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Thursday’s Thoughts

For some strange reason, I picked up quite a few tidbits of interesting gossip, rumor and blatant innuendo Wednesday.  So instead of keeping it all to myself, I decided to share.   It must be the socialist in me who creeps out every once in a while.  So without further adieu…

The state revenue numbers are out later today.   I can’t tell you what the exact numbers are, but it’s a lot worse than anyone imagined.  One Daniels’ administration official told me, “it’s really ugly.”  The figures should be out by 10:30 this morning.

Marion County Democratic Party Chairman Ed Treacy is drawing fire from African-American radio talk show host Amos Brown.  Treacy is reportedly attempting to craft a rule that says any candidate who challenges the slate and loses can’t be slated for six years.  Not only does Brown argue that rule could negatively impact Black candidates (i.e. Jose Evans, Mark Brown) , which I tend to agree which is scary enough, but it may also run afoul of state party rules which I’m told forbid county parties from banning “bonafide” Democrats from running for the slate.

Speaking of candidates, I’m trying to figure out if the Melina Kennedy campaign has its headquarters at the law offices of Baker & Daniels.  An Internet check of  melinakennedy.com shows it’s registered at 300 N. Meridian, the  address of B & D.

And while we’re on the subject of candidates, soon to be Democratic Sheriff candidate  John Layton is apparently getting demoted in the Marion County Sheriff’s department.  It’s not that he did anything bad I’m told.  But Layton’s position in the department allegedly violated the Hatch Act which forbids local officials whose jobs are federally funded from running for public office.  Thus, the removal from the position.  I’ll have to check and see if a pay cut comes along with new job.

And in case you were wondering where the GOP gossip was, there wasn’t much the other day.   The only thing I picked up is that if a total smoking ban passes, Libertarians are promising to recruit candidates against Republican City-County Council members in 2011.  The L’s may not be able to win, but they could tip the balance in close Districts giving a victory to Democrats.

That’s all for now folks.  If  I’m missing anything  you know how to get a hold of me.

Posted: 10|8|09 at 6:00 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
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  • Think Again

    Truly depressing budget news, Abdul. Thanks for the morning juice.

    I'm guessing you're talking about revenue only. I'd be interested to know if all the budget cuts promoted by the governor, have taken place.

    Budgets are about income and expenses. If the income is down yet again, we need to adjust expenses immediately.

    Stand back and watch that fireworks. He's already demolished one of the bigger budget-eaters–FSSA. Less staff money there, meant perks for his buds and one of the worst service records in America.

    Some govt. functions are so important, you might actually need more folks in tough times. Others–well, some can go away completely.

  • John Howard

    Perhaps the real 'rainy day' is now upon us.

    Fortunately cooler heads prevailed even though a few pessimists went Chicken Little on us at the sight of a few scattered showers during the past two sessions of the GA.

  • IndyErnie

    Abdul what do you hear about Minton-McNeil’s leave of absence? It's been two months with that seat empty. Has she completed rehab? Is she returning? Are the democrats going to seat another to that district? A lot of questions and few answers coming from the left. What have you heard?

  • IndyErnie

    Abdul what do you hear about Minton-McNeil’s leave of absence? It's been two months with that seat empty. Has she completed rehab? Is she returning? Are the democrats going to seat another to that district? A lot of questions and few answers coming from the left. What have you heard?

  • John Howard

    Maybe they're waiting until Patrice reestablishes his residency requirement? ;-)

  • pascal

    A budget is only a spending plan. Having a guv who can see past the end of his nose is a great blessing for Indiana not only in retrospect but in prospect. Those who were on the other side, that is, willing to spend all sorts of money they didn't have-they need to be de selected regardless of their party. There is still plenty of fat in government schools if one merely began with the idea that no dollar will be spent in them that does not return a dollar's worth of value.

  • luisag

    I just checked the melina kennedy link mentioned above, where does it say B&D? In either event, who cares??? Can you please post something a bit more newsworthy than where internet names are registered!

  • Rico

    Haven't you heard, Ernie? Doris is gearing up to run for Mayor.

  • Indiana_Barrister

    Apparently someone must have cared enough to change the address after I wrote about. It's been listed as 300 N. Meridian for the last few days. I'll have to see if I still have a cached copy somewhere on one of my computers.

  • John Howard

    It's rather astonishing that Iquest assigned a unique IP address to her domain (which is currently offline). 'Unique' in that there are no other sites hosted on that address.

    The cached page image is still the old 'for prosecutor' page and whois lists a PO box when I look at it.

  • luisag

    Ok SuperSleuth! Presumptious as well! If this was so impt, why did you wait 3 days to post this earth shattering, groundbreaking bit of info? Oh my god, check this link: http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-search/in… It is listed under a proxy!!!! Someone is hiding something! Ok, I'm just giving you a bit of a hard time, but seriously….was that really news!!?!? Now forget the cached copies on your HD and go make me a double cappuccino….

  • Indiana_Barrister

    It's political gossip. Actually, I wasn't going to give it much thought. Now it makes me wonder why they changed it. Is someone hiding something, or did someone at the firm do a crackdown?

  • unigov

    I think it's funny that the Libertarians are going off the hook over an issue like workplace smoking. Not the $650 milion in tax money that went to build Lucas Oil Stadium, or Ballard's shenanigans on the old AFNB site redevelopment, or the CIB mismanagement. No, the Libs are gonna go to war over smoking in bars. I've been to a few bars in Plainfield where smoking was banned a while back, and it is WONderful. The bars are just as busy as they ever were, and when you get home, you don't have to throw your clothes in the washer !

    Good reporting, Abdul, it's fascinating to see the behind the scenes stuff you cover and I appreciate your ability to being these things out in the open more.

  • seanshepard

    Was Unigov born yesterday?

    Libertarians did go off the hook on Lucas Oil Stadium, but arguably had a smaller and maybe less organized Marion County presence at the time. Libertarians were all over the CIB bailout and mismanagement garbage, I personally appreciated the Libertarians being invited by Chairman Lutz (R) to speak before his committee on that subject. Unfortunately, the Chicken Little crowd won that battle.

    A few years ago at some of the (not directly party functions – just social in nature) Libertarian MeetUp group we would get five to eight people. In the last year there have been up to 30 or 35 attendees and the group recently split into a North Side and South Side group (check out MeetUp.com for details). Tim Maguire has been very active as the Marion County Chair, there is a core group of bright and active people and there is now even a Libertarian Party City Councilor.

    At a recent (July 31?) Friedman Foundation event downtown where State School Superintendent Tony Bennett (R) spoke, and I think Councilor Ben Hunter's (R) wife was one of the organizers, the LP Exec. Director Chris Spangle took home the prize for bringing the most people to the event and, the LPMC filled more than four tables (40+ people) at the Stossel / Economics Club event this week.

    And, don't try and and shift what we're talking about to 'work place smoking' … we're talking about smoking in bars. This is a property rights and freedom of association issue. There are already smoke-free establishments either voluntarily or by government edict. A complete and total ban is wholly unnecessary. Bar owners should decide based on what brings in the most business for them whether to allow or not allow smoking in their establishment. Getting the government to intervene is weak, organizing a bunch of people who will promise to give business to establishments that go smoke free (and then back up the promise) would be the correct, free market way to accomplish something.

    The smoking thing is just continuing to prove that SOME Republicans on the council aren't REALLY for small, unobtrusive government and low-taxes. In fact, Vernon Brown (D – 18th) has voted better than every single one of the Republicans. But, it always helps being the opposition to whatever tax increases or tyranny those in power want to bring forward.

    For what it is worth, Christine Scales (R – 4th) has the best voting record of the Republicans and is proving to be someone who is really trying to do her own homework on issues and do the right things. As you would expect, none of them are perfect though and that's understandable.

  • Think Again

    Double-check Ms. Scales. She's not exactly setting her district on fire, in zoning cases and on other issues. And she can be kinda snotty.

  • Fact Checker

    You have stooped low when you start to make fun of people because of medical conditions……..if you don't like the representation in that district, run a republican for the seat……

  • IndyErnie

    Sean I don't know where you are getting your information on Brown. I live in district 18 and I know for a fact that D's and R's in 18 are aware of Brown’s total disregard of our needs. A democrat neighbor of mine who has always supported his party is considering challenging Brown for his seat. Why? Because Brown won't respond to a constituents letter, call or e-mail… even if its from a fellow democrat. When Brown is cornered and asked for help on any issue he refers his constituents to the Mayor Action Line. Brown’s worthless. Brown votes as instructed by Ed Tracy, Sanders and Gray. The only reason we know Brown is on the council is because of his snide remarks towards other public safety officers.
    Did you forget that Brown was the councilor who sponsored Peterson’s 65% tax increase? You give Brown more credit than he deserves.

  • seanshepard

    Ernie and TA…

    Brown voted against the tax increase, against the first amendment restrictions, against sewer rate increases and against transferring money to the state for services without an appropriate and detailed invoice which pushed his score up higher than almost anyone else on the council.

    On Scales, she stands out above the rest of the Republicans for having voted against the tax increase and was fighting till the end to try and find alternatives. I also know she is opposing Ben Hunter's recent drive off the deep end relative to his nutty support for a blanket smoking ban in all bars.

    The ILA will have the mid-term ratings (basically though August) out soon.

  • IndyErnie

    Sean are you and I thinking of the same tax increase? Brown sponsored the 65% coit tax for the Peterson administration. After being responsible for that disaster he needed to vote against a few tax increases. It will take a lot of votes to undue what he did to us.
    As far as constituent service he ranks at the bottom of the list. Bottom line when constituent services are considered he sucks.

  • seanshepard

    I don't have rating information for prior years, just starting in 2009. On the Rs some are better (Scales, Lutz, Plowman) than others. Just going by the major, significant votes not the daily little stop signs, street lights, internal rules stuff.

    And, consider this Ernie, the Republicans control the council and would certainly Coleman's (L) vote for this as well … Why haven't the Republican repeal the 62 percent of that 65 that is still left? You're slamming Brown, and rightfully so, for the tax increase under Peterson.

    Well, we have a Republican council and a Republican mayor. We're waiting for them to “undo” it. At least give back the third of that that the State absorbed (if memory serves with the 'city pensions bailout' ??)

    Yeah, not holding my breath. There are a few good ones; but, we saw it at the Federal level under Bush and Republican Congress and now at the city level under the same. No significant retraction from the size, scope and cost of government (at least that isn't recessional revenue decline related)… just more of the same. Next.

  • IndyErnie

    Sean This council was seated in 2008. Without including 2008 that data is flawed.
    The proposal hasn't been repealed because of the language and because it has a… sunshine date? Someone with a legal mind will have to go more into detail, this is over my head.
    How does Ed Coleman fit in here, overall where does he stand?

  • seanshepard

    It's just an annual thing, nobody was doing it in 2008. It's like the Congressional report that comes out and shows only 3 Congressmen and 1 Senator voted 100% Constitutionally.

    That report is here: http://www.thenewamerican.com/files/Freedom_Ind…

    The release on the council evaluation is being held up on figuring out what to do with a bunch of stupid political speech rules. Volunteers spending $12 to register a web site probably can be fined thousands of dollars if they dare exercise their 1st Amendment rights to free speech about candidates.

    If memory serves, the (or some) Republicans (or others) could help themselves a bunch by making sure they would quit voting for transfers of public/taxpayer money to private organizations like 'the arts' or under the guise of 'crime prevention grants' to churches and stuff.

  • IndyErnie

    Sean This council was seated in 2008. Without including 2008 that data is flawed.
    The proposal hasn't been repealed because of the language and because it has a… sunshine date? Someone with a legal mind will have to go more into detail, this is over my head.
    How does Ed Coleman fit in here, overall where does he stand?

  • seanshepard

    It's just an annual thing, nobody was doing it in 2008. It's like the Congressional report that comes out and shows only 3 Congressmen and 1 Senator voted 100% Constitutionally.

    That report is here: http://www.thenewamerican.com/files/Freedom_Ind…

    The release on the council evaluation is being held up on figuring out what to do with a bunch of stupid political speech rules. Volunteers spending $12 to register a web site probably can be fined thousands of dollars if they dare exercise their 1st Amendment rights to free speech about candidates.

    If memory serves, the (or some) Republicans (or others) could help themselves a bunch by making sure they would quit voting for transfers of public/taxpayer money to private organizations like 'the arts' or under the guise of 'crime prevention grants' to churches and stuff.

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