New urgency on WMD front · ilton. As a congressman, Roemer also led efforts to reform U.S....

Politics Indiana V15 N17

Roemer, Lugar renewwarnings on terrorin the homeland;CIA speculationBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-“Thede-structionofanAmericancityinourlifetime....” ThosewerethewordsechoingfromSen.DickLugar’spresidentialcampaignof1995-96.Adozenyearslater,AmericansdistractedbycollapsesonWallStreetandinDetroitawokeonTuesdaytosimilarwarnings,thistimefrom“WorldAtRisk:TheReportoftheCommis-siononthePreventionofWMDProliferationandTerrorism.” ItpredictsaWMDattackonAmericawithinfiveyears. Thereportstates,“TheintentofthisreportisneithertofrightennorreassuretheAmericanpeopleaboutthecurrentstateofterrorismandweaponsofmassde-struction.ItistounderscorethattheU.S.governmenthasyettofullyadapttothesecircumstancesandtoconveythesoberingrealitythattherisksaregrowingfasterthanour

“Let’s look at the millions of jobs lost if we lose the auto industry.” - UAW Chief Ron Gettelfinger

Thursday Dec. 4, 2008

See Page 3

Cap slide in Muncie

New urgency on WMD front

multilayerdefens-es.Ourmarginofsafetyisshrinking,notgrowing.” ThereportdescribesagentsofterrorstakingoutapathogenlabatGeorgiaStateUniversity.“Theywereagentsonamissionandthey

By BRIAN A. HOWEY MUNCIE-ItstartedsnowinglightlyinMiddletownUSAlateMondayafternoon.Sixhourslater,911dispatch-

ersreportedmorethan50trafficaccidentsonunsaltedstreets. JustanormalHoosierwinterday?No.Itcouldbe-comeaMichaelBilandicmomentwithrepercussionsgoingallthewaytotheIndianaStatehouse.Bilandicwasthe49thmayorofChicago,chosentoreplacethelateMayorRichardJ.DaleyinDecember1976.Hewouldhavewonatermofhisownexceptthatablizzardshutthecity

Former Indiana congressman Tim Roemer (far left) with Obama at Wayne HS last April. Roemer is a potential CIA director candidate. (HPI Photo)

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downandBilandiclosttoJaneByrneintheDemocraticprimaryinthespringof1977. NowthereareallsortsofdistinctionsbetweenBilandicandMuncieMayorSharonMcShurley,whotookoffice(albeitbyahar-rowinglythinplurality)inJanuary.Sincethen,McShurleythwartedabidtohavetheelectionoverturned,watchedtheIndianaGeneralAssem-blypassthe1-2-3propertytaxcapswithHB1001(whichtampeddownapropertytaxrebellionsimmeringinhercity),appearedwithGov.MitchDanielsattheIndianaRepublicanConven-tion,andbythisfalldeclareda“financialemergency”(thefirsttimewe’veeverheardofone).Sev-eralweeksago,theMcShurleyadministra-tionannouncedthatitwouldonlyplowthestreetsduringbusi-nesshoursMondaythroughFriday. Candorisalwaysgoodpublicpolicy.Ifthestreetsaren’tgoingtobeplowedorsalted,thepublicneedstoknow.Butindoingso,italsoopensupanarrayofreactions. For instance,MunciePolicetoldtheStarPressthatmanyoftheMondayaccidentswerecausedbymotoristsdrivingtoofast,followingtooclose,etc.Andtherewasthepoliticalreactionandsomerealbadpress.ManyblamedMayorMcShur-ley.KarlaLancetoldtheStarPress,thatshecalledthemayor’sofficetoleaveMcShurleyamessagethatadmittedly“wasn’tverynice.” “ItoldthemtothankthemayorfornotsaltingtheroadsandtotellhernowIdon’thaveacar,”Lancesaid.“It’swrecked.Iholdthe

mayorfullyresponsible.Icouldhavebeenkilled.” Could have beenkilled.Ouch. MunciehasbecomethepostercityforHB1001reactionandthisisbe-forethefullarrayofcapsreallycomeintoplay.Thisisthejusttherampup.Theyears2009and2010aregoingtocreateotherrevenuedilemmasforcities.MichiganCityhascut$6millionoutofitsbudgetandNewAlbanycut$1.5millionandfireandpolicechiefshavenoovertimebudgets.LakeCounty

slashed112jobsand$15million.May-orsinSouthBendandLaPortearedo-ingwhatGov.Daniels,SpeakerBauerandPresidentLongwantthemtodo:passLocalOptionIncomeTaxestofillanybudgetaryshortfalls. While Mayor McShurleywon’tbefacingtheballotboxforan-otherthreeyears,thepoliticalconse-quenceswillplayoutattheStatehousewhereDaniels,LongandHouseMinor-ityLeaderBrianBosmawillpushforthesecondvotecreatinga2010ref-erendumonthecaps.Bauerwantstowaituntil2010.Danielsputapremiumon“certainty”inthetaxsystemand

Gov. Daniels shakes hands with Muncie Mayor Sharon McShurley right after his Indiana Republican Convention ac-ceptance speech last June. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)


said,“Everytaxpayeroughttoworryaboutadoublecross,”hesaidoffuturegovernorsandlegislatorswhomightfallbackintopre-capera. Daniels scoffedatthenotionSenateMinor-ityLeaderViSimpsonstressedlastmonth,sayingthattheoriginalLegislativeServicesAgencyestimateswentonlytwoyearsoutandthatmoreinformationwouldbeneeded.“It’snotaquestionofinformation,”DanielssaidathispresserinMountComfortonTuesday.Inhismind,it’saboutgovernmentlivingwithinabudgetasopposedtodeterminingabudgetandthensendingthebilltotaxpay-ers. ButJenniferSimmonsoftheAssociationofIndi-anaCitiesandTownssaysherorganizationfavorsdelayingthecapvoteuntil2010.“Wewanttoseewhatcutshavebeenmadeandseeprojectedcutsfor2010,”shesaid.AnotherglaringproblemisthatwhilecountiescanpassLo-calOptionIncomeTaxes,citiescan’t.SouthBendmustgothroughtheSt.JosephCountyCouncilonDec.15topassitsrequested1.25percentoption. Simmons says therearescenarioswheremayorsandcitycouncilsbackaLOIT,butacountycouncil-whichtendtobeveryconservativeandRepublican-maybalk.“Localofficialswanttoseehomeownersgetpropertytaxcuts.However,theshiftcomesatacost.We’reseeingthatthisyear.In2009thereisgoingtobemoreacrosstheboardpain,andevendeepercutsinservicesby2010.” Shesaidthatthereisashortlistofcitieslike

LaPorteandSouthBendactivelyheedingtheadviceofDaniels,BauerandLonginseekingincometaxestoreplacepropertytaxes.“Thatlistisgettinglonger,”Simmonssaid. IACTiscompilingstatisticsonhowmuchcitiesandtownshaveslicedfromtheirbudgetsandwillreleaseits“StateoftheCitiesandTowns”inearlyJanuary. Taxpayers will be balancing theirlowerprop-ertytaxbills(andformanymortgagepayments)withtheservicestheyreceive.InGary,it’saquestionastowhetherthe13firefightersrecentlylaidoffarereallyneeded.Thecity’spitchformonetaryhelptothestate’sDistressedUnitAppealsBoardwon’tbesubtle,GaryMayorRudyClaytoldtheTimesofNorthwestIndiana.“GaryhastobeoneofthemostdistressedcitiesinAmerica,”Claysaid.“Wealreadyhavecut$36.5millioninthelastthreeyears.Wehavelaidoffmorethan200people.Wehavepoliceandfireonlayoff.Ouremployeesareworkingfivedaysbutonlygettingpaidforfour.I’mworkingforsevenandgettingpaidforfour.”ThemayorsaidthecitywillasktheboardbyMonday’sdeadlinetomodify$47millioninstate-mandatedpropertytaxcutsthat-ifunchanged-willgutthecity’sbudgetby58percentintwoyears. InSouthBend,it’swhetheritneeds1,200cityem-ployees,morethananyothersecondclasscityinthestate. InMuncie,itcouldbehowslickthestreetsgetandwhetherthere’sthepoliticalwilltoraisecorrespondingop-tionincometaxestokeepthestreetsplowed.v

camenotatnight,whichmighthavelookedsuspi-cious,butinbroaddaylight.” Itcontinues,“HidinginplainsightonacitystreetinAtlanta,theywalkedtheperimeterofoneofAmerica’sfivebiologicallaboratorieswheresci-entistsworkedontheworld’smostdeadlypatho-gens.TheyhadcometothislabatGeorgiaStateUniversityin2008aspartoftheirassignmenttoquietlycasefacilitiesdesignatedasBiosafetyLevel4(BSL-4)labs,thehighestlevelofbiologicalcon-tainment,requiredforworkwiththemostdanger-ousviruses.Theywerelookingforeventheslight-estsecurityvulnerability-anythingthatmightgiveanedgetoterroristsseekingtostealsmallquanti-tiesofEbolavirusorotherlethaldiseaseagentsforwhichtherearenotreatments,noknowncures.” TalkingtoHoweyPoliticsIndianaonTuesday,WMDCommissionmemberTimRoemersaid,“OsamabinLadenhasmandatedobtaininganuclearweaponandusingitagainsttheUnitedStates.”Roemer,theformerIndianacongressmanand9/11Commission

member,saysthereisa“religiousobligationtodothis.” RoemerappearstobeonashortlistfordirectoroftheCentralIntelligenceAgency,accordingtotheNewYorkTimes.AlsolistedaredeputydirectorStephenR.Kappes,

WMD

Sen. Lugar and Sam Nunn meet with Russians at the Luch Scientific Produc-tion Facility in August 2007. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)


U.S.Sen.ChuckHagelandformerCIAclandestineserviceschiefJackDevine.TheWashingtonPostisreportingthatU.S.Rep.JaneHarmon,retiredNavyAdm.DennisC.BlairandformerdeputydefensesecretaryJohnHamreasotherpotentialintelligencecandidates. Asked by HPI if he isbeingvettedbyPresident-electObama’stransitionteamforthecabinet,Roemerdeclinedtocomment,citingthesensitivityofthesituation.Roemerservedsixtermsinthe2ndCDanddraftedthelegislationcreatingthe9/11Commission.HethenservedasamemberwithformerHoosiercongressmanLeeHam-ilton.Asacongressman,RoemeralsoledeffortstoreformU.S.intelligencecapabilities. OnSept.20,RoemerandfellowWMDCommis-sioners,formerU.S.Sens.JimTalentandBobGraham,wereontheirwaytoIslamabadwhen“threehoursout”Blackberriesandcellphonesbeganringingsimultaneously:TheIslamabadMarriotthadbeendevastatedbyabomb.Thecommissionersweretohavecheckedintothehotel.Roemercallsita“coincidence”butasoberingone.“There’sagrowingthreat.ItwillhappeninNewYorkCity,London,Islamabad....” The biological portionofthereportexplains,“Theseindividualsdiscoveredthatinanumberofplaces,thelabwasunprotectedbybarriersandthatoutsiderscouldwalkrightuptothebuildinghousingthesedeadlypathogens.Aroundback,theywatchedandtooknotesasapedestriansimplystrolledintothebuildingthroughanunguardedloadingdock.Onanotherday,thesamepeoplewenttoSanAntoniotocheckoutanotherBSL-4lab,theSouthwestFoundationforBiomedicalResearch.Theydiscoveredthatthesecuritycameracoveredonlyaportionoftheperimeter,andthattheonlybarriertovehicleswasa

gatearmthatwouldswingacrosstheroadway.” Thereportalsotellsofseveralotherincidentswherelabsornuclearfacilitybreacheshavetakenplace,suchastheLuchScientificProductionfacilityinPodolsk,Russia,asceneHoweyPoliticsIndianacoveredwithLugarandNuclearThreatInitiativeChairmanSamNunninAugust2007.In1998,aworkertheretriedtosell18.5kilogramsofhighlyenricheduraniumontheblackmarketbeforeRussiansecurityagentsarrestedhim. ThereportdescribeswhatanuclearterrorattackmightlooklikeinChicago:“AnuclearbombexplodesatSearsTower.EverythingfromNavyPiertotheEisenhowerExpresswaydisappears.TheUnitedCenterandGrantParkaredestroyed.AfirestormsweepsfromtheWhiteSox’sU.S.CellularFieldontheSouthSidetotheCubs’WrigleyFieldontheNorthSide.” Or Washington: “A nuclearbombattheSmith-sonianInstitutionwoulddestroyeverythingfromtheWhiteHousetotheCapitollawn.TheSupremeCourtwouldberubble.ThePentagon,acrossthePotomacRiver,wouldbeengulfedinflames.” AtleastoneprominentIndianacongressionalstafferhastoldHPIinrecentyearsthatsuchanattackonWashingtonisarealpossibility.“It’sgoingtocome.IjusthopeI’mnotinWashingtonwhenitdoes,”thestaffersaid. Roemer,whobriefedPresidentBushandVicePresidentElectJoeBidenonWednesday,saidthereportisaimedatspurringactionfromtheWhiteHousetoCon-gresstothecitizenry.ItdoesnotadvocateappointingaWMDczar,butestablishingatoptierseatontheNationalSecurityCouncilheaded,perhaps,byVicePresidentBiden.IturgesCongresstoflexitsoversightas“the911Commis-sionurgedthemtodo.”Anditaskscitizenstobediligent.

Sen. Lugar and then-U.S. Ambassador to Russia William Burns (far left) meeting with Luch officials in Podolsk, Russia where HEU had been stolen in 1998. Nunn-Lugar Act funds have added multiple layers of safeguards to the facility. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)


Somewhatominously,Roemersaysthat“allroadsleadtoPakistan,”which,inlightoftheMumbaiterroristattacklastweekendhasplacedboththatcountryandIndiaonavirtualwarfooting. Lugar respondedtothereportbysaying,“WemusttakeeverymeasuretoaddressWMDthreats.”ThereporturgestheimplementationofprogramsthatLugarhaslongadvocated.“Wemusteliminatethoseconditionsthatrestrictordelayourabilitytoact,”hesaid.“TheUnitedStateshasthetechnicalexpertiseanddiplomaticstand-ingtodramaticallybenefitinternationalsecurity.Americanleadersmustensurethatwehavethepoliticalwillandresourcestoimplementprogramsdevotedtotheseends.” LugartestifiedtotheWMDCommissioninJuly.Hisrecommendationsinthereportinclude:aWhiteHousecoordinatorforWMDnonproliferationprograms;enhancingtheU.S.partnershipwithPakistan,suchastheBiden-LugarbillS.3263;andincreasingfundingfortheNunn-LugarCooperativeThreatReductionProgramtoconfrontbiologi-calweapons. In February 2005, Lugar requestedanincreaseof$100millionsforthe2006budget.TheCongressgrant-ed$80million,dedicatingresourcestoanuclearfuelbankandnuclearsafeguardsattheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgency.Modernizingthatagencyfrom“1970’sequipment”waspartoftheLugar-BayhNuclearSafeguardsandSupplyActof2007.LugaralsoadvocatedextendingtheSTARTTreaty,whichissettoexpirein2009,andcontinuingtheNunn-LugarworkattheLuchfacilitytopreventtheftordi-

Obama’s team of rivalsBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS-TherewasamomentduringoneoftheDemocraticpresidentialdebateswhenBarackObama,HillaryClintonandJohnEdwardswereaskedwhethertheycouldguaranteeacompletepulloutfromIraqbytheendof2012.NoneofthemtookthebaitevenastheDemocraticlefteggedthemon.ThisbitofnewswascriticaltoDefenseSecretaryRobertM.Gates,whotoldthe

NewYorkTimesMagazinethatitwasavirtualna-tionalepiphany.Theygotit.Theyfinallygotit. Whilemuchofthepo-liticalchatteroutofChicagothesedayscentersonthe“TeamofRi-vals”conceptasPresidentElect

versionofweapons-gradenuclearmateri-als. In2005,Lugarsurveyed85ex-pertswhopredictedthattheworldwouldfacea29percentchanceofanuclearat-tackandtheprospectoffournewnationsbeingaddedtothenuclearweaponsclubinthenext10years.Overthesamepe-riod,theexpertsratedtherisksofamajorchemicalorbiologicalattackasgreaterthan30percent,whiletheprospectsofadirtybombattackwerepeggedat40percent. The good newsinthesedirescenariosisthatObamahasrepeatedlysaidhe“getsit.”InanApril29interviewwithHoweyPoliticsIndiana,ObamasaidthatWMD“willbeatoppriority.ItwillbesomethingIcaredeeply,deeplyabout.Wecandefeatterroristswhoareequippedconventionally.Thedevastationtheycoulddowithweaponsofmassde-structionwouldbeunimaginableandwehavetomakesurewearedoingevery-thingwecandointhatscenario.”

TherealityisthatObamaentersofficewithacriti-calclockticking,ticking,ticking.....v

Tim Roemer makes an ardent appeal to pass the 911 Commission recommendations in Terre Haute, February 2006. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. (Google Photo)


ObamabringsonformerprimaryopponentsHillaryClintonassecretaryofstateandBillRichardsonatcommerce,itistheretentionofGatesthatmaybethemostcritical.Thismeanscontinuity. That Obama has reachedouttoClintonandGates-bothwhosupportedtheIraqWar,andGatesstillbelievestheinvasionwasneeded-isatestamenttoObama’swillingnesstohavemultipleviewpointsathisfingertips.ItwassomethingSen.ChuckHagelhadurgedacloisteredPresidentGeorgeW.BushtodoastheU.S.sankintothemorassoftheIraqinsurgency.Obama’scabinetappearstobeoneofafreemarketofideas.ButObamawasquiteemphatic:“Iwillberesponsibleforthevisionthatthisteamcarriesout.SoasHarryTrumansaid,thebuckwillstopwithme.” InanApril21speechattheU.S.MilitaryAcademyatWestPoint,Gatesgaveafascinatinghistorylesson,quot-ingEisenhowerandMarshallmentorGen.FoxConnor’sthreeaxioms:“Nevergotowarunlessyouhaveto.Neverfightalone.Neverfightforlong.” ThefirstaxiomfitsObama’soppositiontothewarwhenhewasjustanIllinoisstatesenatorbackin2002with-outaccesstotheintelligencethatU.S.senatorshad.ThesecondconflictswiththeBushadministration’sprosecutionofthewarwhereonlytheBritishmountedasizeablecontingentontheground,unliketheGulfWarwhichhadmuchgreaterinternationalsupport. GatesquotedWinstonChurchill,whowrotein1942,“Letuslearnourlessons.Never,neverbelievethatanywarwillbesmoothandeasy,orthatanyonewhoembarksonthestrangevoyagecanmeasurethetidesandhurricaneshewillencounter.Oncethesignalisgiven,thestatesmanisnolongerthemasterofpolicybuttheslaveofunforeseeableanduncontrollableevents.”America,itseemshadbecomedrunkonthesuccessesofGrenada,PanamaandSerbia. The third is the task at hand.“AdrawdownofU.S.forcesinIraqisinevitableovertime-thedebateyouhearinWashingtonislargelyaboutpacing,”GatestoldtheWestPointcadets.“Butthekindofenemywefacetoday

-violentjihadistnetworks-willnotallowustoremainatpeace.Whathasbeencalledthe‘LongWar’islikelytobemanyyearsofpersistent,engagedcombatallaroundtheworldindifferingdegreesofsizeandintensity.Thisgenerationalcampaigncannotbewishedawayorputonatimetable.Therearenoexitstrategies.” GatesthenparaphrasedtheBolshevikLeonTrotsky:“Wemaynotbeinterestedinthelongwar,butthelongwarisinterestedinus.” GordonM.Goldstein’snewbook,“LessonsofDi-saster:McGeorgeBundyandthePathtoWarinVietnam,”includes“torturednotes”thatBundy,abrilliantadviserto

PresidentsKennedyandJohn-son,wrotetohimselfashetriedtocometogripswiththatcatastrophicchapterinAmericanhistoryjustbeforehisdeathin1996.“Thedoveswereright”wasscribbledinthemarginofanoldmemo.InGoldstein’sbook,henamedchaptersafterBundy’slessons:“NeverTrusttheBu-reaucracytoGetItRight”and“NeverDeployMilitaryMeansinPursuitofIndeterminateEnds.” It’s in contrasttoPresidentBush’sinterviewwithABC’sCharlieGibsonearlierthisweek.“IthinkIwasunpreparedforwar,”Bushsaid.“Inotherwords,Ididn’tcampaignandsay,‘Pleasevoteforme,I’llbeabletohandleanattack.’Inotherwords,Ididn’tanticipatewar.Oneofthethingsaboutthemodernpresidencyisthattheunexpectedwillhappen.AlotofpeopleputtheirreputationsonthelineandsaidtheweaponsofmassdestructionisareasontoremoveSaddamHussein.Itwasn’tjustpeopleinmyadmin-

istration.AlotofmembersinCongress,priortomyarrivalinWashington,D.C.,duringthedebateonIraq,alotofleadersofnationsaroundtheworldwerealllookingatthesameintelligence.Iwishtheintelligencehadbeendiffer-ent,Iguess.” WhenpressedbyGibson,Bushdeclinedto“specu-late”onwhetherhewouldstillhavegonetowarifheknewHusseindidn’thaveweaponsofmassdestruction,givingcredencetothenotionthathehadviolatedoneofFoxConner’saxioms.“Thatisado-overthatIcan’tdo,”Bushsaid.

Thursday Dec. 4, 2008Page7

Gatessizedupthe“conflictsofthetoday.”Hesaid,“Afghanistaniswidelyviewedasawarofnecessity-strik-ingbackatthestaginggroundoftheperpetratorsoftheSeptember11thattack.TheIraqcampaign,whilejustifiedinmyview,isseendifferentlybymanypeople.TwoweeksagoItestified,infrontoftheCongressontheIraqWar.Iobservedthatwewereattacked,athomein2001,fromAfghanistan.AndweareatwarinAfghanistantoday,innosmallmeasure,becausewemistakenlyturnedourbacksonAfghanistanaftertheSoviettroopsleftinthelate1980s.”ThisiswhenOsamabinLadenrosetohispowerthathasexactedAmericanlivesinNewYork,Washington,Pennsyl-vaniaandBaghdad. Gates added, “We madeastrategicmistakeintheendgameofthatwar.IfwegettheendgamewronginIraq,ItoldtheCongress,theconsequenceswillbefar

worse.” Thus,astheObamaadministrationtakesshape,wehaveHillaryClintonatstate,bearingafamilynamerespectedaroundtheworld.DittowithRich-ardson,whohasmanysuccessesdealingwithpricklysituationson

theworldstage.AndGates,whowasbroughtintobailouttheshipofstatefromthehurricanesBush,RumsfeldandCheneyneveranticipated. Sen.RichardLugar,appearingonABC’sThisWeek,calledObama’sincomingnationalsecurityteam“excellent,”adding,“Ithinkitwillbeastrongteam.Iwouldjustsay,asanindividual,Ilookforwardtoworkingwitheachoneofthem.IhopeandI’mcertainSenatorKerry,whoisourincoming(SenateForeignRelatinos)chairman,feelsthesameway.Bipartisansupportofthisteamreallyisoftheessencerightnow.” Lugar added, “IwouldvoteinfavorofSena-torClinton,knowingwhatwehavehereonthisprogramtoday.Isuspect,however,thatI’mnotaloneinsuggestingthattherewillbequestionsraised,andprobablylegitimatequestions.” Thenextfewmonthswillofferfascinatingdiscus-sionsattheWhiteHousewheretruthswillbepursuedandviableoptionswillbeemployedaswepulloutofIraqsometimebetweennowand2011(asmandatedbytheIraqiParliament).GatessaidatWestPoint:“Truthtotell,it’sahardselltosaywemustsustainthefightinIraqrightnowandcontinuetoabsorbthehighfinancialandhumancostofthestruggle,inordertoavoidanevenuglierfightorevengreaterdangertoourcountryinthefuture.ButwehaveAfghanistantoremindusthatthesearenotjusthypotheticalrisks.”v

Daniels meets Obama By BRIAN A. HOWEY GREENFIELD-ThetwobiggestchangeagentsontheHoosierpoliticalscenein2008finallymetandshookhandsinPhiladelphiaattheNationalGovernorsAssociationconferenceonTuesday.“President-electObama...meetIndianaGov.MitchDaniels.” Danielsdidn’tgetanyprivatefacetimewiththeincomingpresident.Hepreferredtoblend,despitehisrockstarstatusamongRepublicangovernorsforwithstandingaDemocratictideandwinningre-electionwith58percent.Perhapsenvious,theyknowheheadsoneofonlysevenstateswithabudgetsurplus.Andhewascitedbytwoothergovernors(whohedeclinedtoname)forhisMajorMovesprogram. Daniels was duly impressed withthePresident-elect.“Verysmart,verythoughtful,”DanielssaidofObama.ParticularlysinceObamainitiatedthemeetingwithgov-ernors,mostwhomareconstitutionallyboundtobalancebudgetsandareexperiencingexplodingunemployment,Medicaidcostsandanarrayofbudgetaryconstraints. Obamatoldthegovernors,“ChangeisnotgoingtocomefromWashingtonalone.It’sgoingtocomefromallofyou.ItwillcomefromaWhiteHouseandstatehousesallacrossthecountrythatareworkingtogether,andthat’sthekindofpartnershipthatIintendtoforgeasPresidentoftheUnitedStates.Ihopethatthisisthebeginningoflayingthatfoundation.” Obamaadded,“Ifwe’relisteningtothegovernors,thenthemoneythatwespendisgoingtobewellspent,anditmeansthatit’sgoingtogetworkingfasterandthepeopleinyourstatesaregoingtoexperienceprosperitysooner.” ThefactthatObamahascenteredhisstimuluspackageintendedtocreate2.5millionjobsoninfrastruc-

Gov. Daniels briefs the press at Mount Comfort Airport on Tues-day hours after he and other governors met with President-Elect Obama. (HPI Photo by Brian A. Howey)


tureissimilartowhatGov.DanielsdidwithMajorMoves.DanielstookagreatdealofheatfromIndianaDemocratsovertheIndianaTollRoadlease(whichtheycalla“sale”)eventhoughObamapatronRichardDaleyofChicagodidthesamethingwiththeSkyway,andPennsylvaniaGov.EdRendelltriedtodoinhisstate.Democraticcriticismalsocenteredonthe75-yearleasebeingmadeto“foreigners”andthefactthattheconsortiumwouldbemakingbigprof-itswithinashortfewyears. Daniels noted that thestimuluspackagewhichcouldeventuallycosthalfatrilliondollarsismoneycomingfromthenextgenerationoftaxpayers.Washington,Danielssaid,ismeetingthefinancialmeltdownwitha“printingpress.” WithoutMajorMoves,Indiana’sjoblessratewouldlikelybegreaterthanthecurrent6.2percent.DanielshailedMajorMovesasthe“jobsbillofageneration”in2006. DanielssaidthatObama“madeitveryclear”thatattheheartofastimuluspackagethatwilllikelypassCongressonJan.20isaplan“nottobailoutstates”buttoputpeopletowork.“Iftheysendusacheck,we’llcashit,”Danielssaid,notingthateventhoughhisMajorMovespro-gramhasprovidedthestatewitha10-yearplan,additionalfederalfundsaimedatinfrastructurecouldhelpfinishI-69toEvansvilleandbeginamasstransitprogram. DanielssaidheurgedObamaandCongressnottotiethestimulusfundsforstatestothefederalhighwayfor-mulathathesaysshort-changesIndianabyreturningonly92centsonthedollar.“It’sgrosslyunfair.”HesaidhealsourgedObamatogetthemoneytostateswithoutfederalstringsattached,perhapsintheformofgrants.“Therearelandacquisitionrulesthatareextremelytime-consuming—widthofrightsofway,thicknessofpavement,allsortsofdesignstandards.Sometimestheymakesense,some-timestheydon’t.Letthestatesdecide,”Danielssaid.“Ifthisisnotabailoutbutaneconomicgrowthplan,thenlet’staketheshacklesoff.” Asked if the moneycouldbeusedformasstran-sit,Danielsresponded,“Yeah,Ithinkso.”Hesaidthattheword“infrastructureistooelasticaword”thatinthepasthassimplymeantroads,bridgesandrail. DanielssaidhewasimpressedwhenObamare-peatedalineheusedduringhisGrantParkvictoryspeechonNov.4.“Hesaid‘I’lltrytolistenevenifwedisagree.’”HealsoreachedouttoRepublicangovernors,offeringthe“samekindoffriendship”thathewouldwiththeirDemo-craticcounterparts.HeaskedtheRepublicanstosharewiththeadministrationthings“thatwork”andtolethimknowwhen“regulationsgetintheway.” “Iwanttheadministrationtosucceed,”Danielssaid.“Theywontheelection.Ithinktheyareduty-boundtogoforwardwiththeplansthattheytalkedabout.”v

Obama’s changeBy JACK COLWELL SOUTHBEND-Change.Whatdoesitmean?Therearedifferentusesoftheword.“Hey,buddy,canyousparesomechange?”Weknowthemeaningthere.“Changeintosomethingmoreappropriate,younglady,beforeyouleavethishouse.”Anothermeaningsometimesvoicedbypar-ents. ButwhatofthechangeBarackObamapromised

duringthecampaign?Whatdidhemean?Now,heofferssecretaryofstatetoHillaryClinton,namesabunchofotherswithClintonadmin-istrationexperiencetokeyposts,makesnicewithJoeLieberman,lis-tenstoDefenseofficialsandgeneralsanddoesn’tevencallforimprisoningSeanHannity. So,somecolumnists,commenta-torsandliberalblogsrantandrailaboutPresident-electObamanot

providingthechangepromisedbythe“yes,wecan”candidate. Whatnext?TheyponderwhetherhenextwillsaythatwaterboardingisOKafterall.Hewon’t,althoughthosebloggerswouldn’tmindanexceptionforquizzingDickCheney. The critics weren’t listeningtowhatObama,thecandidate,said.Hepromisedchange,asinswitchingfromthepoliciesofanunpopularpresentpresidentthatledtoeconomicmeltdown,recorddeficits,depletionofmilitarystrength,lossofrespectabroadandfailureoftheCubstowintheWorldSeries. JohnMcCainalsopromisedchangefrompathsofdisaster.McCainpreferredtousetheword“maverick”inhisclaimtomakethingsdifferentinWashington. Obamapreferred“change.” BothmeantgettingawayfromtheBushleaguestuff.ButObamadidn’tmeanhewouldchangeWashingtonbyappointingonlypeoplewithnoWashingtonexperience,noknowledgeofWashington.HeispickingpeoplewhoknowWashington.That’sgood.Thus,ObamawillavoidthemistakeofJimmyCarter.TheGeorgiansCarterbroughtintoruntheadministrationsuredidn’tknowWashington.Theybroughtchange.Theybroughtincompetence. TheonlytroublewithrunningagainstWashing-tonisthatifelectedaspresidentyouareWashington.Youcan’tkeeprunningagainstyourself.Youcan’tblamebureaucracywhenit’syourbureaucracy.Youcan’tholleraboutwasteingovernmentwhenit’syourgovernment. Youbetternamepeoplewhoknowwhatthey’redoing,notfolksinon-the-jobtrainingwhocouldthink


naivelythatthoselobbyistsarereallyniceinguidingthedecisions,stringsattached. If the national desirereallywastobringinpeoplewhodidn’tknowWashington,voterscouldhaveelectedJohnMcCain,whoofferedtobringalongsomebodyaheartbeatawaywhodidn’tknowWashingtonormuchaboutanythingelsearoundtheworld. Obamaneverpromisedappointeesasknowledge-ableasJoetheplumber. Bringinginsomebodywhoisn’tpartoforfamiliarwiththesystem,evenifthesystemseemsbroken,isn’talwaysWeis.NotreDamesoughtchangewithacoachwhoneverplayedorcoachedcollegefootball. ObamaisbringinginpeoplewhoknowWashing-ton.Iftheydidn’t,theywouldhavenohopeoffindingwaystochangeitforthebetter. Change Washington?Reallychangeit? Well,candidateObamawassuggestingmorechangeinmorewaysonmoreissuesthanispossible.Mc-Cainalsosuggestedmorechangethananypresidentcould

Recession questionsBy MORTON J. MARCUS INDIANAPOLIS-LastweekIhadthehonorofaddressingtheannualconferenceofProfessionalSwanCallersInternational–IndianaChapter(PSCI-In)meet-

ingatLakeMonroe.Naturally,theyhadthesameconcernsasotherHoosiers:whatshouldbethepriori-tiesofPresident-electObamaandGovernor-re-electDaniels? Iquicklyaddressedtheobvious:theeconomy,taxesandspending,education,healthinsur-ance,healthcare,theenvironment,energy,transportation,publicsafety,culturalchauvinismandcollegefootballplayoffs.ThenIgottothe

leadingneglectedtaskforournewpresidentandourre-turninggovernor:the2010Census. Every 10 years we countourselves.Thecensusistheleadingsourceofinformationaboutus,anessentialresourceforsuccessfulbusinesses,efficientgovernments,andresponsiblenot-for-profitorganizations.ButtheCon-gress,asever,hasshort-changedtheCensusBureauandthebureau,asever,hassquanderedpartofthemoneytheywereallocated.Tothebestofmyknowledge,mostIn-dianagovernmentshavenotallocatedfundsnoraddressedtheissuesinvolvedinconductingasuccessfulcensus. Thecensusisthebasisofrepresentativedemocra-cy.Ifeachvoteristohaveanequalsayingovernment,the

congressionalandlegislativedistrictsmustbeconstructedaccordingtothecountsdeterminedbythecensusastakeneach10years. Between those benchmarkyears,theCensusBureaudoesreleasepopulationestimatesthathavemanyuses.Forexample,wecanidentify44ofour92countiesthatgainedmorethanonepercentinpopulationfrom2000to2007and28countiesthatlostatleastonepercentoftheirpeople.Thatleft20countieswithchangesbetweenplusandminusonepercent. Of567Indianacitiesandtowns,29%grewbymorethanonepercentandtwicethatamount(58%)declinedbymorethanonepercent.Theremaining13%gainedorlostbylessthanonepercent.Altogether,citiesandtownsgrewby2.7%whilethestate’sgrowthratewas4.2%.Indiana’sunincorporatedareasgrewat6.9%,thesamerateasthenationasawhole. Wherecitiesandtownsrepresented65.5%ofthestate’spopulationin2000,theycapturedonly42.7%ofthestate’sgrowth.Intermsofpersonstobeserved,citiesandtownsadded108,000residentswhiletheunincorporatedareasofourcountiesadded145,000citizens,adifference37,000. Arethecostsofaddingpopulationinsideourcitiesandtownsthesameasaddingtheminunincorporatedar-eas?Ifwecould,wouldwechangethispatternofgrowth? Each county had a different experienceofpopulationchangeinthosesevenyears.In2000,82.5%ofAllenCounty’sresidentslivedincitiesandtownsbutonly1.6%ofthecounty’spopulationgrowthwasrealizedbythoseincorporatedareas.Theunincorporatedareasofthecountygrewby16,200morepersonsthanthecities

bring.Campaignsareaboutstakingoutgoals,someattain-able,someapproachable,someimpossible. Someareimpossibleandalmostallaredifficultbecauseapresidenthasnopowertodecreechanges. Changesinlaws,inbudgets,intaxpoliciesorinswitchinganearmarkfora$25millionstudyofanthillsinsuburbiafromundeservingTexastoobviouslydeservingIndianarequirecongressionalapproval. Whether Obama provestobeagreatleader,atotalfailureorsomethinginbetweenwilldependonpoli-cieshepursuesandabilityorlackthereoftowinapprovalfortheminWashington,inCongress,inthenation-notonwhetherhechangesWashingtoninsomedrasticway. ThereisonlyonewaytobringdrasticchangetoWashington:RevoketheU.S.Constitution.Thatdocumentsetsupchecksandbalancesanddetermineswhatapresi-dentcanandcannotdowithinthestructureofWashington. Noneofus,exceptmaybeforformerAtty.Gen.Al-bertoGonzalesorthesatiricalStephenColbert,reallywanttoscuttletheConstitution.v


andtownsgained.SimilardramaticimbalancesexistedinVanderburgh(12,200)andElkhart(8,800)counties. Inall,71countiesaddedmoreresidentstotheirunincorporatedareasthantotheircitiesandtowns.Theremaining21Indianacountiessawtheopposite:morepeoplechoosingcitiesandtownsthantheunincorporatedareas.ThispatternofgrowthwasmostevidentinHamiltonandHendrickscounties. Wherepeoplechoosetolivewithinacountyisdeterminedbymanyfactorsincludingwater,thefertilityoftheland,taxes,transportation,schoolsandenvironmen-talamenities.Wherepeopleareallowedtolivehasbeenunquestionedduringmostofourhistory.Butarethetimesa’changin’?Willenergycostsbecomeasig-nificantincentiveforlivingwithincitiesandtowns? Withoutgooddata,publicandpri-vatedecisionswillbehamperedinthenextdecade.v

Gary Gerard, Warsaw Times-Union:U.S.President-electOisactingquitepresidentialthesedays,holdingpressconferences,unveilinghisteamofadvisersanddetail-ing-kindof-hiseconomicplan.AndI’mreallystartingtolikesomeofwhathe’ssaying.He’sstartingtosoundlikeaconservative.Inhispressconference,hetalkedabouthowhewouldstimulatetheeconomytothetuneof$800billionorsoandhowbudgetcutswouldhavetobemadetohelppayforit.SaidO,‘Wecan’tsustainasystemthatbleedsbillionsoftaxpayerdollarsonprogramsthathaveoutlivedtheirusefulnessorexistsolelybecauseofthepowerofpoliticians,lobbyistsorinterestgroups.’Nowthat’swhatI’mtalkingabout.That’swhatJohnMcCainkeptsayingduringthecampaign.Remember?Odidn’tsaywhatwouldbecutfromthebudget-histeamisworkingonthat.Butbudgetcutting?Greatidea.Iloveit.Mysincerehopeisthathereallymeansitandfollowsthrough.Someofmyliberalfriendshavethiswhole“howdareyou”attitudetowardmewhenIquestionanythingOdoes.Oneofthemevenchar-acterizedmyconcernsasbeing“pathological.”AnothersaidsinceOhasn’teventakenofficeyet,Ireallyjustneedtochillout.Well,maybe,buttheyneedtotellthattoawholecadreofliberalbloggersandObamaniacswhoarewailingandgnashingtheirteethoverwhatthey’reseeingsofarfromtheirguy.v

Leslie Stedman Weidenbener, Louisville Courier-Journal:HowcouldGov.MitchDanielsclaimthatIndianaisoneofjustahandfulofstatesstillintheblack,despitetheeconomicrecession,butthenaskthefederalgovernmentforaloantobailoutitsunemploymentinsurancetrustfund?Indeed,Danielsspentmuchofthe

campaign(andIspentmycolumnlastweek)toutinghowIndianahasmanageditsfinancessowellthatit’soneofthefewstatesinthecountrynotmakingbigspendingcutsorraisingtaxes.Butthatdoesn’tjibewithnewslastweekthatDanielsactedtoborrowupto$330millionfromthefederalgovernment-thefirsttimeithashadtotakesuchaloanin25years-soitcanmakeunemploymentpaymentstoHoosiersatleastthroughJanuary.Thesimpleansweristhattheunemploymenttrustfundisaseparateentityfromthestatebudget.Employerspaypremiumsintothefundsotheiremployeescandrawpaymentsfromitiftheyarelaidoff.TheproblemisthatseveralyearsagotheGeneralAssembly-whenthetrustfundhadbuiltupahugebalance

-decidedtolowerpremiumsforemployersandraisebenefitsforout-of-workHoosiers.Theresultisthatrevenueintothefundhasn’tkeptupwiththepaymentsoutofitsincethen.Thathasslowlydrainedthebalanceuntilthisyear,whenthestate’sunemploymentrateisrisingandthere’sjustnotenoughlefttopayalltheclaims.Ontheotherhand,thestate’smaincheckingaccountisbalanced.Thestateisex-pectedtoreceiveenoughtaxrevenuethisyeartopayallitsbillsforgovernmentoperations

-althoughbarely.AccordingtotheCenterforBudgetandPolicyPriorities,therearejusteightotherstatesthatcanmakethatclaim.Buttherealanswertotheaboveques-tionismorecomplicated.ThereasonthestatebudgetisbalancedisbecauseDanielsandlawmakershavemadesometoughdecisionsaboutspending.Unemploymentbenefitshaveexceededthepremiumspaidintothefundbyemployersforthepastsevenyears.It’spossiblethatuntilrecently,nooneexpectedthefundtogobrokethisyear.It’struethattheeconomicdownturnhascausedmanymorelayoffsandthereforepayoutsthanexpected.Butiftheproblemhadn’teruptedthisyear,itwouldhavehappenedeventually.v

Rick Richards, Michigan City News-Dispatch:Forsomeofus,thecracksinthehealthcaresystemcanseemlikeacanyon.Evenforthosewhohaveajobandarereasonablywellinformed,readingastatementfromahospitalorinsurancecompanyisliketryingtodeci-pherhieroglyphicsonKingTut’stomb.Multiplythatbythenumberofhealthcarecorporationsandinsuranceproviderswhohavetheirownformsandwaysofdoingthings,andyoucanseewhyit’ssoeasyforpeopletofallthroughthecracks.Itisdefinitelyasystemthatneedstobefixed.Afterall,ifthegovernmentcanforceeveryonetogooutandbuyanewtelevisionsettoreceiveadigitalsignalinFebruary,thenthereoughttobesomeonewhocancomeupwithauniversalhealthcareplanthat’ssimpletounderstandanddeliverscaretothepeoplewhoneedit.v


Bauer names Housecommittee chairs INDIANAPOLIS-IndianaHouseSpeakerB.Pat-rickBauer(D-SouthBend)todayannouncedthenamesofthoserepresentativeswhowillbeleadingHousecommit-teesduringthe116thIndianaGeneralAssembly. Committeechairsandvice-chairsare:

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Chair:StateRep.PhilPflum(D-Milton);Vice-Chair:StateRep.JoePearson(D-HartfordCity). COMMERCE, ENERGY, TECH-NOLOGY AND UTILITIES:Chair:StateRep.WinMoses(D-FortWayne);Vice-Chair:StateRep.MattPierce(D-Bloom-

ington). COURTS AND CRIMINAL CODE:Chair:StateRep.MattPierce(D-Bloomington);Vice-Chair:StateRep.NancyDembowski(D-Knox). EDUCATION: Chair:StateRep.GregPorter(D-Indianapolis);Vice-Chair:StateRep.DennieOxley(D-Tas-well). ELECTIONS AND APPORTIONMENT: Chair:StateRep.KregBattles(D-Vincennes);Vice-Chair:StateRep.DavidNiezgodski(D-SouthBend). ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS:Chair:StateRep.RyanDvorak(D-SouthBend);Vice-Chair:StateRep.DanStevenson(D-Highland). FAMILY, CHILDREN AND HUMAN AFFAIRS:Chair:StateRep.VanessaSummers(D-Indianapolis);Vice-Chair:StateRep.ShelliVanDenburgh(D-CrownPoint). FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Chair:StateRep.JebBardon(D-Indianapolis);Vice-Chair:StateRep.GailRiecken(D-Evansville). GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY REFORM:Chair:StateRep.JohnBartlett(D-Indianapolis);Vice-Chair:StateRep.DennisTyler(D-Muncie). INSURANCE: Chair:StateRep.CraigFry(D-Mish-awaka);Vice-Chair:StateRep.RonHerrell(D-Kokomo). JUDICIARY:Chair:StateRep.LindaLawson(D-Hammond);Vice-Chair:StateRep.CherrishPryor(D-India-napolis). LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT:Chair:StateRep.DavidNiezgodski(D-SouthBend);Vice-Chair:StateRep.ChuckMoseley(D-Portage). LOCAL GOVERNMENT:Chair:StateRep.VernonG.Smith(D-Gary);Vice-Chair:StateRep.NancyMichael(D-Greencastle). NATURAL RESOURCES:Chair:StateRep.BobBischoff(D-Lawrenceburg);Vice-Chair:StateRep.David

Cheatham(D-NorthVernon). PUBLIC HEALTH: Chair: StateRep.CharlieBrown(D-Gary);Vice-Chair:StateRep.PeggyWelch(D-Bloomington). PUBLIC POLICY:Chair:StateRep.TrentVanHaaften(D-MountVernon);Vice-Chair:StateRep.VanessaSummers(D-Indianapolis). ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION: Chair:StateRep.TerriAustin(D-Anderson);Vice-Chair:StateRep.SandyBlanton(D-Orleans). RULES AND LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES: Chair:StateRep.PhilGiaQuinta(D-FortWayne);Vice-Chair:StateRep.RussStilwell(D-Boonville). SMALL BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOP-MENT: Chair:StateRep.ScottReske(D-Pendleton);Vice-Chair:StateRep.MaryAnnSullivan(D-Indianapolis). VETERANS AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC SAFETY:Chair:StateRep.VernTincher(D-Riley);Vice-Chair:StateRep.JohnBarnes(D-Indianapolis). WAYS AND MEANS: Chair:StateRep.WilliamCrawford(D-Indianapolis);Vice-Chair:StateRep.ScottPelath(D-MichiganCity);Chair,BudgetSubcommittee:StateRep.DennisAvery(D-Evansville);Vice-Chair,BudgetSubcommittee:StateRep.PeggyWelch(D-Bloomington);Vice-Chair,FinanceandK-12:StateRep.TerryGoodin(D-Crothersville);Vice-Chair,HigherEducation:StateRep.SheilaKlinker(D-Lafayette);Vice-Chair,MedicaidandHealth:StateRep.SteveStemler(D-Jeffersonville). STATUTORY COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION:Chair:StateRep.EarlHarris(D-EastChicago);Vice-Chair:StateRep.ChetDobis(D-Merrillville). STATUTORY COMMITTEE ON ETHICS: Chair:StateRep.ClydeKersey(D-TerreHaute);Vice-Chair:StateRep.EarlHarris(D-EastChicago).v

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UAW signals changein contracts DETROIT-UnitedAutoWork-ersPresidentRonGettelfingersaidto-daythattheunioniswillingtochangeitscontractandwilldelaybillionsofdollarsinpaymentstoaunion-runhealthcaretrustinanefforttohelpthestrugglingDetroitThreeautomak-ers(AssociatedPress).Gettelfingeralsosaidtheunionwillmodifythejobsbank,inwhichlaid-offworkersarepaidupto95%oftheirsalarieswhilenotworking,buthedidnotgivespecifics.“We’regoingtositdownandworkoutthemechanics,”Gettelfingersaidatanewsconferenceaftermeet-ingwithlocalunionofficials.“We’realittleunclearonsomeoftheissues.”

Fort Wayne rallyfor Big 3 FORTWAYNE-Morethan170autoworkers,retirees,suppliers,dealersandothersbravedacoldwindWednesdaytoshowtheirsupportforGeneralMotorsCorp.andthetwoothermajorAmericanautomakersastheyseekemergencyfinancingfromCongress(FortWayneJournalGa-zette).Foranhour,theymarchedinacircleinfrontoftheFederalBuildinginFortWayne,whereU.S.Sen.EvanBayhandU.S.Rep.MarkSouderhaveoffices.Astheymarched,therewasgeneralagreementontwothings:IfGMisforcedtofileforbankruptcy,itwilldevastatethelocaleconomy,andmoreconcessionsbytheUnitedAutoWorkersunionareinevitable.“Ithinkeveryonewillbetakingconcessions,”HolliMurphysaidassheshiveredonthecourthousesteps.

HD26 recountdecision on Saturday LAFAYETTETherecountofvotesintheIndianaHouseDistrict26racewillstretchintoitsfourthdaytoday(LafayetteJournal&Courier).RecountdirectorBradSkolniksaida

lotofprogresswasmadeWednesday,butit’stakingmoretimethanexpect-edtoconvertthevotecenterresultsintoprecincttallies.Theprocessisexpectedtoconcludetoday,andtheIndianaRecountCommissionplanstomeetSaturdaytogiveafinalrulingonthecontest.DozensofpeoplehaveworkedattheTippecanoeCountyOfficeBuildingthepastthreedaysreviewingthemachineandpapertrailsfromtheNov.4election,whenRepub-licanRandyTruittdefeatedDemocratJohnPollesby26votes.

Hoosier soldiersfile suit over chemicals EVANSVILLE-Morethanfiveyearsaftertheir2003deploymenttotheIraqwar,16IndianaNationalGuardsmenhavefiledafederallawsuitagainstadefensecontrac-tor,allegingthatthecompanyknewthesoldierswerebeingexposedtoacancer-causingindustrialchemicalinIraqbutconcealedtherisk(Evans-villeCourier&Press).Thesuitallegesthe16soldiers,allofwhomservedinaTellCity,Ind.,unit,nowfaceagreatlyincreasedriskofrespiratorycancers,andthatsomehavedevel-opedtumors.ThelawsuitwasfiledWednesdayinU.S.DistrictCourtinIndianapolisandwillbeheardattheEvansvillefederalcourthouse.NamedasthedefendantwasHouston-basedKBRInc.,formerlyknownasKellogg,Brown&Root,aglobalengineeringcontractor.The16plaintiffsallweremembersofanIndianaNationalGuardunitthatservedinBasra,Iraq,in2003andguardedtheQarmatAliplant,whichinjectedwaterintooilwellsforoilproduction.Ayellowishdustwasstrewnabouttheplantequipmentandgrounds,butKBRofficialstoldthesoldiersguardingtheplantitwasonlyamildirritant,thesuitalleges.Whensomesoldiersdevelopedseverenosebleedsandskinirritation,KBRof-ficialstoldthemitwasbecauseofthe“drydesertair”andthattheymustbe“allergictosand,”thesuitalleges.

CNN poll shows 61%oppose Big 3 loan ATLANTA-TheCNN/OpinionResearchCorp.surveyfoundthat61percentareagainsttheloans,while36percentsup-portthem.Thepollalsofound53percentwhosaidtheydon’tbelievethataidingtheauto-makerswouldhelpthebroadereconomy.

Big 3 making caseon Capitol Hill WASHINGTON-automak-ersarereturningtoCongressforhigh-stakeshearingstheyhopewillpersuadeskepticallawmakerstosavetheirtroubledindustrywith$34billioninemergencyaid,butatopSenateDemocratwantstohandtheirproblemtotheFederalReserve(AssociatedPress).TwoweeksafterabotchedattemptonCapitolHill,repentantleadersofGeneralMotorsCorp.,FordMotorCo.andChryslerLLCwereappealingtotheSenateBank-ingCommitteeonThursdaywiththreeseparatesurvivalplansthatincludemassiverestructuring,theditchingofcorporatejetsandvowsbyCEOstoworkfor$1ayear.ButtheycouldexpectachillyreceptiononCapitolHill.EvenatopDemocratinchargeofevaluatingtheiraidrequestsmadeitclearhewaseagertoavoidvotingonabailout.Sen.ChrisDodd,D-Conn.,chairmanoftheSenateBankingCommittee,wrotetoFederalReserveChairmanBenBernankeonWednes-dayaskingthecentralbankchiefwhethertherewasanythingstoppinghimfromusinghisconsiderablelend-ingauthoritytohelptheautomakers.


New urgency on WMD front · ilton. As a congressman, Roemer also led efforts to reform U.S....

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