According to the Washington Post he thinks Governor Mitch Daniels!

You can read the full article here

I don’t disagree with any of this

While the nation’s unemployment rises, Indiana is on the right track today and announced that they are adding more jobs right here in Indianapolis.

Today the nation’s unemployment went higher today and it is at the highest it has ever been since 1983! This is not good news and now Congress and the President need to focus on job creation in the private sector, instead of trying to grow into a bigger and less efficient Government!

Then we see this report come out yesterday that Indiana was one of 11 States that are recovering from this recession.

See our Governor and Mayor get it, instead of spending more money and creating a bigger Government, they are focusing on recruiting more companies to our great State and City!

In the IndyStar’s Sunday “Behind Closed Doors” column, Gov. Mitch Daniels is quoted:

“honestly, the data says that’s not the key — that really the key is practicing motorcycle safety and people on four wheels being a little more attentive. That’s what will make the difference, just as seat belts have made a difference.”

As a rider, I can tell you. I’ve seen it. Cagers (that’s rider lingo for those who drive automobiles, because you’re surrounded by metal – like a cage) are too busy trying to eat, text, drink their overpriced Starbucks, and talk on their cell phones while finding a song on their iPod while drving. No wonder why we’re “never seen” when car drivers are so distracted. Do you ever see a biker on a cell phone? NO! Why? WE CAN’T HEAR THE CELL PHONE OVER THE PIPES!! *VRRROOOOMMMM* Pay attention people!! Yes I’m talking to you … especially you easily distracted teenagers

I wear a helmet because I assume I’m surrounded by people not paying attention on the road as I ride. I see others ride with and without helmets. I also ride in “gear”. No, that has nothing to do with the motorcycle transmission. That’s the riding apparel besides the helmet. Jacket, gloves, boots, etc. One can wear a helmet but not much else and you might preserve the brain in the event of a crash, but the rest of the rider is hamburger. I’ve been in helmet states where everyone wears helmets, but that’s about all. I’ve seen crotch rockets zoom by me with the rider wearing no shirt, shorts, flip-flops, and a helmet. Yet, even though that is more unsafe as riding without a helmet, that is completely legal in a helmet mandatory state. How is that any safer? By the way, did you know it is ILLEGAL to drive a car while wearing a helmet?

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Gov. Mitch Daniels will be on ABC’s “This Week” with George Stephanopolis.

Indianapolis – WRTV-6.1 digital – 9 AM
Ft Wayne – WPTA-21.1 digital – 10 AM
South Bend – WBND-57.1 digital – 7 AM
Evansville – WEHT-25.1 digital – 8 AM Central
NW Indiana/Chicago – WLS-7.1 digital – 9:30 AM Central
SE Indiana/Cincinnati – WCPO-9.1 digital – 9:00 AM
S Indiana/Louisville – WHAS-11.1 digital – 9:00 AM

Something that I’ve been talking about since Baron got returned to Congress in 2006 (which was followed by a mention in a column by Robert Novak) is starting to get noticed in Kentucky (in part because of a post I did here).

From David Hawpe, a columnist in the Courier-Journal:

Across the river, Rep. Baron Hill is quietly going about the business of considering a run for the governorship of Indiana.

OK, this is an old story. Back in 2003, Business First reported that Hill had decided against running, although he “reportedly had been considering” a try for the position then held by the late Gov. Frank O’Bannon.

In 2007, the Evans-Novak Political Report said that Hill “may actually be preparing” for a run against Gov. Mitch Daniels. ENPR added, “The equation is simple: a weakened Republican governor in a mostly conservative state, with no other obviously strong Democratic candidates in the wings …” But it didn’t happen.

This month the blog “Hoosier Access” reports, “The 3rd District Democratic Central Committee will host its annual dinner April 25 at Eagle Glen in Columbia City. Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th, will serve as the keynote speaker for the event.” And the headline explains, “Baron Hill’s 2012 gubernatorial campaign getting started early.”

From time to time, I have thought about suggesting that Hill — a bright and capable person, always pleasant, and never in danger of being scolded by Miss Manners — consider John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage for bedtime reading.

Boy, I never thought that I’d see Baron Hill and courage in the same sentence, let alone Baron Hill and Miss Manners. David Hawpe should go to some of the same Baron town halls that I’ve been to (here, here, here, here, here, or here; or just listen to the recordings of them on YouTube).

Hill is the kind of fellow who stays up nights worrying about the imposition of tough fuel efficiency standards, lest the relatively few auto workers in his district (some work at Honda in Greensburg and some at Ford in Louisville) take notice. He had a tough time with cigarette regulation, despite the small number of tobacco farmers in his constituency. (He ended up doing the right thing).

If doing the right thing is gutting CAFE standards to make the increases in them worthless and less significant than they could have been, then Baron Hill did the right thing.

If jacking up taxes on tobacco to hurt the working class folks who predominantly will end up paying those taxes, then Baron Hill did the right thing.

Now he is the swing vote as the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee gets ready to take up the Waxman-Markey bill that would put a cap on carbon pollution. He’s one of a handful who are “undecided” on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Advocates say it offers a plan to break the country’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil and create new jobs for American workers.

The Environmental Defense Fund says response to the proposal has been positive nearly across the board. EDF says the sponsors have won praise from House colleagues, from business in every economic sector, from the environmental community and from the Obama administration: “They focused on exactly the right issues to quickly build consensus.”

The Department of Energy estimates a carbon cap of this kind would cost the average American household about a dime a day on their utility bills. But Hill is part of the Midwest heartland where coal-fired power plants are the rule.

The “Solve Climate” blog called the 648-page Waxman-Markey proposal a blueprint from Democratic lawmakers: “a brilliantly centrist bill that moves forward while pulling in opposite directions — designed out-of-the-gate to attract the needed votes of heartland lawmakers. That’s why the right wants it destroyed and the left wants it strengthened.”

So there you are, Baron. I’m sure you’ve already checked on the number of Hoosier coal miners in your district and the number of Hoosier coal-fired power plant projects pending. Now put those 648 pages on your bedside table next to Profiles in Courage and start studying.

It will be interesting indeed to see where Baron Hill will stand on cap-and-trade and the gigantic tax increase it will represent to average Americans (to say nothing of the harm it will do to coal miners and coal power plants in southern Indiana).

Also, Hawpe appears to be urging Baron Hill to read the legislation, which has resulted in some sort of incoherent blather from the Clark County Democrats complaining about Hawpe daring to suggest that Baron Hill… doesn’t read the legislation he votes on, or something.

Not that Baron read the pork-stuffed, budget-busting, deficit-expanding “stimulus” bill before he voted for it (and it wasn’t popular in his hometown), but I digress.

By: Brian Sikma

When the Indiana House-and primarily Speaker Pat Bauer and Rules Committee Chairman Scott Pelath- failed to pass SJR 7 (the proposed amendment to the Indiana Constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman) last year, they effectively reset the entire effort to protect marriage in Indiana.  The process of placing the definition of marriage in the state constitution starts anew this year with this session.

Since 2004 the Senate has passed a marriage amendment 4 times (2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008) and this year a new face is carrying the proposal forward.   Freshman Senator Marlin Stutzman (R-Howe) is the original author of SJR 15, a slightly revised version of past proposed amendments.  The language was revised to be nearly identical with that of Kentucky’s marriage amendment, which voters placed in that state’s constitution in 2004.  The tested wording of the Kentucky amendment should help overcome concerns that some had about all the implications contained in the language of SJR 7.

With the state facing a slumping economy that is not only causing high unemployment but also creating a decline in government revenues forcing tough budget decisions, some may question whether or not it is appropriate to consider a social issue this session.  Indeed, economic issues should be a first-priority item for the General Assembly.  But there is nothing to limit the legislature’s focus to only one first-priority item. Even as he works to manage the size of the state budget and carefully cut wasteful spending and maximize the funding that will be appropriated this year, Governor Mitch Daniels is moving ahead with advancing his property tax caps in the constitution plan (I am not necessarily endorsing this plan-I am emphasizing leadership).  He understands that leadership demands that more than one important issue be dealt with at one time, and the members of the General Assembly would do well to take note of this.

(Read More Below the Fold)

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, Republicans and Democrats…it starts today!  For all of you who were concerned that nothing was going to happen in politics and government in 2009 in Indiana just because elections weren’t taking place, then my friends you will be sadly..or maybe joyously mistaken.  But being the politicos you are, whether by practice or by hobby, you knew the 2009 legislative session that starts today was going to be interesting.

As we begin, it appears as if the buzz words around the State House will be “cuts”, “reform” and tax caps.  As in in monster budget cuts all across the state (or flat-lining when it comes to education, but not increasing even one budget in the midst of a national financial crisis doesn’t seem to bother Democrats) as well as government reform in terms of total elimination of township government and dramatic re-structuring of county elected offices (note to the the Indy Star and other forms of media: making an elected office an appointed office does not equal elimination of that office.  These positions will still exists).

Governor Daniels’ speech yesterday to the Indianapolis Rotary Club outlined his vision for the 2009 budget.  As it stands, the budget will only increase by $2 Million though cuts will be made to agency budgets across the board.  The “third rail” of the budget, Education, will not see cuts but will not see much of an increase either..much to the chagrin of “The Hair” and that demagogue of lobbying organizations, the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA).  Governor Daniels would like to see more….

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So far, my favorite line of the whole thing is Governor Daniels calling the Pat “the Hair” Bauer’s desire to tap the State’s surplus “the height of folly”.  I’ll give the governor this, he sure knows how to bring the “zing!”.

(Post updated to reflect Democrat Scott Reske’s victory in HD 37 after barely holding off Republican challenger Kelly Gaskill)

Here is a note to my fellow conservatives and Republicans.

I did not have the highest of expectation for last night.  I had hope that John McCain might some how pull off a miracle (because really that’s what he needed to win), but it wasn’t a lot of hope.  And like many of you who may have stayed up fairly late (after the webcast which ended at midnight, I went out and picked up yard signs to get some much needed alone time) I’m still recovering from yesterday’s action.  But I came to this conclusion.

It’s time to face the facts.  Barack Obama will be our 44th president.  And a historic congratulations should be sent his way.  But we should take solace in the fact that Democrats did not net major gains in the House or get their filibuster proof Senate, though they could still up with (a worst case scenario) 59 seats.

But there were some positives for us as well last night.  Governor Daniels smoked Jill Long Thompson (no surprise there) and Greg Zoeller and Tony Bennett won their statewide races.  The Indiana House will end up with only one seat gained by the Democrats after much hand wringing they could end up with as many as a three to four seat gain. On the congressional level.  Everybody stayed the same.  Many thought Congressman Souder could be a loss in the Republican column, but he showed his tenacity and didn’t just win by a small margin, he kicked his young upstart opponent to the curb.

But now onto my message.

Fellow Republicans, this is no time to give up.  This is also no time to resort to childish pettiness, bemoaning and name calling that the left resorts to when they lose.  This is a time to step up!  We do have a lot of ground to make up nationally, and while our state still leans red, it certainly is becoming a closely and evenly divided state.

We need to re-energize our base and return to what made our party great!  I encourage our state and national Republicans to return to the principles and virtues of the Contract with America.  We need to raise the level of discourse on the issues that matter most to Americans at this time; the economy and energy independence.  And while I believe social values cannot be ignored (though we must never give up on the issue of Abortion), we must understand, as a Party, that in these tough economic times, voters are thinking mostly with their wallets.  We must return to a message of fiscal restraint.  We must hammer the message of an “all of the above’ approach to energy independence.  We must hold our new President’s feet to the fire when it comes to the issues of coal and nuclear power.  Nothing can be off the table if we want to break free from the shackles of foreign oil.  President-Elect Obama seeks energy independence, but he must seek all avenues, closing off nothing.

We lost the American’s public’s faith in us when we lost our way as a party.  We have only ourselves to blame for the situation we are in.  Now is the time to make up for our past mistakes.  Now is the time to take action and to be the party of solutions and ideas.  We gave that away, but it’s time to take it back!

(But should you need it, here is Red State’s Obama Administration Survial Guide)

(Originally posted by Gonz O. Defenestrator at When the Going Get’s Weird, the Tough Turn Pro.  Reprinted with permission)

Greetings again fellow flacks, hacks, and dumpster Divers! This is commentary and I am chagrined to be back in the realm of serious stuff and beg that you don’t throw old, rotten vegetables at me for taking up so much space. Sometimes you just gotta speak out.

Trust me. I’d rather be writing about Obama-blather (his or hers) and the Democrat Party’s slow spiral into insanity. But, I digress…

I recently had to go through the quadrennial “Happy Birthday” pilgrimage to the BMV to get a new drivers license. Let me just say it was no where near the experience I “enjoyed” a scant four years ago. (Friendly, courteous, and fast … In and out … 17 minutes. Certified. I timed it with my citizens Eco-drive Chronograph wristwatch) With all the problems I had had with some of the things in this administration, just the fact that the BMV works is enough to earn my eternal gratitude.

So the administration is trying something new and innovative and all of a sudden the local cage-liner reports that LaPorte County lawsuit seeks to halt welfare privatization. The lawsuit, filed by Messr. Friedman, Esq., is interesting because of this little tidbit from the Tim Evans story which is both instructive and enlightening:

LaPorte attorney Shaw R. Friedman, who is representing the eight Hoosiers who filed the lawsuit, said in a statement.”The only thing that Mitch Daniels and Mitch Roob will respect is a court order, and we aim to get that for them.”

Roob called the suit “transparently political,” noting Friedman is a former Democratic Party leader in LaPorte County. FSSA also rents office space from Friedman and his father, Roob said, and they stand to lose money if the agency moves its county office to a new location.

Look, dissent is a healthy thing. Debate is an integral part of our Civil discourse. But using the Courts to get your way when you lose at the ballot box, to stifle innovation, or to derail a part of the administration priorities, is just wrong.

So I am wondering: “Who is Shaw Friedman?”

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Governor Daniels spoke to a the Indianapolis Rotary Club yesterday and announced his “Taxpayer Protection Agenda” which is a two-step proposal which is to further strengthen Indiana’s protection of taxpayers.

In short this is what he’s proposing:

First, the governor called for final legislative passage of a constitutional amendment to make permanent the caps on property taxes contained in the landmark tax cut bill approved during the 2008 session of the Indiana General Assembly.

The second proposal, the Automatic Taxpayer Refund, would ensure that any tax revenues beyond those needed to maintain a balanced budget and adequate rainy day reserves be sent back to taxpayers in the form of a refund.

Audio of the Governor’s speech can be heard below.

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