Indiana

Sunday Stuff

Posted on July 19, 2009
I had a busy Saturday so there’s not a whole lot to chat about this morning, but I can tell you the following. According to IMPD, arrests and curfew violations were somewhat up for the second Saturday of Indiana Black Expo.  While more than 2008 there not as many as 2007...

See What I Have to Deal With

Posted on July 18, 2009
I got this e-mail (unedited) the other day following a discussion on the morning show regarding race and America’s growing minority population. Yes it will be a great day when the minorities are in power. Let’s say that it’s 51% black and hispanic to 49% caucasian...

100 Years of the NAACP, and That?s More Than Enough

Posted on July 17, 2009
When my great aunt turned 100 years old, I asked her how she managed to stay alive for so long.   She said, “a cocktail everyday, a good attitude and never being afraid of change.”  She passed away a few years ago, but she was a woman full of life who could inspire you to [...

Not So Bad Minton

Posted on July 17, 2009
District 15 City-County Councilor Doris Minton Mcneil was acquitted this afternoon of four counts of resisting arrest and shoving a police officer following an incident when she was allegedly intoxicated at her home in June 2008. Judge Annie Christ-Garcia did not comment as to why Minton-McNeil was acquitted but it probably didn’t hurt that Christ-Garica is [...

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Sex Offenders in the City

Posted on July 16, 2009
Some days these blog posts just write themselves.   The town of Lebanon is looking at passing a ban on sex offenders in the parks. While similar bans have withstood legal challenges (sex offenders are not a protected class), the people of Lebanon are  lulling themselves into a  false sense of security if they think this ban [...

Mitch et al.

Posted on July 15, 2009
Governor Mitch Daniels and I chatted briefly Tuesday at the Governor’s Reception for Indiana Black Expo.   I asked him about FSSA and the state halting the IBM contract,  changes in Indiana prisons, local government cutbacks and the “Mitch for President” chatter...

Question of the Day

Posted on July 14, 2009
I am feeling a bit philosophical today so I have to ask with all the recent financial news, “Has capitalism failed or did we fail capitalism?”  I point to several financial stories in the news today. Goldman Sachs Executives sold $700 million following the collapse of Lehman Brothers with most of the sales coming from the [...

Ballard 2.0?

Posted on July 13, 2009
There’s been quite a bit of speculation about the future of incumbent Mayor Greg Ballard.  Although the Mayor still has 2 and 1/2 years left in his term, Democrats are already speculating about who will be their standard bearer.  Not a day goes by when some blogger isn’t commenting about counting the days until Ballard [...

Act Your Age

Posted on July 12, 2009
I played master of ceremonies last night to the National Federation of Young Republicans award ceremony here in Indianapolis.   Overall, they were like a lot of young people in political parties; a lot of energy and a lot of ideas.   And they approach politics with spark of wide-eyed optimism and a sprinkle of naivette that [...

The Government You Deserve

Posted on July 11, 2009
I thought I’d put together a nice little list of the 60+ taxing districts in Marion County for your amusement, entertainment, and hopefully outrage.  Enjoy. Indianapolis Center Beech Grove Center Decatur Outside Indianapolis Decatur Indpls Decatur Police & SSD Outside Sanitation IndplsDecatur Police &Fire SSD Inside Sanitation Franklin Outside Beech [...

Black, White and Not Read All Over

Posted on July 10, 2009
If  anyone doesn’t think life is tough in the newspaper world is tough, go talk to the more than three dozen people laid off this week at the Indianapolis Star. The Star is a victim of a number of factors, but I’ve always wondered in the 21st Century is there still a need for a daily [...

The Taxman Cometh

Posted on July 09, 2009
Property taxes are due today.   If you’re in Marion County you’re paying your 2008 reconciliation bill.   Although 65% of property taxpayers saw either a decrease or no change in their property tax bills, 35%  saw an increase. And while I don’t think repealing property taxes will work, I firmly believe that if you want [...

White Paper

Posted on July 09, 2009
I promised on WXNT-AM the other day that if I found my copy of Dr. Eugene White’s contract I would post it. Here it is. eugene-white-ips-agreement

Don?t Blame the White Guy

Posted on July 08, 2009
I hope you are sitting down for this blog post, but I am about to defend Indianapolis Public School Superintendent Eugene White. I know it surprised me too, especially since Dr. White has made some rather unflattering public remarks in the past regarding yours truly, but someone has to be the adult in the room...

Let He Who Is Without Sin?

Posted on July 07, 2009
Michael Jackson is getting buried today and hopefully all the media hoopla will be put in the ground with him.   It’s no big secret MJ had some “issues” at best, but some of the comments are just silly.   The chatter class has been going on and on about Jackson, however if you look [...

The Not So Secret Service

Posted on July 07, 2009
I’m getting the details right now, but apparently the U.S. Secret Service is paying a visit to a Plainfield man right now over an e-mail he forwarded saying someone needs to “take out” Barack Obama. I don’t have the e-mail yet or the name, but I’m understand the Secret Service was at the man’s house for [...

Palin-Tology

Posted on July 06, 2009
To be honest, I never fully got Sarah Palin.   Now all you anti-Obama people can go into your usual rants but I frankly could care less this morning. However, when she announced she getting out of politics, for now, I was scratching my head because her reasons weren’t adding up...

Sunday Morning Post

Posted on July 05, 2009
I’ve been taking it easy this weekend, but still managed to pick up a few tidbits here and there.  Personally, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop regarding soon to be former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.  No one quits their job with more than 18 months left in their term on a holiday weekend [...

Pre-4th of July Follies

Posted on July 03, 2009
I’m not going to spend too much time here today.  I’ve got the day off and plan to spend it getting caught up on some much needed sleep.  But as I was on the Interstate yesterday I heard numerous stories about how small towns were cancelling their 4th of July celebrations because they were short [...

Nobody Wants to CIB

Posted on July 02, 2009
Mitch Daniels and Pat Bauer did not agree on much over the past six months, but one thing both men agree on is neither one of them wants to deal with Capital Improvement Board issue next session. I’m paraphrasing here, but Daniels said “as long as he’s Governor, he never wants to see another CIB bill...

Some Will Win, Some Will Lose?

Posted on July 01, 2009
You know how the rest of the song goes.  So now that the special session is over, we go down the list of the major players and figure who won and who will live to fight another day.  So with all that said… Governor Mitch Daniels Big Winner!  He got the budget he wanted and kept the [...

CIB F-up (That?s Follow Up)

Posted on June 30, 2009
As lawmakers get ready to vote on a budget today, there’s some question over whether the plan to address to the Capital Improvement Board’s shortfall is actually legal. Under the plan the city would borrow $27 million from the state over the next three years to cover operating expenses, however that money would be paid back [...

Red-Letter Day

Posted on June 30, 2009
Here’s the furlough letter… Dear  Co-Worker: I apologize that I am only just now communicating with you, but I have held off at the request of state legislators who are working to reach a budget compromise before the fiscal year ends tonight...

Consider Yourself Warned

Posted on June 30, 2009
An e-mail from the Governor’s Office warning of furloughs has just gone out to Indiana state employees.  I am working to get a copy of it now. Lawmakers are still saying they will be able  to get  a budget passed but this is not a good sign. Stay tuned.

The Last Day

Posted on June 30, 2009
I’m on the floor of the House of Representatives waiting for lawmakers to get started.  They are milling around on the floor, but haven’t gotten started yet. My prediction is the budget will pass 65-35, with 45 Republicans voting “yes” and only 20 Democrats...

?Republican-Flavored? Budget Leaves Bad Taste in House Democrats Mouth

Posted on June 30, 2009
Only a handful of Democrats joined almost all Republicans in the Indiana House of Representatives to pass a budget that was the center of a storm which nearly led to a government shutdown. The final vote was  62 to 37 .  All 48 Republicans voted yes, joined by 14 Democrats...

Countdown to a Shutdown?

Posted on June 29, 2009
Indiana lawmakers continue to work today in order to reach a budget agreement by tomorrow. Lawmakers have been at odds over school funding, charter schools, and the Capital Improvement Board. Both Republican and Democratic sources involved in the budget talks tell me progress is being made, however the question is whether they can make enough progress to [...

33 Hours and Counting

Posted on June 29, 2009
The House has adjourned until 6 p.m., but not before Speaker Pat Bauer offered up a few thoughts on the last hour budget negotiations. He says they are making progress, but still won’t say whether lawmakers can meet tomorrow’s midnight deadline...

We Have a Deal, In Theory

Posted on June 29, 2009
House Speaker Pat Bauer says there’s a budget deal, but he cautions, “it’s in theory.” The House will vote on the budget tomorrow.  The Senate could take up the measure  tonight.  Bauer would not reveal a lot of details, however he says the budget funds education and avoids massive teacher layoffs...

Beat The Odds

Posted on June 28, 2009
Here’s what I can tell you about the chances of a government shutdown from my sources close to the negotiations. Democrats think they have a 50-50 shot at getting a budget passed. Republicans think there’s an 80-20 chance the government shuts down on Tuesday...

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