Presidential Contacts Announced

From the Indiana Democratic Party

Although we're only a little more than halfway through 2007, next year's presidential races already are heating up.

If you are interested in getting involved in a campaign, we want to make sure you know where to turn. Below you will find Indiana contact information for the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

As we receive more information about other campaigns, we will pass it along to you. If you have contact information for a campaign, please forward it to jwagner@indems.org

Hillary Clinton
Joe Hogsett, JHogsett@binghammchale.com

John Edwards
Ann DeLaney, Ann@delaneylaw.net
Robin Winston, robin@winstonterrell.com

Barack Obama
Kip Tew, ktew@kdlegal.com

Next year will be an exciting one for politics in Indiana and across the nation, and we hope you'll get involved in some way as we work to bring Democratic values and ideals back to all levels of government.

New Albany’s drainage staff privatized

By ERIC SCOTT CAMPBELL
Eric.Campbell@newsandtribune.com

— Environmental Management Corp. will absorb New Albany’s drainage department Aug. 1, the result of a three-member city panel’s decision Friday morning.

Tim Deatrick, Sam Asberry and Al Goodman of the Stormwater Board agreed to a three-year EMC contract worth $507,000 a year, officials said. The company will add five maintenance jobs and an office job, and the six workers being taken off the city’s payroll are being offered those positions at their current salaries.

However, two of those workers are paid from the drainage budget but do not work for the department. Jim Brewer has an office job and Mickey Thompson — president of the local government-staff union — works in the city garage. The presence of their salaries in the drainage budget is a legacy of a once-combined sewer and drainage-maintenance department.
Deatrick was asked whether recent labor disputes between city workers and EMC’s management team factored into the decision to streamline.

“I think more than anything it was a business decision,” said Deatrick, who added that the department had been “constrained” by having only three maintenance workers and lacking commercial driver’s licenses to operate specialized vehicles.

The city drainage workers must decide by Aug. 1 whether to take the EMC jobs, said Brian Dixon, the company’s director of drainage operations.

If Brewer and Thompson choose not to take EMC jobs, the city would have to pay Brewer’s and Thompson’s salaries or lay them off.

Deatrick, whom Mayor James Garner appointed board chairman, said the administration knew EMC had made the proposal, which will cost about $5,000 more per year than the current operations setup. Mayor James Garner could not be reached for comment on the contract, while Controller Kay Garry said she’d heard nothing about it until speaking with The Tribune on Friday afternoon.

Garry could not venture a guess as to how the city could pay more salaries. The state ordered New Albany’s general and Street Department budgets cut last month; the City Council balked Thursday night at spending cash reserves to keep the general budget intact.

Sewer Board member and Council President Larry Kochert also had heard nothing about the stormwater privatization. He was reluctant to weigh in without knowing more, but he said EMC — which also is the private contractor for the sewer utility — “does a good job” but is “pricey.”

For more on the Storm Water program, read the full story at the New Albany Tribune.

Congressman outlines support for the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act

Guest Column from Congressman Baron P. Hill
July 13, 2007

Outlining my support for the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act

After reading the Initial Benchmark Assessment Report on Iraq, I have made the difficult decision to support the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act.

The Report assesses 18 specific benchmarks set by Congress in the supplemental appropriations bill, which was approved and accepted by President Bush. The Iraqi government has achieved a few of the benchmarks, but the vast majority has not been met. And, those benchmarks that have not yet been achieved are by far the most important to ensuring real progress is being made in Iraq. For example, the government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward establishing their Electoral Commission, but has not made satisfactory toward creating and enacting legislation on de-Ba’athification reform. De-Ba’athification reform is one of the most sensitive and important issues that must be resolved in Iraq as it involves neutralizing and uniting competing conceptions of justice, accountability, reconciliation and economic compensation.

In fact, the three most critical benchmarks assessed in the Report are nowhere near close to meeting satisfactory progress.

First, the government of Iraq has not achieved notable success in organizing their troops to pursue extremists without depending upon American commanders for assistance.

Second, the Report rates the organizational progress of the Iraq Security Force units as unsatisfactory and wholly incapable of operating on their own. Readiness assessments for the National Police do show slow, but steady, improvement, but there continues to be viable concerns about the sectarian leanings of these law enforcement agents.

Third, the Iraqi government has failed to craft or enact legislation ensuring equitable distribution of hydrocarbon resources. And, the government has not met its self-imposed deadline of May 31 for submitting the framework for oil and revenue-sharing laws to the Council of Ministers.

In not meeting these three incredibly important benchmarks, the Iraqi government has further signaled its resistance and unwillingness to make real progress and control extremists. In addition, the fact that calls for economic and diplomatic surges have gone largely unheeded, such as those from the Iraq Study Group, has left a large gap in the overall foreign policy strategy toward Iraq. These factors, combined with the loss of far too many of our soldiers’ lives in Iraq, have led me to the decision that the President continues to simply promote more of the same. A stay-the-course strategy will have an increasingly detrimental impact on our military readiness and our country’s future, both domestically and internationally. It is time to start the process of safely redeploying our troops out of Iraq.

Redeployment must not be confused with a cut-and-run strategy. Redeployment entails moving our troops to strategic locations throughout the Middle East to confront terrorism on its front lines, while bringing some of our troops back home to their families. The intention of this bill is not to turn our backs on Iraq and the Middle East. Instead, the intention is to provide respite for our war-weary troops and the American people, while reinvigorating the world’s best soldiers to have the capability to confront terrorists throughout the world.

State closer to session on tax relief

By Lesley Stedman Weidenbener
lstedman@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mitch Daniels formally asked leaders of the General Assembly yesterday to consider changes that would speed up property-tax relief and allow counties to target it to those hit hardest by big bills.

Daniels stopped short of calling the Indiana House and Senate into a special session but seems willing to do so -- if he receives some positive response to his ideas from lawmakers.

"The property tax increases that some are experiencing are highly localized, and there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer," Daniels said in a letter to legislative leaders. "I believe taxpayers and their locally elected representatives are in the best position to determine the relief plan that most fits their needs."

His proposals received mixed reviews from lawmakers, who already allocate more than $2 billion annually to try to keep property-tax bills lower.

"We clearly have people who are in distress, and we as public servants need to do everything we can to alleviate their situations," said Senate Minority Leader Richard Young, D-Milltown. "We're willing to meet with the governor, but the devil is always in the details."

This year, homeowners' tax bills were projected to increase an average of 24 percent. But in some counties where the bills already have been finalized and mailed, the increases have been larger and have hit some homeowners especially hard.

Read more on the property tax debate at the Courier - Journal.com

Deputy is 'in awe' of support

By Harold J. Adams
hjadams@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

Wounded Floyd County Sheriff's Deputy Joel White said he's "just been in awe" of the outpouring of community support since he and fellow Deputy Frank Denzinger were shot on June 18.

White spoke publicly yesterday for the first time since the attack, which killed Denzinger and left White with a shattered left hip.

Both officers were shot by 15-year-old Tyler Dumstorf as they responded to a report of an unruly teenager at the Dumstorf home on Rachel Court in Georgetown. The teen later fatally shot himself.

White spoke at a Salem car dealership, where he was presented with a new van that will help him get around during his recovery. The van was made possible through fundraising coordinated by the Floyd County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge and a discount from dealer John Jones GMC City.

The seven-passenger Chevrolet Uplander van will fill in for the Dodge Neon compact car that has been the only vehicle in a household that includes White, his wife and two daughters, his sister-in-law and his mother-in-law.

"So that van is amazing," White said. "That's been something that we've needed and we never thought that we'd have something like that."

Surrounding White were more than 200 motorcyclists who took part in a 120-mile fundraising ride that began yesterday morning at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany and traveled to New Salisbury and French Lick before ending up in Salem.

Read more on Officer White's recovery at the Courier - Journal.

'Black Sunday' protesters call for property tax reform

From the Indianapolis Star
By Melissa Patterson

melissa.patterson@indystar.com

Crowds dissipate after hours of demonstrations, speeches

A protest against sharply increased property taxes ended with 40 minutes of speeches on Monument Circle early this afternoon.

Protestors called for a clean slate in all levels of state and local government, some vowing to vote against every incumbent in the November election.

Others swapped stories with fellow homeowners in the crowd who shared their financial pain.

Steve and Constance Vinson moved into their Washington Township home shortly after their 2-year-old, Elizabeth, was born. This year they saw a 170 percent increase their tax bill, Constance Vinson said.

"We just moved here from Chicago because we thought it was more affordable," Steve Vinson said. "Now we realize it's not."

1:15 PM -- Protesters have run-in with motorist

Some property tax protesters blocked a street and screamed at vehicles as the “Black Sunday” rally moved from the Statehouse and back to Monument Circle.

Several participants surrounded a sport-utility vehicle on Illinois Street at Market Street, pointing their fingers and yelling into the open windows.

The SUV accelerated toward pedestrians several times, but stopped short of hitting them.

Police said no injuries were reported and the crowd was generally peaceful.

Several car break-ins were reported in the area of the rally, police said.

12:00 PM -- Rally moves to Statehouse

To the blare of a bugle and shouts of “Charge!” protesters left Monument Circle and marched one block to the Indiana Statehouse to carrying on the “Black Sunday” rally over property taxes.

The Statehouse was closed, but two local officials tried to talk to the crowd. Marion County Treasurer Mike Rodman and State Rep. David Orentlicher, D-Indianapolis, climbed the steps to speak, but the crowd was in little mood to listen.

After being overwhelmed by jeers, Orentlicher gave up and walked away.

“I know people are frustrated and understandably so,” Orentlicher told The Star. “People should not have to lose their homes over property taxes.”

The crowd listened to Rodman, but he was surrounded by angry taxpayers as he stepped down. Rodman looked worried, but was able to leave unscathed.

Read more at the Indy Star.

The rally remained outside the Statehouse.

Floyd Democrats Prepare for 4-H Fair, July 9th - 14th

By the Floyd County Democratic Party

The Floyd County Democratic Party once again will celebrate summer at the Floyd County 4-H Fair beginning July 9th. Municipal candidates, officeholders, and other Democratic officials will be on hand to register voters, talk with citizens, and hand out information and other promotional items to fair goers. Democrats will also participate in other fair events, including the annual Donkey Races.

Please join us at the fair and support our 4-H Clubs!

Blue Dog Coalition Endorses Hill's Ethics Bill

(Washington, DC) - On June 28, 2007 members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition announced their endorsement of Congressman Baron Hill's House Ethics Commission Establishment Act of 2007, H.R. 1754, a bill that would bring about necessary ethics reform through the creation of an independent ethics commission made up of former Members of Congress. Hill's ethics legislation was overwhelmingly agreed upon and adopted as an official Blue Dog Coalition position.

"I am very pleased that this fine group of distinguished Members of Congress has endorsed my bill to spur real ethics reform," Hill said. "I spoke often on the campaign trail about the need for an overhaul of the process of investigating members of the House of Representatives for ethics violations, and I truly believe my bill is the best approach to bringing about such reforms."

"We all want an ethics process that is effective," said Rep. John Tanner (D-TN), founding member of the Blue Dog Coalition. "Many of us feel Baron has designed a solid, workable approach toward a responsible House ethics reform."

"The Blue Dogs are strongly committed to Rep. Baron Hill in his effort to bring real and meaningful ethics reform to Congress," said Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications. "This is an issue that is important to the American people, and with the leadership of Rep. Hill, I am confident that we will pass legislation which will ensure honesty, transparency and accountability in the nation's Capitol."

The House Ethics Commission Establishment Act, H.R. 1754, would create an independent Ethics Committee comprised of 12 former Members of Congress - six Republicans and six Democrats - who are not federal lobbyists. This Commission will have the authority to investigate complaints of possible ethics violations by Members of Congress, and present those findings and suggested penalties to the U.S. House of Representatives. The House would then vote on the Commission's recommendation. Any disciplinary actions suggested by the Ethics Commission must receive a majority vote by the full membership of the U.S. House in order to take effect.

"I applaud Baron Hill for answering the call of his constituents and the American people and working to bring accountability back to Washington," said Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL). "This commission will allow respected former Members to explore any potential ethics violations judiciously without impeding us from doing the job we were elected to do-the work of the American people."

"It's very difficult for Members to investigate their colleagues," Hill said. "Former Members doing the investigating makes for a better and more removed perspective. We need to make sure reported ethics violations are investigated thoroughly and receive the time and attention they warrant. I know I would feel much better about our ethics enforcement if people like Lee Hamilton were investigating allegations of misconduct. Congress must create an Independent House Ethics Commission to prove to citizens that we are serious about ensuring that reported ethics violations are investigated thoroughly and receive the time and attention they warrant."

H.R. 1754 currently has 59 cosponsors and is pending before the House Rules Committee.

Driven to sell off our state, Daniels has ignored issues that matter

From the Indiana Democratic Party
Printed June 29th, 2007

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Mitch Daniels' decision to hand over control of the Indiana Toll Road to a consortium of private, foreign companies for 75 years.

In addition to selling off the Toll Road, Daniels has spent the first half of his first term outsourcing more than $2 billion in state contracts to non-Indiana companies and pushing for the privatization of state agencies, including the Hoosier Lottery, and the construction of privatized highways.

What he hasn't been focused on are the critical issues he promised Hoosiers he'd address once he got to the Statehouse: property taxes, education funding and the economy.

Daniels, who pledged sweeping property tax reform on the campaign trail, has been silent on the issue, showing no leadership whatsoever during the legislative session. Where is he now that homeowners across the state are facing the financial realities of sky-high tax bills caused by the budget he and House Republicans passed two years ago?

He's probably off looking for something else to sell.

Daniels told Hoosiers education would be his top priority if elected, but the budget he approved two years ago slashed school funding and forced dozens of local districts into crisis mode. What does he have to say about that?

We hear nothing.

And what of the constant harping on Indiana's economy and the need to attract more high-paying jobs with good benefits? What of the "economic hot streak" talking points and the assertion that we're doing better than ever before?

He must be living in a state of denial, not the state of Indiana, which has trailed the nation in job and personal income growth on his watch.

Where are the solutions to our most pressing problems? Where is the vision for our future? How long do we have to wait for leadership?

Do not call upon Mitch Daniels to answer these questions unless you're in the market for rhetoric and short-term thinking.

If, however, you're looking for someone to unload our most precious assets while turning a blind eye to property taxes, education and jobs, he's your man.

But we can do better than that. We can work together -- across party lines -- to come up solutions and improve our state for everyone who's proud to call it home. We just can't do it with Mitch Daniels at the helm.

It's time to put a real leader in the Governor's Office and get Indiana back on the right track.

We need to crack down on China for intellectual property theft

Guest column by Sen. Evan Bayh

Beijing may be hosting the Olympic Games next summer, but China could use a lesson in what it means to play fair.

Eight years ago, China's leaders made a promise to crack down on counterfeiters and product pirates in exchange for congressional support of permanent normal trade relations status. Unfortunately, in the years since approval of permanent normal trade relations, Chinese businesses have continued to rip off American ideas with alarming frequency while its government pays lip service to cracking down on intellectual property theft.

Imagine if hundreds of our cargo ships were hijacked on the high seas, or a group of American business people were held up at gunpoint in a foreign country, or if one of our overseas labs was raided across the ocean. You could expect to watch the story unfold on CNN.

Intellectual property theft may not command the attention of a Bonnie-and-Clyde heist. But when our ideas are stolen, when our made-in-the-USA products are pirated and resold, ordinary Americans are the victims. Factory output decreases, profits plunge, workers lose their jobs and families suffer.

According to our best national estimates, 750,000 U.S. workers have lost their jobs because of intellectual property theft, a problem that bleeds as much as $250 billion every year from our national economy.

China accounts for an estimated 80 percent of the world's intellectual property theft, but illegal counterfeiting is a problem of global proportions. Fake goods now comprise as much as 9 percent of all world trade.

Its impact can be felt especially hard in factory towns across the Midwest. One reason that American car companies have been forced to close domestic part plants in states like Indiana and Ohio can be traced to imbalances in our trade relationship with countries such as China.

Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and I recently visited the Ford transmission plant in Sharonville to discuss how product counterfeiting affects our major auto manufacturers. Ford has been a symbol of American ingenuity ever since the Model T rolled off the first assembly line, yet it loses $1 billion annually today due to global intellectual property theft.

At the Sharonville plant, factory leaders delivered their consensus assessment with great passion: American autoworkers can outshine their competitors anywhere in the world if they are able to compete on a level playing field.

Unfortunately, Beijing has responded to Congress' growing concerns about its lax intellectual property rights enforcement with unproductive "dialogue."

"If you want a fight, let's fight," said Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, according to a Washington Post report.

There are many legitimate areas of disagreement that nations acting in good faith can have on trade - on issues ranging from foreign subsidies to currency value to market access - but there can be no defending the naked theft of the fruits of a trading partner's labor. Clearly, our trade system isn't going to work if we buy from other countries when they have a competitive advantage, and they steal from us when we do.

It's time we summon the national resolve to confront this problem. Voinovich and I have authored legislation that would elevate our federal response to intellectual property theft to the same level as money laundering, drug trafficking and other black-market crimes.

Globalization presents America with unprecedented opportunities as well as dangers. We can no longer sit idly by while the pirates of the 21st century act with impunity. It doesn't take a gun to perpetrate a stickup. The time for stronger congressional action has arrived.

Evan Bayh is a U.S. senator from Indiana.

Senators Subpoena The White House

By Michael A. Fletcher

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 28, 2007; Page A01

A Senate committee investigating the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program issued subpoenas yesterday ordering the White House to turn over documents related to the eavesdropping effort, escalating a legal showdown between Congress and the Bush administration.

The Judiciary Committee's subpoenas were delivered to the offices of President Bush, Vice President Cheney and the national security adviser and to the Justice Department. They demanded copies of internal documents about the program's legality and agreements with telecommunications companies that participated in the program.

Read more at the Washington Post online.

GOP Skepticism On Iraq Growing

By Karen DeYoung and Shailagh Murray

Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 27, 2007; Page A01

Key Republican senators, signaling increasing GOP skepticism about President Bush's strategy in Iraq, have called for a reduction in U.S. forces and launched preemptive efforts to counter a much-awaited administration progress report due in September.

In an unannounced speech on the Senate floor Monday night, Sen. Richard G. Lugar (Ind.), the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.S. military escalation begun in the spring has "very limited" prospects for success. He called on Bush to begin reducing U.S. forces. "We don't owe the president our unquestioning agreement," Lugar said.

Read more on Lugar's statement at the Washington Post.