Indiana

State Faces $763 Million Shortfall

Posted on December 11, 2008
The nation’s economic slowdown is taking its toll on state coffers.  Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels today announced a $763 million shortfall. The state had projected to spend $13.3 billion but will only take in $12.5 billion. The Governor says he is looking at 3-percent cuts across the board in state agencies on top of 7-percent cuts that [...

A Christmas Story

Posted on December 11, 2008
Something weird is going on up in Lawrence Township Schools.  I got several calls this morning that the school district issued a memo right before Thanksgiving banning all religious displays in classrooms and school buses this holiday season.    That didn’t disturb me as much, but their defeinition of religious symbols, according to the callers, included Christmas [...

Constitutional Crisis Averted

Posted on December 04, 2008
I’ve been involved in a discussion lately over whether Hillary Clinton can serve as Secretary of State because the Constitution  forbids a sitting member of Congress from taking a cabinet post if that position saw an increase in pay. The guys over at Politico have written about too… Hillary Clinton’s nomination of Secretary of State has resurrected [...

Wednesday Wire

Posted on December 03, 2008
There are a few interesting tidbits to report this morning. Stimulating Daniels Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels says he supports economic stimulus for the states as long as it is used to create jobs and strengthen the economy in the long term.   The nation’s governors met yesterday with President-elect Barack Obama to talk about their economies...

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Car Wars

Posted on December 02, 2008
A local car dealer is formally protesting the city of Indianapolis’ decision to purchase 85 hybrid vehicles from a Japanese automaker. In an e-mail sent Monday to the Mayor and City-County Council, Mike Chaney of Penske Chevrolet said DPS awarding of $2 million contract to Andy Mohr Toyota for the hybrid vehicles was $184,000 more than [...

A Tale of Two Purchases

Posted on December 01, 2008
Editor’s note: The following post has absolutely nothing to do with government or politics, but the next one will.   I made the crucial mistake of going to the mall the day after Thanksgiving.  It was not by choice.  My lovely girlfriend wanted to and being the good boyfriend I did what I was told...

The China Syndrome

Posted on November 30, 2008
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is leading a delegation to China and Japan in hopes to increase foreign investment in the city.   While that’s nothing out of the ordinary, there’s a question as to whether the Mayor should be taking his wife along on the junket at the taxpayers’ expense, although he is reimbursing the taxpayers [...

Is this Xmas??

Posted on November 29, 2008
As you guys know I’m Islamic and don’t really celebrate Christmas.  Well actually Islamic-lite, I love bacon, drink Scotch and smoke cigars. But I really have to wonder what’s going through people’s heads when a Wal-Mart greeter is trampled to death and two people are  shot dead at a mall on what’s supposed to be the [...

Be Thankful?

Posted on November 26, 2008
Tomorrow is Turkey Day.  I want to take this moment and thank all of you for reading this blog (as well as the other ones), listening to the radio show and watching me on television.  I enjoy what I do and am very appreciative of the fact that you have a lot of options to get [...

FYI?

Posted on November 25, 2008
Theoretically, I’m on “vacation” this week, but I’m still blogging.  Here are a few things that I’ve been noticing since I have time to sit around and almost do nothing… Do You Trustee this Man? Have us media folks let Washington Township Trustee Frank Short off the hook?  He’s the one who drafted the budget that included [...

Who You Callin? a N***a?!

Posted on November 23, 2008
Sorry about the blunt headline, but I had something that I had to get off of my chest this morning.   Now you might be thinking that I encountered racism this weekend and am writing about it.   Not really.  I’m going back, once again, to Thursday night’s Washington Township Board meeting...

Township Taxes

Posted on November 22, 2008
If this week’s antics with the Washington Township Board weren’t enough to make you think that this form of government really needs to go away, think about this as your 2008 property tax bills hit the mail in the next few days. Although schools were responsible for 76% of the increase in your 2007 bill, township [...

Township Board Tells Voters Where To Go and What to Do With Themselves When They Get There!!!

Posted on November 20, 2008
The Washington Township Board tonight told its citizens to go have sex with themselves and by a 4-3 vote gave itself a near 60 percent raise.  The board took no public input and raised its pay from $2200 a year to more than $3600.  Who still wants township government? I am now more than ever convinced that the [...

Make the Right Choice

Posted on November 20, 2008
Although I am no fan of township government, I’ve been thinking lately about one way they could stay relevant. Take poor relief and turn it into school vouchers. If you think about it, the whole purpose of poor relief is to help people in need and one way to help people in need is to make sure [...

In Case You Were Wondering

Posted on November 17, 2008
I’ve had quite a few e-mails and calls about when the Washington Township Board meets.  The Board meets this Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at the Trustee’s Office at 1595 E. 86th Street to vote on its budget.   That budget includes a nice big pay raise...

Sunday Morning Musings

Posted on November 16, 2008
Once again we start the week with little things (or not so little in some cases) that are worth paying attention to… Township Tales In it’s never-ending to quest to justify consolidation, the Washington Township Board voted itself a 69-percent pay raise...

Let Me Try This Again

Posted on November 15, 2008
Both friend and foe alike are talking about Mayor Greg Ballard’s proposed reduction in the County Option Income Tax from 1.65 to 1.62 percent; an $18 million savings for the taxpayers over the next three years. Friends say it is a misguided public relations stunt...

Words and Phrases from the 2008 Election That I Never Want to Hear Again

Posted on November 14, 2008
Maverick Main Street Wall Street Change Hope Socialism My Friends Farm MBA and/or Ph D Joe the Plumber Joe Six-pack First Dude You Betcha’ Lipstick on Pig Throw ______ under the bus. Hockey Mom Real American ACORN Country First Four more years The Bradley Effect Rallying the Base Indiana’s Election Headquarters October Surprise Pallin’ around with Terrorists Feel free to add.

Mayor Calls For $18 Million Tax Cut

Posted on November 14, 2008
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is calling for a nearly $18 million cut in the County Option Income Tax over the next three years. Accodring to a city spokesman the city no longer has to pay for police pensions and child welfare so it no longer has to levy taxes for those costs, thus the COIT reduction...

Capitol Watch: The Age of MoBoma

Posted on November 13, 2008
Here is this week?s Capitol Watch, Jen and I discuss the future for Mitch Daniels, the Obama transition, the new White House pup, and Greg Ballard and Andre Carson, the new power couple? Enjoy and don’t forget to watch us Wednesdays and Fridays on RTV 6 News at 7...

Are You Pondering What I?m Pondering?

Posted on November 13, 2008
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says because the banks aren’t lending he want to take your $700 billion bailout money and give it to credit card and other loan companies.   Regardless of the fact that this is totally messed up on so many levels, think about this...

India, Oh India. Have You Been Treated In India?

Posted on November 12, 2008
I knew this day would come. Wellpoint is joining the list of health insurance providers who are encouraging patients to go overseas in search of cheaper medical care. According to published reports, Wellpoint is providing coverage for patients to travel overseas for non-medical emergency procedures...

Bailout and Switch

Posted on November 12, 2008
It looks like that $700 billion federal bailout that was supposed to buy troubled assets and bailout the banks and financial institutions won’t get used for its original purpose. Now it’s being used to bailout credit card companies because people ran up too much debt...

Tuesday?s Talking Points

Posted on November 11, 2008
Here are a few things to ponder this Tuesday. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard met yesterday with the Marion County Republican members of the General Assembly.  No word yet on the topic of discussion, but odds are it had something to do with the Mayor’s objectives for the upcoming Legislative session...

Get Bi-Partisan With A Little Help From Your Friends

Posted on November 11, 2008
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and 7th District Congressman Andre Carson tomorrow are announcing preliminary plans to spend a $29 million HUD grant to deal with the city’s abandoned housing and foreclosure problem. Might this be a new coalition between the Mayor and the Congressman? Maybe...

Resistance Is Futile

Posted on November 10, 2008
Editor’s Note: I apologize for the title of this post, but I relaxed this weekend by watching a lot of Star Trek. In the wake of the consolidation vote this past week in Marion County regarding the township assessors, I have some news for the rest of township government,  you will be assimilated...

The Emotional Ties That Bind

Posted on November 09, 2008
I was on the phone this past week with a friend I used to work with when I was at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.  I worked in Springfield and he worked in Chicago.  He told me two things.  First, he couldn’t believe the State Senator he used to share an elevator with in 2002, [...

Your Chance To Make Some Change

Posted on November 08, 2008
I’m finishing up my Election analysis and will have it posted tomorrow.   In the meantime, here’s an opportunity for you to help someone in need.  If you voted for Obama because you wanted change for the better, here’s your chance.  If you voted for McCain because you believe the answer to problems lie in [...

Capitol Watch: The Election Edition

Posted on November 06, 2008
Jen Wagner and I discuss this week’s election results . Enjoy!  

Dissention in the Ranks?

Posted on November 06, 2008
It really is amazing what goes on behind closed doors, luckily I have good ears. In the world of Marion County Democrats, Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer and Township Constable Tony Duncan literally got into a cursing match with County Chairman Ed Treacy over his refusal to get into the fight to save the Township Assessors...

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