeDemocraticprimaryturnoutwon’tbeduetowide-spreadexcitementovertheraceforthenominationforgovernorbetweenSchellingerandJillLongThompson,aMarshallCountyresidentandformermemberofCongress.Theythusfarhaveengenderedlittleexcitementamongvoters.Theystilllacknamerecognition,whichbothseektoimprovenowwiththeirownTVspots.AnewSurveyUSApollshowsthemvirtuallytied--Schellingeraheadinpercent-ages,41to39,aleadwithinthemarginforerror--with20percentundecided.Excitementabounds,however,overtheprospectofIndianafinally having a voice in a presidential primary -- the first loud voice in 40 years -- and a large turnout is expectedintheDemocraticpresidentialprimary.Hoosiersflocking to the polls to vote for Hillary or Barack, will find ontheDemocraticballotsaswellthenamesofJimandJill.Fewarelikelytojustvoteforapresidentialchoiceandwalkaway.ThevastmajoritywillcastvotesinothercontestsontheDemocraticballotsintheirprecincts,especiallyforgovernor.Whowillbehelpedorhurtbyallthoseadditionalpresidentialprimaryvoters,manyofwhomhaven’tfocusedyetontheraceforthenominationforgovernor?VotersbackingHillaryClintonatleastinpartbecauseofadesiretosee the first woman as president might also like the idea of the first woman as governor and vote for Long Thompson. Schellinger,however,hasthesupportofmanyofthesameDemocratic officials who are supporting Clinton. Among themisformerGov.JoeKernan,whoendorsedSchellingerinSouthBendlastweek.TheendorsementfromKernanwasn’tviewedassurprisingsincebothheandSchellingeraregraduatesofSouthBend’sHolyCrossGradeSchoolandSt.Joseph’sHighSchoolandtheUniversityofNotreDame,andSchellingersupportedKernan’sstatewidecampaigns.Schellinger,withaneyeonObamavoterswhoseekchange,stakesclaimtobeingthecandidateforchangeinstategov-ernment.HeportraysbothDanielsandLongThompsonashavingspenttoomuchtimeinWashingtontobreakawayfromtraditionalpolitics.Geographycouldplayapart.ThepollshowsLongThompsonaheadinnorthernIndiana,withSchellingerdoingbetterelsewhere.v

Matthew Tully, Indianapolis Star:ManyDemocraticinsiderssawinSchellingerthehandsomeandfriendlyfaceofamanwhocouldraisemillionsthroughhisbusinessandpoliticalcontacts,aswellasaguywhocouldbringbusinesscredentialstothecampaign.KindoflikeDaniels--onlylessthreatening.Intheend,Democratsgotanaggressive,disciplinedandtoughcandidateforgover-nor.Buthere’sthefunnything:Itisn’tSchellinger.AmonthbeforetheMay6primary,it’sfairtosayformerU.S.Rep.JillLongThompsonhasemergedasthebetterDemocraticcandidate.Considerthescorecard:Campaign:Schellinger’s

big-budgetoperationhassufferedthroughashake-upandacandidatewhoattimeswasinvisible.Evensomeback-ershavegrumbledaboutthelacklustereffort.Moreover,afterpromisingapositivecampaign,Schellingerrecentlywentnegative.Thatsmelledofdesperation.Ontheother

hand,LongThompson’scampaign,onatighterbudget,hasbeenfreeofsuchdrama.Commer-cials: Schellinger’s syrupy first ad did little but try todistancethecandidatefromhisrich-guyreality.LongThompson,meanwhile,gotpersonalontheeconomyandbashedDaniels’privatizationefforts,whichislikelytoscoreherpointswithDemo-craticprimaryvoters.Issues:Bothtalkabouttheeconomy.ButSchellingersoundslikeaCEOwhen

hetalksgrandlyaboutjobs;LongThompsonzeroesinoneverydayconcerns.Oneexample:LongThompsonthispastweekcalledforacutingastaxes,aclassicpocketbookissue.Schellingerresponded,“youcan’tbalancethebooksbasedononesideoftheledger,”soundinglikeaheart-less CEO. Money: Huge-dollar contributions that flowed toSchellingerearlyonhaveslowed,andbecauseofhiscampaign’sfumbleslastyear,hefailedtocapitalizeonhisearlyfundraisinglead.LongThompsonhasbeenoutspent,butshestartedwithbetternameIDandhasraisedenoughcashtobecompetitiveonthecrucialTVcommercialfront.Onemonthout,theraceisjustnowheatingup.Eithercandidatecouldwin.Butsofar,LongThompsonhastakenontheestablishmentandrunamuchbettercampaign.v

Stephanie Salter, TerreHauteTribune-Star:Forpeoplewholiketheirpoliticalcontestsclear-cutandtheircandidatesone-dimensional,LeeHamilton’sendorsementofBarackObamaforpresidentbarelyregis-teredthispastweek.Afterall,ifyou’recontenttodismissObamaasagiftedspeakerbut“anemptysuit,”whatdoyoucarethattheformerIndianacongressmanchairedtheHousecommitteesonbothforeignaffairsandsecurity?IfyougetagiggleoutofreferringtoObamabyhismiddlename(Hussein),howmuchcanitmatterthatHamiltonalsochairedthe9/11Commission,wasco-vice-chairoftheIraqStudyGroup,andcurrentlyservesonthePresident’sHomelandSecurityAdvisoryCouncil?If,ontheotherhand,youaresomeonewhobelievesthatpeopleandpresidentialcampaigns are infinitely complex, Hamilton’s stated choice forcommanderinchiefwasagrabber.Duringhis34yearsintheHouseofRepresentatives,Hamiltongainedbiparti-sanrespectasadeep,carefulandopen-mindedexpertonglobalaffairsandtheU.S.roleinthoseaffairs.AccordingtoastorylastmonthinTheNewRepublicbysenioreditorNoamScheiber,Hamiltonhasbeenakindofoff-stage,informalguruforObama’sforeignpolicyadviserssincedayoneofthecampaign.Obama’sforeignpolicyspeechwriterisBenRhodes,whoassistedinwritingHamilton’s9/11Commissionmemoirs.v

aroundandpushedWerneragainstthewall,grabbedhimandtheyfelltotheground,accordingtowitnesses.BarryA.Welsh,Democratic6thdistrictcongressionalcandidate,whoat-tendedthemeeting,steppedin,andStatomturnedaroundandhitWelshinthe eye. “When Nick went to the floor, Itriedtobreakitup,”Welshsaid.Countysheriff’sdeputiesthensteppedin and broke up the fight outside the commissioner’scourtroom.Statomre-fusedtocommentwhenhewalkedoutofthecountybuilding.Hewastakenintocustodybysheriff’sdeputies.

Clinton visit costcity $1,800 MISHAWAKA-Themayorsaysheisn’tdemandingthatHillaryRodhamClinton’scampaignreimbursethecityforovertimecostsrelatedtoavisitthere--butthecityshouldacceptthemoneyifit’soffered(South Bend Tribune).RepublicanMayorJeffReasaidinalettertothemostlyDemo-craticcitycouncilthatheestimatesClinton’scampaignstopatMishawakaHighSchoollastmonthcostthecity$1,865inovertime.ReasaidformerU.S.Rep.ChrisChocolavoluntarilypaidthecityfortheovertimecostwhenPresidentBushappearedataChocolafundraiserin2006.

Candidate wants torecoup abatement EASTCHICAGO-UnionTankCarCo.’splantoshutteritsEastChicagoplantjustafewyearsafterreceivingcitytaxabatementsbecameacampaignissueWednesdayintheracetoreplacestateSen.SamSmith,D-EastChicago(Times of North-west Indiana).MichaelScottSr.,oneofsevenDemocratscompetingintheMay6primaryforSenateDistrict2,pledgedtointroduce“clawback”legislationtoforcedefectingcompa-niestorepaylocaltaxbreaks.Scott,aGaryschoolboardmember,tookaim

atUnionTankCar,whichhassaiditwilllayoffmorethan400employeeswhenitclosesitsEastChicagoplantnext month. “After years of benefiting fromsubstantialtaxbreaksgrantedbythecityofEastChicago,UnionTank’splantodisplace445workersisinclearcontraventiontothecommitmentsitmadetoreceivetaxabatements,”Scottsaidinanewsrelease.

Ballard eyes rollingback income tax hike INDIANAPOLIS-MayorGregBallardsaidhisgoalistorepeala65percentincometaxincreasethecountyenactedlastyear,buthehingedthatpromiseonstatelegisla-tiontoreducelayersofgovernment(Indianapolis Star). Giving his first StateoftheCityspeechonhis100thday in office Wednesday, Ballard said a local efficiency panel and statewide governmentconsolidationthatwouldeliminatetownshipsshouldproduce“enoughsavingsforacompleterepeal”oftheincrease.“Byimprov-ingonthefundamentals--reduc-ingcrime,balancingourbudgetandmakinggovernmentmoretransparent--wewillcontinuetomakeIndia-napolisstronger,”hesaid.Ballardsaidpublicsafetyandeducationstillarehistoppriorities,buthealsopledgedtoincrease the international profile of In-dianapolisandreducelong-termpublicdebt.Changesintheengineeringofthecity’s$3.5billionenvironmentalplantostopdumpingrawsewageintolocalwaterwayswillsave15percentto20percentandreducescheduledrateincreasesforyears,hesaid.

Sanders skeptical INDIANAPOLIS-JoanneSand-ers,theCity-CountyCouncilminorityleader,saidthepromisesoundsgoodbutdoesn’trepresenttherealityofthecity’sbudgetcrisis.Ataxoverhaulpassedbythelegislaturewillforcethecitytocut$40millionby2010,andanyrepealoftheincometax.

Voters will be registeredpromises county MUNCIE - A flood of new voterregistrationspromptedbytheObama-Clintonpresidentialcontestwillbepro-cessedintimefortheMay6pri-mary,MargieLanders,DemocraticmemberoftheDela-wareCountyVoterRegistrationBoard,pledgedWednesday(Muncie Star Press).Landers,whoisalsothecounty’sDemocraticPartychairman,addressedabout50mostlyDemocraticactivistsduringacontentiousDelawareCountyElectionBoardmeeting.“We’regoingtogetthejobdoneandIpromiseyouthat,”Landerssaid.

Reporter, candidateattacked by official MUNCIEARepublicanvoterregistrationdeputyfacesbatterychargesafterhetackledanewspa-perreporterandhittheDemocratic6thDistrictcongressionalcandidateafteracontentiousDelawareCountyElectionBoardmeetingWednesdayafternoon(Muncie Star Press).ThemeetinghadjustendedwhenWillStatom,GOPregistrationdeputyandsecretaryofthelocalRepublicanParty,attackedStarPressreporterNickWernerwhileWernerwasinter-viewingBallStateUniversitystudentJohannaPerezabouthundredsoflast-minutevoterregistrationsforDemocratBarackObama’scam-paign.“Hedidnotseemveryhappythatwewerestatingouropinions,”PerezsaidafterwardaboutStatom.WernersaidStatomseemedcriticalofhisreporting,sarcasticallysay-ingtomakesurehescrewedupthestoryagain.StatomhadjustwalkedpastWernerwhenStatomturned


clinton, obama in a hoosier zone

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