Archives for March 2016

INDIANAPOLIS –In the governor’s opinion, this year’s session of the General Assembly was a “win for Indiana” – but following the embarrassing RFRA mess and no protections for the LGBT community, only a short-term infrastructure plan, and politicizing ISTEP’s replacement process, how is it a “win” for the state?

“Hoosiers are going to have to drink a lot of green beer this St. Patrick’s Day to believe that this legislative session was a ‘win’ for the state. Instead, Pence continues to put Indiana’s ‘Crossroads of America’ and ‘Hoosier Hospitality’ reputations in jeopardy,” said Drew Anderson, communication director. “Hoosiers want results and commonsense ideas that would lead Indiana into the future – and those ideas were offered by Democrats this session. The only thing Mike Pence did this session was show Hoosiers that in an election year, he’s willing to put his out-of-touch agenda ahead of Hoosiers.”

In Mike Pence’s World	The Hoosier Reality
Mike Pence completely ignores the issue of LGBT protections for state. [Pence Op-ed, 3.15.16]	After 174 days of “studying” LGBT rights, Mike Pence continued to place Indiana’s “Hoosier Hospitality” reputation in jeopardy after causing an economic panic by signing the embarrassing RFRA law. [Indy Star, 1.13.16]
“…we were able to reach an agreement to commit more than $1 billion dollars to improve state and local roads without raising taxes.  This road funding bill will help communities throughout our state by making nearly $900 million available for local road and bridge improvements over the next four years.” [Pence Op-ed, 3.15.16]	After first being late to the game, Mike Pence and Statehouse Republicans listened to Democrats and passed an infrastructure bill with no tax increases. [NWI Times, 3.10.16]
“We took a step back from ISTEP, began a process to review standardized testing in Indiana and ensured our schools and teachers were not negatively impacted by the transition to a new, more difficult test.” [Pence Op-ed, 3.15.16]	Creates a committee to replace the ISTEP, but picks a political appointee as chair of the committee instead of Superintendent Ritz, further thwarting the will of voters. [Indy Star, 2.22.16]

 

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Young flip-flops on his own attacks to frontrunner Marlin Stutzman

INDIANAPOLIS – Todd Young loves “Chicago-style” politics so much that he’d be willing to flip-flop on the issue himself.

After numerous independent counts in February found Young didn’t get enough signatures needed to qualify for the U.S. Senate ballot, Todd Young blamed his opponent – frontrunner Marlin Stutzman. Now with the announcement of a new attack website on Rep. Stutzman, it seems like Todd Young is willing to flip-flop when it serves his own political interests.

“What does name-calling, finger-pointing Todd Young do when he doesn’t get his way? He flip-flops on the issue he brought to the state by using ‘Chicago-style’ political tactics to attack frontrunner Marlin Stutzman,” said Drew Anderson, communications director. “But that’s Todd Young – a politician who will say or do anything in an election year to win, even if it means talking through both sides of his mouth. Hoosiers want a leader who they can trust, not someone who puts his out-of-touch agenda ahead of Hoosiers.”

SHOT: Todd Young Campaign releases new ad “Chicago Style” – Todd Young YouTube Page [2.17.16]

“Young campaign manager Trevor Foughty blasted the removal effort as “Chicago-style” politics, because Democratic President Barack Obama once used a petition challenge to clear the field as an Illinois Senate candidate representing Hyde Park.” – NWI Times [3.14.16]

CHASER: “Young campaign scolds Stutzman on new website” – Fort Wayne Journal Gazette [3.16.16]

“The site scolds Stutzman, a 39-year-old LaGrange County farmer, for accepting federal farm subsidies; for voting to increase business taxes and “nearly double” legislators’ pay when he was a state lawmaker in the 2000s; and for filing a challenge to Young’s candidacy qualifications with the Indiana Election Commission. The claims are followed by snippets from media reports, online links and other references.”

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Greentown has faced similar problems, would Stutzman agree with FreedomWorks that a solution for Hoosier town is “morally wrong”?

INDIANAPOLIS – Last week, GOP front-runner Marlin Stutzman spoke at an event with the Koch Bros.-founded organization FreedomWorks. As infrastructure continues to be on the forefront of their minds – including a similar problem in Greentown, Hoosiers want to know if Stutzman agrees with FreedomWork’s position that aid to the City of Flint after its contaminated water crisis is morally wrong.

“GOP front-runner Marlin Stutzman is willing to speak to the group Freedom Works, but does he agree with all the organization stands for, including their claim that it is morally wrong for the federal government to intervene and aid victims of the Flint water crisis,” said Drew Anderson, communications director. “Time and again it seems Marlin Stutzman is willing to put his ideology ahead of the overall well-being of Hoosiers. From voting to strip health care from millions of Americans, including many Hoosiers, to voting to shut down the federal government, Stutzman’s history shows he may once again side against the everyday Hoosier.”

Is this the moment when Marlin Stutzman stands up for the Hoosier family and condemns the out-of-touch, Washington organizations like FreedomWorks?

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INDIANAPOLIS – How does Mike Pence’s record stack up on his willingness to show transparency for Hoosiers? At least 18 times should tell Hoosiers that Gov. Pence would rather hide information than be honest about the overall well-being of the state. In fact, Indiana received an “F” rating last year by the Center for Public Integrity on this issue alone.

But don’t take our word for it. On Freedom of Information Act Day, below are the 18 times Mike Pence was found to violate state law by withholding information from the media and Hoosiers.

Date	Agency
4-Feb-13	Indiana Parole Board
13-Oct-13	Indiana Family and Social Services Disability Determination Bureau
13-Mar-14	Indiana Department of Correction
19-Jun-14	Indiana Department of Correction
19-Jun-14	Indiana State Police
2-Jul-14	Indiana Workers Compensation Board
4-Aug-14	Indiana Civil Rights Commission
12-Aug-14	Indiana Department of Correction
19-Aug-14	Indiana Department of Correction
8-Oct-14	Indiana Department of Correction
2-Feb-15	Indiana Department of Child Services
3-Feb-15	Westville Correction Facility
9-Feb-15	Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
17-Feb-15	Indiana Department of Correction
19-Feb-15	Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission
2-Jun-15	Indiana Parole Board
9-Jul-15	Ports of Indiana
23-Dec-15	Indiana Department of Transportation

The bottom line: Hoosiers and the state of Indiana deserve to have a governor who is not only honest with them, but will be forthcoming about information on issues that are most important to them.

This leader is John Gregg, who just this year announced his “Open Government Initiative,” a proposal that would open up government and improve upon the state’s dismal “F” rating in public access. In the plan, Gregg would mandate a ten-business day turnaround for all records requests while also strengthening the powers of the Public Access Counselor. Further, Gregg would create a Public Transparency Commission that would provide a thorough review of the state’s existing public access laws and ways to improve on the system.

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INDIANAPOLIS – How would a Hoosier sum up the 2016 General Assembly Session? One word: Failure. From refusing to bring protections for LGBT Hoosiers, to ignoring public education, and to not offering long-term solutions to fix the state’s crumbling infrastructure, Mike Pence and his Republican Statehouse failed the state of Indiana.

“With glaring problems facing our state’s welcoming reputation, crumbling infrastructure, and education system – this was an opportunity for Governor Mike Pence and his Republican Statehouse to show true leadership for Hoosiers. Instead, all they provided Hoosiers was an assurance that they would rather save their own skin than do the right thing for our state,” said Drew Anderson, communication director. “Hoosiers want results and commonsense ideas that would lead Indiana into the future – and those ideas were offered by Democrats this session. Mike Pence, however, did show Hoosiers that in an election year, he’s willing to use the state’s well-being as a pawn by putting his out-of-touch agenda ahead of the everyday Hoosier. Something must change, and it begins by electing John Gregg as governor in November.”

Problem	Mike Pence’s Solution
Mike Pence signs RFRA, throwing state into a $250 million economic panic. State’s “Hoosier Hospitality” image put in jeopardy. [Advocate, 7.10.2015]	After 174 days of “studying” LGBT rights, Mike Pence stands firm with his discrimination against LGBT Hoosiers. [Indy Star, 1.13.16]
I-65 bridge closure and $71 million wasted in faulty asphalt exposes Mike Pence’s negligence of Indiana’s crumbling infrastructure system. [Indy Star, 9.21.15]	After first being late to the game, Mike Pence and Statehouse Republicans listened to Democrats and passed an infrastructure bill with no tax increases. [NWI Times, 3.10.16]
Mike Pence ignores Superintendent Glenda Ritz’s call to abolish the ISTEP exam. This year’s ISTEP scores plummet, lowering many schools’ A-F grades by state. [WTHR, 1.06.16]	Creates a committee to replace the ISTEP, but picks a political appointee as chair of the committee instead of Superintendent Ritz, further thwarting the will of voters. [Indy Star, 2.22.16]

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INDIANAPOLIS – John Zody, Chairman for the Indiana Democratic Party, released the following statement after the Indiana General Assembly passed a short-term infrastructure plan.

“Let’s be clear on what happened today: without the infrastructure plans offered by Democratic legislators, Indiana would still be without any infrastructure solutions at all. Governor Pence only put forth a plan after a number of infrastructure crises around the state, and Statehouse Republicans pushed a tax increase and only offered to help local governments with money that should already be theirs.”

“Democrats put forth a commonsense plan on infrastructure and should be congratulated for their efforts in crafting a bipartisan, yet short-term, next step for fixing our state’s D+-rated infrastructure system. While Democrats focused on action, the Pence Administration governed by crisis and put Indiana’s ‘Crossroads of America’ reputation in further jeopardy. Hoosiers want long-term solutions, and Mike Pence’s failed leadership on infrastructure has Indiana falling behind the rest of the nation.”
BACKGROUND: Timeline of Mike Pence’s Failure to Address State’s Crumbling Infrastructure

September 2012: No plan from Mike Pence on how to improve and maintain our state’s infrastructure.

August 4, 2015: Northbound lane of Wildcat Creek Bridge – located on I-65 – closes abruptly after structural problems surface.

August 5, 2015: INDOT confirms 21 bridges in Tippecanoe County (along with over 1,800 other bridges in the state) are labeled as “structurally deficient.

August 7, 2015: After briefly reopening, the Wildcat Creek Bridge again closes, after bridge sunk nine inches.

August 12, 2015: Eight days after initial bridge closure, Mike Pence finally holds media availability and said he’s open to using “short-term” opportunities to aid state’s failing infrastructure.

August 13, 2015: Trucking businesses, state economy impacted by the I-65 bridge closure.

August 14, 2015: INDOT announces Wildcat Creek Bridge on I-65 will remain closed until mid-September.

August 20, 2015: Along with delayed travel and an impact to the state’s economy, fatal car accidents are reported along the I-65 detour.

September 21, 2015: Report reveals INDOT invested $71 million in faulty asphalt, leaving 200 road projects across the state in jeopardy of crumbling sooner than expected.

October 15, 2015: Local roads – making up 90% of state’s infrastructure – miss out on Mike Pence’s short-term solution to fix state’s D+ rated infrastructure.

December 10, 2015: To cover for Mike Pence’s failure, Senate Republicans also introduce a short-term, one-time bill aimed at state’s local infrastructure.

March 10, 2016: After letting the state’s infrastructure crumble for 219 additional days, Mike Pence and Statehouse GOP put together a one-time, short-term plan that only does bare minimum to patch up state’s D+ rated roads and bridges.

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Rep. Ed Clere speaks against codifying HIP 2.0, a move intended to make the program permanent to Indiana law

INDIANAPOLIS – Mike Pence has a problem. His own party is finally acknowledging that his Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the Affordable Care Act.

“If Mike Pence can’t even steer members of his own party away from the fact that the Affordable Care Act pays for HIP 2.0, then what makes him think Hoosiers will buy into him talking from both sides of his mouth?” said Drew Anderson, communications director. “Members of Pence’s own party can admit this fact, so why can’t Governor Pence? This is just Mike Pence putting his out-of-touch agenda ahead of commonsense – and it’s clear his failed leadership is no longer needed in Indiana.”

SHOT: Mike Pence still unsure on how his HIP 2.0 is funded. Hint: The Affordable Care Act.

CHASER:  Statement by Rep. Ed Clere on HIP 2.0

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Indiana ranks 39^th in per capita income, down from 33^rd in 2004

INDIANAPOLIS – Last fall, Donald Trump confessed on national television that he believed wages for the everyday American worker were too high. Does Governor Mike Pence agree with him? If you looked at Mike Pence’s record of attacking union workers and the state’s per capita income plummeting to 39^th – down from 33^rd  in 2004 – the answer would be “yes.”

Click here to watch Donald Trump say American wages are “too high”

“Governor Mike Pence believes a low unemployment number is the ticket to reelection, but the fact is – wages continue to plummet and the Hoosier worker is falling behind the rest of the nation. Per capita income for Hoosiers has dropped to 39^th in the U.S., and Mike Pence has spent his own campaign dollars to help repeal the state’s common construction wage law, making it easier for businesses to pay Hoosiers less for more work,” said Drew Anderson, communications director. “Hoosiers and even his lieutenant governor – Eric Holcomb – aren’t buying Pence’s economic ‘snapshot’ as it’s an ideology that doesn’t lead Indiana into the future. They are ready for a governor who will instead bring quality, high-paying jobs back to the Hoosier State.”

Mike Pence has quite the history of siding against the Hoosier worker, and it’s causing the state to fall behind the rest of the nation. Wages for Hoosiers have fallen from $53,500 in 2000 to $46,900 in 2013. And just this last year, Governor Pence did whatever that was necessary to lobby for and repeal Indiana’s common construction wage law – including using money from his own campaign. Now – coupled with the state’s so-called “Right-to-Work” law – the state is attracting lower paying jobs and Hoosiers are earning less for the same work.

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INDIANAPOLIS – As Donald Trump is poised to lock up the Republican Party’s nomination for president, many of Indiana’s GOP delegation remain silent on their potential endorsement of the front-runner, including U.S. Representatives Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young.

“Established leaders within the Republican Party, including Governor Chris Christie and U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions have shown their support for Donald Trump. And as it increasingly appears that Trump will become the Republican nominee for president, Indiana’s delegation remains silent. Do front-runner Marlin Stutzman and finger-pointing Todd Young formally endorse Trump’s candidacy?” said Drew Anderson, communications director. “With both candidates putting their out-of-touch ideologies ahead of the state and one candidate relying on the establishment to bail him out after his failure to abide by state election laws (Todd Young), Hoosiers already have a firm opinion of Stutzman and Young. Hoosiers deserve to know who they’ll support on the national level.”

So simple question – do Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young endorse Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee for President of the United States?

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INDIANAPOLIS – One day after Mike Pence kicked out Sue Ellspermann as lieutenant governor – and who replaces her? Eric Holcomb, a partisan hack who abandoned the auto industry when many Hoosier workers needed him – and others – the most.

Holcomb Defended Richard Mourdock’s Law Suit Against The Auto Rescue, Said Suit Was “About Standing Up For The Rule Of Law.”“Eric Holcomb, Chairman of the Indiana Republican Party commented, ‘This was about standing up for the rule of law and having the character to do so. As Governor Daniels has said in interviews and in his book, Richard Mourdock showed us what real leadership looks like. It is typical form for Senator Harry Reid and Congressman Joe Donnelly to mislead voters, as they are desperate to run from their own failed bailouts.” [Mourdock Campaign Release, 10/2/12]

However, this falls directly in line with his new boss, Governor Mike Pence, who famously opposed the bailout to save thousands of jobs, including many in Indiana.

Pence On Auto Industry Bailout Bill: “And I opposed and support the Senate’s decision to oppose this $14 billion that would go to Detroit” Pence appeared on Larry King Live to discuss the auto industry bailout bill, and said, “Well, Larry, there is no question I was in Indiana much of today, talking with automotive suppliers. We had a long tradition in the automotive business in the Hoosier State. There is a very real crisis. Congress is right to act. The president is right to act. But the American people know we can’t borrow and spend and bail our way back to a healthy automotive industry any more than a healthy economy. I heard a bit of Ben’s comments. And Charlie’s, of course. But, you know, I strongly opposed the $700 billion bailout. Thought it was wrong to take bad decisions on Wall Street and transfer them to Main Street. And I opposed and support the Senate’s decision to oppose this $14 billion that would go to Detroit without creating the circumstances under which those companies could legally reorganize their business plan. And it did nothing to deal with the credit crisis that will be ongoing in 2009.” [Larry King Live, CNN, 12/12/08]

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