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The Cheat Sheet 2012

The Cheat Sheet

“The best darn Indiana political gossip that your money can buy and I can spend!”

November 19, 2012, Vol 1, No. 44

THE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO COME OUT UNTIL AFTER
THANKSGIVING BUT THE GOSSIP GOT SO GOOD WE
HAD TO DO IT NOW EDITION
So there were thinking that we could take a few days off and enjoy the start
of the holiday season, but nope! That was not in the cards. When we want
gossip, rumor and blatant innuendo we get nothing. Try to get out for a
while and they pull us right back in! (Said in Al Pacino voice). But enough
melodrama, you want the best darn Indiana political gossip your money can
buy and I can spend, well here we go.

Ritz’s Rocky Start

We told you how new Superintendent of Public Instruction-elect
Glenda Ritz was probably in for a rough haul a Statehouse with the
GOP-controlled legislature, well we’re finding out the Ritz crew is
turning out to be their own worst enemies. TCS hears Ritz making
ISTA official Nancy Papas her Chief of Staff and Scott Reske is going to
be her Legislative Liaison. TCS has known Reske for years, he can be
a bit of drama queen at times. But Papas?! As one source put it
yesterday, that’s like putting Michael Jackson in charge of a day care.
Papas is likely going to take a pay cut to take the job. She was
making more than $300,000 over at the teachers union.
Speaking of jobs, the Ritz campaign is broke and can’t afford to pay
some of its campaign workers so they’ve asked Tony Bennett’s office
to start hiring some of them now and get them on the payroll.
1 | The Cheat Sheet. A Publication of Indy Politics. Be sure to catch “Politically
Speaking” A weekly public affairs program, Saturdays at 1 p.m. on WITT, 91.9 FM,
Indianapolis

Bennett’s office told them to get lost. They said they would cooperate
with the transition, but there’s no way they’re hiring anybody early.
That’s when the Ritz folks called the Governor’s office trying to get
them to get Bennett’ people on board. No such luck.

A Most Melancholy Mourdock

Richard Mourdock is not in the best of moods these days. TCS hears
back at the office he is very moody and brooding, not so much
because of his loss in the U.S. Senate race, but also because he felt he
dragged down the rest of the ticket.
Speaking of drags, Jim Holden is getting his old job back at the State
Treasurer’s office as Chief of Staff. So much for no bad deed not going
unpunished.

Tea Party Parting Ways

The members of the Indiana Tea Party movement are taking this
year’s rejection by the sane voters of Indiana pretty seriously. There’s
talk they are meeting to either dissolve or split into two groups. One
group, we’re told, will just focus on fiscal issues, the other group will
stay on the crazy train. We think Tea Party guru Greg Fettig will be
the conductor. We also hear they are mad at the Libertarians for what
happened to Richard Mourdock and plan to “go after” them.

Indianapolis

A Little Family Friction

It may not be much yet, but there is some potential friction on the
horizon between incoming Governor Mike Pence and the Republican-
controlled General Assembly. TCS hears that the more experienced
lawmakers aren’t crazy about Pence’s proposed income tax cut and
may push it down the road. The logic being since the state has
already phased out the inheritance tax and is cutting the corporate
income tax, there may not be much left to do in that area until the
economy gets better, especially with the President’s health care plan
kicking in.

Madame Chairwoman?

We hear there is campaign to make Vi Simpson the next Chair if the
Indiana Democratic Party. And while they folks at State Party tell TCS
that’s “crazy talk” there’s a big social media push to give Vi the
position if Dan Parker leaves to go work for Senator-elect Joe
Donnelly.

The Contenders

We’ve mentioned in previous Cheat Sheets who the possible
contenders are to take on Donnelly in 2018, Congressman Todd
Rokita, Todd Young, Congresswoman Susan Brooks, well you can add
a new name to the list, Marlin Stutzman of the 3rd Congressional
District.

Indianapolis

Coats Staying Put

Don’t expect U.S. Senator Dan Coats to go anywhere. TCS is hearing
more and more that he is running for re-election in 2016 and has his
fundraising machine off and going.

8th District Challenges

Although Larry Buschon won over David Crooks in the 8th
Congressional District, there’s talk that former Evansville Mayor
Jonathan Weinzapfel may try to run in 2014. Another name we hear is
former gubernatorial candidate John Gregg.

Look for a Lawsuit

Don’t be surprised if a county-elected official sues Mayor Greg Ballard
over the budget. We’re told the Ds are upset over the Mayor’s
withholding of funds from county offices, so the Democrats are trying
to map out a legal strategy. The problem is that they can’t sue in
Marion County because the judges are impacted by their Mayor’s veto
action.

Indianapolis

Sheriff Speaking with Forked Tongue?

Marion County Sheriff John Layton is causing a little confusion in his
neck of the woods. He’s been sending out conflicting e-mails over a
fuel surcharge for deputies. If you want a copy, let us know. We’ll be
happy to send them.

Don’t Forget!

On Monday, November 19, Indy Politics editor, publisher and agent
provocateur Abdul-Hakim Shabazz will be hosting the Amos Brown
show on 1310 AM in Indianapolis, from 1 – 3 p.m. You can tune in live
or stream the show at www.praiseindy.com. It will be open phones for
the most part. We plan to have an interview with former DCS head,
Judge James Payne.

So that’s all we have for now. We’re taking a few days off so enjoy your
Thanksgiving. And while TCS is very thankful for the blessings it has
received over the year we are even more thankful for the politicians who do
the stuff which may these pages possible. So be sure to let us know when
they do something silly, abdul@indypolitics.org.

Happy Turkey Day! Gobble! Gobble! Bye! Bye!

Indianapolis

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