Home

Join

Main Menu



blog advertising is good for you
Powered by Disqus

Links

Like IB

«
»

Thursday’s Thoughts

Here’s the latest gossip, rumor and innuendo coming from the Capitol.  Do with it what you will…

There’s a lot of speculation about what happened in the impromptu meeting Wednesday afternoon between House Speaker Brian Bosma and Democratic leader Pat Bauer.   Bauer was in town for a “personnel issue” that involved the four legislative leaders and while he was here he asked Bosma if they could meet.  The topic of discussion was the bill offered by State Representative Bill Davis on project labor agreements and local government construction projects.  In the hour-long meeting Bauer reportedly sought some “clarification” on issues regarding the bill.  The belief is that absentee Democrats are looking any minor concession they can get in order to declare victory and return back to Indiana.  The walkout is entering into its 32nd day.

The Indiana State Senate and Libertarian Party of Indiana (LPIN) are  investigating an e-mail they say is a hoax regarding correspondence that alleges communication between State Senator Connie Lawson and a member of the LPIN regarding the marriage amendment.  The e-mail that has Lawson’s name attached to it  threatened the Libertarians if they don’t back off their public opposition to the amendment.  Senate President Pro Tem David Long called the e-mail a fake and is doing an investigation.  State Police may be brought in.  Libertarians say they tried to bring the e-mail to the Republicans attention a while back, but they had no luck until they went public with their complaint.  A late news release by the LPIN to members said the e-mail was a hoax and they said both they and Senator Lawson are victims.  A similar hoax e-mail went out a couple weeks ago involving the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Tony Bennett.

Don’t be surprised if you see an ethics complaint filed against the Indiana Democratic Party over its covering of the costs for absentee Democrats in Illinois. There’s a question as to whether contributions to the Party to pay for the hotel rooms is coming from any lobbyists of political action committees which would run afoul of state law.  Frankly, I’m surprised Indiana Democrats haven’t disclosed their list of donors to put this all to bed, especially with the noise they’ve been making lately about indicted financier Tim Durham.  And I’m even more surprised that Common Cause of Indiana hasn’t put out a release calling for more transparency and openness about the donors.

And before I forget, come join me tonight for Cocktails and Conversation and Dunaways at 351 S. East.  It’s from 5-8.  Our guests will House Ways and Means Chairman Jeff Espich and House Floor Leader Bill Friend with the latest on what’s been going on under the Capitol Dome.

Posted: 03|24|11 at 6:00 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
Follow this entry via RSS 2.0. Comment | Trackback

  • Turk182

    Again I will ask, Are those democrat State Reps, who work for the State of Indiana getting a paycheck while there in Illinois?

    Abdul, you work for Ivy Tech, can you find this out?

  • varangianguard

    T182, whether anyone is getting paid for their “day job” while the Legislature is in session may be a pointless line of inquiry.
    Why?
    Cases might vary, but for Ivy Tech, I would imagine that those legislators’ contracts contain stipulations regarding pay while the legislature is session. For those employed in local school districts, there may well be contractual leave available (that may include pay, or not) for those employees who are state legislators. Something similar might well apply as well for those employed in city or county governments across the state.
    I really doubt that any of the above possibilities include language defining whether or not a legislator actually has to be sitting “in chambers” (since most rarely do, as much of their “work” involves duties outside of the main chambers).

    Still, if you want legislators to punch a time clock, then perhaps that is what you should be lobbying for? If you don’t like that some may be getting their usual salaries while the legilature is in session, then follow where that leads you. Just don’t be surprised when you hit a wall. Repeatedly.

  • cynical sam

    Ah, the Libertarians. The problem is I don’t know if I wish to vote for them of adopt them. They are so cute and cudly. Which is their biggest problem. They are so reasonable and likeable in an arena of the worst sort of scum. Like bringing a toothpick to a knife fight. Tho if they became as decadent and evil as the dems/repubs they would lose all their attraction. Quite the quandry.

  • Dave

    “At the Copa, Champaign-Urbana, the hot tub spot east of Havana (IL), here at the Copa…”

    Apologies in advance, as some may find themselves thinking of that melody, all day.

    Meanwhile, an optics sculpted return of Illiana’s prodigal sums, is more likely to be met with foot tapping than open arms.

  • Think Again

    Barry Manilow is now stuck in my mind ALL DAMNED DAY. Thanks, Dave, for nothing.

    Q: Why are so many folks so damned concerned wtih who’s paying some hotel bills in Illinois? If it’s not public money, why should you care? If it’s campaign committee money, it’ll be part of future PAC reports. Although our campaign finance and lobbying laws are pretty pathetic.

    It’s like complaining about a car radio that’s broken, when the car won’t start anyway.

    FOREST FOR THE TREES, FOLKS!

  • Libertarian Ghost Hunter

    As usual, the Libertarian Party extremists knee-jerked their reaction on the assumption that the original email was valid and blasted the Republicans without ever walking into the Repub.’s office for final confirmation or denial. Advance Indiana has a great time frame on how this unfolded.
    What is funny (sadly) is that LP.’s Sam Goldstein found it necessary to blurt out “We are a bona fide political party”. Isn’t it amazing that they need to constantly remind themselves of this. Then went into a tirade in opposition to the marriage amendment, claiming “Republicans that their legislative duty is to defend rights, not control behavior.”
    Excuse me, but the Republican Party needs no lectures or diatribes from knee-jerk extremists who are looking for an excuse to pounce negatively on anything that moves, whether legit or not. Even after Jeff Papa sent Goldstein a message that it appeared to be a hoax, some commentors on AI’s site, including ex-Libertarian Marion County Chair, Tim Maguire, claimed it was NOT a forgery and later rescinded that conclusion. Again, they assumed the worse and without solid proof then jumped on the bash’em bandwagon. All of this resulted in an apology to Sen.Lawson and the ‘inconvenience this may have caused’.
    Absolutely hilarious if it weren’t so pathetic.
    And these people want you to take them seriously while chasing ghosts.

  • Think Again

    I was told the Libs asked multiple times for face-time with the senator, and were denied. That’s allegedly why they went public.

    Sounds reasonable. I’ve dealt with Sen. Lawson a few times. She’s not that arrogant. Still…

    True?

  • Libertarian Ghost Hunter

    Moot point. One does not send out emails for someone compelled to reply. (and if they don’t then assume your’re personal conclusions are correct).
    Strange, since libertarians are claiming that the Repubs. are the ones who want to control behavior. Libertarian hypocrites.

    As an aside, most of our laws are behavior related, ranging from stop lights to prisons. The notion that these libertarian extremists have is that they’re completely divorced. Amazing.

  • Going, Going, Gone

    Let me get this straight. Indiana Libertarians can accuse people or organizations of anything they choose, proven or not, and make their feelings public if they don’t receive a response? When it turns out the libertarians have egg on their face for being wrong, they claim they are the victim! Alarmists bigots.

  • Melyssa

    While I’m not either, I’d rather be a libertarian, than a hypocritical republican!

  • guest

    You’ll never be anything and we really don’t care.

  • krf

    If you don’t care, then why the silly rant?

  • http://www.indianainsurancehealth.com/latest-news/p2_articleid/4 Indianapolis Health Insurance

    Here we are a few months later and all is well. Well…almost. The list of donors is still a bit muddy.