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Government
INVESTING: Investors shrugging off home-mortgage turmoil
December 3, 2007
Ken SkarbeckNov. 20 was one of the stranger days in the stock market that I have seen for some time. On the surface, it came and went
like any other business day, with the Dow Jones industrial average ending up a decent 50 points. However, if you had told
me the stock prices of both the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. and the Federal National Mortgage Association would collapse
25 percent that day even as the Dow rose, I would have...
MoreECONOMIC ANALYSIS: Why eliminating property taxes is a bad idea
December 3, 2007
Mike HicksJudging from the many yard signs I've seen, a repeal of property taxes is a popular sentiment in the state. Too bad, because
that would be an uncommon departure from Hoosier practicality and wisdom. Like most states, Indiana taxes income, consumption
and wealth. We use these taxes to fund different levels of government. Critics of Indiana's property taxes are right to be
flummoxed. I've even argued that many of the consequences of Indiana's property taxes are worse than most critics...
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: Privatization of lottery is a winning ticket
December 3, 2007
Morton MarcusIt happened on the day that does not exist. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is not a good news day. This year, we
got an extra serving of admonitions about obesity from the Centers for Disease Control. Beyond that, we heard the usual stories
of indignation and indigestion, miracle recoveries from swallowed wishbones, and promising/disappointing retail sales. Also
on that day, Gov. Mitch Daniels deferred for another year his proposal to "privatize" the Hoosier Lottery. Last year, the
state...
MorePROFILE: Silverback Consulting Group: Consultant helps clients navigate tech jungle Silverback looks to diversify health care,
bank business
December 3, 2007
Ed CallahanSilverback Consulting Group Consultant helps clients navigate tech jungle Silverback looks to diversify health care, bank
business In the jungle that is today's business world, businesses can't survive without information systems. And if they need
help finding their way through all the technological underbrush, a local consulting firm wants to be the 500-pound gorilla
that clears a path for them. Silverback Consulting Group was founded in 1997 to help businesses upgrade their internal computer
and phone systems. Its consultants plan...
MoreHigh-speed rail still on slow track in state: Economic study, innovative financing explored
November 26, 2007
Chris O\'malleyThe effort to put high-speed trains into service in Indiana and eight other Midwestern states sometimes seems as fanciful
as the first manned flight to Mars. There have been years of talk and countless meetings. And it will be many more years before
a vehicle is fueled-and-ready, if ever. In the 13 years since the Indiana High Speed Rail Association was formed in Highland,
the closest thing to high-speed rail Hoosiers have seen is an occasional speedy European locomotive brought...
MoreVets serve country, customers: Franchises offer breaks to would-be entrepreneurs leaving the military
November 26, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonOn Veterans Day this year, retired U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Robert Flores didn't attend parades or reminisce with friends.
Instead, he worked from open to close at his Little Caesars Pizza store at 11530 Westfield Blvd. "I've been here every day
since we opened," Flores said, who debuted the Carmel shop Oct. 31 after receiving assistance from a Little Caesars program
created to help veterans become franchise owners. As part of the program, Flores, 45, received a discount of...
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: An open letter to new mayors
November 26, 2007
Morton MarcusIt's strange, but we don't know who will be the mayors of our Indiana cities for the next four years. Ah, yes, you and I read
results in the newspapers and saw jubilant winners on TV congratulated by humbled losers. But how do we know for sure until
the state tells us? I didn't find the latest results on the secretary of state's Web site. It does have the May 7 primary
election results, which provide fascinating information for those...
MoreSTATEHOUSE DISPATCH: Politicos set framework for debate over property taxes
November 26, 2007
Ed FeigenbaumLawmakers returned from their respective districts across the state for Organization Day activities Nov. 20, with many already
weary of having their ears bent by constituents frustrated over property taxes. Instead of finding some respite in Indianapolis,
they were greeted at the Statehouse by protests from both citizen activists and organized interest groups-such as the Indiana
Farm Bureau-seeking substantive property tax reform and not simply another round of short-term property tax relief. The Libertarian
Party of Indiana even bought Indianapolis...
MoreNOTIONS: Surefire CPR for the high cost of government
November 26, 2007
Bruce HetrickLast Saturday, my wife Cherà and awoke to a beautiful fall day. Having no o b l i g a t i o n s , w decided to take spontaneous
trip to Orange County, to see the restored West Baden Springs Hotel Despite the rash of stoplights on State Road 37 and a
flurry of pre-game traffic for the Old Oaken Bucket clash, the drive was a breeze. Cherà had never been to West Baden Springs.
So the beautifully...
MoreWhat's new is old for Brooks: Former U.S. attorney finding familiar ground in Ivy Tech positions
November 19, 2007
Tracy DonhardtSusan Brooks seems to have returned to her roots in her new role with Ivy Tech Community College. The former U.S. attorney
for the Southern District of Indiana began Oct. 1 leading the post-secondary educational institution's work force and economic
development functions, as well as becoming its general counsel. Brooks spent her growing-up years in Fort Wayne watching her
father, a high school teacher and football coach, push his students and players on the football field and in the classroom....
MoreLeader program builds following: Center for Leadership Excellence set to welcome third class of execs
November 19, 2007
Scott OlsonTen times a year, for 24 hours, a select group of executives leaves the comforts of career to embark on an experience meant
to mold the participants into better leaders. They gather on Thursday evenings for dinner, bunk overnight at a hotel, and
spend the following day listening to the likes of Dennis Perkins, author of "Leading at the Edge: Leadership Lessons from
the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition." Or, they may travel to Saint Meinrad in southern Indiana...
MoreINVESTING: Long slide of U.S. dollar has many repercussions
November 19, 2007
Ken SkarbeckFew economic topics get more complicated than those about the U.S. dollar. The interrelated causes, effects and ramifications
of changes in the value of the U.S dollar can make anyone's head swim. Because the dollar has been the "reserve currency"
for the world-the currency held in store by foreign central banks and used to settle economic trade in things like oil-the
prolonged slide in the dollar's value is of concern to many around the world. For example, the greenback has...
MoreBallard book favors positive, forceful leadership style
November 19, 2007
Peter SchnitzlerStudents complained about Greg Ballard when he taught college business courses. The man they called "the Colonel" had strict
rules and high expectations. Frustrated, undergraduates sometimes tried to go over his head. His boss, Indiana Business College
administrator Marc Konesco, encountered them in his office. But students never got far. Konesco refused to overrule the Colonel's
decisions. "I always said, 'That's his classroom,'" recalled Konesco, the college's vice president of marketing and enrollment.
"His style was one where the students...
MoreHancock developer's plan matures: Copper Leaf would be region's largest, most comprehensive senior housing
November 19, 2007
Chris O\'malleyWhat started as Jim Brothers' search for an assisted-living facility for his mother could end up as the region's most comprehensive
retirement "resort." The president of The Bradford Group, an Indianapolis residential developer, has been working several
months to get the zoning he needs for Copper Leaf. The 177-acre community on the east side of McCordsville would be home to
400 to 600 residents and sport a nine-hole public golf course. About 30 acres would be set aside for restaurants,...
MoreSTATEHOUSE DISPATCH: Tax reform to take center stage on Organization Day
November 19, 2007
Ed FeigenbaumIn this column 10 years ago, we told you that, typically, our "short" electionyear legislative sessions are swift and relatively
sweet. With the biennial budget the priority of the long, odd-year sessions, significant fiscal matters are usually untouched
in the short, even-year session. Major issues that threaten to divide often are left undebated as the two major political
parties avoid issues making them look bad in the eyes of voters. Only a decade ago, lawmakers prepared to enter just such...
MoreFUNNY BUSINESS: Pushing my luck with two good trips to the BMV
November 19, 2007
Mike RedmondLike a lot of people-which is to say, most Indiana residents-I have long greeted going to the license bureau with the enthusiasm
customarily reserved for dental surgery. The difference, of course, is that you get drugs for your root canal, but not even
a double helping of nitrous oxide could make a fun afternoon out of getting new license plates. Well, hold on to your hats.
I had to go to the license bureau twice last month, once for a...
MoreHealth care top choice in career poll: Student interest in technology jobs holds steady, state survey finds
November 19, 2007
Scott OlsonRecent results from an annual survey show health services remains the most popular career choice among Indiana high-school
juniors planning to go to college. The questionnaire was administered by Learn More Indiana, an effort to promote college
and career planning supported by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, as well as a few other state agencies. Learn
More Indiana has existed for about 20 years, but had been known as the Indiana College Admissions and Placement Center before
the arrival...
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: Resurrecting important tax reforms
November 19, 2007
Morton MarcusWith new mayors and council members in many of our cities, it's time to drag out some previous suggestions for fiscal reform.
First, it's time to reconsider propertytax abatement. But we can't understand property taxes and their abatement if we don't
understand assessment practices. And, it is not clear what is happening these days with property assessment. For example,
does a property's assessed value change automatically when it is sold, or does it change only in line with the trend...
MoreEDITORIAL: Stunning victory a call to change: But Ballard shouldn't forget past
November 12, 2007
Stunning victory a call to change But Ballard shouldn't forget past The shock has faded and reality is starting to set in.
Indianapolis really will have a new mayor in 2008. Republican Greg Ballard's victory over two-time incumbent Mayor Bart Peterson
was more than an election stunner of historic proportions-it was a rare case of voters turning over a city to someone they
knew little about. Ballard, under-funded and under-supported by his own party, pulled off his epic upset for...
MoreCommentary: A bibliophile's view of Indianapolis
November 12, 2007
Brian WilliamsA public library preserves the record of humanity's intellectual, scientific and artistic achievements, as well as its failures.
Those records and the people who facilitate the community's access to them support democracy, encourage economic development,
sustain lifelong learning, and foster an information- and technology-literate community. A community's investment in its public
library system symbolizes the importance of the civic role of public libraries in ensuring an informed society. In our community,
the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation raised more than...
MoreCity looks to business for efficiency advice: Using Six Sigma, Fort Wayne saved $30 million
November 12, 2007
Peter SchnitzlerSeeking to increase its efficiency, Marion County government is enlisting a group of volunteer business experts. Their recommendations
could lead to lower taxes and better service-just the sort of initiative incoming Mayor Greg Ballard says he wants to embrace.
The new High Performance Government Team was approved last month by the City-County Council. Created on the recommendation
of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, it is modeled on a similar effort in Fort Wayne, where Mayor Graham Richard,
a Democrat,...
MoreTHERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW: It's standing-room only at the seat of justice
November 12, 2007
Ron GiffordBased on a couple of recent Indiana cases, it seems someone has parked a "No standing" zone around the Seventh Circuit Court
of Appeals. The first case involved Indiana Right to Life and its judicial candidate questionnaires. The group claimed two
provisions of the Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct violated the First Amendment by preventing judicial candidates from answering
questions about topics such as abortion and other social issues. Although a federal district court judge agreed with the group's
arguments,...
MoreNOTIONS: Profiles in courage and political consequences
November 12, 2007
Bruce HetrickAfter Tuesday night's vote tallies, after the candidates' acceptance and concession speeches, after Wednesday's Indianapolis
Star trumpeted Greg Ballard's upset of Mayor Bart Peterson in 120-point type, I pulled from my bookshelf my copy of John F.
Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage." There were two courageous acts on the Indianapolis mayoral stage this year. First, there
was courage by Ballard. When all the prominent Republican politicians chose not to challenge Democrat Peterson; when most
of the usualsuspect Republican donors gave to...
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: Children are central issue for '08
November 12, 2007
Morton MarcusThe election campaign of 2008 can transform our state if the candidates focus their attention on children. We can develop
a healthy economy and become a model of civility if we focus systematically on our children. Many people are convinced government
spends too much. What they mean is that government spends for services that don't benefit them or services they wish they
did not need. Who wants to spend money on juvenile corrections or adult reading programs for prisoners? Who...
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: Many are fans of 'the man's' plan
November 5, 2007
Morton MarcusThis is why I like Mitch Daniels. Speaking about his property-tax program, he said, "When Indiana acts this time, and act
we must, our steps must be fair, far-reaching and final," Look at that alliteration ... "fair, far-reaching and final." Who
else in public life gives us sentences like that? Look at his idealism: "fair, far-reaching and final." Our state is known
for its persistent lack of fairness, its shortsighted special-interest legislation, and its neverending tinkering. Mitch thinks
he can...
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Many serial killer types and psychopaths work as lowly bureaucrats, just waiting to impose their wrath on a powerless person, child, or pet. Don't forget, the BTK killer was a dog catcher.
If a television station wants to improve viewership, get rid of the local blackout. I was born by the brickyard, and have attended 15 or more races. I have children now, I won't attend unless circumstances are perfect. As those with growing families know, they never are. I'm always impressed that upwards of 250,000 people attend the 500. However, as a growing, or, more apt, sprawling city, Indianapolis and its immediate suburbs count almost 2.2 million. Show the race live, let the venue get a kick-back on revenues, and open-wheel racing might have a fighting chance to be relevant again. Just in time for those tax-payer lights to make sense.
John Moore, I too have had the same issue recently. A property next to my house was on the Land Bank and I was interested in purchasing. When I tried to contact Reggie, I got back emails that had nothing to do with what I asked about. Actually my latest response from him was on this past Friday. I had asked about how to buy the property and if it was still available. His response to me was to contact the mayor's office to get the schedule of his appearances. (???) Hopefully the city is able to do something to fix what this guy has done, it would be nice if they would take the properties back and sell them properly so land owners like me and you mother would have a fair chance.
I too work in the industry, with over 25 years of experience and your political spin has probably nothing to do with any rebranding. "Let's dress it up" would have nothing to do with the government "telling us how and what to eat." Give it a political rest. And being a producer for a radio show doesn't mean you've been involved in advertising and branding for 30 years.
Ms. Morris did not understand the ways of the business world, otherwise, like the IMS, she could have petitioned the State Legislature for a handout of State Funds for her charity work. Ms. Morris should consider becoming a state lobbyist for Lemonade Stand Operators.