Political News - Indiana - onPolitix

Simpson already boosting Gregg campaign

2012-05-22T20:52:00Z

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Democratic candidate for governor John Gregg introduced his running mate to the public Tuesday afternoon. Vi Simpson is giving up a seat in the state Senate for the chance to become lieutenant governor. She's also helping Gregg rally support that was lacking in some traditional constituencies.

There was no suspense left by the time Gregg and Simpson walked out of the Statehouse together, but both did their best to create some excitement.

"Didn't have to look long," said Gregg, "didn't have to look hard, because it was just a shining star."

Gregg did consider others for the running mate post but decided on Simpson last week. She embraced the role in a speech that included thinly veiled jabs at Congressman Mike Pence, the Republican candidate for governor.

"We both know how to reach across the aisle to reach out to Republicans and to Democrats alike and to get things done," she said. "That's the Indiana way. That is not the Washington, D.C., way."

Simpson is pro-choice, Gregg is pro-life. In fact, their politics on social issues are far apart, though Gregg tried to downplay it when asked if needed a more liberal running mate.

"Well, about everybody's more liberal than me," he said. "No, I needed a running mate who was qualified to serve."

When asked if it is her job to energize the Democratic base, Simpson said: "I hope I can, and I do think that we appeal to different constituency groups, and that's a good match."

As for energizing the base here are two examples: A labor leader said Gregg's labor support just went from 60 percent to 100 percent. And the Stonewall Democrats, a gay and lesbian organization, had labeled Gregg a DINO, Democrat in name only. It is now calling on its members to give his candidacy a second look.

Gregg to name Simpson as running mate

2012-05-21T20:10:39Z

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — John Gregg, Democrat candidate for governor, has settled on his choice for a running mate and will announce it Tuesday afternoon. That's when he will name state Sen. Vi Simpson as his choice for lieutenant governor.

Simpson once ran for governor herself. The Ellettsville lawmaker is now the minority leader in the state Senate. She is a lawyer with business experience, credentials that will compete with those of Sue Ellspermann, added Monday to the Republican ticket as lieutenant governor candidate.

Ellspermann was named as Mike Pence's choice for lieutenant governor Monday, and then immediately fielded questions about voting as a Democrat in the 2008 primary when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were on the ballot here. She won't say who she voted for. It was a time when Rush Limbaugh was asking Republicans to go and vote for Clinton.

"No, it had nothing to do with Rush Limbaugh," she said. "This was a personal decision as a Hoosier and as an American."

Pence also weighed in.

"Her decision to take a Democratic primary ballot in the last election is something that I respect," he said, noting it proves that she's not a career politician, which he called refreshing.

Ellspermann is a first-term state representative who leads a business incubator at the University of Southern Indiana. She also has a PhD and private business experience.

Gregg, Pence and Libertarian Rupert Boneham are running in the November general election. Gov. Mitch Daniels is barred from seeking a third term.

Boneham has already selected his running mate, Brad Klopfenstein.

Pence running mate sticks with trend

2012-05-21T17:04:31Z

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence's selection of state Rep. Sue Ellspermann to be his running mate is an effort to continue a trend in state government.

The last two lieutenant governors were both women. Pence has been under attack by Democrats for taking part in what they call a GOP war on women and the choice of Ellspermann will help blunt those charges.

Ellspermann, however, has solid conservative credentials including the co-sponsorship of a bill to eliminate taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood. She is in her first term in the General Assembly after pulling an upset win of then-Majority Leader Russ Stilwell in 2010. She has a PhD and operates the Center for Applied Research at the University of Southern Indiana. She also founded her own consulting business and worked in private industry.

Pence announced the choice in Ellerspermann's hometown of Ferdinand, Ind. The pair is now flying around the state for media appearances in major cities. The Ellspermann selection must be ratified at the State GOP Convention in June but no opposition is anticipated.

Pence's Democratic competitor, John Gregg, announced Monday that he would reveal his choice for lieutenant governor, Sen. Vi Simpson, publicly on Tuesday.

Pence set to announce running mate

2012-05-21T11:21:28Z

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Monday morning, gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence is expected to announce his running mate.

He invited supporters to his website where he promised to make his announcement via email to those who signed up.

Some say first-term State Rep. Sue Ellspermann (R-Ferdinand) is the top candidate for lieutenant governor on Pence’s ticket. Ellspermann has a background in business and academia.

In a blog Sunday night , 24-Hour News 8 Political Reporter Jim Shella said, "If you’re a betting person, put all your chips on Ellspermann."

The announcement will come at 10 a.m. Monday.

AG Zoeller seeks second term

2012-05-18T17:19:00Z

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller is running for re-election.

The first term Republican announced his plans outside the Statehouse Friday morning. He cited efforts to stop foreclosure fraud and a court battle against the federal healthcare reform law as highlights of his four years in office.

Zoeller is the only candidate for nomination at the June Republican state convention.

Rubio to headline Mourdock fundraiser

2012-05-18T01:39:51Z

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is headlining a fundraiser for Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock next month.

The potential pick for vice president and tea party favorite will be in Carmel on June 4 raising money for the man who defeated U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in the primary. The fundraiser continues a wave of support from national Republicans as Mourdock campaigns in the general election.

The Rubio fundraiser will mark the first appearance from a high-profile Republican campaigning side-by-side with Mourdock. Indiana Republicans including Gov. Mitch Daniels quickly backed Mourdock after Lugar's bruising loss.

National Democrats have promised to play a role in the race now that they see an opening to pick up a Republican seat in November and possibly keep control of the Senate.

Gregg, Pence mull running mate choices

2012-05-17T21:22:30Z

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Mike Pence will announce his choice for a running mate within the next eight days. The Republican candidate for governor will use social media to get the word out.

Pence is taking a page from the 2008 campaign playbook of Barack Obama. He's giving supporters the chance to learn of his running mate choice with no interference from the media.

Supporters are directed to go to Facebook, where they can view a short video of the candidate. In it he says: "We'll be announcing our choice for your next lieutenant governor, and I want you to be among the very first to know. Sign up today, and I'll email you the announcement for our choice for your next lieutenant governor." A link takes supporters to a website where they register an email address.

The announcement will come no later than next Friday, and currently there's a lot of speculation surrounding state Rep. Sue Ellspermann, a first-term lawmaker with a background in business and academia. Businesswoman Cathy Langham is also a possibility. Party leaders mention Valparaiso Mayor John Costas and Marion Mayor Wayne Seybold as other candidates, but Seybold's fourth-place showing in the Fifth District congressional primary may be a disqualifier.

The use of social media by Mike Pence has a number of benefits. For example, it also helps him build a database of supporters. From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m . Thursday, 400 people signed up for the lieutenant governor announcement.

Democrat gubernatorial John Gregg, meantime, has until June 8 to pick his running mate. It's believed that he may turn to a mayor from northern Indiana. Tom McDermott of Hammond and Tom Henry of Fort Wayne are possibilities. Greg Goodnight of Kokomo is an attractive candidate. He's helped his city recover from the recession and helped Chrysler rebuild, a potentially big issue in the race.

Libertarian candidate Rupert Boneham has already chosen Brad Klopfenstein to be his running mate.

Gregg proposes corporate tax cut

2012-05-16T21:46:43Z

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — John Gregg, the Democratic candidate for governor, proposed big cuts in corporate taxes Wednesday. It's the second element in a tax plan that includes Gregg's proposal to eliminate the sales tax on gasoline.

Indiana's corporate tax rate was cut just last year from 8.5 percent to 6.5 percent. Gregg wants to make further cuts that are targeted.

"We're going to eliminate the corporate income tax for Indiana homegrown businesses, headquartered businesses," he said.

He also wants to new tax credits for companies that create new jobs.

Republicans immediately pointed out that when he was speaker of the Indiana House, Gregg supported a hike in the corporate tax.

"He knows that Republicans in the state of Indiana have been very successful because we've done things responsibly," said state GOP Chairman Eric Holcomb, "and he's now lurching to the right, saying he wants to cut taxes, cut taxes."

Gregg rejects what he calls a partisan response and points out that the 2002 corporate tax hike made it possible to eliminate the inventory tax. He admits his plan would cost state government $350 million, and he plans to pay for it by going back on a deal forged by Gov. Mitch Daniels.

That deal made in January with Amazon calls for a delay in the collection of Internet sales taxes until 2014. Gregg wants online sales taxes collected immediately.

"It is the law," Gregg said. "We need to go ahead and start doing this in January."

The campaign of Republican candidate Mike Pence responded with a one sentence statement that said he supports tax relief.

Pence appears to be employing a frontrunner strategy that calls for him to steer clear of the issues and concentrate on images. He sent out an email to supporters Wednesday announcing that he will choose a running mate before the end of next week.

Lugar Series to continue

2012-05-14T21:49:52Z

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Sen. Richard Lugar will leave office at the end of the year following his defeat in the Primary Election last week, but he will continue to encourage others to run for office, particularly Republican women.

In 1990, Lugar created the Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series, better known simply as the Lugar Series. It's a training ground for Republican women that has been copied around the country.

The 18 women in this year's Lugar Series class are in Washington, D.C., this week for a series of events that began with a briefing at the offices of the Republican National Committee. The four-day trip to Washington is part of an annual curriculum that has been repeated 21 times.

Plans call for the series to continue next year.

"And while he's leaving office next year, his legacy is something we can grow on and build on," Executive Director Anne Hathaway said.

Participant Lindsay Quandt agreed.

"No matter how much time the senator has left in office he'll always be an example we can all learn from," she said.

When Lugar lost to fellow Republican Richard Mourdock, he took time to emphasize his belief in public service.

"I still counsel young citizens to consider elective public office," Lugar said in his concession speech.

And a number of Lugar Series graduates were on hand.

There was an even bigger crowd at a Lugar Series luncheon where the senator spoke in February. The Lugar Series is a big part of his legacy.

"We've had nearly 400 women go through the series," said participant Sherri Contos, "and most of them are involved in public service somewhere."

The daylong seminars that teach history, public policy and politics may change but, said Hathaway: "Republican women will need to be identified and trained in the future, and we'll be here to do it."

Look for Lugar to stay involved, too.

At least 12 states have developed programs similar to the Lugar series. Participants compete for the right to take part in it, and the series estimates that 85 percent of the graduates have increased their involvement in public service.

Gov. candidate Gregg calls for audit

2012-05-14T18:47:39Z

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The recent I-Team 8 report about overpaid taxes by some Indiana businesses prompted a call Monday for a complete audit of state government.

Democratic candidate for governor John Gregg also made a call for stronger whistleblower laws in Indiana state government.

Cathy Luff told I-Team 8 that she risked her career by disclosing that companies including Andy Mohr Chevrolet overpaid taxes in 2010 and were notified only if they fell into the 2 percent of companies that receive a state audit.

"We've got to have this audit," said Gregg. "And we can't wait till the end of May when we're finally going to pick a firm and then we're finally going to let 'em just look at just one state agency. They need to look at all state revenue. This is the fourth error."

Gregg also called on Republican candidate Mike Pence to address the recent money problems in state government.