Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Knight Ridder - Analyst Says Prerequisite for Buy is More Cost Cutting
Newsday runs a DowJones/AP report on the latest surrounding the possible sale of Knight Ridder as a whole or in parts. The story cites what Doug Arthur, newspaper analyst for Morgan Stanley wrote in a recent report:
The "absolute prerequisite" for any potential buyer, whether a rival newspaper company or a buyout firm, "is a view that a significant amount of both cost-cutting and value can be harvested and that some of Knight Ridder's depressed markets can grow again."Interesting lead for the story:
Bankers liken a potential acquisition of newspaper publisher Knight Ridder to buying beachfront property: It's a valuable, hard-to-come-by asset, but it's eroding.
Wheldon Explains Why He Didn't Go Formula 1
500 Winner Says He is Staying in USA for Love
The Kansas City Star today carried a story regarding 2005 Indy Winner Dan Wheldon and his reasons for switching to the Chip Ganassi racing team from the Andretti Green team. The story also quotes Wheldon as to why he decided to forego a pursuit of Formula 1 racing at this time.
The Kansas City Star today carried a story regarding 2005 Indy Winner Dan Wheldon and his reasons for switching to the Chip Ganassi racing team from the Andretti Green team. The story also quotes Wheldon as to why he decided to forego a pursuit of Formula 1 racing at this time.
Wheldon was being courted by a Formula One team as well recently. He said he chose to remain in the United States for a few reasons.
First, he said, he loves America. Second, he loves the IRL.
Third, “It just wasn’t for me,” Wheldon said. “The deal didn’t feel right to me.”
LIN TV - Becoming Indiana's Real News Center
WANE and WISH PARENT COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF
TERRE HAUTE STATION FROM EMMIS TODAY
LIN picks up the WTHI 10 television station in Terre Haute along with two other stations from Emmis Communications. That gives LIN a presence in four markets across Indiana.
LIN already owns WISH TV in Indianpolis, WANE TV in Fort Wayne, and WLFI TV in Lafayette, Indiana. All four of the Indiana stations are CBS affiliates.
Unlike Fort Wayne rival Granite Broadcasting, LIN has had a strong financial performance in the past year. Granite is struggling under a huge load of debt.
[T]oday, LIN TV Corp completed its purchase of WALA-TV (Ch. 10, Fox affiliate) in Mobile, Ala./Pensacola, Fla.; WTHI-TV (Ch. 10, CBS affiliate) in Terre Haute, Ind.; WLUK-TV (Ch. 11, Fox affiliate) in Green Bay, Wis.; and KRQE-TV (Ch. 13, CBS affiliate) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, plus regional satellite stations. Because FCC license renewal is still pending, a fifth station, WBPG-TV (Ch. 55, WB affiliate) in Mobile, Ala./Pensacola, Fla., will be operated under a Local Programming and Marketing Agreement, which begins today. The sale price for the five stations is $260 million.Emmis is divesting itself of many of its television properties. Of the other transactions announced late today, Gray Television is picking up a station from Emmis. Gray, it was announced earlier this week, is acquiring WNDU-TV in South Bend, Indiana.
Emmis Communication is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. LIN TV Corp. is based in Providence, Rhode Island.
Bring Back Tax Adjustment Board
Leo Morris wrote an editorial published a week ago November 21, 2005 in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. It was headed: "Flexibility and discipline -If local governments get revenue reform, they must be serious about budgetary reform".
He did something I found extraordinary; he accurately expressed the thoughts of his major source. I can say that with absolute authority; I was the source. The editorial conveyed my views on local budgeting, which I will talk more about later.
The other key part of the editorial endorses the idea of bringing back the County Tax Adjustment Board TAB). We used to have one in Allen County. It was the last stop before the proposed property tax rates got sent to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance). The Board had the power to cut tax levies, it did not have the power to cut individual budget items.
The TAB looked at the OVERALL tax burden on any given piece of taxable real property. That is, it looked at the "stacked plates" of the township, school corporation, city, county, library, airport authority, and, potentially, the fire district, the parks and so on.
Right now, no entity performs that function. The Tax Adjustment Board made the true economic decision that the individual local taxing units often will not. Economics is defined as the "allocation of scarce resources." Many local governmental leaders do not believe that tax resources are scarce. Or if they are, it is due to the profligracy of the other tax bodies in their community.
Some local officials do get it. One Fort Wayne City Council member, John Crawford, recently referred to the separate taxing districts making decisions without relation to each other the "silo effect."
Two things happened to the Tax Adjustment Boards in Indiana. The first was that, generally, the late 1970's and 1980's were a time of inflation. Local governments were capped, as a general rule, by a 5% maximum annual allowable increase in their tax levy.
The question most often asked of local governmental officials when they were before county Tax Adjustment Boards was, "Did you exceed your maximum allowable levy?" The answer most often was, "No." Since inflation was often running higher than 5%, the TAB's didn't do much cutting. The property tax levy caps in the Property Tax Control program did the heavy lifting of serving as a barrier to excessive taxation.
Toward the end of the 1980's, a few counties asked the legislature to be exempted from the necessity of having Tax Adjustment Boards meet. Then, the legislature made TAB's optional for all counties.
Allen County did away with its Tax Adjustment Board by resolution shortly thereafter.
However, the 1990's and the first 5 years of this century have seen inflation drop to very low levels. The legislature and Governors of that time had loosened local property tax controls. Many local goverments had treated the maximum allowable increase as something they should seek lest they lose.
Even in those counties, like Delaware, which retained their Tax Adjustment Boards, the local governments would automatically use their right under the statute to appeal the decision to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now DLGF). While the governors had the power to constitute a board which would have been more stringent the people of Indiana ended up with an agency routinely overruling the decisions of local TAB's and allowing the higher taxes.
TAB's are not perfect. The appointments are split between the County Commissioners (4), County Council (1), largest city (1), and largest school corporation (1). The overall effect is to shift power over city, town, township, and special taxing districts to the county.
On the other hand, it has amazed but not surprised me that many of the strongest proponents of combining governments in a county do not want to do anything which would give one body the power to rationally examine the overall tax burden in the county. When government consolidation proponents are presented with the idea of reinstating the Tax Adjustment Board or creating some other entity to rationally examine the overall tax burden on Allen County residents, they tend to shrink from the idea of fiscal controls.
The Allen County Tax Adjustment Board can be reinstated with the passage of a resolution to do so by the Allen County Council. This is not even a decision which requires initiation or even approval by the County Commissioners. Shouldn't the question of whether a candidate for county council supports reestablishment of the Tax Adjustment Board be a threshold question for County Council candidates in 2006?
When state legislators are being asked to change state laws to allow more governmental consolidation, shouldn't legislators tell the proponents to at least make sure they have the basic mechanism of tax control such as a Tax Adjustment Board in place in the county before seeking legislative support for consolidation again?
The proponents of consolidation always allude that consolidation makes sense because it will save money through the elimination of duplication of services and "economies of scale." The proponents ask their audience, by and large, to accept this as a truism. However, the academic studies indicate that, in practice, this has always been a chimera. Consolidation usually begets more spending and governmental expansion.
Leo Morris and the News-Sentinel are now willing to tell their readers that oversight of local government total spending and taxing is a prerequisite. That's a start.
From Leo Morris for the editorial board:
He did something I found extraordinary; he accurately expressed the thoughts of his major source. I can say that with absolute authority; I was the source. The editorial conveyed my views on local budgeting, which I will talk more about later.
The other key part of the editorial endorses the idea of bringing back the County Tax Adjustment Board TAB). We used to have one in Allen County. It was the last stop before the proposed property tax rates got sent to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance). The Board had the power to cut tax levies, it did not have the power to cut individual budget items.
The TAB looked at the OVERALL tax burden on any given piece of taxable real property. That is, it looked at the "stacked plates" of the township, school corporation, city, county, library, airport authority, and, potentially, the fire district, the parks and so on.
Right now, no entity performs that function. The Tax Adjustment Board made the true economic decision that the individual local taxing units often will not. Economics is defined as the "allocation of scarce resources." Many local governmental leaders do not believe that tax resources are scarce. Or if they are, it is due to the profligracy of the other tax bodies in their community.
Some local officials do get it. One Fort Wayne City Council member, John Crawford, recently referred to the separate taxing districts making decisions without relation to each other the "silo effect."
Two things happened to the Tax Adjustment Boards in Indiana. The first was that, generally, the late 1970's and 1980's were a time of inflation. Local governments were capped, as a general rule, by a 5% maximum annual allowable increase in their tax levy.
The question most often asked of local governmental officials when they were before county Tax Adjustment Boards was, "Did you exceed your maximum allowable levy?" The answer most often was, "No." Since inflation was often running higher than 5%, the TAB's didn't do much cutting. The property tax levy caps in the Property Tax Control program did the heavy lifting of serving as a barrier to excessive taxation.
Toward the end of the 1980's, a few counties asked the legislature to be exempted from the necessity of having Tax Adjustment Boards meet. Then, the legislature made TAB's optional for all counties.
Allen County did away with its Tax Adjustment Board by resolution shortly thereafter.
However, the 1990's and the first 5 years of this century have seen inflation drop to very low levels. The legislature and Governors of that time had loosened local property tax controls. Many local goverments had treated the maximum allowable increase as something they should seek lest they lose.
Even in those counties, like Delaware, which retained their Tax Adjustment Boards, the local governments would automatically use their right under the statute to appeal the decision to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now DLGF). While the governors had the power to constitute a board which would have been more stringent the people of Indiana ended up with an agency routinely overruling the decisions of local TAB's and allowing the higher taxes.
TAB's are not perfect. The appointments are split between the County Commissioners (4), County Council (1), largest city (1), and largest school corporation (1). The overall effect is to shift power over city, town, township, and special taxing districts to the county.
On the other hand, it has amazed but not surprised me that many of the strongest proponents of combining governments in a county do not want to do anything which would give one body the power to rationally examine the overall tax burden in the county. When government consolidation proponents are presented with the idea of reinstating the Tax Adjustment Board or creating some other entity to rationally examine the overall tax burden on Allen County residents, they tend to shrink from the idea of fiscal controls.
The Allen County Tax Adjustment Board can be reinstated with the passage of a resolution to do so by the Allen County Council. This is not even a decision which requires initiation or even approval by the County Commissioners. Shouldn't the question of whether a candidate for county council supports reestablishment of the Tax Adjustment Board be a threshold question for County Council candidates in 2006?
When state legislators are being asked to change state laws to allow more governmental consolidation, shouldn't legislators tell the proponents to at least make sure they have the basic mechanism of tax control such as a Tax Adjustment Board in place in the county before seeking legislative support for consolidation again?
The proponents of consolidation always allude that consolidation makes sense because it will save money through the elimination of duplication of services and "economies of scale." The proponents ask their audience, by and large, to accept this as a truism. However, the academic studies indicate that, in practice, this has always been a chimera. Consolidation usually begets more spending and governmental expansion.
Leo Morris and the News-Sentinel are now willing to tell their readers that oversight of local government total spending and taxing is a prerequisite. That's a start.
From Leo Morris for the editorial board:
Let’s bring back the Tax Adjustment Board, the group that once reviewed the annual budgets and tax rates of all tax-dependent entities in the county. That’s a simple step – it can be done just with a vote by the County Council – suggested by Mitch Harper, former head of the Taxpayers Research Association, and it’s a good one. The state’s budget problems have added more urgency to the requests of local governments for more control over their own destinies. If there’s going to be greater revenue-generating flexibility, local units also need to show budgetary restraint and fiscal discipline, which can be provided by an adjustment board.Leo Morris further wrote:
Individual taxing units just look at their own realms, not at the overall impact of taxes in the county. The more local options there are, the more chances there will be to add to the array of confusion.
That’s where the Tax Adjustment Board comes in. It had the power to look at the overall picture and tell taxing units they needed to adjust their budgets according to an overall plan. Such boards were once mandatory. When the state made them optional, all but a few counties ended them. They were ended by votes of county councils and can be reinstated the same way.
One of the problems faced by local officials is the way all this “reform” is being forged – not by thoughtful debate over the most sensible way to run things, but in desperation because of increasingly difficult budgets at the local level and a state that needs to get its fiscal house in order. That means taxpayers will need more convincing that they’re being treated fairly. They tend not to see the specific needs of individual taxing units. They just look at their overall tax bill and judge accordingly. And the tax bill tends to rachet up.
In the best of all possible worlds, Harper says, we’d go back to a more rational time when “the state took care of its own needs and didn’t get federal money, and local units of government raised the money they needed locally.”
That will never happen, of course, which is why the burden is on local officials to be as scrupulous and transparent as they can be.
Pence Accompanies Bush to Annapolis
President George Bush is addressing the students at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland at this hour. Bush will be talking about the war in Iraq.
Prior to his main remarks, the President introduced three members of the US House of Representatives in attendance. Indiana 2nd District Congressman Mike Pence was among the three.
The other two were Congressmen Pete Hoekstra (MI) and John Shadegg (AZ). Both Hoekstra and Shadegg were recently in Fort Wayne at a fundraiser for US Representative Mark E. Souder of Indiana's 3rd District.
Historical photo from Pence website. Photo not of Naval Academy address.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Harper Begins Campaign
New elections have been called in Canada. Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party seeking to become Prime Minister, said:
"It's never enough to show the public just what we're against. We will show them a positive vision for the future," he said.Harper said a Conservative government won't cater to "privileged and powerful insiders," but will work to improve the lot of ordinary Canadians.
London: 50 Babies a Year Alive After Abortion
The London Sunday Times ran a story under the headline "Fifty Babies a Year are Alive After Abortion."
A government agency is launching an inquiry into doctors’ reports that up to 50 babies a year are born alive after botched National Health Service abortions.Indiana Parley strongly believes this story needed to be brought to your attention.
The investigation, by the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH), comes amid growing unease among clinicians over a legal ambiguity that could see them being charged with infanticide.
Professor Dick Armey Lectures the Republican Party
Former House Majority Leader asks in today's Wall Street Journal - "Why are Republican Leaders governing like Democrats?"
Former US Representative Dick Armey has written a column published in today's Wall Street Journal where he warns the Republican leadership that they will not prevail unless Republican Congress reestablishes "its credibility as the party of spending restraint and fiscal responsibility."
Armey wrote:
Armey wrote:
Former US Representative Dick Armey has written a column published in today's Wall Street Journal where he warns the Republican leadership that they will not prevail unless Republican Congress reestablishes "its credibility as the party of spending restraint and fiscal responsibility."
Armey wrote:
All of our leaders are complicit in this spending spree. President Bush has yet to veto a single spending bill.He pointed to US Representative Mike Pence of Indiana with favor as one of a small number of "young Turks of the party - the brave backbenchers more inspired by Reagan than the possibility of a glowing editorial on the pages of the New York Times."
Armey wrote:
A serious effort to slow the growth of the federal budget is being driven by a small group of House Republicans led by Reps. Mike Pence, Jeff Flake, and Jeb Hensarling. Against their own leadership's wishes, this brave group and others from the Republican Study Committee gathered outside the Cannon House office building in September to kick off "Operation Offset," a modest proposal to pay for the extraordinary costs associated with Hurrican Katrina with savings from other parts of the budget.Armey began the column by remarking that during his entire political career he has
...never sensed such anger and frustration from our volunteers - those who do the hard work of door-to-door mobilization that Republican candidates depend on to get elected. Across the nation, wherever I go to speak with them, their refrain is the same: "I can't tell a dime's worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats." Our base rightly expects Republicans to govern by the principles - lower taxes, less government and more freedom - controlling both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government, there is a widening credibility gap between their political rhetoric and public policies.Armey closed by saying that if the Republicans get their house in order, there will be a sharp contrast with Democrats. He closed by writing:
None of this will be easy. The good news for Republicans willing to do this heavy lifting is that the "ideas" of the left are bankrupt. Notice that the brightest liberal politicians, like Hillary Clinton, always move toward our policy ground as they prepare to run for national office. Why would Republicans want to act like them when they act like us in order to win?Excellent lesson, Professor Armey. Let's hope the students were paying attention and taking notes for all our sakes.
One final Armey Axiom: When we act like us, we win. When we act like them, we lose.
Indiana Libertarian Chair Responds to George Will
Mitch Daniels No Libertarian, Asserts Rutherford
Columnist George Will wrote favorably during the past week about US Representative Mike Pence and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Leo Morris noted the column at his weblog "Opening Arguments."
However, Indiana Libertarian Party Chair Mark Rutherford has taken offense to Will's characterization of Governor Daniels as a libertarian.
Rutherford wrote:
George Will contact information: georgewill@washpost.com. Address: 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071.
Columnist George Will wrote favorably during the past week about US Representative Mike Pence and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Leo Morris noted the column at his weblog "Opening Arguments."
However, Indiana Libertarian Party Chair Mark Rutherford has taken offense to Will's characterization of Governor Daniels as a libertarian.
Rutherford wrote:
Columnist George Will had this to say about Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels: "In the division between social conservatives, who emphasize nurturing virtue, and libertarian conservatives, who emphasize expanding liberty by limiting government, Daniels is with the latter."Mark Rutherford contact information: lpinhq@lpin.org Address: 156 East Market Street, Suite 600, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
No. Mitch is not now, nor has he ever been a Libertarian. And with such government-expanding actions as:
·advocating taxpayer money to build a new stadium for the multi-million-dollar business, the Colts;
·seeking to spend millions of dollars on an unnecessary Interstate-69 route when the state can't afford to maintain and upgrade current roads;
·dumping the state's tax burden onto local entities to fulfill the whims of the governor and the legislature;
Mitch Daniels will never become a Libertarian.
George Will contact information: georgewill@washpost.com. Address: 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071.
US Rep Pence Fundraiser to be Held in 3rd District
The re-election campaign committee for United States Representative Mike Pence will be holding a fundraiser on December 10, 2005.
There is nothing particularly newsworthy about that except that the reception will be held in the 3rd District. Pence represents Indiana's 6th Congressional District. US Representative Mark Souder represents the 3rd.
The "Holiday Reception" will be held in the home of Pence supporters in Whitley County. It can be noted, though, that the location is very near the southern border of the 3rd District.
On the other hand, the adjoining district is not the 6th District of Congressman Pence. It's the 5th District of US Representative Dan Burton.
There is nothing particularly newsworthy about that except that the reception will be held in the 3rd District. Pence represents Indiana's 6th Congressional District. US Representative Mark Souder represents the 3rd.
The "Holiday Reception" will be held in the home of Pence supporters in Whitley County. It can be noted, though, that the location is very near the southern border of the 3rd District.
On the other hand, the adjoining district is not the 6th District of Congressman Pence. It's the 5th District of US Representative Dan Burton.
Monday, November 28, 2005
500 Winner Dan Wheldon Splits Up
Another story that would seem more at home on the pages of Fort Wayne Observed - the Indianapolis Star carried word today that 27 year-old Indy race car driver Dan Wheldon is leaving a long-time relationship.
He didn't seem too broken up by the split. Wheldon said: "I can't talk about it right now, but it's good."
He didn't seem too broken up by the split. Wheldon said: "I can't talk about it right now, but it's good."
Phil Bloom of the Journal-Gazette Covers Local Blogger
Phil Bloom, Outdoor reporter for the Journal-Gazette, covered Team ETG last week for the JG's new Recreation feature on Wednesdays. Team ETG is a group of top post-collegiate runners in Fort Wayne who train together.
Casey Shafer, one of the Team ETG members, formed a blog for the group at about the same time Indiana Parley was created.
Casey Shafer, one of the Team ETG members, formed a blog for the group at about the same time Indiana Parley was created.
Bring Back the Tax Adjustment Board
Leo Morris wrote an editorial published a week ago November 21, 2005 in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. It was headed: "Flexibility and discipline -If local governments get revenue reform, they must be serious about budgetary reform".
He did something I found extraordinary; he accurately expressed the thoughts of his major source. I can say that with absolute authority; I was the source. The editorial conveyed my views on local budgeting, which I will talk more about later.
The other key part of the editorial endorses the idea of bringing back the County Tax Adjustment Board TAB). We used to have one in Allen County. It was the last stop before the proposed property tax rates got sent to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance). The Board had the power to cut tax levies, it did not have the power to cut individual budget items.
The TAB looked at the OVERALL tax burden on any given piece of taxable real property. That is, it looked at the "stacked plates" of the township, school corporation, city, county, library, airport authority, and, potentially, the fire district, the parks and so on.
Right now, no entity performs that function. The Tax Adjustment Board made the true economic decision that the individual local taxing units often will not. Economics is defined as the "allocation of scarce resources." Many local governmental leaders do not believe that tax resources are scarce. Or if they are, it is due to the profligracy of the other tax bodies in their community.
Some local officials do get it. One Fort Wayne City Council member, John Crawford, recently referred to the separate taxing districts making decisions without relation to each other the "silo effect."
Two things happened to the Tax Adjustment Boards in Indiana. The first was that, generally, the late 1970's and 1980's were a time of inflation. Local governments were capped, as a general rule, by a 5% maximum annual allowable increase in their tax levy.
The question most often asked of local governmental officials when they were before county Tax Adjustment Boards was, "Did you exceed your maximum allowable levy?" The answer most often was, "No." Since inflation was often running higher than 5%, the TAB's didn't do much cutting. The property tax levy caps in the Property Tax Control program did the heavy lifting of serving as a barrier to excessive taxation.
Toward the end of the 1980's, a few counties asked the legislature to be exempted from the necessity of having Tax Adjustment Boards meet. Then, the legislature made TAB's optional for all counties.
Allen County did away with its Tax Adjustment Board by resolution shortly thereafter.
However, the 1990's and the first 5 years of this century have seen inflation drop to very low levels. The legislature and Governors of that time had loosened local property tax controls. Many local goverments had treated the maximum allowable increase as something they should seek lest they lose.
Even in those counties, like Delaware, which retained their Tax Adjustment Boards, the local governments would automatically use their right under the statute to appeal the decision to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now DLGF). While the governors had the power to constitute a board which would have been more stringent the people of Indiana ended up with an agency routinely overruling the decisions of local TAB's and allowing the higher taxes.
TAB's are not perfect. The appointments are split between the County Commissioners (4), County Council (1), largest city (1), and largest school corporation (1). The overall effect is to shift power over city, town, township, and special taxing districts to the county.
On the other hand, it has amazed but not surprised me that many of the strongest proponents of combining governments in a county do not want to do anything which would give one body the power to rationally examine the overall tax burden in the county. When government consolidation proponents are presented with the idea of reinstating the Tax Adjustment Board or creating some other entity to rationally examine the overall tax burden on Allen County residents, they tend to shrink from the idea of fiscal controls.
The Allen County Tax Adjustment Board can be reinstated with the passage of a resolution to do so by the Allen County Council. This is not even a decision which requires initiation or even approval by the County Commissioners. Shouldn't the question of whether a candidate for county council supports reestablishment of the Tax Adjustment Board be a threshhold question for County Council candidates in 2006?
When state legislators are being asked to change state laws to allow more governmental consolidation, shouldn't legislators tell the proponents to at least make sure they have the basic mechanism of tax control such as a Tax Adjustment Board in place in the county before seeking legislative support for consolidation again?
The proponents of consolidation always allude that consolidation makes sense because it will save money through the eliminatation of duplication of services and "economies of scale." The proponents ask their audience, by and large, to accept this as a truism. However, the academic studies indicate that, in practice, this has always been a chimera. Consolidation usually begets more spending and governmental expansion.
Leo Morris and the News-Sentinel are now willing to tell their readers that oversight of local government total spending and taxing is a prerequisite. That's a start.
From Leo Morris for the editorial board:
He did something I found extraordinary; he accurately expressed the thoughts of his major source. I can say that with absolute authority; I was the source. The editorial conveyed my views on local budgeting, which I will talk more about later.
The other key part of the editorial endorses the idea of bringing back the County Tax Adjustment Board TAB). We used to have one in Allen County. It was the last stop before the proposed property tax rates got sent to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance). The Board had the power to cut tax levies, it did not have the power to cut individual budget items.
The TAB looked at the OVERALL tax burden on any given piece of taxable real property. That is, it looked at the "stacked plates" of the township, school corporation, city, county, library, airport authority, and, potentially, the fire district, the parks and so on.
Right now, no entity performs that function. The Tax Adjustment Board made the true economic decision that the individual local taxing units often will not. Economics is defined as the "allocation of scarce resources." Many local governmental leaders do not believe that tax resources are scarce. Or if they are, it is due to the profligracy of the other tax bodies in their community.
Some local officials do get it. One Fort Wayne City Council member, John Crawford, recently referred to the separate taxing districts making decisions without relation to each other the "silo effect."
Two things happened to the Tax Adjustment Boards in Indiana. The first was that, generally, the late 1970's and 1980's were a time of inflation. Local governments were capped, as a general rule, by a 5% maximum annual allowable increase in their tax levy.
The question most often asked of local governmental officials when they were before county Tax Adjustment Boards was, "Did you exceed your maximum allowable levy?" The answer most often was, "No." Since inflation was often running higher than 5%, the TAB's didn't do much cutting. The property tax levy caps in the Property Tax Control program did the heavy lifting of serving as a barrier to excessive taxation.
Toward the end of the 1980's, a few counties asked the legislature to be exempted from the necessity of having Tax Adjustment Boards meet. Then, the legislature made TAB's optional for all counties.
Allen County did away with its Tax Adjustment Board by resolution shortly thereafter.
However, the 1990's and the first 5 years of this century have seen inflation drop to very low levels. The legislature and Governors of that time had loosened local property tax controls. Many local goverments had treated the maximum allowable increase as something they should seek lest they lose.
Even in those counties, like Delaware, which retained their Tax Adjustment Boards, the local governments would automatically use their right under the statute to appeal the decision to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now DLGF). While the governors had the power to constitute a board which would have been more stringent the people of Indiana ended up with an agency routinely overruling the decisions of local TAB's and allowing the higher taxes.
TAB's are not perfect. The appointments are split between the County Commissioners (4), County Council (1), largest city (1), and largest school corporation (1). The overall effect is to shift power over city, town, township, and special taxing districts to the county.
On the other hand, it has amazed but not surprised me that many of the strongest proponents of combining governments in a county do not want to do anything which would give one body the power to rationally examine the overall tax burden in the county. When government consolidation proponents are presented with the idea of reinstating the Tax Adjustment Board or creating some other entity to rationally examine the overall tax burden on Allen County residents, they tend to shrink from the idea of fiscal controls.
The Allen County Tax Adjustment Board can be reinstated with the passage of a resolution to do so by the Allen County Council. This is not even a decision which requires initiation or even approval by the County Commissioners. Shouldn't the question of whether a candidate for county council supports reestablishment of the Tax Adjustment Board be a threshhold question for County Council candidates in 2006?
When state legislators are being asked to change state laws to allow more governmental consolidation, shouldn't legislators tell the proponents to at least make sure they have the basic mechanism of tax control such as a Tax Adjustment Board in place in the county before seeking legislative support for consolidation again?
The proponents of consolidation always allude that consolidation makes sense because it will save money through the eliminatation of duplication of services and "economies of scale." The proponents ask their audience, by and large, to accept this as a truism. However, the academic studies indicate that, in practice, this has always been a chimera. Consolidation usually begets more spending and governmental expansion.
Leo Morris and the News-Sentinel are now willing to tell their readers that oversight of local government total spending and taxing is a prerequisite. That's a start.
From Leo Morris for the editorial board:
Let’s bring back the Tax Adjustment Board, the group that once reviewed the annual budgets and tax rates of all tax-dependent entities in the county. That’s a simple step – it can be done just with a vote by the County Council – suggested by Mitch Harper, former head of the Taxpayers Research Association, and it’s a good one. The state’s budget problems have added more urgency to the requests of local governments for more control over their own destinies. If there’s going to be greater revenue-generating flexibility, local units also need to show budgetary restraint and fiscal discipline, which can be provided by an adjustment board.Leo Morris further wrote:
Individual taxing units just look at their own realms, not at the overall impact of taxes in the county. The more local options there are, the more chances there will be to add to the array of confusion.
That’s where the Tax Adjustment Board comes in. It had the power to look at the overall picture and tell taxing units they needed to adjust their budgets according to an overall plan. Such boards were once mandatory. When the state made them optional, all but a few counties ended them. They were ended by votes of county councils and can be reinstated the same way.
One of the problems faced by local officials is the way all this “reform” is being forged – not by thoughtful debate over the most sensible way to run things, but in desperation because of increasingly difficult budgets at the local level and a state that needs to get its fiscal house in order. That means taxpayers will need more convincing that they’re being treated fairly. They tend not to see the specific needs of individual taxing units. They just look at their overall tax bill and judge accordingly. And the tax bill tends to rachet up.
In the best of all possible worlds, Harper says, we’d go back to a more rational time when “the state took care of its own needs and didn’t get federal money, and local units of government raised the money they needed locally.”
That will never happen, of course, which is why the burden is on local officials to be as scrupulous and transparent as they can be.
Souder Ekes Out Win in Parley Poll 2
Incumbent 3rd District Congressman Mark E. Souder narrowly edged Democrat Tom Hayhurst in the second online poll hosted by Indiana Parley. Souder received 106 votes (40%) and Hayhurst received 101 votes (38%) out of 266 total online votes cast.The Libertarian Party as represented by the name of Allen County LP Chair Mike Sylvester received 59 votes (22%). Sylvester's name was placed in the poll as a "placeholder" for the Libertarians as no candidate has yet emerged for the Libertarian congressional nomination. Sylvester recently announced he will be running for the Board of Northwest Allen County Schools (NACS) in 2006.
Hayhurst and Sylvester jumped to early leads in the first few days of the poll. Hayhurst continued to lead until the final days. Souder then assumed a very narrow lead of a few votes.
Any lessons to be drawn from the poll? The main one is that Hayhurst enters 2006 with a Democratic base very accepting of his candidacy. The other is that a large percentage of Libertarians view this page, own computers and aren't afraid to use them.
Otherwise, as we have told you, this poll is unabashedly unscientific. You should be careful driving a motor vehicle or operating heavy machinery after viewing these results.
Full Disclosure: The poll ran until approximately 6 AM, November 27. It had been intended that the poll would terminate at or near midnight November 25. However, the results on November 25 also displayed a narrow, single-digit vote margin for incumbent Souder.
Cougars Beat Cross-Town Rivals Indiana Tech
The University of St. Francis men's basketball team joined the football team in winning over the weekend. The Cougars beat Indiana Tech in the "Battle of Fort Wayne" 93-71. Indiana Tech graduated many of the top players who took Tech to the NAIA Final Eight in 2005.
The Cougars took advantage of solid outside shooting (8-of-19, 42% behind the arc) and a dominating performance on the glass (54-37 rebounding edge) while holding the Warriors to just 33% shooting on the afternoon (23-of-69).USF got out to a commanding lead in the first half and led 48-31 at the break.St. Francis plays the Huntington Foresters on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM on the campus of St. Francis at the Hutzell Athletic Center. The Hutzell Center is located on Leesburg Road south of Spring Street or north of Main Street.
Valediction
Condolences are extended to the family of Harry J. Okeson, of Fort Wayne, who died Wednesday. He was a civil engineer long involved in the construction industry. He is survived by his wife, Betty, and four sons, including H. John, former Clerk of the Indiana Supreme and Appellate Courts, and Paul, Chief Deputy Indiana Secretary of State. Services will be Saturday in Fort Wayne.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Cougars Claw Georgetown Tigers
Indiana Parley wishes the University of St. Francis well as they advance toward the NAIA National Football Championship. St. Francis trounced Georgetown (KY) 44-14.
St. Francis plays Morningside (Iowa) next Saturday, December 3, 2005 at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium. Two players suspended for misconduct last weekend , starting linebacker Brian Kurtz and tight end Jeremiah Wood, will be back for the semi-finals.
photo credit: Mitch Harper
Friday, November 25, 2005
Nicole Manske in the News
It's not often that Indiana Parley gets the jump on Fort Wayne Observed. But we do have news of a mention of Nicole Manske in an article by a Los Angeles dailynews.com sports columnist. Tom Hoffarth chronicles what are, in his judgment, the 12 Most Dubious Moments in sports coverage during the last year. While this type of story is a little off IP's normal beat, this is something fun for the holiday weekend.
Hoffarth's mention of Nicole Manske was included in an item about sports reporters and their romantic interests which might cast doubt about journalistic objectivity. Writing about Fox Sports Net West reporter Carolyn Hughes:
The crime: Was taken off the Dodgers coverage in July after the swirling rumors became reality - she was having a relationship with Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe.He concluded that relationship story by writing:
The floodgates finally opened when a media watchdog Web site, RonFineman.com, reported the affair with compromising photographs. Lowe's wife, Trinka, contacted the team and FSN to inform them of the conflict of interest, among other things.
According to Fineman, Trinka Lowe also confronted Hughes after suspecting there was something afoot and posed the question: "Do you think this is an appropriate and professional relationship?" To which Hughes responded, according to Trinka, "Yes I do ... There is no crime."
While Hughes and Lowe continue to be seen together at Lakers and Clippers games, it hasn't stopped other athlete-reporter relationships from becoming public. New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez recently announced his engagement to ESPN Deportes reporter Carolina Cruz, although the network claims she no longer works for them. Indy 500 winner and IRL champion Dan Wheldon has also gone public with dating Nicole Manske, a sportscaster at WISH-Channel 8 in Indianapolis.Hoffarth's other dubious moments with an Indiana connection include TNT commentator Cheryl Miller denying that her brother, Pacer Reggie Miller, was going to retire. She upbraided her broadcasting partner on-air for reporting such a thing. Two weeks later she announced it on TNT.
The other dubious moment concerned former Ball State University basketball coach Rick Majerus. Hoffarth writes:
The crime: During a Kentucky-Tennessee telecast in mid-January, the Wildcats built a 16-point lead with 3:30 left. Majerus remarked: "At this point in time, the game's over ... but I'm starting to look for Ashley Judd so I don't have to go home to the adult videos tonight."What will be the reaction to this post over at Fort Wayne Observed? Watch for Fort Wayne Observed to respond by starting to cover an Indiana Parley reporting niche like, oh, IPFW basketball.
MORE: Fort Wayne Observed reports on Nicole Manske here, here, here, here,and here.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Indiana Supreme Court Issues Abortion Decision
Court Upholds Indiana Law Regarding Waiting Periods
The Indiana Supreme Court has issued its ruling today upholding the Indiana statute mandating a waiting period before abortion.
You can read the complete decision of the Indiana Supreme Court here.
The Indiana Supreme Court has issued its ruling today upholding the Indiana statute mandating a waiting period before abortion.
You can read the complete decision of the Indiana Supreme Court here.
Bart on the Brink
Last September, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson traveled to northeast Indiana to speak at the Thomas R. Marshall Dinner of the Whitley County Democratic party. The report of his remarks by Angela Jones in the Columbia City Post & Mail had an interesting account.
Of the recent agreement for the $920 million Indianapolis Colts stadium project, Peterson said it was worked out so that none of the cost is coming from Hoosier taxpayers.Now, c'mon. What all was in House Bill 1120 passed by the 2005 legislature? The Indianapolis Star enumerated the various taxes:
• Hotel taxes: Marion County hotel tax increases to 9 percent from the current 6 percent. This is on top of the 6 percent state sales tax.The Mayor also talked about his program to help develop young people interested in government. Jones wrote:
• Car rental taxes: Marion County car rental tax would double, to 4 percent.
• Restaurant taxes: Marion County would double its food and beverage tax, to 2 percent. Meantime, neighboring suburban counties are expected to implement 1 percent restaurant taxes, giving half to the stadium and keeping the other half.
• Admissions tax: This tax, charged on Colts tickets, would increase to 6 percent from 5 percent.
• Ticket taxes: If necessary, the new state stadium board can implement an additional $3 tax on Colts tickets and a $1 tax on tickets to other events at the stadium.
Peterson announced a summit called "Leaders on the Brink" his office is working on. It will be held in Indianapolis in November. The summit is designed to teach younger people how they can become involved in government and how to win elections."Leaders on the Brink" of success... or disaster? The Mayor's title for the program didn't complete the phrase. Maybe the Mayor or his staff were just being realistic. Politics can lead to either outcome or sometimes both in the same career.
Star Does Something Right
They Run Craig Ladwig's Column on Poor Media Coverage of IndyWorks
The Indianapolis Star published Ladwig's column critical of Star's coverage of the hearing on IndyWorks. You can read it in the Star here or you read the entire column below. Indiana Parley is able to publish the full column with the permission of its author.
There are implications in the column for the consideration of consolidated government in Allen County and Fort Wayne.
The Indianapolis Star published Ladwig's column critical of Star's coverage of the hearing on IndyWorks. You can read it in the Star here or you read the entire column below. Indiana Parley is able to publish the full column with the permission of its author.
There are implications in the column for the consideration of consolidated government in Allen County and Fort Wayne.
The Unbrokered Public Discussion of IndyWorks
by Craig LadwigThe 50 or so senators, staff and onlookers in the state Senate Chambers last week for a hearing of the Marion County Consolidation Study Commission got a profound, albeit negative, lesson in why vigorous, inquiring media are so important to the democratic process.
The news that day was there was no news. The leads were not followed to the public records patiently assembled by the commission, records that would have shown how far the political debate had wandered from the verifiable.
The commission was charged with studying "IndyWorks," the proposal of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson to consolidate local government. When the plan was unveiled, the mayor projected significant savings and efficiency. His numbers were accepted unquestioningly at the time. Indeed, some in media and business circulated the mayor’s graphics showing supposed property-tax benefits of consolidation.
The overall public impression was that the merits of consolidation were obvious to all but the uninformed. After all, who could be against a plan that saved money and lowered property taxes?
Fortunately, Sen. Mike Young, the commission chairman, insisted on asking a few questions. The commission’s accounting found that the city projections were more than just rosy, they bordered on malfeasant.
For the first 18 months of consolidation, the mayor would have been nearly $31 million off – enough to make the project marginal for all but the most exuberant Indy booster. And those graphics showing property-tax reductions . . . well, they weren’t built on any actual data (merely "illustrative," the mayor’s office later explained).
Please know that more than half of the mayor’s shortfall, which some believe would have required a surprise tax increase soon after consolidation, was not a matter of interpretation. Any citizen or reporter could access public records to determine who had the facts straight. Sen. Young, to no avail, had carefully noted where each record could be found.
The commission learned something else important at last week’s hearing. A team of academics commissioned by the Indiana Policy Review Foundation surveyed the most recent research on consolidation, much of it specific to Indianapolis. Their survey showed that the success of downtown Indianapolis was considered the result of an incremental rather than utopian approach to consolidation. Most interesting to the commission’s hearings, the experts agreed that the city already had consolidated those areas most likely to yield public benefit.
So it turns out that consolidation is not a no-brainer. Its potential benefits in economic development, government efficiency and accountability depend on the individual case. That is, success varies widely according to such factors as the service being consolidated, at what stage it is being consolidated and who is doing the consolidating.
But for Indianapolis and other cities looking to reform local government, the idea that consolidation is good for consolidation’s sake is not seriously questioned. Even the most careful reader of the news pages or viewer of the nightly news can wrongly assume that you make city government work better by just making it bigger.
This assumption is so strong that both the president of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the head of the city firefighters felt comfortable publishing a letter a few days before the commission hearing saying that no accounting of IndyWorks was necessary, that the success of Unigov was self-evident.
That such public conclusions are being drawn on critical issues without even generally accurate information should trouble us at many levels.
At the least, it should trouble us that the media does not devote adequate resources to cover the government beats. It is expensive, certainly, to train and keep experienced government reporters. It is those beats, however, that could prove critical for readers and viewers.
Our Indiana communities once were blessed with local media that invested staff and resources in an effort to ensure that their governments made sound judgments based on informed discussion, not on press releases and political promises. The shallowness of the IndyWorks discussion should convince editors to reinvest in just that.
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T. Craig Ladwig, editor of the Indiana Policy Review and a veteran of 38 years in newsrooms and on editorial pages, has worked for Capital Cities Communications and Knight-Ridder News as well as on staff at the U.S. Senate. Contact him at cladwig@inpolicy.org.
Leo Morris Swats Indy STAR Managing Editor
Leo Morris mocked the Managing Editor of the Indianapolis STAR Monday for the column the editor had written in Sunday's Star.
Leo wrote his comments in a piece called "Indianapolis Saved!" for his weblog "Opening Arguments."
Indiana Parley had the same reaction Leo did when we read Dennis Ryerson's column Sunday. However, IP made the judgment that it would take too much space to explain Mr. Ryerson; after all, this hasn't been the first time we've looked askance at one of his columns.
A brief summary of Ryerson's puffed-up column:
Yes, Mr. Ryerson, I suppose you'd like to think so. However, we'd like to think that you don't have a very good understanding of the way police officers carry out their jobs and that you owe Sheriff Anderson, in particular, and all Indiana police officers, in general, an apology.
Leo wrote his comments in a piece called "Indianapolis Saved!" for his weblog "Opening Arguments."
Indiana Parley had the same reaction Leo did when we read Dennis Ryerson's column Sunday. However, IP made the judgment that it would take too much space to explain Mr. Ryerson; after all, this hasn't been the first time we've looked askance at one of his columns.
A brief summary of Ryerson's puffed-up column:
- The Indianapolis Star supports the combination of the Indy Police and the Marion County Sheriff.
- The Mayor has cut back the number of Indianapolis police officers over the last year and had threatened to cut back more if the merger of the police agencies was not passed.
- There is a crime wave now hitting Indianapolis of armed robberies and murders.
- The Sheriff, who had opposed the merger until the last minute, was completely oblivious to the crime wave.
- The Star, in the crusading journalist fashion of days gone by, brought the crime wave to the attention of the community and its leaders.
- Sheriff Frank Anderson announced that several suspects have been apprehended thought to have committed many of the robberies.
- Sheriff Anderson was only moved to action by the pressure created by the crusading journalists at the Star.
- This all shows why the merger is the solution to the crime now plaguing Indy (even though the proponents of the merger say that it will take at least 3 years to implement).
The sheriff then realized the jig was up -- "Gadzooks, the newspaper is onto us!" -- and immediately arrested nine suspects thought to be responsible for 30 robberies. The newspaper editor went home and slept snugly, pleased that once again journalism had saved the city.Ryerson had written: "Was there a connection between [the Star's] story and the announcement of the arrests? I'd like to think so."
God, we can be insufferable. How do you people put up with us?
Yes, Mr. Ryerson, I suppose you'd like to think so. However, we'd like to think that you don't have a very good understanding of the way police officers carry out their jobs and that you owe Sheriff Anderson, in particular, and all Indiana police officers, in general, an apology.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Dana Corp. Acquires 100% of Mexican Factories
Dana Corporation, the automotive parts maker with significant remaining operations in Fort Wayne, will be acquiring full ownership of five Mexican factories that it had operated as a joint venture with a Mexican firm. "These transactions will provide Dana with a strategic opportunity to strengthen our core axle and driveshaft businesses with vertically integrated and technologically advanced operations in a key geographic location," said Dana Chairman and CEO Mike Burns. "As a result, Dana will be positioned to benefit from low-cost manufacturing efficiencies, as well as top-line growth from fully owned core operations in Mexico."
CBS Orders Up Full Season of "Close to Home"
Announcement made Tuesday
The CBS Television Network will make at least one reader of Indiana Parley (IP) happy. CBS announced Tuesday that the series "Close to Home" will be picked up for the whole season. Strong viewership for the series after the move to Friday during sweeps month has secured its future.
Why will it make one reader of IP happy? Because that reader commented recently that IP seemed to be devoting too much bandwith to a show the reader regarded as "krep."
IP is pleased to note that it will probably stop giving weekly reports on the show's ratings now that it has been granted a successful run. We can now devote more of IP's resources to its main job of saving the Republic and securing the rights of free men and women.
"Close to Home" is a drama set in Indianapolis. It is written by James Leonard, Jr., a 1974 graduate of New Haven Senior High School and a 1978 graduate of Hanover College.
The CBS Television Network will make at least one reader of Indiana Parley (IP) happy. CBS announced Tuesday that the series "Close to Home" will be picked up for the whole season. Strong viewership for the series after the move to Friday during sweeps month has secured its future.
Why will it make one reader of IP happy? Because that reader commented recently that IP seemed to be devoting too much bandwith to a show the reader regarded as "krep."
IP is pleased to note that it will probably stop giving weekly reports on the show's ratings now that it has been granted a successful run. We can now devote more of IP's resources to its main job of saving the Republic and securing the rights of free men and women.
"Close to Home" is a drama set in Indianapolis. It is written by James Leonard, Jr., a 1974 graduate of New Haven Senior High School and a 1978 graduate of Hanover College.
IPFW and Coach Fife Showed Them at the Show Me Center
IPFW Gets 65-64 Win Over Southeast Missouri StateIPFW basketball gets its first regular season victory on the road at the Show Me Center at Southeast Missouri State. The SE Missourian newspaper gives the story from the losing team's homebase.
"Much credit to IPFW. They were more aggressive than we were starting out," senior center Ketshner Guerrier said. "We have to have that killer instinct from the start, and not wait until the second half."And if you think that is a great comment about the style of play new Coach Dane Fife is bringing to the Mastodons there is an even better comment about IPFW at the Sportsblog of the SE Missourian. Mike Mitchell writes on his blog:
Just how important is Montana transfer and Portageville native Roy Booker to the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks offense? Through the first two games, Booker has scored 42 points, or 34% of the team's total output. He had 25 in last night's one-point loss to Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. IPFW, by the way, has to have one of the coolest nicknames in all of college sports: the Mastodons. [Emphasis added]Flashback: Federal Judicial Decision states that Mastodon is a "cool" nickname. See page 2 - Crue v. Aiken, 370 F.3d 668 (7th Cir. 2004).
Drive-By Racist Comments Being Addressed by Ball State
Response Includes Bold, Aggressive Move of... Forming a Task Force
Ball State University is moving to address the concerns of students regarding incidents of racist harassment on the Muncie, Indiana, campus. As Indiana Parley noted last week, those incidents have included the yelling of racial slurs from vehicles along McKinley and University Avenues. Erin Moody, Chief Reporter for the Ball State Daily News, wrote last week's story about the incidents and she has followed up with today's report.
Ball State University is moving to address the concerns of students regarding incidents of racist harassment on the Muncie, Indiana, campus. As Indiana Parley noted last week, those incidents have included the yelling of racial slurs from vehicles along McKinley and University Avenues. Erin Moody, Chief Reporter for the Ball State Daily News, wrote last week's story about the incidents and she has followed up with today's report.
One idea already being implemented by the University Police Department is increasing the amount of police on duty, especially around McKinley Avenue where most of the verbal assaults have occurred. However, Director of Public Safety Gene Burton said it would take a “stroke of luck” for an officer to actually witness the harassment. Despite the difficulties, he said it was important the police assist however they can.The University is also setting up a task force.
“Nobody should have to put up with that kind of harassment as they are walking down the street at midnight minding their own business,” Burton said.
One possible tool to aid the fight against racism is the formation of a task force to deal with the problems.The initial story was the result of the concerns being raised at a Student Government meeting last Wednesday. Student Government leaders are probably hoping for Ball State faculty and administrators to act with more alacrity than when the Student Government asked for a student/faculty relationship policy. The Faculty Senate took 5 years to endorse a policy on that isse.
A meeting will be held Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center, room 331, Director of Student Affairs Kay Bales said. Anyone is invited to join the task force for the meeting.
“Essentially, what we are doing is asking students to come and talk about what are some other things that can be done on campus,” Bales said.
Brian Howey gets the Dogwood Treatment
The Dogwood Files weblog critiques Brian Howey's column on the defeat of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson's plan to combine the Indy Police and Marion County Sheriff's Department.
You don't need to go looking for the Howey column first. Dogwood provides the pertinent paragraph from Howey then writes the Dogwoodian response.
Major props to Indiana Blog Review
You don't need to go looking for the Howey column first. Dogwood provides the pertinent paragraph from Howey then writes the Dogwoodian response.
Major props to Indiana Blog Review
Morning Coffee and the Wall Street Journal
This morning's Wall Street Journal offers up another one of the many items that makes life easier. The WSJ has a short column on the front page of its "Personal Journal" section called "Quick Fix." It is geared toward offering solutions to those vexing problems of the modern world.
Loretta Chao writes about the "Interactive Voice Response Cheat Sheet." It has tips on quickly bypassing the touch tone or voice-recognition mazes one has to negotiate when calling a company's customer service number. That is, it tells you ways to reach a living, breathing human being at a company.
The service currently has information on 110 companies.
The website of this much needed service is www.paulenglish.com/ivr/
I really could have used it last week.
Loretta Chao writes about the "Interactive Voice Response Cheat Sheet." It has tips on quickly bypassing the touch tone or voice-recognition mazes one has to negotiate when calling a company's customer service number. That is, it tells you ways to reach a living, breathing human being at a company.
The service currently has information on 110 companies.
The website of this much needed service is www.paulenglish.com/ivr/
I really could have used it last week.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Knight Ridder to Three of Its Publishers: "STOP, Don't Move
Lou Heldman, former News-Sentinel Managing Editor, Told to Hold the Line In Wichita
Knight Ridder, told three of its executives who had had been announced as assuming new posts to stay put at their current positions until further notice. The move was seen as a further reaction by the company to the swiftly moving events surrounding the pressures for sale of the newspaper chain.
Peter Ridder, who had briefly been President and CEO of Fort Wayne Newspapers in the 1980's, will stay on at the Charlotte Observer for the near term. It had earlier been announced that he would retire. His brother, Tony Ridder, is head of Knight Ridder.
Knight Ridder, told three of its executives who had had been announced as assuming new posts to stay put at their current positions until further notice. The move was seen as a further reaction by the company to the swiftly moving events surrounding the pressures for sale of the newspaper chain.
Peter Ridder, who had briefly been President and CEO of Fort Wayne Newspapers in the 1980's, will stay on at the Charlotte Observer for the near term. It had earlier been announced that he would retire. His brother, Tony Ridder, is head of Knight Ridder.
The company had planned to move Ann Caulkins, publisher of The State in Columbia, S.C., to replace him. Lou Heldman was announced as Caulkins' successor in Columbia with Sharon Lindenbaum to take the helm at the Wichita Eagle.Lou Heldman was Managing Editor of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel when it won the Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the 1982 flood.
So, for now, Heldman will remain publisher of The Eagle while Lindenbaum will remain in her current position as vice president of business administration of the Knight Ridder-owned Kansas City Star.
Statehouse Visitor Center: Ball State Students Present Plan
At 2 PM today at the Indiana Statehouse, a group of Ball State University architecture students will present plans and a model for a museum and visitors' center for the Statehouse. Jessica Kerman, writing for the Ball State Daily News:The plans include removing the media area from the first floor of the Statehouse. The story in the Ball State Daily News didn't indicate whether the plans included designation of a spot for the relocation of the Statehouse reporters. Indiana Parley speculates that given the current trends in newspapers the BSU plans might include placement of the print reporters in the proposed Statehouse museum.Professor of architecture Sonne Palmer, who worked with the Statehouse for its centennial celebration in 1988, was approached to help with the project by the State House Museum Committee.
“They originally wanted us to use some space on the first floor to make a museum of the Statehouse,” Melisa Green, one of the students working on the project, said. “We looked at different options, different ideas about how we could do that.”
The group started working on ideas in the beginning of the fall semester, and on Oct. 21, it presented the final idea to the committee, which is comprised of eight senators and representatives.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
State Senator Antich Latest to Resign
Indiana Daily Insight carries the news that Indiana State Senator Rose Antich will be resigning the State Senate effective November 28th. She was elected to a vacancy in the office of Merrillville Town Clerk-Treasurer on Saturday.
"Close to Home" Continues Strong for CBS
Move to Friday is a Winner for 2nd Week for the Jim Leonard, Jr. Drama
The good ratings news continued for the second straight week for "Close to Home," the CBS drama created by New Haven native Jim Leonard, Jr. CBS moved the season's new television series to Fridays for sweeps month.
"Close to Home" won its 9 PM time period and that helped the CBS Network post a strong win for the whole night.
A so-so performer on Tuesdays becomes a winner on Friday night.
The "Close to Home" storyline is set in Indianapolis.
The good ratings news continued for the second straight week for "Close to Home," the CBS drama created by New Haven native Jim Leonard, Jr. CBS moved the season's new television series to Fridays for sweeps month.
"Close to Home" won its 9 PM time period and that helped the CBS Network post a strong win for the whole night.
A so-so performer on Tuesdays becomes a winner on Friday night.
The "Close to Home" storyline is set in Indianapolis.
Knight Ridder and the Fate of the 'Second-Rate'
Knight Ridder has been publishing mostly second-rate newspapers for as long as anyone can remember. Its strategy has been straightforward: Leverage de facto monopoly newspaper status in individual cities into ownership of the classified advertising business in those communities.That's a line from a piece written by John Ellis for the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and published Saturday for its Nov. 19-20 issue.
Ellis wrote that Knight Ridder will have a difficult time finding a deep pocketed buyer willing to acquire the whole company. If the whole KR company is purchased, Ellis and others have noted, it is likely to be at a discount so the buyer can then sell off the individual chunks at a premium.
This lack of enthusiasm for a company once regarded as a money machine is evidence of how thoroughly the Internet has disrupted media business models. And with broadband now reaching into more than half of U.S. households, disruption has morphed into menace.Dave Friedman comments on the piece at his blog, Soul of Wit. He carries most of the WSJ column. More from the Ellis column:
Newspaper chains like Knight Ridder retain a competitive advantage in classified advertising (and thus remain profitable), but that, too, is about to change. Just 24 hours after Knight Ridder made its for-sale announcement, Google said it was taking aim at the classified ad business. Classifieds are estimated to be a $100 billion market. Is there anyone who thinks that Knight Ridder can really compete with Google, if Google decides to mount a full-scale offensive? On the Google side, the best code writers and software programmers in the world will work on making its classified advertising application as good as it gets. On the Knight Ridder side, they will leverage what they have, for as long as they have it, which won't be long, if the Wall Street talking heads are correct.Ellis concluded:
Buying second-rate information providers makes no sense. The consolidation everyone expects may in fact more closely resemble a break-up of the old order, and the selling-off of its assets, piece by piece.Ellis is identified by the WSJ as a former columnist for the Boston Globe and now a partner in Sand Hills Partners, a venture capital firm.
Angelina Jolie Makes Eyes at Dick Lugar
Indiana Blog Review has made its selection of IBR's "Picture of the Week."
It's a photo of actress and UN activist Angelina Jolie giving Indiana's US Senator Dick Lugar what can only be described as an adoring look. Is it acting or real? Maybe Brad Pitt needs to find out.
It's a photo of actress and UN activist Angelina Jolie giving Indiana's US Senator Dick Lugar what can only be described as an adoring look. Is it acting or real? Maybe Brad Pitt needs to find out.
Sunday Morning - Coffee and the Journal-Gazette
A few noteworthy things from the Sunday morning Journal-Gazette:
- BIG has a Big Rebuttal - Chuck Bodenhafer of Bodenhafer Insurance & Investment Group writes a rebuttal to the Journal-Gazette's column questioning BIG's commissions on Allen County government's insurance and Bodenhafer's campaign contributions.
Bodenhafer Insurance & Investment Group (BIIG) has served as Allen County government’s insurance agent of record since 1983. Over that time, BIIG has worked diligently to build an insurance program that is effective and innovative. Our efforts have been very successful, resulting in just one increase in the cost of insurance to the employees in the past 21 years. That is a result that many envy and few can match.
- Orchard Ridge Country Club on the Cliff's Edge - Orchard Ridge is about to go under. The Journal-Gazette obtained a copy of a letter sent out to the Country Club's membership regarding the financial woes of the Club. Options may include sale to a private company.
Related golf news - Indiana Parley previously noted the recent acquisitions of golf courses in northeastern Indiana made by the R. H. West Group of Indianapolis.Orchard Ridge’s Board of Directors met Thursday night and its bank stated it was requesting the deed or it would begin foreclosure proceedings.
A copy of a letter e-mailed to Orchard Ridge membership was obtained by The Journal Gazette and its accuracy was verified by two members. In it, the board wrote it was not turning over the deed and it has “reviewed approximately four separate proposals to purchase the club and supply working capital.”
- Editorial Unwittingly Points Finger at Itself While Complaining about County Policy - The main J-G editorial criticizes the County Commissioners for eliminating payroll deductions for county employees which meant less collected for United Way. The decision to change the policy, the editorial notes, took place two years ago. The editorial stated:
This shockingly poor decision, made about two years ago with little attention, was a direct result of Allen County government’s one-party rule.
Why so little attention not only then but throughout the last two years? The editorial doesn't note that the lack of attention might have something to do with weak coverage by the newspaper itself over that period. After all, there had been an ongoing lawsuit against the County over the issue.
The editorial stated that the United Way was informed at the time the original decision was made. The County has since made the payroll deductions about submission of a request from individual employees.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Journal-Gazette's Edmonds to Run Her First Race Thanksgiving Day
She writes about it in her blog. It happens to be a race put on by the blogger of this blog.Rhea Edmonds is a writer for the Journal-Gazette who is participating in a 4-staffer weight loss program being shared with the J-G readers. The series, "Weighty Matters," is being carried in the Sunday print version.
Each of the staffer participating is also writing about it in separate blogs. Rhea's is "On the Weigh Down." Her latest installment is titled "On the Run" and it is about her decision to run the Galloping Gobbler, a 4 mile race in Fort Wayne at 8:30 AM Thanksgiving morning. It will be her first road race. Ever.
The Galloping Gobbler 4 Miler is conducted by the blogger of this blog, Indiana Parley. The race starts at the Hutzell Athletic Center on the campus of the University of St. Francis. Runners will run south on Leesburg Road to W. Main Street. The runners then enter Lindenwood Cemetery. They will then run the rolling hills of Lindenwood before heading back Leesburg Road to the finish line at campus.
Friday, November 18, 2005
IPFW's Van Coufoudakis Receives Appointment
Dr. Van Coufoudakis, Dean Emeritus of the School of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University - Purdue University at Fort Wayne, has received an appointment from the American Hellenic Instiute (AHI) to head the AHI Cyprus Chapter.
The announcement of his appointment was made on Friday, November 18th.
Dr. Coufoudakis, a familiar face to political science students of several decades at IPFW, is now rector at Intercollege in Cyprus.
"AHI is very honored to have Professor Coufoudakis lead our chapter in Cyprus. Professor Coufoudakis has been associated with the AHI almost from the beginning and is by far one of the leading authorities on the Cyprus question. His outstanding leadership skills throughout his career, and his deep commitment to the Hellenic community both in the U.S. and abroad uniquely qualify him for this new endeavor."
Large Number of Candidates; Big Election Turnout
NOTRE DAME University Has Huge Turnout for Student Election.
Notre Dame of Indiana? Nah, Notre Dame of Beirut.
It just goes to show what can happen where the voting right is precious and people take the act of voting seriously. Even student elections at Notre Dame University in Beirut, Lebanon have large numbers of candidates, active parties and a big turnout. There may be some lessons here for us in America and none of them have to do with the lack of a football or basketball program.
Rafead El Rafei reports in the Daily Star of Lebanon:
Notre Dame of Indiana? Nah, Notre Dame of Beirut.
It just goes to show what can happen where the voting right is precious and people take the act of voting seriously. Even student elections at Notre Dame University in Beirut, Lebanon have large numbers of candidates, active parties and a big turnout. There may be some lessons here for us in America and none of them have to do with the lack of a football or basketball program.
Rafead El Rafei reports in the Daily Star of Lebanon:
This year's elections saw record participation, with 85 percent of the students voting for 46 candidates vying for 21 seats.
Yellow Journalism
DANE FIFE - Above the Rim
Dane Fife debuts at IPFW 's first regular season game Saturday against Loyola of Chicago as the youngest head coach in Division I college hoops. But Coach Fife is already watching over those aiming their shots.
The IPFW Athletic Department is marketing the new coach and his team in restrooms all over Fort Wayne.
We don't think Athletic Director Mark Pope will be too, uh... ticked off at Indiana Parley highlighting the IPFW advertising tactics to get the fans streaming in. After all, the object is to hit the marketing bullseye.
And, somehow, we think Coach Fife's old coach at Indiana University, Bob Knight, would approve.
Coach Fife was recently quoted as saying,
Follow-Up: Loyola of Chicago's Ramblers defeat IPFW.
Related: The IPFW-Loyola connection. Former IPFW player David Simon was a walk-on who had transferred from Loyola of Chicago.
© 2005 by Mitch Harper
Dane Fife debuts at IPFW 's first regular season game Saturday against Loyola of Chicago as the youngest head coach in Division I college hoops. But Coach Fife is already watching over those aiming their shots. 
The IPFW Athletic Department is marketing the new coach and his team in restrooms all over Fort Wayne.
We don't think Athletic Director Mark Pope will be too, uh... ticked off at Indiana Parley highlighting the IPFW advertising tactics to get the fans streaming in. After all, the object is to hit the marketing bullseye.
And, somehow, we think Coach Fife's old coach at Indiana University, Bob Knight, would approve.
Coach Fife was recently quoted as saying,
"The [IPFW] program hasn't had a lot of success in the past and because of that I think the expectations are relatively low. At the same time, my expectations are at the highest level, and we expect to have success here in a short period of time."All we can say, Coach, is we hope you aren't expecting everyone in Fort Wayne to be aiming high.
Follow-Up: Loyola of Chicago's Ramblers defeat IPFW.
Related: The IPFW-Loyola connection. Former IPFW player David Simon was a walk-on who had transferred from Loyola of Chicago.
© 2005 by Mitch Harper
Annexation Running Wild!
Yorktown and Fishers Stir Debate
The town of Fishers, now 52,000 people, is planning on annexing the homes around Geist Reservoir north of Indianapolis. From the Indianpolis Star:
The town of Fishers, now 52,000 people, is planning on annexing the homes around Geist Reservoir north of Indianapolis. From the Indianpolis Star:
Yorktown and Muncie have been trading barbs over Yorktown's plan to take in a large area between the two communities. Now the barbs have turned into swordsplay; Muncie has filed suit to stop Yorktown.The annexation plan came as a shock to Michael Smith, who has lived for 15 years in a house on a hillside overlooking the reservoir."We've had the best of both worlds," said Smith. "We've had all the fire and police we need with an Indianapolis address and Hamilton County schools."
Bloggers Can Get Fired Up! About the Election
FEC Ruling Blogs to Have Same Rights as Media
The Federal Election Commission voted 5 to 0 yesterday to cofirm that bloggers will be regarded similarly to the mainstream media in terms of an exemption from campaign expenditure laws.
The case involved Fired Up LLC. You can read the opinion here.
Thanks to Ed Feigenbaum of INGroup.
The Federal Election Commission voted 5 to 0 yesterday to cofirm that bloggers will be regarded similarly to the mainstream media in terms of an exemption from campaign expenditure laws.
The case involved Fired Up LLC. You can read the opinion here.
Thanks to Ed Feigenbaum of INGroup.
First Parley Poll Results
Parley Poll Results Show Fries in Front for Allen County Sheriff.
The results of the first Parley Poll are in. The final results show Ken Fries the leader with 65% of the votes cast in the online poll. Fries is a lieutenant with the Allen County Sheriff's Department. He heads the Detective division and is commander of the Allen County SWAT team.
RESULTS
Foster, Mike 8%
Fries, Ken 65%
Keesler, Mike 16%
Rhoades, Tom 11%
108 votes total were cast in the online poll.
Mike Foster is an Allen County Police Reserve member. ACPD Lieutenant Mike Keesler is with the Warrants and Fugitive Division. Tom Rhoades holds the rank of captain in the Fort Wayne Police Department.
While the results of the poll are non-toxic, non-fattening, and are not known to cause cavities they do carry the warning that the poll is unabashedly non-scientific. Be careful driving or operating heavy machinery after viewing the poll results.
Poll ran from 5 AM November 9, 2005 to 7 AM on November 18, 2005.
The results of the first Parley Poll are in. The final results show Ken Fries the leader with 65% of the votes cast in the online poll. Fries is a lieutenant with the Allen County Sheriff's Department. He heads the Detective division and is commander of the Allen County SWAT team.
RESULTS
Foster, Mike 8%
Fries, Ken 65%
Keesler, Mike 16%
Rhoades, Tom 11%
108 votes total were cast in the online poll.
Mike Foster is an Allen County Police Reserve member. ACPD Lieutenant Mike Keesler is with the Warrants and Fugitive Division. Tom Rhoades holds the rank of captain in the Fort Wayne Police Department.
While the results of the poll are non-toxic, non-fattening, and are not known to cause cavities they do carry the warning that the poll is unabashedly non-scientific. Be careful driving or operating heavy machinery after viewing the poll results.
Poll ran from 5 AM November 9, 2005 to 7 AM on November 18, 2005.
Parley Poll 2 - The Early Line on the 3rd District
One year to the next election. One year from the last one. But you can vote now.
The Inaugural Parley Poll is now over. Parley Poll 2 is now up and running for the week. You can find it on the top right side of this page. The new poll concerns the 3rd District US House Race. The Parley Poll will be open from today until Friday November 25. Results of the poll question regarding the 2006 Allen County Republican primary for Sheriff will be recapped shortly.
The new poll includes the likely nominees of the Republican and Democratic Parties. It is expected that the Libertarian Party will also nominate a candidate. The name of the Allen County Libertarian Party Chair, Mike Sylvester, has been added to the poll as a placeholder for the Libertarian Party to avoid a party designation without a name.
Comments about Parley Poll 2 or any of the persons or parties listed in the poll are welcome.
The first two Parley Polls are being done back to back. However, Indiana Parley (IP) will not be doing continuous polls. This is intended to be an intermittent feature of the IP site. Not all polls will be regarding political candidates.
As we noted when we posted the first poll: [t]he Parley Poll will be conducted from time to time to gauge the opinions of our visitors.
The poll is unabashedly unscientific. Its usefulness may come over time as its results are compared to its own prior results. At best, it will help gauge interest in certain public questions. It may even show movement when the same poll questions are repeated later. I hope it heightens interest in whatever topic is the subject of the poll.
Please keep any Parley Poll results in perspective. Viewers will be allowed one vote per day under the current standards for the conduct of this poll. Future polls may operate under a different rule. Any change in that procedure will be disclosed to the visitors of this site. This voting rule may have the effect of amplifying the percentage difference between poll answers.
The poll measures only the votes of viewers of Indiana Parley who individually decide whether to participate. If the poll concerns political candidates there may be participation by viewers outside the voting district for that candidate. Once the poll is posted, IP will not reset the poll counter. The proprietor of IP does not vote in the poll.
Selection of the poll questions and determination of the frequency of the poll are done solely at the discretion of IP. Selection of prospective candidates to include in a poll are solely at the discretion of IP.
Remember, you can post a comment anonymously if you wish. You will be asked to complete a short exercise in retyping letters before your comment is posted. This is a small measure to avoid spammers from loading up the comment boxes.
Full disclosure: I have been asked to advise the Souder for Congress campaign from time to time. Most recently, I have served as one of the "roasters" at a Souder for Congress fundraiser. None of the persons whose names are included in Parley Poll 2 have been told of the poll. Each of the prospective candidates for Sheriff in Parley Poll 1 was informed of the poll as nearly as possible at its inception.
The Inaugural Parley Poll is now over. Parley Poll 2 is now up and running for the week. You can find it on the top right side of this page. The new poll concerns the 3rd District US House Race. The Parley Poll will be open from today until Friday November 25. Results of the poll question regarding the 2006 Allen County Republican primary for Sheriff will be recapped shortly.
The new poll includes the likely nominees of the Republican and Democratic Parties. It is expected that the Libertarian Party will also nominate a candidate. The name of the Allen County Libertarian Party Chair, Mike Sylvester, has been added to the poll as a placeholder for the Libertarian Party to avoid a party designation without a name.
Comments about Parley Poll 2 or any of the persons or parties listed in the poll are welcome.
The first two Parley Polls are being done back to back. However, Indiana Parley (IP) will not be doing continuous polls. This is intended to be an intermittent feature of the IP site. Not all polls will be regarding political candidates.
As we noted when we posted the first poll: [t]he Parley Poll will be conducted from time to time to gauge the opinions of our visitors.
The poll is unabashedly unscientific. Its usefulness may come over time as its results are compared to its own prior results. At best, it will help gauge interest in certain public questions. It may even show movement when the same poll questions are repeated later. I hope it heightens interest in whatever topic is the subject of the poll.
Please keep any Parley Poll results in perspective. Viewers will be allowed one vote per day under the current standards for the conduct of this poll. Future polls may operate under a different rule. Any change in that procedure will be disclosed to the visitors of this site. This voting rule may have the effect of amplifying the percentage difference between poll answers.
The poll measures only the votes of viewers of Indiana Parley who individually decide whether to participate. If the poll concerns political candidates there may be participation by viewers outside the voting district for that candidate. Once the poll is posted, IP will not reset the poll counter. The proprietor of IP does not vote in the poll.
Selection of the poll questions and determination of the frequency of the poll are done solely at the discretion of IP. Selection of prospective candidates to include in a poll are solely at the discretion of IP.
Remember, you can post a comment anonymously if you wish. You will be asked to complete a short exercise in retyping letters before your comment is posted. This is a small measure to avoid spammers from loading up the comment boxes.
Full disclosure: I have been asked to advise the Souder for Congress campaign from time to time. Most recently, I have served as one of the "roasters" at a Souder for Congress fundraiser. None of the persons whose names are included in Parley Poll 2 have been told of the poll. Each of the prospective candidates for Sheriff in Parley Poll 1 was informed of the poll as nearly as possible at its inception.
WPTA-TV Mentions Ball State Story on Friday Morning Broadcast
The WPTA 21 Alive News 6 AM Friday news broadcast a story regarding the incidents of drive-by racial epithets at Ball State that Indiana Parley told you about Thursday morning.
The story was a voice-over of file footage of Ball State University. Indiana Parley's report was based on a story in the Ball State student newspaper.
The Indianapolis Star carried a wire report of the incident on Friday morning. It is now presumed that WPTA 21 Alive came to the story from the AP wire service and not through blog monitoring.
The story was a voice-over of file footage of Ball State University. Indiana Parley's report was based on a story in the Ball State student newspaper.
The Indianapolis Star carried a wire report of the incident on Friday morning. It is now presumed that WPTA 21 Alive came to the story from the AP wire service and not through blog monitoring.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Ball State Students Subject to Racial Slurs on McKinley
Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana just completed major improvements to McKinley Avenue prior to the start of the fall semester. McKinley is the major drive through campus and the improvements are quite impressive.But as Erin Moody, Chief Reporter of the Ball State Daily News, the college's student newspaper writes:
Reports range from 10 to 19 incidents of racist slurs from passing motorist along McKinley Avenue and University Avenue.Walking down the dark Cow Path, freshman Eden South said she felt safer than walking down lit McKinley Avenue.
After having racial slurs yelled at her out of a passing car and watching passengers in another car throw eggs at students, South said she would rather walk down a dark path than the main road through campus.
Freshman Brandie Smiley said when she arrived at Ball State, she did not expect this level of racism. Smiley and her friends have been verbally abused by passing cars, including being called “niggers” and being told to “go back to your plantations.”For the moment, Virgil recommends students travel in groups, attempt to record license plate numbers and call police or 911 when something happens, he said.Smiley and approximately 50 other students, mainly freshmen and underclassmen, have organized to fight the incidents. Their actions include traveling in groups and being vigilant to take down license plate numbers and descriptions of vehicles.“You get angry for a minute, and then you calm down so you don’t do anything stupid,” she said. “As a matter of fact, after they do what they do, they speed off immediately.”
New Haven Native Jim Leonard Gets a Jump "Close to Home"
Jim Leonard, Jr., New Haven High School '74, should be feeling much better this week. He is the creator of the new CBS drama "Close to Home." As Indiana Parley told you last week, the CBS Television Network bumped "Close to Home" from Tuesday to Friday nights during sweeps period.
It has turned out to be a very good move for the survival of the series. "Close to Home" is set in Indianapolis.
It has turned out to be a very good move for the survival of the series. "Close to Home" is set in Indianapolis.
In its first night in its new Friday timeslot, “Home” averaged a 3.2 18-49 rating, up 10 percent from the 2.9 it averaged in its old timeslot. More important, it held onto 98 percent of hit lead-in “Ghost Whisperer’s” audience, drawing 4.18 million 18-49s. Among total viewers, “Home” actually outpaced “Whisperer,” averaging 11.9 million versus the latter’s 11.4 million."Major props" to Indiana Daily Insight .
Blogs and the Pennsylvania Murders
David Ludwig, the alleged murderer of the parents of his 14 year-old girlfriend, has a blog. http://www.xanga.com/HaydrenRuth Holladay of the Indianapolis Star explores the implications of a new era when suspected murderers have blogs, victims have blogs, and anyone who wants to comment is setting up a blog to offer up their viewpoint on the banal and the significant surrounding a terrible act.
Photo of David Ludwig from the David Ludwig blog
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
His-Story: Bill Ruckelshaus
Some other Indiana blogs may have already pointed this out, but Indiana Parley just wanted to bring to your attention an interesting interview of Bill Ruckelshaus about his early life, influences, and career. He talks a great deal about his early start in Indiana politics.The interview can be found on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Ruckelshaus has been the the Majority Leader of the Indiana House of Representatives, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 1968 running against incumbent Birch Bayh, Administrator of the EPA (twice), Deputy U.S. Attorney General and victim of the 'Saturday Night Massacre' of Watergate, CEO of Browning-Ferris Industries. and CEO of Weyerhaeuser.
From the interview:
Ed Steers, the Indiana Attorney General, was a very helpful person in the early development of my legal career. He gave me increasing responsibilities and then made me the Chief Counsel of the Attorney General's Office, when I had been out of law school for less than three years. There were some 63 lawyers in the office at the time, so it gave me some early management experience, to the extent anybody manages lawyers.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Don't Confuse Us With the Facts
NEWS & COMMENTARY
One final aside - The six authors of the Star letter indicated that all one needed to know about consolidation was in the history of UnivGov.
But they proceeded in the next paragraph of the letter after they made that assertion to demonstrate that they didn't have a very good grasp of that history. The six wrote. "Those parts of UniGov that permit countywide or consolidated citywide services, such as public works, parks and metropolitan development, are effective and generally financially solvent." [emphasis mine]
The historical fact is that the a county-wide parks system had existed long before UniGov. This might point to the value of incrementalism for those services for which there is a defined benefit of consolidation.
The author of this commentary was a Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1978 to 1990. He served as Chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee. He is an adjunt scholar of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation.
The Indiana General Assembly's Marion County Consolidation Study Commission will be meeting tomorrow in Indianapolis.
Six (6) members sent a letter to the Indianapolis Star that was published in the Sunday, November 6 issue. Those members were Billie Breaux, Ed Mahern, Monroe Gray, Joe Anderson, A. Scott Chinn, John Myrland, and Tom Hanify.
It was an extraordinary letter because of the message those six members wanted to send. The basic message was "Don't confuse us with the facts." Anti-intellectualism hasn't been this open around the legislature since the legislature tried to define the value of pi in 1897.
They were objecting to a study which will be presented to the committee tomorrow by distinguished urban affairs expert Sam Staley, PhD. Staley was the director of the research study. The other academics were Dagney Faulk, Ph.D.,
The six members of the Study Commission weren't objecting to the findings of the study. Those won't be released until tomorrow.
No, they objected to the study even being done. They declared in public that "there was no need for the study to be conducted. " They asserted there was no need to look at the experience of other communities because, as they posit, the benefits of consolidating government in Indianapolis and Marion County are self-evident from the very history of UniGov.
Some of the content of the report has been obtained by Indiana Parley. Some of the report's major conclusions are these:
- Police services do not often experience economies of scale as the level of production increases. Larger departments through consolidation of police services would not likely lead to lower costs.
- "In general, it is uncommon (although not impossible) for operating costs to decrease—due primarily to the “leveling up” of salaries and benefits. As local governments with differing compensation structures are consolidated, salaries and benefits are often standardized at the higher level. "
- "The literature indicates a modest but positive correlation between consolidation and economic growth, but this correlation is less impressive when compared to economic growth in comparable areas without consolidation."
One final aside - The six authors of the Star letter indicated that all one needed to know about consolidation was in the history of UnivGov.
But they proceeded in the next paragraph of the letter after they made that assertion to demonstrate that they didn't have a very good grasp of that history. The six wrote. "Those parts of UniGov that permit countywide or consolidated citywide services, such as public works, parks and metropolitan development, are effective and generally financially solvent." [emphasis mine]
The historical fact is that the a county-wide parks system had existed long before UniGov. This might point to the value of incrementalism for those services for which there is a defined benefit of consolidation.
The author of this commentary was a Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1978 to 1990. He served as Chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee. He is an adjunt scholar of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation.
