News
News - 10/30/2010 - Dem Statewide Candidates Hit Road Together (NWI)
The three Democratic candidates for statewide office are hitting the road for a three-day, 12-city campaign trip this Halloween weekend hoping to scare up some votes for Election Day on Tuesday. Secretary of State candidate Vop Osili, State Treasurer candidate Pete Buttigieg and State Auditor candidate Sam Locke left an Indianapolis union hall Friday morning in two minivans and an SUV, cheered by some 20 sign-waving supporters.
Press Release - 10/28/2010 - Sam Locke: Government Reform Should Start In Indianapolis
Locke has already outlined his plans to propose more elaborate payable and contract audits, discussed ways the Auditor can play a bigger role in curbing waste, and detailed additional measures the State should take to ensure financial transparency. He continues this week by pledging to be a vocal advocate for government reform, starting from within the State’s financial management structure.
Press Release - 10/27/2010 - Democrat Statewide Ticket To Tour The State This Weekend
The Democratic candidates for secretary of state, state auditor and state treasurer will join forces this weekend on a barnstorming tour of the state to rally supporters and stump for last minute votes ahead of Tuesday’s election. Secretary of state nominee Vop Osili, state auditor nominee Sam Locke and state treasurer nominee Pete Buttigieg will visit 12 cities over the weekend.
News - 10/27/2010 - Van Haaften, Bucshon Spar at Debate (Courier&Press)
Although Tuesday night marked the first time Republican Larry Bucshon and Democrat Trent Van Haaften debated each other directly, the themes of their long campaign for the 8th District seat in the U.S. House were well-established. Just a week before Election Day, Bucshon reminded voters he is a heart doctor — not a politician — for the repeal of the health care bill and lower spending. Meanwhile, Van Haaften, a member of the Indiana State House of Representatives, tried to paint himself as the one who would work to save jobs in the region.
News - 10/25/2010 - Indy Star Endorses Four Democrats in U.S. House Races
The Indianapolis Star has endorsed four Democrats for U.S. Congress - District 1: Pete Visclosky, District 2: Joe Donnelly, District 7: Andre Carson, and District 9: Baron Hill
News - 10/24/2010 - Secretary of State Finishes Reviewing Voter Fraud Allegations Against Charlie White (Indy Star)
Secretary of State Todd Rokita announced today that he has finished reviewing voter fraud allegations against Charlie White, a Republican who’s running to take Rokita’s place. Rokita’s office didn’t make any recommendations on the matter because Hamilton County has appointed two special prosecutors to decide if charges should be filed, according to a statement Rokita’s office released this afternoon.
News - 10/24/2010 - Revolving Door Should Be Closed on Dan Coats - Indy Star
Somehow, he's gotten many voters to gloss over a resume that should disqualify anyone -- no matter how good a person or sharp a mind -- from serving in the Senate. He's asking voters to elect him to the world's so-called most deliberative body after spending years making gobs of money by lobbying his old pals in that same body. The revolving door, through which lawmakers walk to become high-paid lobbyists, is a crushing problem.
Press Release - 10/20/2010 - Buttigieg Releases Report On State Investments; Calls For Explanation
Offering a long overdue look at the state’s investment portfolio, today Democratic State Treasurer nominee Pete Buttigieg released a simple, straightforward analysis of where and how Hoosier’s tax dollars money are invested. Buttigieg’s “Report to the People” shines light on the millions of dollars lost in recent years due to overly risky investments in junk bonds, mortgage-backed securities and other toxic assets as well as questionable investments in foreign governments and companies with questionable track records.
Press Release - 10/20/2010 - Locke Continues Innovation Discussion; Wants More Transparency
Sam Locke, Democratic Candidate for State Auditor, announced two weeks ago that he would unveil four major innovations planned for the office should he be elected by Hoosier voters on November 2nd. Locke began by proposing more elaborate payable and contract audits and discussing ways the Auditor can play a bigger role in curbing waste.
News - 10/19/2010 - Todd Rokita’s Campaign Manager Quits (WISH TV)
The Todd Rokita for Congress campaign is in turmoil. The campaign manager quit over the weekend, less than three weeks before Election Day. She is the third campaign manager to leave the 4th District Republican since the May primary. And it comes at a time when Democrat David Sanders is accusing Todd Rokita of hiring a convicted child molester to work on his campaign staff.
News - 10/18/2010 - A Town Saved by Stimulus (CNN Money)
Kokomo is going back to work. A year and a half ago the fate of this car town, home to four Chrysler plants and a Delphi facility, was as uncertain as the American auto industry itself. Now, thanks largely to the federal government, the town's unemployment rate has gone from over 20% to under 14%. Economists disagree over the real nationwide impact of the massive stimulus jolt orchestrated by President Obama. But here in Kokomo, the Recovery Act and Obama's auto bailout have jolted Kokomo back to life -- keeping big industry from fleeing and attracting newcomers as well.
News - 10/13/2010 - Democrat, Republican Named to Investigate Voter Fraud Case (Indy Star)
The Hamilton County prosecutor's office is counting on two special prosecutors -- one a Republican and one a Democrat -- to investigate allegations of voter fraud against Republican secretary of state candidate Charlie White. Some say the move will ensure the investigation is based on justice, not politics, but others say it could cause problems if the two can't come to a consensus. The Hamilton County prosecutor's office hopes appointing the two prosecutors will take the politics out of what started as a partisan complaint. Democrats asked the prosecutor's office to investigate White shortly after he resigned his Fishers Town Council seat because he moved out of his district.
News - 10/13/2010 - Coats’ Camp Rebuts Charge of Lying (Indy Star)
Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker accused Republican Senate candidate Dan Coats of telling "a bald-faced lie" in Monday's debate when Coats denied having negotiated his first lobbying job while still in the Senate. Coats' campaign dismissed the brouhaha as a simple case of the candidate misspeaking during the first of three debates with Democrat Brad Ellsworth and Libertarian Rebecca Sink-Burris. During Monday's debate at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Ellsworth charged that Coats negotiated his first lobbying job in 1998 with the Washington firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand while in his final weeks representing Indiana in the Senate.
News - 10/12/2010 - Press Release: Coats Lies During Nationally Televised Debate
In last night’s nationally televised Indiana U.S. Senate debate, Dan Coats wasted no time putting his brand of dishonest politics on full display by lying to Hoosiers about his trip through Washington, DC’s revolving door. During the debate, Coats denied a charge from Brad Ellsworth that the former Senator began negotiating his position at the lobbying firm Verner, Liipfert while he was still serving his last term in the United States Senate. In a clear indication of how damaging this issue could be to Dan Coats’ candidacy he lied in an attempt to divert attention. While Coats would not leave the US Senate until January 3rd, 1999, reports of Coats’ move through the revolving door originate in an October 17, 1998 National Journal story.
Press Release - 10/12/2010 - Coats Lies During Nationally Televised Debate
In last night’s nationally televised Indiana U.S. Senate debate, Dan Coats wasted no time putting his brand of dishonest politics on full display by lying to Hoosiers about his trip through Washington, DC’s revolving door. During the debate, Coats denied a charge from Brad Ellsworth that the former Senator began negotiating his position at the lobbying firm Verner, Liipfert while he was still serving his last term in the United States Senate. In a clear indication of how damaging this issue could be to Dan Coats’ candidacy he lied in an attempt to divert attention. While Coats would not leave the US Senate until January 3rd, 1999, reports of Coats’ move through the revolving door originate in an October 17, 1998 National Journal story.
News - 10/12/2010 - Senate Hopefuls Play Usual Roles in Debate (Indy Star)
From the moment Monday's debate among the three candidates for U.S. Senate began to the moment it ended, Hoosier voters were handed a trifecta of almost invariably different views. In his first sentence, U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, a Democrat, reminded Hoosiers that he's a former sheriff and said Hoosiers need to ask which candidate will be working for them and which for the special interests. And in case that wasn't clear, Ellsworth used every question he could -- whether it was about jobs or term limits -- to make sure people knew the last job his Republican opponent, former Sen. Dan Coats, had was being a lobbyist.
News - 10/11/2010 - Newcomer faces GOP incumbent in Indiana auditor race (Courier-Press)
As Indiana copes with a recession that has gutted tax revenues and forced spending cuts, both parties' candidates for state auditor say fiscal transparency is on their minds. Republican incumbent Tim Berry served for eight years as the state treasurer before his dissatisfaction with the state's financial system led him to run for auditor. The state needed a more integrated system, he said, to ensure internal control of finances and to give taxpayers an idea of where their money was going. After failed efforts to push state lawmakers to enact transparency legislation, Berry's office decided to create a fiscal transparency website for Indiana's taxpayers on its own.
News - 10/11/2010 - Three Indiana Races Take on Added Meaning as Allegations Fly (Courier-Journal / AP)
The normally sleepy races for Indiana auditor, treasurer and secretary of state are tangled this year in campaign themes of alleged voter fraud, government transparency, a federal lawsuit and gold buying. The stories have made interesting headlines and provided plenty of campaign fodder for Democrats hoping to defeat Republicans, who enter the race with the advantage of voter enthusiasm. But voters will decide Nov. 2 whether the issues Democrats are raising make any sizable difference. Making a splash can be difficult in races that typically don't get much attention. “A lot of people don't even know what they do,” said Brian Vargus, an Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis analyst.
News - 10/11/2010 - Controversy Shines Light on Usually Obscure Race (Indy Star)
It may be the most important political race that Hoosier voters know next to nothing about. Until recently, the election for Indiana's next secretary of state had been -- as expected -- overshadowed by higher-profile races for the U.S. Senate, Congress and the state legislature. But who becomes secretary of state could determine which party controls the Indiana House. Why? Because when there is an even split among Democrats and Republicans -- and there's a possibility this year that that could happen -- the majority party is determined by which party wins the election for the highest-ranking statewide office on the ballot. And this year, that's the secretary of state.
News - 10/08/2010 - Press Release: Carson Announces Funding To Support Small Businesses, Create Jobs
Indiana is set to receive nearly $350 million to aid small business lending, Congressman André Carson said today as the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced allocations for the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Indiana will receive $343 million of the $15 billion in SSBCI money that will be allocated to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. This funding will support innovative local programs that help entrepreneurs expand their businesses and create new jobs.
