Indiana Blog Review

Banana Peels

Dave Haxton wants to know what Russ Pulliam is smoking.

But There Were Two Sequels

Manfred on the Godfather Gov:

The Governor is a Corporate Man, so he saw a need to replace knowledgeable civil servants with hard-headed business people who, while inexperienced in the public sector, would be enthusiastic about instituting wholesale change . . .

The problem is that in public service, unlike private business, those at the top usually know less than the employees they command.

Hoosier Purge

Matt Tully wonders who has Sept 27 in the pool?

RiShawn Biddle has some faint praise for Joel Silverman.

Advance Indiana on the reshuffling: "Nobody ever seems to get hired in politics because they're the best candidate for the job."

Spotlight on Mitch

Zach Patton of Governing Magazine's blog "13th Floor" interviews Mitch Daniels. (via Frugal Hoosiers)

Digging Mitch

Frugal Hoosiers offers a view of the upcoming elections contrary to the State Dems.

Fightin' Words?

Matt Tully reproduces the Governor's allegedly offensive remarks about South Bend and asks, "There you have it. What do you think? Were the governor's comments inappropriate, or is the mayor overreacting?"

Sadly, I think the answer depends on whether one is a D or an R.

Beg Your Commutation

Doug Masson fills us in on the Governor's latest pardons and commuted sentences.

Sliding Down Polls

TDW has a roundup of the latest bad news on Mitch's poll numbers.

Mitch and Pork

TDW notices a discrepancy between Mitch's campaign enthusiasm for federal dough and his current reservations about its usefulness.

Mitch, on the Record, off the Page

Congrats to Matt Tully for grasping how the New Media can enrich journalism, "In a column, space is always an issue.   So today, I offer a bit more of what Daniels had to say to about 200 Republicans at the Vigo County Lincoln Day dinner in Terre Haute last week."

Nationally Reviewed

Leo Morris thought that National Review's tribute to Mitch Daniels was just nifty.

Tracy Warner did not.

Our Beleaguered Governor

After Mitch's frosty reception at the Pacers Game Friday night (TDW links to video), Matt Tully asks:

Why is this guy so disliked? The reaction to him last night, and the reaction I’ve seen and heard elsewhere, makes clear this is about more than daylight-saving time or an unpopular Toll Road lease. This has to go deeper than mini-controversies like not moving into the governor’s residence. Right?

So what is it? Why don’t you like the governor? What is it about him that makes him so objectionable to so many? And if you do like him, why do you think most of your fellow Hoosiers don’t?

Maybe it's because he habitually breaks the law, as Doug Masson often notes.

Personally, I'm sticking to my theory that the Governor suffers from bad PR.  Not just bad, non-existent.  In the absence of good public relations, the discontent from controversial policies has taken on a life of its own, growing out of proportion to the actual offenses he has given.

PR

I'm late in noting an excellent post by Douglass Davidoff on how the Major Moves public relations battle fared (or didn't fare) during this past legislative session.  He also has a detailed prescription of what Daniels and the Major Movers need to do from now on.

This struck a chord with me, because I believe Mitch's lack of public approval (and his paucity of political capital) have as much to do with his lack of PR skills as the policies he has pushed since in office.

Kitchen Table Policies

Abdul and Tully are reporting on their blogs that Gov. Daniels is finding room in the budget for full day Kindergarten.

So the biggest idea Joe Kernan could come up with ends up as something like an afterthought in the Daniels Administration.

Tully asks, "does this mean the governor’s poll numbers will start moving up?"

Meanwhile, Abdul and RiShawn Biddle see more trouble on the horizon: "I'm told the Indiana State Teacher's Association is preparing to file suit against the State of Indiana arguing that schools are not adequately funded."

Gonso Reporting

Advance Indiana notes:

Gov. Daniels' chief of staff, Harry Gonso, confirmed to the Star's State House reporter, Mary Beth Schneider, that he had offered state jobs to two Democratic House members, Rep. Robert Bischoff (D-Greendale) and Rep. Vern Tincher (D-Riley).

And then cries foul, "The motivation behind Gonso's job offers to the two legislators is quite transparent. It's called bribery."

Harsh, but not unprecedented.

Life's a Mitch

For those of us unable to see today's (3/5/6) Indianapolis Star, Taking Down Words provides the front page.

She comments, "So, what does all this tell us? Not much that we didn't already know. Mitch Daniels has squandered moderate popularity to get his way, and he's done it in record time with limited results . . . In short, the Guv will have spent a whole bunch of political capital on issues that aren't really focused on the kitchen table."

Doug Masson adds his two cents, "Change for the sake of change: not necessarily popular."

'I had no clue'

The news that Portage's mayor had endorsed Gov. Mitch Daniels' "Major Moves" plan was news to him, reports Taking Down Words.

"'I read it in the newspaper,' (Portage Mayor Doug) Olson said (to the Times). 'I got an invitation to that press conference. That was it. I have no clue how they got me down for endorsing it.'"

Most popular in 5-state area

Taking Down Words writes about a recent opinion poll showing Gov. Mitch Daniels' job approval rating at 42%.

On the positive side, he's yet again not as hated as Ernie Fletcher in Kentucky or Bob "Three Out Of Four People Can't Stand Me" Taft in Ohio.

Five reasons why Mitch is good

Jezebella at Indiana Politico lists the reasons why Mitch Daniels "is not so bad."

In short, he has refused to be bought by the Crazy Evangelical faction and has focused his efforts instead on policy efforts that have already produced results. As long as he stays on this path and ceases holding Republican fundraisers in RV1, he may be on his road to being "my man" after all.

Majority of N. Indiana lawmakers oppose Toll Road plan

The majority of Northern Indiana lawmakers oppose Gov. Mitch Daniels' Toll Road lease plan as it stands today, reports Deliberate Chaos.

A joint Post-Tribune and Elkhart Truth survey of Northwest Indiana and Northern Indiana legislators found that a majority are against Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' plan. Almost all of Northwest Indiana's legislators surveyed are against or are leaning against the plan to lease the Indiana Toll Road.

Indiana State Rep. Chet Dobis, (D-Merrillville), is quoted as saying "It seems the people in my district are very much against it." Rep. Bob Kuzman, (D-Crown Point), said, "The RDA was not designed to pay for road projects and that is where we need the money."

Said Rep. Ralph Ayers, (R-Chesterton), who is leaning against the Toll Road Lease plan: "If it came up for a vote today, it wouldn't get 10 votes, but the vote is not today."

Taking Down Words has more on the Toll Road leasing plans from across the country.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram takes an in-depth look at the toll road privatization trend that's sweeping the nation right now:

"Since 2004, private companies have pledged about $35 billion to build and operate toll roads across Texas and the United States, a Star-Telegram review of proposals shows.

"That's more than the $34 billion in federal highway aid that Congress disbursed nationwide last year.

"The value of the projects, many of which are still being negotiated, astonishes even those who support toll roads. The proposals include the Trans-Texas Corridor toll road from Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio and toll express lanes on Northeast Loop 820 and Airport Freeway.

"At least 17 states are pursuing privatization of highways at some level, a compilation of reports by the Federal Highway Administration and the Reason Foundation shows. Supporters say this may be the beginning of a trend that forever changes how America pays for roads."

'Great and RDA do not belong together'

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics writes about Gov. Mitch Daniel's recent visit to Northwest Indiana to tout the Regional Development Authority.

Last week, Governor Daniels came into town. His comments served only to remind me of the continuous distortions and lies that are spewed out of the mouths of our Northwest Indiana leadership. Not that I needed his help.

Daniels talked about the great things he expects of these learned old men of NWI called the Regional Development Authority. With the Governor’s optimism at my side, I looked for the brilliant ideas these visionaries are hatching. Alas, the words great and RDA do not belong together. The mantra that they do is lie and distortion numero uno.

Tax increase suprises many

Gov. Mitch Daniels' announcement of plans to increase taxes during his State of the State speech surprised many, reports Advance Indiana, and may have caused the GOP leader to resign.

Advance Indiana was not alone in its surprise that the Governor proposed a tax increase in his State of the State address according to Jim Shella's Blog. Shella writes:

How big a surprise was the governor's call for a cigarette tax hike? It was big and especially big for Democrats. Briefings were held prior to the speech for Republicans, Democrats, and the media. Democrats heard no mention of the tax hike in their briefing and got no copies of the speech when they arrived in the chamber. They didn't know about the proposal until the words came out of the governor's mouth.

It may have also caused a shakeup in the GOP, reports Advance Indiana:

It must have been too big of a surprise for Indiana GOP Chairman Jim Kittle who we learned today has given up his position.

Taking Down Words comments on Jim Kittle's departure from the GOP leadership.

For Kittle, there's really no better time to get out than right now, given the political climate and the likelihood that Republicans aren't going to fare well this year. Wonder who's next up in the dunk tank. Anyone?

What State of the State?

Some people skipped the State of the State speech last night.

Writes Doug at Masson's Blog:

As much of a political geek as I am, I just couldn't bring myself to watch the State of the State tonight. It strikes me as basically a political infomercial, not so much conveying information as conveying the illusion of information. Typically I like reading reports on what politicians have done as opposed to reports on what they have said.

Daniels calls for tax hike

Mitch Daniels called for a tax hike in his State of the State address last night, reports Advance Indiana.

After delivering an extremely upbeat report of his administration’s first year accomplishments and its forward-looking approach to governing the state, Gov. Daniels shocked many observers, including us, by dropping a stink bomb by asking legislators to increase taxes for the second year in a row.

'Saved money and improved services'

Joshua Claybourn at Indiana Barrister reports good news for Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Thanks to Josh Whicker for tipping me off to an article in the Courier Journal titled, "Daniels stuck to promises he made in campaign." The blunt talk and willingness to go where other dared not has ruffled a few feathers, but in the end "the overhaul of state government saved money and improved services."

Mitch ranked 40th

Taking Down Words writes:

Jack Colwell of the South Bend Tribune writes about the Guv's SurveyUSA numbers and other national polls that don't bode well for Republicans this year:

"In Indiana, Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels ranked 40th among the nation's 50 governors, with a 42 percent approval rating -- 51 percent disapproving.

Adds Masson's Blog:

The regional break down is interesting. Gov. Daniels is somewhat liked in Indianapolis, but not so much anywhere else.

'Whirlwind tour' recap

Taking Down Words recaps Gov. Mitch Daniels' whirlwind trips around the state.

Mitch Daniels, nearing his one-year anniversary in office, is the subject of a great many newspaper stories today. We'll give them to you, and you can judge them for yourself ...

Economic development news

Mitch Daniels' economic development efforts have generated posts from Indiana bloggers.

Advance Indiana reports:

Figures released by the Daniels’ administration today indicate that the State’s economic development efforts in the first year of Gov. Daniels’ term more than doubled the efforts of the previous 2 years of the O’Bannon-Kernan administrations. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation reports that successful opportunities during 2005 will result in the creation of 18,500 new jobs and the retention of 47,000 more jobs, which is more than double the number of projects closed by the state in 2003 and 2004 combined.  ...

The release included a map of the state showing just where all the projects were landed. Indeed, they do reach all corners of the state; however, there are notable clusters in the Indianapolis metropolitan area and northern Indiana. There doesn’t seem to be a lot going on in the far western and far eastern counties of the central part of the state, or in Lake County, the state’s second largest county.

Taking Down Words opines:

Prospective employee: "Hello, I'm here to apply for one of the 18,500 new jobs your state created last year."

IEDC: "Right, well, take a number. And check back in 2009."

Does anyone else find it odd that the state is bragging about closing deals that won't yield any jobs in the immediate future?

Silvercrest battle looms

A battle looms over the future of the Silvercrest Children's Development Center threatened with closure by the state, reports Taking Down Words.  Parents of children at the center and the employees' union have filed suit to stop the governor's closure plan.  Also, the Democrats plan a news conference this Friday.

Asks TDW:

Anyone out there with a better understanding of the legal issues care to comment? Can the Governor perform an end-run around the General Assembly on this one?

How many people watched?

Critiques of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniel's town hall meeting are still being made by the media.  Taking Down Words asks an important question.

Here's a question to which we'll never know the answer: How many people actually watched the Guv's performance?

Was it about the decorations?

Was "The 2006 Decorator's Show House" about the decorators or the governor's mansion?  The fundraiser for a children's hospital was cancelled for the first time in 45 years after decorators and the governor's people disagreed over control of the decor.

Liberal Indiana has some thoughts:

Governor Daniels goes on to say “this one year it was supposed to be about the home and not about the decorators.”

Okay Guv, may I remind you of the event’s title? Here it is in really big letters just for you:

The 2006 Decorators’ Show House

It was always about the decorators. Your “renovation commission” should have known better than to try and sell it to you any other way.

ED blues

Taking Down Words is talking about ED today.  No, not the kind that former GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole made famous.  A battle is brewing over eminent domain and Mitch Daniels is in the center of the whirlwind.

Writes Taking Down Words:

Hey, state government, why would you file a lawsuit to eminent domain the N.K. Hurst building on the last day of 2005?

Uh, because we're afraid of the General Assembly, and when we took over this stadium project earlier this year, we didn't realize we'd actually run into pitfalls along the way.

Wrong answer. And certainly not what you tell a Star reporter. ...

If Mitch Daniels' top priority really is economic development, maybe he shouldn't be at the helm trying to beat down one of the Circle City's oldest companies, pissing off Republican lawmakers across the state in the process. Whatever happens, the stadium authority should fire its PR firm for terrible talking points on this one.

Tracy Warner weighs in on the issue:

An Indianapolis government agency is filing suit to acquire land that has been home to a family owned bean company for nearly 70 years -- legal action that is sure to inflame the coming legislative debate over eminent domain. ...

I doubt the Republican-controlled legislature will do anything to hurt the stadium project, which Gov. Mitch Daniels supports.

Adds Abdul Hakim-Shabazz at Indiana Barrister:

I also learned that in a letter addressed to NK Hurst, the Authority said the suit was also being filed because the Indiana General Assembly may change the law on eminent domain to make it tougher for local governments to take private property. And they want to make sure the current law applies to this litigation. That may backfire because I've spoken to two state lawmakers today who are furious with the authority and are not only adamant about passing a tougher eminent domain law, but also are considering making it retroactive.

NWI loses out again

The state's second most populous region, Northwest Indiana, missed out on the governor's town hall meeting last Wednesday because no Chicago media outlets covered the event, reports Taking Down Words.

This was despite the fact that Merrillville's PBS affiliate, WYIN Channel 56/DT-17, is available to viewers in a 65+ mile radius with its 1.35 million watt transmitter and also on satellite to Northwest Indiana viewers.

From WYIN's website:

WYIN came into existence because WTTW, the Chicago PBS station, declined to be inclusive of Northwest Indiana in its local programming and public affairs efforts, thus PBS56 was founded to give the region its only broadcast television voice for local news, sports, cultural events and community issues. WYIN remains this "sole source" today.

TDW quotes a Times editorial on the topic:

"'On the television side, technically, you are part of the Chicago market, and as far as we know there was no interest from anyone in Chicago,' said Kevin Finch, WISH-TV assistant news director.

Deliberate Chaos writes:

I wonder if anyone in Indianapolis ever thought to contact WYIN to see if they'd be interested in the governor's tall hall meeting?

'Conversations' with Mitch

Just in time for your Wednesday night television viewing pleasure: "Ask the Governor: A Conversation with Mitch Daniels."

Doug at Masson's Blog has the information:

According to the Marion Chronicle Tribune, WIBC, Network Indiana, and WISH-TV will be coordinating "Ask the Governor: A Conversation with Mitch Daniels." The title is goofy -- reminiscent of a Barbara Walters special or something, but the idea is good.

It will take place tomorrow night (Wednesday 12/28/05 at 8:00 p.m.)

New Year's resolutions

Liberal Indiana has some ideas for Mitch Daniel's New Year's resolutions.

I wanted to suggest a few resolutions for my friend Governor Mitch Daniels to consider. Since moving back to Indiana from Washington D.C. to run for governor, Mitch Daniels has had more than his share of rough patches and missteps. Perhaps with a little bit of refinement, 2006 will be a better year for the governor and all Hoosiers.

Is it an increase or decrease?

Is a 2% pay raise for state employees a pay raise or a pay cut?  Jezebella at Indiana Politico has some thoughts.

In order for this reward structure to work, the percentage increase to be given to those that “at least meet expectations” must be greater than or equal to the current inflation rate.  Anything less is a punishment (as is the current increase), and we should not be punishing employees that meet expectations.

Mitch unpopular?

Taking Down Words has the latest Mitch Daniels polling numbers.

New SurveyUSA data are out. Daniels' approval rating slipped two points to 42 percent; his disapproval stayed constant at 51 percent.

Don't spend it all in one place

State employees' cost of living raises are the subject of Taking Down Words' commentary.

I hope 2006 can be as productive as 2005 has been. By which I mean that you should sock away every dime of that $400 raise, because you just never know when I'll find an out-of-state company that can do your same job for half the cost and none of the benefits. In fact, you, over there in the corner, your job's actually listed on eBay right now.

Set them free

Gov. Mitch Daniels pardoned 13 people recently. Doug at  Masson's Blog has the full details.

Don't be fooled again?

Taking Down Words warns us against "insourcing" of foreign investment:

Conservatives, always fond of a good buzz word, call this "insourcing." They say, hey, we need to stop the bleeding with respect to companies going elsewhere, so we'll fling wide our doors to foreign investment.  Unfortunately, insourcing rarely creates new jobs, and quite often it destroys existing ones. That's not what Hoosiers want to see, and it's not what our Governor should be pushing.

Lawmakers, listen up. He fooled you once on the time zone issue. Don't let it happen again.

Courage

Taking Down Words hears some government employees are rebelling against their boss.

Props for courage and working late to the two state employees parked in the surface lot with "Not My Man" bumper stickers on their vehicles. Nice work, anonymous public servants. That's the First Amendment in action. Express thyself freely, friends.

Daniels' schools plan

Gov. Mitch Daniels has set two priorities for education reform: school deregulation and consolidation of purchases and services, reports Masson's Blog.

The draft legislation has not yet been released, and the devil, as always, is in the details (not, as some would have you believe, in the evolution curriculum). Still, as general matters, those sound like good ideas.

Speed kills?

Is the toll road lease idea moving too fast?

Taking Down Words cites the example of a California toll road lease plan that didn't work out in Orange County.  The government subsequently bought back its express lanes for $207.5 million when the highway needed $1.6 billion in improvements.

Opines Taking Down Words:

Thankfully, it seems to TDW like more media are picking up on and reporting about the pace on this process. There's a meeting tomorrow for potential contractors at the Statehouse, and the Governor will be pushing for legislative approval in a matter of weeks.

This is a huge deal, and we think it's moving way too fast. You know, considering it's a decision that would give control over our state's largest asset to a foreign company for period of time that could be as long as 99 years.

Tick Tock

Mitch Daniels writes one little letter and everyone wants to talk about it: Taking Down Words, Masson's Blog, Leo Morris

COMING SOON NOW: Time Zone Fatigue

Hail to the Guv

My Man Mitch for President?

Indiana in the Spotlight

George Will wrote a column on Mitch Daniels in Sunday's Washington Post.

So, what is it about Indiana? As the home of Danielsism, and of Penceism, it -- with its bought, not rented, BMV floor mats -- is the wave of the future.

Not surprisingly, a lot of Indiana bloggers had an opinion on the column: Torpor Indy, Masson's Blog, Taking Down Words, Deliberate Chaos, Leo Morris

Stewart Gets Sagamore

Taking Down Words on NASCAR champion Tony Stewart getting a Sagamore of the Wabash:

Nothing against NASCAR, but aren't Sagamores, under the watchful eye of Gov. Mitch Daniels, supposed to be handed out judiciously?

Flash back to May 22: "'The governor is trying to restore the luster of the Sagamore,' said Jane Jankowski, Daniels' press secretary."

It's great that Stewart has brought honor and glory to Indiana with his recent victory, but what about, say, Peyton Manning or Reggie Miller or the winner of the Indianapolis 500 each year?

RELATED: Tony Stewart needs an anger management refresher

A Correction

Jim Shella:

Here's a new use for this blog:  a correction.  On Indiana Week in Review last Friday we had a discussion of the Daniels Administration discovery of uncashed checks in the Department of Tourism.  I said that the governor first misstated the total of the checks and I posed the question:  Should the governor check his facts?  He did, at least that one.  It turns out that the error was mine.  Should I check my facts?  It is a priority right now.  I apologize for the error.

To the Bench

Indiana Law Blog posts a list of new court appointments by Gov. Daniels.

Daniels Blogging

Advance Indiana: Guv the most popular of the unpopular

Law Requires Gov to Support St. Joe County?

Masson's Blog:

Every so often, I like to read the legislation passed by the General Assembly. I'd advise the Governor to do the same. The bill that will bring Daylight Saving Time to Indiana is Enrolled Act, Senate Bill 0127 signed by the Governor on May 13, 2005. SECTION 1. of the act states "The state supports the county executive of any county that seeks to change the time zone in which the county is located under the procedures established by federal law."

Governor Daniels, however, is pressuring the St. Joseph County Commissioners to drop their request.  I have no idea how it would work out, but I'd argue that this gives the St. Joseph County Commissioners and possibly state representatives standing to go to court to ask for an injunction prohibiting implementation of the law[...]

But, whatever the potential merits of a court case, I think Gov. Daniels is clearly violating the law. He is supposed to support the petitioning county commissioners of St. Joseph County. Instead he is opposing them to support the non-petitioning commissioners of Elkhart County.

PREVIOUSLY: Masson and the Logansport time zone hearing

Not Loving Daniels

Making its way around the Indiana blogosphere: Not My Man, an anti-Mitch Daniels website.

Daniels and Time Zones

Masson's Blog says Gov. Daniels isn't being straight with the New York Times when he denies coming out in favor of the state going to Central Time during his campaign.

ALSO: Masson outlines the argument he plans to make at today's time zone hearing in Logansport.

UPDATE: The Indy Star reports on the hearing

UPDATE UPDATE: Taking Down Words on the Indy Star story