Guv: "Let Them Eat Cake"

Mitch Says Low Income Hoosiers Don't Need Health Care

Indianapolis - March 23, 2010 - Our Repub Governor, now wanting to be the shortest individual ever elected President, has let it be known where his heart truly lies.

As reported in the Indianapolis Star today, "Daniels said he would immediately suspend enrollment in the state’s Healthy Indiana Plan as a result of the U.S. House’s 219-212 vote last night to send the health care reform to President Barack Obama’s desk." The Healthy Indiana Plan serves some 45,000 low income Hoosiers.

Meanwhile, as reported in the Bloomington Herald-Times today, our own State Senator Vi Simpson had a more sober response and a vastly more humane assessment of the health care reform bill. According to the H-T:

"Expanded access to health care is a good thing, and under the bill, more Hoosiers will have health care than ever before, [Sen. Simpson] said.

Seniors will have improved access to prescription drugs through Medicare, and many uninsured and uninsurable Hoosiers will get health care for the first time, she said.

A tax credit for small businesses will allow many of them to provide health insurance to their employees, she said.

'This bill has in it a lot of good things for Hoosier families, and I’m optimistic for the future,' she said."

In the H-T article, Senator Simpson observed, "[The Guv] is talking to a national Republican primary audience instead of to the people of Indiana.”

“He needs to remember he is still the governor of Indiana, and he needs to do his job,” Simpson said.

Did we say "where his heart truly lies"?

We've heard the lies, but where's the heart?

If you'd like to hear some truth, for a change, about the health care reform bill, our Congressman Baron Hill has provided it. Just click here.

If You Repeat a Lie Often Enough, Part 2 ...

Mitch Missing Mark on Indiana Jobs

Nashville - March 9, 2010 - After numerous photo opportunities showing our Repub Governor cutting ribbons and telling everybody he was bringing jobs to Indiana, it turns out the jobs he must have been referring to were in the ribbon factory.

An investigation by WTHR, Channel 13, in Indianapolis, has revealed that "many of the state's 'economic successes' are actually empty fields and deserted factories where thousands of promised jobs never showed up." In fact, when Mitch tells us he's created jobs, he's referring to reports put out by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. And the Indiana Economic Development Corporation was created by whom? Why Repub Governor Mitch, that's who. To view the WTHR report, click here. (And be sure to listen to Mitch's arrogant and condescending responses to the reporter's questions.)

Let's see. Mitch took office in 2004, promising more jobs. How's he doing? The graphs below from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show unemployment levels and rates for the state of Indiana from 1989 - 2009:

Great job, Mitch! Record unemployment and ribbons cut for empty fields and deserted factories.

Please at least let the ribbons be made in Indiana.

If You Repeat a Lie Often Enough ...

Repub Misrepresentations Again at Odds with Facts

Nashville - February 17, 2010 - We've heard over and over again from the opposition how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - President Obama's stimulus bill - has accomplished nothing.

Really? Let's take a look at the FACTS:

You don't suppose the opposition is trying to mislead us just for political gain, do you?

12 Year Career Ends

Bayh Opts Out of Senate Race

Indianapolis - February 15, 2010 - Two-term U.S. Senator Evan Bayh announced today that he would not seek reelection.

"I love working for the people of Indiana, I love helping our citizens make the most of their lives, but I do not love Congress," Bayh said, citing partisan wrangling as a primary cause of his decision.

Bayh pointed to two recent failures to pass legislation as examples of excessive partisanship. One was a bill to reduce the deficit and the other a bill to increase employment. Both were abandoned, in some cases by former supporters "for short-term political gain," according to Bayh.

Although he did not mention the Republican Party by name, it is clear that party's obstructionist tactics in the face of President Obama's calls for bipartisanship for the good of the nation played a role in Bayh's decision.

It is unknown at this writing who will seek the Democratic nomination for this year's race.

A Blast From the Past

Truman's Words Ring True

From The New York Times - September 20, 1964 - Harry S. Truman, a man not known for mincing words, had this to say in advice to Hubert Humphrey:

"Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home, but not for housing. The are strong for labor - but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights. They favor minimum wage - the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all - but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine - for people who can afford them. They consider electrical power a great blessing - but only when the private power companies get their rake-off. They think the American standard of living is a fine thing - so long as it doesn't spread to all the people. And they admire the Government of the Unites States so much that they would like to buy it.

The Republicans believe that the power of government should be used first of all to help the rich and the privileged in the country. With them, property, wealth, comes first. The Democrats believe that the power of government should be used to give the common man more protection and a chance to make a living. With us the people come first.

I don't like bipartisans, Whenever a fellow tells me he's bipartisan, I know that he's going to vote against me."

This September, that advice will be 46 years old.

Now, in 2010, family farms are being replaced by corporate agribusiness. American homes are being foreclosed. Labor unions have shrunk to a shadow of their former selves. Workers' wages stagnate while corporate executive bonuses, made possible by taxpayer bailouts, have become stratospheric. Jobs are shipped overseas while unemployment rises. School funding is cut. Health care reform is beaten back by corporate insurance special interests. The cost of every utility rises while the infrastructure to provide it decays. Centralization of government and its privatization decreases services to people while enriching the friends of officeholders. The concentration of wealth in the hands of a very few cuts away at the middle class. And George W. Bush's Supreme Court says corporations can spend as much as they want to influence elections, as if corporations were people.

In the middle of it all stands the Republican Party, backed by those corporate interests, saying "no" to every attempt to bring some fairness, some balance, some change of direction to this culture of greed and "me first" entitlement.

It's time we listened to President Truman. Bipartisanship is seen by Republicans as weakness - nothing more than another opportunity to manipulate our government to benefit themselves and their friends.

It's time for Democrats to remember that we stand for the people, including and especially those who can't afford to buy their right to be heard. They are counting on us to stand up for them. They are counting on us to fight.

It's 2010, Harry, and we're not bipartisan.

It's 2010, and we're Democrats.

If the opposition doesn't care about working together for the good of all, we'll do it ourselves.

Some Good News for a Change

Voter ID Law Struck Down

Indianapolis - September 17, 2009 - The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, in League of Women Voters v. Rokita, that Indiana's voter ID law violates the state constitution.

The court held that requiring a valid picture ID from voters who vote in person at the polls while requiring nothing from absentee voters violates Article 1, section 23 of the Indiana Constitution, which prohibits State government from granting unequal privileges.

Who knew? The Indiana Court of Appeals, of all things, looking out for the little guy. Even more amazing was that the lawsuit was brought by the League of Women Voters. Imagine that, the League working to protect the right to vote instead of trying to run our local fire service.

Wonders never cease.

Of course, the Republican Secretary of State has petitioned the Indiana Supreme Court to hear the case, so there's plenty of opportunity for happy wordplay to explain how all the conditions and restrictions don't really impact your fundamental right to vote. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: The Indiana Supreme Court has granted transfer, which sets aside the Court of Appeals opinion. So, get ready for the wordplay.

Yet Another Study

LWV Studying Trustees

Nashville - November 5, 2009 - Speaking of the League of Women Voters, our local chapter is now "studying" the offices of Township Trustee.

All Brown County Trustees received letters from the LWV asking that they meet with them to describe their duties. The Trustees have declined, and for good reason.

The LWV claims to be conducting a "study" of the offices, but given their track record locally, it's likely the results of the "study" have already been determined. The LWV seems to be marching to the Mitch Daniels drum, wanting bigger, less responsive local government, not directly accountable to the voters. Non-partisan? Hmmm....

For those interested, some good sources of information about the duties of Indiana's Township Trustees can be found at:

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar6/

http://www.in.gov/sboa/2693.htm

http://indianatownshipassoc.org/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/.

County Democrats Reorganize

Jim Gredy Elected to Head County Democratic Party

Nashville - March 7, 2009 - At the Brown County Democratic Party's quadrennial reorganization meeting, the precinct committeepeople elected former County Commissioner Jim Gredy to serve as Chairperson for the next four years.

Other officers elected during the meeting were Vice-Chairperson Mary Ann Walker, Treasurer Maxine Bailey, and Secretary Evelyn Kent. All had served in those offices the past four years.

Deja Vu? Or All in the Family?

Repubs Reorganize

Nashville - March 7, 2009 - The local Republican Party also reorganized last Saturday, and some familiar faces surfaced.

Failed County Clerk candidate and former Chamber of Commerce employee Jenny Voris was elected Chairperson. Gerhardt Webber, husband of former Republican boss Lynda Sereno, was elected Vice-Chairperson. Treasurer went to Marty Davidson, an employee of the Brown County Treasurer's Office, and Secretary went to Glenda Stogsdill, wife of the County Sheriff and member of the County Council.

To Contact State Senator Vi Simpson

Senator Vi Simpson, who represents Brown County, may be contacted at 1-800-382-9467 or by visiting her State Senate web page. She can also be contacted through the State Senate Democratic Caucus web site, which contains additional legislative links.

To Contact State Representative Peggy Welch

Representative Peggy Welch, who represents Jackson Township Precinct 4 in Brown County, may be contacted at 1-800-382-9842 or by visiting her State House web page. She can also be contacted through the State House of Representatives Democratic Caucus web site, which contains additional legislative links.

Public Access Counselor Available

For information on when executive sessions are proper or whether records should be available, visit the Office of the Public Access Counselor.

You can also download the Public Access Handbook prepared by that office and ask the Public Access Counselor a question about the Access to Public Records Act or the Open Door Law.

Should you decide for any reason you would like to file a formal complaint, click here for a form you can download.

To Contact Congressman Baron Hill

  Contact information for Congressman Baron Hill:

223 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-5315    Fax: 202-226-6866

320 West 8th St., Suite 114
Bloomington, IN 47404
Phone: 812-336-2692    Fax: 812-336-3355

279 Quartermaster Court
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Phone: 812-288-3999    Fax: 812-288-3873

Congressman Hill's web site: http://baronhill.house.gov/index.shtml.

Voter Registration is Open

IMPORTANT: Voters should be aware that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles has revoked the drivers licenses of many Indiana citizens whose names differ from their Social Security records. Remember, Indiana still requires citizens to show some form of ID (most often a drivers license or state-issued ID card) to vote. Since the State of Indiana seems determined to do all it can to disenfranchise its citizens, be sure to check with the Clerk to see that your registration is still on file. If your drivers license has been cancelled because of a mismatch with Social Security records, you should also consider contacting the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, which is challenging the action of the BMV. The ICLU telephone number is (317) 635-4059. GUARD YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!

Send mail to jgredy@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 03/11/10