Blackburn delivers primetime speech at RNC, Tennessee delegation grouses about remote hotel

Posted on by Jackson Baker

MILWAUKEE — U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn took her turn Monday evening as a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention.

Blackburn touted her role in leading the committee that crafted the Republican Party’s latest platform and regaled the audience with tales of the income tax wars of 2001, when she was a state senator. 

“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris also think that small business owners are wealthy, and they should pay their fair share,” Blackburn said. “We all know that’s leftwing code for you gotta pay more taxes.”

“Well, in Tennessee, I led the fight against a proposed state income tax,” she said. “We killed that thing. We are income tax free in Tennessee.”

Here are some other happenings surrounding the Tennessee delegation to the convention:

— David Kustoff — who, for the historical record, was the first Shelby County Republican to espouse the cause of Donald Trump in 2015 — was the primary speaker at the Tuesday breakfast for the Tennessee delegation, and he continues to be far more MAGA-style militant than most people assume. He postulated to the delegates that “Israelis who went to bed as liberals on October 6 woke up the next day as conservatives.”

— Many, perhaps most of the state’s delegates, attended a Monday night “moonshine party” hosted by Joe Baker, the founder of the Ole Smoky distillery and a potential 2026 gubernatorial candidate. Perhaps as a consequence, the following morning’s breakfast gathering was not quite half the size of the previous day’s.

— The Ingleside, the Tennessee delegation’s hotel located about 30 miles west of downtown Milwaukee, is being scorned by many in attendance for being remote, badly lit, and lacking such essential services as a gift shop. But at least it had booze.

Here are some excerpts of Blackburn’s comments at the RNC:

Last week I had the honor of chairing the Republican platform committee, and I’m here today to report on our work. I would like to thank all the delegates who served on the committee and helped us produce a platform that all Americans can be proud of. It’s a different kind of platform. It is not a laundry list of special interests wishes, but a succinct clear agenda, and a promise to the American people. I talked with our next president, Donald J. Trump. And he personally reviewed, edited and approved our platform because he knows our platform is important. 

Every American can read our platform, and know what we believe, and how we will make America safer, stronger, wealthier and greater than ever before. This platform is built on the values of our founders and great Republicans from Lincoln and Reagan to Trump, who are committed to freedom, restrained government and peace through strength. The platform contains 20 promises, including securing our border, getting inflation under control, restoring our energy dominance, defending our Constitution, protecting our Second Amendment rights, securing our country, restoring our military strength and keeping boys out of girls sports. And protecting life for the born and unborn.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, their high inflation, high interest, high taxes, and ‘Green New  Scam’ are destroying small businesses. Biden and Harris outsourced our energy supply, driving electricity prices up over 29%. The day Joe and Kamala walked into Office gas was $2.40 a gallon. Today it is $3.54. Our platform says we will make America energy dominant. You know. And hear me now, you know who will make that happen? Donald Trump. 

When Donald Trump was president, I helped him spread economic prosperity with the largest tax cut in American history. Now President Trump will make those tax cuts permanent. But if Joe and Kamala are reelected, they say they’re going to let them expire. That will be the biggest tax increase in American history. Our party’s platform commits to making the Trump tax cuts permanent and you know, you know, who will return us to an era of prosperity: Donald Trump.

Now, Joe and Kamala bless their hearts. They couldn’t help themselves. They hired 85,000 new IRS agents to harass hard working Americans. IRS penalties have surged 300% And they’re not on big corporations. They’re on gig workers, freelancers, small business owners and the self-employed. Let me ask you a question. Who is going to watch those 85,000 IRS agents and say you’re fired? Donald Trump.

Under Biden, Harris, people are also crushed by more regulations at any time since Jimmy Carter. Their regulations aren’t just burdensome. Often, they include racist DEI requirements. Many small businesses are going bankrupt. Some are throwing up their hands in disgust. Our party platform pledges seven times to cut regulations that are killing jobs and costing you thousands of dollars. Now you know who will slash that red tape and return this country to economic greatness? Donald Trump.

An unprecedented election — and the stakes couldn’t be higher

Posted on by Lee Hamilton

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — It’s fair to say the United States has never seen an election year like this one. We face a presidential choice between a felon bent on dismantling the institutions and norms we’ve developed over nearly 250 years versus a sitting president whose debate performance and general age concerns have stoked calls from within his party to step aside. 

In Congress, control of both houses is very much in play. And a conservative majority on the Supreme Court has taken the country into unprecedented territory and, if polls are to be believed, undercut the court’s standing with a broad swath of the public.

I suspect a lot of people will be going into the voting booth in November with a profound sense of unease about the country’s future, regardless of their political beliefs. In particular, I see a widespread sense that the U.S. as we knew it is shifting underneath us. That isn’t all bad. If nothing else, there’s a renewed understanding that this country remains what it has always been: a work in progress that is never done recreating and redefining itself.

Given the pace of events, it’s almost impossible not to get caught up in the moment-by-moment coverage. But at times like these, I find it helpful to look past the breathless coverage and focus on what I actually want for the country — to try to see beyond the individuals and campaigns involved and pay attention to what I believe in most strongly and how it’s likely to be affected by what comes after the election.

For starters, I believe in our system of representative democracy. It has allowed us to become the great nation we are. Through the Civil War, two world wars, economic turmoil and enormous challenges, the country we Americans created has not just survived but also improved. We live in the world’s largest and most competitive economy. 

We have improved the lives of countless older Americans with programs like Social Security and Medicare, and we’ve boosted the lives of many younger people through access to college and to training programs. Perhaps most important, we have created a country where economic and social opportunity, while hardly as evenly distributed as they should be, remain available to the overwhelming majority of Americans. Ours is a land of opportunity because our system makes that possible.

I also believe in the institutions and norms that undergird all this. It’s easy to dismiss terms like “the rule of law” and “the separation of powers” as just so much boilerplate, but behind them lie concepts that have been crucial to our growth and strength as a country. Let’s take the separation of powers as an example. 

Yes, our system needs a strong presidency. But it also needs a strong Congress and an independent judiciary. We are best off as a nation when the first two consult, interact and work together as powerful branches determined to construct effective policies that improve the lives of most Americans, and when the third ignores politics and political pressure to rule according to the law and the Constitution. It’s an extremely difficult balancing act to pull off, but the willingness to try has marked our progress as a nation.

I’m also a believer in the search for consensus and common ground. If politics is ultimately about the search for a remedy, you have to be able to get a consensus around that remedy. In a divided country with a government specifically set up to divide powers, we need to follow this process, not necessarily because we have to, but because better policy — policy that more nearly reflects the will of the American people — tends to emerge from this process.

I wish I could predict what the next few months will look like. Looking at the broad sweep of our history, I know we’ve emerged from tumultuous times to thrive anew, and I’d like to believe that will be the case this time. But whatever happens, I know that when I step inside the voting booth in November, I’ll be thinking about which candidates most closely hew to my core hopes for how this country will operate.

Lee Hamilton is a senior adviser for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government, a distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies and a professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

Who can keep up? We can. Here is who’s running for office in Indiana in 2024

Posted on by Rory Appleton

State political party conventions have ended, and the list of candidates running for office at the top of Indiana ballots is now finalized. 

Indiana Democrats set their candidate slate on Saturday, while Republicans did the same in June and Libertarians in March. Several key races narrowed down candidate fields through the May primary election. 

With a handful of nominating contests spread across several months, it can be difficult to track who is actually running in the Nov. 5 general election. We’ve got you covered.

Here is a final list of candidates who will appear on your ballot. 

President

Most voters know the ticket will be topped by President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and former President and Republican Donald Trump’s rematch, but for the first time in more than 20 years, it appears Hoosiers will have an independent option. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seems to have secured the necessary 36,943 signatures to qualify for the ballot as an independent candidate.

Green Party candidate Jill Stein also filed for inclusion on the state’s ballot, but it’s unclear whether she had the necessary signatures.

Election officials told State Affairs Tuesday that it will be several days before the signatures for both candidates can be verified and tallied.

Libertarian Chase Oliver will also be on the ballot.

Governor/Lieutenant Governor

Indiana voters weighed in on the governor’s race in the May primary. 

Sen. Mike Braun comfortably defeated five Republican rivals, while former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick advanced unopposed as the Democratic nominee. 

Noblesville pastor Micah Beckwith bucked tradition by running a year-long campaign for the support of state party delegates, then bested Braun’s handpicked running mate, state Rep. Julie McGuire, for the lieutenant governor nomination at the Indiana Republican Party’s June convention. 

McCormick’s chosen running mate, former state Rep. Terry Goodin, easily secured the nomination at the Indiana Democratic Party’s Saturday convention. 

Libertarians chose their slate at their March convention, choosing gubernatorial nominee Donald Rainwater and lieutenant governor nominee Tonya Hudson.

Indiana voters will thus choose between these three tickets: Braun-Beckwith, McCormick-Goodin and Rainwater-Hudson. 

U.S. Senate

Nominees for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Braun were set by the primary election. 

Rep. Jim Banks claimed the Republican nomination unopposed, while clinical psychologist Valerie McCray defeated former state Rep. Marc Carmichael to claim the Democratic spot. 

They will be joined by Libertarian Andrew Horning on the final ballot. 

Attorney General

The candidates for attorney general were selected by their respective conventions. 

Incumbent Todd Rokita ran unopposed for the Republican selection, while Destiny Wells — a combat veteran and attorney who ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State in 2022 — defeated Beth White for the Democratic nomination. 

U.S. Congress

All nine of Indiana’s congressional districts are up for election in 2024. For more information on who’s running in your area, check the Indiana Secretary of State’s voter website. 

Indiana General Assembly

Half of the seats in the Indiana Senate and all of the Indiana House of Representatives positions are up for grabs in 2024. Check the Secretary of State’s website for more details. 

Contact Rory Appleton on X at @roryehappleton or email him at [email protected].

Wake Up Call for Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
Lake, Gallego race could buck nearly 40-year trend Arizona Capitol Times Presidential wins have increasingly wrung Senate victories for the prevailing political party, but a  pollster and consultants predicted the 2024 election could buck the decades-long trend given recent polling, the unpopular top ballot candidates and existing splits in the Republican party. Arizona Democrat demands answers from Secret Service after assassination attempt KTAR In a letter seeking answers from the Secret Service, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) called the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump a major security failure. Chispa Arizona launches $200K campaign to raise awareness about Corporation Commission election AZPM A climate-advocacy group is launching a $200,000 outreach campaign to educate voters on the Arizona Corporation Commission. New Phoenix lawmaker to replace Terech to be appointed soon The Center Square Legislative District 4 is expected to get a new Democratic lawmaker in the coming weeks, even though the session is now over. Intel, Arizona officials announce new apprenticeship program 13 News Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and other state groups joined Intel on Monday morning to announce a new semiconductor workforce initiative. Amid heat waves and drought, Arizona Republicans reject expert consensus on climate change as ‘fake science’ Cronkite News Last month was the hottest June on record in Phoenix, with an average temperature of 97 degrees. Abortion access in the Southwest: How Arizona and Nevada can shape the future Reckon The South and Midwest often serve as key battlegrounds in discussion on the U.S. abortion landscape. Kari Lake could win in the aftermath of Trump’s shooting. Here’s how The Arizona Republic So now comes the aftermath of the assassination of a former and likely future president. Paintball guns are banned near the RNC. But AR-15s? Perfectly fine The Arizona Republic Wisconsin, like Arizona, is an open carry state that prohibits other government entities from passing laws that ban firearms in most public places. They face felony charges. They’re going to the RNC anyway. The Arizona Republic Before they could travel to the Republican convention in Milwaukee this week, three of Arizona’s fake electors, indicted on felony fraud, forgery and conspiracy charges in connection with trying to overturn the 2020 election, had to get permission from a judge.

Our History: Gov. John McKeithen

Posted on by David Jacobs

John McKeithen, the first modern Louisiana governor to serve two consecutive terms, was born on May 28, 1918. 

The son of a Caldwell Parish farmer, his parents wanted him to become a Methodist minister. Instead, he earned a law degree from LSU and set up a practice in Columbia. 

After his election to the Legislature, then-Gov. Earl Long tapped him as a floor leader, even though he was still a relatively unknown country lawyer. 

”He told me not to worry, I’d get on all right, and I guess I did,” McKeithen later recalled.

He lost a race for lieutenant governor in 1952, before gaining election to the Public Service Commission in 1954. 

During his first run for governor, McKeithen employed a folksy plea–”Won’t you he’p me?”–with a promise to “clean up the mess in Baton Rouge.” His stance as a reformer combined with his Longite roots in northern Louisiana attracted followers of both the Long and anti-Long factions.

McKeithen was so popular during his first term that the Legislature and the public approved amending the state constitution to allow the governor to succeed himself, lifting a ban on consecutive terms implemented at the turn of the 20th century. His second term was marred by accusations of Mafia influence in his administration, although the scandal was never linked to him personally.

McKeithen worked to sell Louisiana to the rest of the world and attract industry. The Louisiana Chemical Association credits his “right to profit” legislation for helping to spur the growth of their sector. 

He is also widely credited as the force behind construction of the Superdome. The project was not completed until 1975, three years after he left office, by which time the initial $22 million cost estimate had ballooned to $130 million. 

Though he was elected as a segregation supporter, he tolerated civil rights as governor and worked to reduce racial tension. 

”The most important thing he did came in a speech he delivered to the A.F.L.-C.I.O. convention in Baton Rouge in the summer of 1966,” said John Martzell, a New Orleans lawyer who was executive secretary of McKeithen’s Louisiana Commission on Human Relations. ”He pointed to some blacks in the audience and said, ‘I know I’m not leaving this state, and I don’t think you’re leaving either. So we’ve got to solve our problem.’ It was giving the imprimatur of the state governor to solving racial differences. Previous governors had always proclaimed massive resistance to integration.”

FBI records made public in 2016 indicate McKeithen was behind payments to Ku Klux Klan leaders that were meant to suppress racial violence. The goal, according to the FBI, was to “maintain law and order in the State of Louisiana and to contact the Klan on a liaison basis in order to ensure that no violence occurred.”

McKeithen’s granddaughter, Marjorie McKeithen, said her grandfather’s proudest accomplishment was “his record on civil rights and race relations during an explosive period in our country’s history.”

Following his second term, McKeithen continued practicing law and managing an oil-and-gas exploration company. He was appointed to the LSU Board of Supervisors in 1983.

McKeithen died on June 4, 1999, at the age of 81, in his hometown of Columbia, and is buried there.

Editor’s note: Sources consulted for this story include the Secretary of State’s office, The Advocate, The New York Timesand the Louisiana Chemical Association. 

This piece first ran in the May 30, 2024 edition of LaPolitics Weekly. Wish you could have read it then? Subscribe today!

Headlines & Bylines (07.16.24)

Posted on by David Jacobs

— Business Report: This 31-year-old Republican is running for East Baton Rouge mayor

— The Advocate: Jeff Landry again fails to disclose donor flight to ethics board

— Illuminator: GOP mega donor makes final pitch for constitutional rewrite

— The Advocate: Koch plant expansion along Mississippi River moves ahead after ruling

— AP: Who is JD Vance? Things to know about Donald Trump’s pick for vice president

— States Newsroom: States pledged hundreds of troops and spent millions to help Texas at the border so far this year

— KATC: Louisiana lawmakers issue statements after Trump rally shooting

— WDSU: Louisiana Public Service Commissioner announces delegate votes for Donald Trump at RNC

— AP: Historically Black town in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley is divided over a planned grain terminal

Political Chatter (07.16.24)

Posted on by David Jacobs

— QUALIFYING TIME: The time for speculation, rumors and “I’m seriously considering it” ends this week, as candidates officially declare their intentions and qualify for the November ballot. Congress, a seat on the state Supreme Court, a spot on the Public Service Commission, and a plethora of judgeships and local offices will be on the line. State candidates qualify at the Louisiana State Archives on Essen Lane in Baton Rouge between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, while local candidates qualify with the clerk of court in the parish where they are registered to vote. 

— CON-CON PUSH CONTINUES: Lane Grigsby is not giving up on his effort to convince the Legislature (more specifically the Senate) to launch a constitutional “refresh” in time for the November ballot. The retired construction magnate and prominent Republican donor told the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday that most voters don’t understand the constitutional amendments they’re asked to consider each year, but he nonetheless argued that the largest electorate possible should vote on potential changes. He said he disagreed with Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson’s proposal to hold a special session focused only on Article VII, which he called an “inappropriate way to run a business.” Constitutional provisions that he said should be moved into a “super-statute” lawmakers can change with a two-thirds vote include those protecting retirement funding (which he said legislators wouldn’t want to take away anyway), the homestead exemption (which he argued locals should be able to tweak) and civil service (which he said is necessary but should not apply to the highest salaried workers). 

— LLA RAPS BOGALUSA: The Louisiana Legislative Auditor has reported several issues with the finances of Bogalusa’s city government, including former Mayor Wendy O’Quin Perrette’s decision to use $468,125 in American Rescue Plan funds to pay what the LLA says appear to be improper bonuses to city employees and officials. Current Mayor Tyrin Truong blamed the alleged problems—which also include possible violations of the Local Government Act and city charter, improper donations and leave payments, a flawed request for proposals process and a host of other matters—on the previous administration. “We will correct the previous administration’s deficiencies; however, we will not accept responsibility for their causation,” Truong wrote in response to the report. 

— NEW PODCAST: A fourth-time delegate to the Republican National Convention this week, state Rep. Mike Bayham is the guest for episode 67 of the LaPolitics Report podcast. (Spotify/Apple) While he’s backing former President Donald Trump this go around, Bayham on three other occasions supported candidates who weren’t the front-runners. “Oh, we got a lot of pressure,” Bayham said, reflecting on efforts to get him and others to switch sides. Bayham also covered convention basics, from how delegates were selected to exactly how much money it costs to be part of a party convention, and shared memories of two late elected officials that defined his St. Bernard Parish: state Sen. Lynn Dean and Parish President Junior Rodriguez. Plus, in our regular history segment, we hear the 1976 “Challenge” speech delivered by Ronald Reagan at that year’s Republican National Convention. Listen now on Spotify and Apple. 

— CONVENTIONS THROUGH THE YEARS: Woody Jenkins, who directs governmental affairs and external relations for Treasurer John Fleming, talks about attending his first Republican National Convention in 1964, and how the experience changed over the years, in an exclusive column for Wednesday’s edition of the Beltway Beat. The op-ed is part of our coverage from this year’s RNC in Milwaukee. 

— THE WEEK AHEAD: The Louisiana Tax Commission, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Louisiana Advanced Aviation and Drone Advisory Committee are scheduled to meet on Wednesday. The Legislative Audit Advisory Council and the Gaming Control Board have meetings set for Thursday. 

NOTES FROM MILWAUKEE: Louisiana politics in the spotlight

Posted on by Jeremy Alford

From the action on the stage to the delegates on the floor, and from private parties to policy planning, several Louisiana politicos are enjoying both proximity to power and sought-after roles at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

— Members of the Louisiana delegation are seated right next to the Ohio delegation, which translated into a bit of face time yesterday afternoon with Buckeye Sen. JD Vance, the newly-announced running mate of former President Donald Trump.

— Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta ended up casting Louisiana’s delegate votes for Trump from the floor. Skrmetta took his shot on the mic, noting the Bayou State has some of the “lowest” utility rates in the country, which drew laughter from his fellow Louisiana delegates.

— Louisiana Delegate Gena Gore got into the policy action early Monday by offering and passing a resolution on RNC membership.

— Delegates have been joking about Speaker Mike Johnson, the convention’s official chair, getting some practice time in with the massive teleprompter being used in the Fiserv Forum. Johnson, however, wasn’t the problem Monday, as the prompter failed him at least once. Luckily, the live band entertaining delegates was on standby in that instance and stepped up until the technical difficulties could be resolved. 

— Cornerstone has a notable footprint within the convention’s perimeters in downtown Milwaukee, with firm president Campbell Kaufman and his team hosting gatherings for delegates from Iowa, Louisiana, Georgia and Kentucky and lunches with special guests like Attorney General Liz Murrill and Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Oklahoma politicos Gov. Kevin Stitt, U.S. Sen. James Lankford and Congressman Kevin Hern.

Right: U.S. Sen. JD Vance visits with the Ohio delegation, which is seated next to the Louisiana delegation (Photo: Mike Bayham); Top left: Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta casts Louisiana’s delegate votes for former President Donald Trump (JJA); Bottom left: Delegates on the convention floor awaiting Monday’s opening gavel (JJA)

— It should come as no surprise to anyone who has attended Washington Mardi Gras that the Louisiana delegation hosted a till-midnight reception last night, and has another planned tonight. And just in case the other states think we can’t party and work, our delegation is also hosting a morning breakfast each day.

— As a member of the House Oversight Committee that will dive into the assassination controversy in a July 22 hearing, Congressman Clay Higgins is in a unique position to address the concerns delegates have about the recent shooting of former President Trump. He’ll certainly be asked about it this week. Speaker Johnson, for his part, has called for a “full investigation.”

— Before he left Louisiana for Wisconsin, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise visited with WDSU Anchor Travers Mackel. Scalise said he hoped the focus of the convention would be on issues, but admitted the assassination attempt is on the minds of many. “Everyone should be quick to denounce this and work to dial this temperature down,” said Scalise, who will address the convention. 

— The marquee moment from Monday came when former President Trump, slightly emotional, joined the convention in the evening as Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless the USA.” There were also speeches from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and model Amber Rose.

— Delegates will gather for their third session at 5 p.m. this afternoon and are expected to meet for at least five hours, crashing right into the middle of prime time for tonight’s speakers. Today will also feature panel discussions, like “Israel and the Path to Peace,” and parties, like the Utah Republican Party’s “BBQ, Bikes and Blues” event at the Harley Davidson Museum. There’s likewise a special screening of the new “Reagan” movie starring Dennis Quaid, among nearly three dozen other events on this second day of the convention.

Photos by Lenar Whitney, Roger Villere and David Wise

RELATED MEDIA CLIPS

— AP: Donald Trump enters Republican convention hall with a bandaged ear and gets a hero’s welcome

— CNN: Takeaways from the first day of the Republican National Convention

— Fox 8: Louisiana Republicans praise security measures at party’s national convention

— WDSU: Louisiana Public Service Commissioner announces delegate votes for Donald Trump at RNC

— KPEL: Louisiana prominently featured at RNC

— WDSU: Rep. Julia Letlow weighs in on assassination attempt of Donald Trump

Kansas Daily News Wire July 16, 2024

Posted on by State Affairs

Welcome to the Kansas Daily News Wire, your daily roundup of top state and political stories from newsrooms across Kansas. — Hawver’s Capitol Report/State Affairs

STATE

Kansas politicians react to assassination attempt at Trump rally: Kansas politicians took to social media over the weekend to share their reactions to what is being considered an attempted assassination that killed one bystander and injured former President Donald Trump. (Stover, State Affairs)

Kansas prosecutor accused of soliciting nude photos from clients, leaking police targets: A rural Kansas prosecutor pressured about 50 women to send him nude photos, shared secret police information about potential targets of drug busts and advised a client to break into a house, according to local law enforcement and court records. (Kansas Reflector)

Statehouse Briefs: Top appellate judge picked for national law group: The top judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals will be among the new members of an independent national law group. (Richardson, State Affairs)

Today last to register to vote for primaries: The common sentiment among officials and voters at the Sedgwick County Election Office is that you need to get out there and vote. Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater calls the process quick, easy, and important. (KSN)

NATIONAL

The opening of the Republican National Convention: A crucial moment for citizens nationwide: As the Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee today, the eyes of the nation turn to a pivotal event that could shape the political landscape for years to come. This year’s convention isn’t just a gathering of party faithful; it’s a crucial moment to engage with the democratic process, understand the policies and platforms being proposed and scrutinize the leaders vying for our votes. (Bethel, State Affairs)

LOCAL

Climate change is making it harder to predict high temperatures in the Midwest: With geography already posing challenges for Midwestern forecasters, meteorologist Chris Gloninger says climate change has made traditional models obsolete and has voided historical precedents. (KMUW)

23-year-old Topeka man drowns while swimming at Clinton Lake: The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office revealed Monday that a Topeka man was the person who drowned Saturday at Clinton Lake.  (Topeka Capital-Journal)

Kaelen Culpepper leads group of Kansas State baseball players selected in MLB Draft: Kaelen Culpepper became one of the earliest picks in Kansas State baseball history when the Minnesota Twins selected him in the first round of the MLB Draft. (Yahoo via The Kansas City Star)

City of Lawrence mulls allowing alcohol to be consumed on the go downtown: Patrons could soon be allowed to drink alcoholic beverages as they roam certain areas of downtown Lawrence. (The Lawrence Times)

Howey Daily Wire July 16, 2024

Posted on by Howey Politics Indiana

Happy Tuesday!

GOP gubernatorial nominee U.S. Sen. Mike Braun out-spent Democratic nominee Jennifer McCormick $8.58 million-to-$290,000 during the first half of the year, State Affairs reports. Also, the state Election Division is working to confirm whether the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Jill Stein campaign filed enough signatures to appear on Indiana’s presidential ballot this fall. And, State Affairs is on the ground at the Republican National Convention, following key candidates and state delegates. More news below. — Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs

Braun holds huge money advantage over McCormick: Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Braun out-raised Democrat Jennifer McCormick $6.185 million to $781,690, respectively, in the first half of the year. (Howey, State Affairs)

Kennedy, Stein presidential campaigns file for Indiana ballot: The campaigns of independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Green Party candidate Jill Stein submitted petition signatures to appear on Indiana’s presidential ballot this fall. (Davies, State Affairs)

The opening of the Republican National Convention: A crucial moment for citizens nationwide —  As the convention unfolds, State Affairs will bring readers stories from the front lines that are important on the local level, according to State Affairs Chief Content Officer & Editor-In-Chief Alison Bethel.

STATE

State tax revenue comes in at just shy of December projections, agency reports: Indiana’s state government fiscal year ended with general fund tax revenue coming in almost exactly on the most-recent forecast figures. (Davies, State Affairs)

FSSA asks for stay while it appeals Healthy Indiana Plan ruling: The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration filed a motion to stay while it appeals a ruling that vacated federal approval for the state’s Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0. (Meeks, State Affairs)

Indiana receives more than $1.2M in federal grant to expand Registered Apprenticeships: The Indiana Department of Workforce Development will receive more than $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to connect with industry partners and develop postsecondary education and career pathways to meet local labor demands. (Adair, Lakeshore Public Media)

State offers financial assistance to veteran families for school expenses: Operation Back to School provides financial assistance to Indiana veteran families experiencing financial difficulty, offering $500 per qualified dependent for back-to-school supplies and other school-related expenses, according to an email to Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs.

State employee numbers at record high: The number of state employees in Indiana has recovered from pandemic lows and superseded pre-pandemic records with over 32,000 Hoosiers employed by state government agencies. (Hilkowitz, Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Indiana housing market dips in June: The Indiana Association of Realtors reported just under 7,000 homes were sold last month, 14% fewer than the number sold in June of last year. (Mazurek, Inside Indiana Business)

LOCAL

Capitol riot: Prosecutors seek to delay Columbus man’s sentencing to ‘assess impact’ of Supreme Court decision — Federal prosecutors have asked the judge presiding over the criminal case against a former Columbus resident who has pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to delay his sentencing due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the scope of an obstruction charge. (East, The Republic)

Indianapolis reports 263% increase in ‘Glock switch’ arrests: Last year, Marion County recorded a 263% increase in the number of people charged with having Glock switches attached to their handguns. (Nelson, IndyStar)

IU Health plans $421M hospital in Fort Wayne: Indiana University Health announced plans to construct a $421 million hospital with 140 beds and 500 employees in Fort Wayne. (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)

Mayors Terry, Melton to participate in Harvard program: Mayors Stephanie Terry, Fort Wayne, and Eddie Melton, Gary, will join counterparts from around the world as participants in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a mix of classroom, virtual and field-based learnings. (Loesch, Courier & Press)

Indy committee recommends creating registry of dogs not spayed or neutered: The Indianapolis Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee recommended passage of an ordinance that, if passed, would require owners of an unaltered dog older than six months to register the animal. (Pinsker, WISH-TV)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Lawmakers aim to shorten foster care wait times: ‘We’re causing lifelong damage’ — An Indiana General Assembly summer study committee plans to gather stakeholders from the community and the other two branches of government to discuss how foster care cases can be handled more quickly. (Appleton, State Affairs)

Wilburn to host listening session on diploma redesign: State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, D-Fishers, announced in an email to Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs that she will host public listening sessions to learn about proposed changes to high school diploma programs. The first is slated for July 22 at 5 p.m. at the John W. Hensel Government Center in Carmel, and the second is July 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers.

CONGRESS

Mrvan obtains federal funding for Gary license plate reader cameras: The Gary Police Department is preparing to expand its network of fixed and mobile license plate reader cameras using $264,000 in federal funds earmarked for the project by U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Ind. (Carden, NWI Times)

Congressional schedule: The House and Senate are out.

PRESIDENTIAL 2024

Banks predicts ‘far more presidential’ Trump — U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said former President Trump will look “far more presidential” than ever before when he accepts the GOP nomination. (Axios)

J.D. Vance offers Trump a fresh face with a MAGA profile: In selecting his new apprentice, Donald Trump picked a familiar figure within his populist, right-wing base who brings a fresh face to an election featuring two older men. (The Wall Street Journal)

Biden campaign homes in on Vance’s abortion record: Shortly after former President Trump tapped Sen. Vance as his vice president pick, the Biden campaign indicated it would go after Vance over his record on abortion. (The Hill)

Republicans increasingly confident of victory in November: A cascade of developments in the run-up to the Republican National Convention has left Republicans increasingly confident of winning in November and Democrats increasingly disheartened. (USA Today)

Special counsel Jack Smith to appeal Trump classified documents case: Following U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon’s decision to dismiss the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, special counsel Jack Smith said he intends to file an appeal. (Fox News)

NATION

Powell says Federal Reserve more confident inflation slowing toward target: Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve is becoming more convinced that inflation is headed back to its 2% target and the Fed would cut rates before the pace of price increases actually reached that point. (AP)

White House schedule: President Joe Biden is in Las Vegas and will receive the Daily Brief at 10 a.m. At noon he will participate in an interview with BET’s Ed Gordon before delivering remarks at the NAACP National Convention. Following, Biden will participate in an economic summit with U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev. Vice President Kamala Harris will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff.

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