Political Potpouri
There have been a few items of note worth reporting this morning for your amusement and entertainment so here they are….
House Minority Leader Pat Bauer won’t say whether Democrats will exercise the “walk out” option this session as a way to halt the Republican agenda. The last time Democrats were in the minority, 2005, they walked out and denied the Republicans a quorum, which in effect killed a number of bills on Governor Mitch Daniels’ agenda. Although the GOP has a 60-40 seat majority in the House, they need at least seven Democrats to conduct business. Bauer tells me protecting education and working families are their priority and will do what they can. He also disputes the term “walkout” he says Democrats engaged in a “lengthy caucus discussion” over important bills.
Newly sworn in Secretary of State Charlie White tells me the investigation into allegations he committed voter fraud won’t be a distraction as he begins his term as Secretary of State. In a Thursday news conference, White told a group of reporters that he “did not commit voter fraud” and says he will “cooperate with investigators”. White is accused of voting from his ex-wife’s residence although he owned a condo in another part of Fishers. Special prosecutors investigating the case are expected to turn their findings over a grand jury next month.
About 200 members of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police showed up Thursday night to vote to continue providing legal representation for David Bisard who is accused of driving drunk and killing one motorist and seriously injure two others. I’ve spoken about this before. All I can say now is that it is their union, they can do as they wish.
I am five seconds off of giving Dr. Eugene White a new title, “The King of Scotland”. If you ever saw the film toward the end of the movie Ugandan Dictator Idi Amin really starts to go off the deep end. I’m thinking Dr. White is starting to have the same problem. In a recent meeting with Marion County lawmakers he reportedly accused Tony Bennett and the Indiana Department of Education trying hurt IPS by sitting on graduation rate data that was favorable to the school district (yeah, right). In the past, White has accused the DOE of engaging in a “hostile takeover” of the district. Someone get that man a pair of olive khakis and some medals.
