An Indiana State Senator was the latest victim of violent crime in the Capitol City. State Senator Sue Errington (D-Muncie) was mugged tonight at the CVS pharmacy at 56th and Illinois in Indianapolis. Sources say she was punched in the face and had her purse stolen. She was treated for injuries at St. Vincent Hospital.
If you did not think crime was out of control, hopefully this will change your mind.
Today was the first day of the rest of my life. Well, not really. But it was the first day of the Indiana General Assembly. It was great to be back at the Capitol and I made a few observations. Here they are.
Observation #1 – Prayer is no longer a big deal. House Democrats drafted a generic prayer that took about 30 seconds to deliver. The Senate observed a moment of silence. I like the latter because it proves there is a God.
Observation #2 – I actually think there will be more bi-partisanship all around, because there aren’t enough votes to be otherwise. Both parties control one chamber each and in the House, there isn’t much room to mess around because of the 51 votes needed for anything to pass.
Observation #3 – Something just might happen with property taxes. All four legislative leaders want some kind of tax relief. And “Hometown Matters” just might give them the room to do it.
Observation #4 – Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson’s plan to get tax revenue raising authority out of the General Assembly may run into some stumbling blocks in the Senate from the more conservative branch. He’s going to make a big announcement Tuesday night.
Observation #5 – Governor Daniels may have a friend in State Rep. Charlie Brown who I’m told is willing sponsor a $1 increase in the cigarette tax.
Observation #6 – Watch for Sen. Luke Kenley to offer a proposal that would give the state control of the operation costs of school districts and alleviating that burden off the taxpapyers.
Observation #7- This is going to be fun.
Now that we are in 2007, everyone can turn their attention to Municipal races. Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson is likely to announce soon that he will run for a third-term in office. Third terms can be tricky for elected officials. By the end of eight years, voters, although they like you, are usually ready for someone else. And while the Mayor’s internal polling shows him in the high 60s for likeability, only about 55-percent of those think he should be re-elected. I would argue that could make this year’s mayoral race competitive under the right circumstances.
However, from what I’ve been able to gather, the GOP has still not settled on a candidate. Eric Dickerson is not interested in the job and Council Member Ike Randolph is still working out a couple issues before making a final announcement. I do think it says something when the two named front runners on the GOP side for Mayor are both moderate-conservative Black Republicans.
As far as some of the other names go, GOP Chief Murray Clark doesn’t want the job. U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks likely won’t do it for personal reasons. And Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi would only do it under certain extreme circumstances. So I think for the most part, the Mayor is safe for now. Although I strongly believe he still vulnerable on the crime issue with last year being one of the worst homicide rates in the city’s history, that vulnerability can only be exploited by the right candidate, with the right campaign and the right amount of cash.
So while Hizzoner may be safe, the Council on the other hand is a completely different story. I strongly believe the Democratic-controlled Council could change hands, but once again, under the right circumstances. Marion County is trending more Democratic, as explained by the large number of straight-ticket voters, but I would argue, the council’s biggest weakness starts and ends with its President, Monroe Gray.
Back in September I wrote about how control of Indianapolis Public Schools should be turned over to the Mayor’s Office. I argued that one person responsible for the school district would be better than several.
There’s an article out today by the AP that talks about the same thing.
I think the subject makes for interesting discussion.
I got a weird press release in my e-mail today. It came from the City-County Council Office on official letterhead. Here’s the first part…
Council Democrat Caucus Announces Leadership
Indianapolis — The Democrat members of the City-County Council announced today their support for the re-election of Monroe Gray as President and Joanne Sanders as Vice President of the Council for 2007. The members re-elected Lonnell Conley as Majority Leader of the Democrat Caucus. The members met on Tuesday night to organize and to discuss key measures that will likely come before them during 2007
Seems pretty simple enough, but here’s the other part…
The members also pledged their mutual support for the re-election of the fifteen (15) incumbent Councillors and to assist slated candidates in districts which are not now held by a Democrat. Democrats now hold a slim fifteen (15) to fourteen (14) majority on the council but expect to gain seats following the fall election. President Gray said “he is excited about the coming year and is confident that the Democrats will retain their majority following the election this November. We will continue to work with the other branches of city government to develop community friendly solutions to the city’s pressing issues”.
I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t put something that political on city letterhead because that would look like politicking on government time. Maybe someone who is a licensed election attorney should investigate further.
Governor Mitch Daniels today announced that he doesn’t have bill sponsors lined up yet for some of his major initiatives, Full Day Kindergarten, the Commerce Connector and Lottery Privatization.
I spent the afternoon talking to Democratic and Republican sources and here’s what I’ve come up with so far, noting this is the government so it’s subject to change…
FDK — This will pass, with a lot of debate, but without many conservative votes. The trick will be in how it’s paid for.
Commerce Connector — Likely to pass. Republicans like it. Although it doesn’t pass through any Democratic districts, there’s no real reason for Democrats to oppose it. Since the project doesn’t involve an existing road, there is no selling or leasing of a state asset. However, I can see this being used as a bargaining chip for something else (like an increase in the minimum wage) later in the session. But this will be the issue to watch.
Lottery Privatization — This was dead before it was announced. Democrats don’t like it. Republicans can’t stand it. As one lawmaker put it, it’s one thing to take a state asset that’s losing money and privatize it, but the lottery is making money. Another interesting theory surrounding privatization of the lottery is that any company who took the agency would be governed more by contract than the legislature, so they could operate with 150 people getting in their business, but that’s just a theory.
That’s what I know this afternoon. It could change by tomorrow night.
Yours truly will be on TV this weekend. I’ll be a guest on Indiana Week in Review on WFYI-TV. It airs Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at noon. Check it out.
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Indiana’s Voter ID law. By a 2-1 vote, the panel held the state’s law requiring voters to show a government-issued ID when they vote was constitutional. Indiana Democrats argued the law disenfranchised voters, however the Court ruled Democrats could not produce one voter who had been turned away because of voter ID.
Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi has filed charges against an Indianapolis woman whose 3-year old was found walking Saturday on I-465. Four counts of Class D Felony Child neglect charges were filed this morning against Nancy Dyer. Dyer’s initial hearing is tomorrow morning. According to police reports her 3-year old son, Damon, was found playing on 465 in only a diaper, T-shirt and barefoot on 465 after leaving their Westside apartment.
There’s some good news and bad news to report today. The good news is Eric Dickerson and friends have acquired a mobile trailer for Thelmon Green, the 93-year old man who lived in a van at 38th and Keystone who was told last week to leave his home by the Marion County Health Department. Green was told his van did not meet the city code so he had to move. The trailer meets the code and Green can live happily ever after.
The bad news is that Ike Randolph and family have suffered a loss. Ike’s father-in-law passed away New year’s Eve. He collapsed at the Colts game Sunday and could not be revived. Our sympathies to the Randolph family.
