Thursday, March 12, 2020V25, N25

speaker for an unprecedented decade. Hisfirststintasspeakerlastedameretwoyears,

“I think there’s a good chance this will prove manageable, that it won’t be a cataclysmic global event. We can’t be sure of that yet. It may not quite be of the Y2K variety, but it may not be 1918, either.” - Purdue President Mitch Daniels, to HPI on the coronavirus

How Bosma created his power baseIn his farewell, he urgedcolleagues to think a decade in advance, whichis what he did in 2010By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Speaking in thewelloftheIndianaHousejustafterhehadpassedthegaveltoSpeakerToddHuston,BrianBosmareflectedononeofthekeyelementsofhisrecordtenure.“Wehavetohavealong-termvisionhere,”Bosmasaidattheendofahistoric12yearsasspeaker,includingthelast10.“Weeachneedtothinkadecadeaway.” Hewasspeakingfromexperi-ence.WhileRepublicanshaveheldtheIndianaSenateforallbuttwoyears(1974-76)inthepasthalfcentury,theIndianaHousehadswungbackandforthbetweenRepublicansandDemocratsregularly(alongwithtwo50/50splits),until2010.BosmawasinstrumentalinthecreationofthesupermajorityHouse,andhehelditas

Trumpian whiplashBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS—ThishasbecomethewhiplasheraofAmericanpolitics. Thepunditryclasswaschastenedin2016.HoweyPoliticsIndianaputouta“bluetsunamiwarning”thatJune,onlytoseeitswingwildlytheotherwayresultinginDonaldTrump’sstunningupsetofHillaryClinton.But

PoliticalScience101teachesusthatnotwoelectioncyclesarethesame,particularlyinconsecutivefashion. Nowthinkaboutwherethe2020presidentialracewasamonthago:PresidentTrumpwasacquittedintheSenateimpeach-menttrialandhisapprovalap-proachedthe50%markthathadeludedhimformostofhisfirst

Continued on page 3

House Minority Leader Brian Bosma on Election Night 2010, when the GOP recaptured the Indiana House, igniting the reforms of Gov. Mitch Daniels.

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term.Hisreelectionchancesweregreatlyenhanced.PeteButtigiegwontheIowadelegatebattle,andcamewithinawhiskerofupsettingBernieSandersinNewHampshire.ButBer-nie’swinthereignitedthenotionthatTrump’sriskofimpeachmenttoslimeJoeBidenhadhandsomelypaidoff,settinguphisdreamNovembershow-downwithanavowedSocialist.WithJoeBiden’sapparentdemise,Trumpv.Sandersappearedtobeafaitaccom-pli. Sincethen,we’vewatchedthecoronavirusswarmacrosstheglobeandintotheAmericanpsyche.PresidentTrump’sresponsehasbeenabysmal,crystalizedinhisvisitlatelastweektotheCenterforDiseaseControlwhereheasked,“Whowouldhavethought?Whowouldhavethoughtwewouldevenbehavingthesubject?” AskIndianaHealthCom-missionerKristinaBoxorGov.EricHolcombiftheyhadeverponderedamicrobe-inducedpandemichere. The day beforehisCDCtriptoAtlanta,PresidentTrumpsaidofthepandemic,“It’sgoingtodisap-pear.Onedayit’slikeamiracle,itwilldisappear.We’llseewhathappens.Nobodyreallyknows.” ByMonday,TomBossert,whohandledthepandemicportfoliofortheNationalSecurityCouncilbeforePresi-dentTrumpfiredanddidn’treplace

him,describeda“tipoftheiceberg”scenarioinaWashingtonPostop-ed:“Themostusefulcomparisonnowistoafirethatthreatenstoburnoutofcontrol.Itisonewecanstillcontain,evenextinguish–ifweact.Schoolclosures,isolationofthesick,homequarantinesofthosewhohavecomeintocontactwiththesick,socialdis-tancing,teleworkandlarge-gatheringcancellationsmustbeimplementedbeforethespreadofthediseaseinanycommunityreaches1%.Afterthat,sciencetellsus,theseinterven-tionsbecomefarlesseffective.Ifwefailtotakeaction,wewillwatchourhealth-caresystembeoverwhelmed.” Faced with aTrumpv.Sandersshoutingmatch,votersre-sponded.AfterRep.JamesClyburn’sclarionendorsementandthepresi-dentialfieldmoderatesofButtigieg,KlobucharandBloombergcoalescingaroundJoeBiden,anunprecedentedturnofeventsoccurred.ThoughBiden’s“NoMalarkey”campaignwasrunningonfinancialfumes,withvirtuallynofieldofficesandatinyadvertisingbudget,heranthetableuptoColoradoandCalifornia,whereathirdofthevotepre-datedthepandemicandveeprevival.HesweptswingstatesVirginiaandNorthCarolina,theDeepSouth,Texas,Minnesota,MassachusettsandnowMissouriandMichigan.Atthiswrit-ingitwasBidenwhopossessedthe

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President Trump at the Centers for Disease Control last Friday, where he wondered how anyone could have anticipated a pandemic.

insurmountabledelegatelead. AndtelltalesareemergingthatBidenv.Trumpwon’tbethenail-biterthatconventionalwisdomen-visioned.IfBidencanavoidahealthemergency,keephismalapropismstoacuteminimum,andchoosearunningmatethatenhanceshiselect-ability,Trumpcontinueshisunempa-theticapproachtothepandemic,theNovembershowdownmaynotevenbeclose. In Tuesday’s Missouri pri-mary,whitemenwithcollegedegreesswung55%awayfromSanders.AccordingtoCNNexitpolls,SandersdefeatedHillaryClinton64%-36%in2016.OnTuesday,Bidenwonthatdemographic60%to33%.AsthePoliticalWire’sTaeganGoddardobserved,“That’sprettysolidevi-dencethatasignificantamountofBernieSanders’supportfouryearsagowasmoreanti-Hillarythanpro-Bernie.” AsI’vebeenstatingsince2016,SandersandTrumparefueledbythesamesetofgrievances.AndasI’vestatedatthebeginningofthe2020cycle,Trumpwon’thaveHillaryClintontokickaroundanymore. TimAlbertareportedforPolitico:“Twothingshap-penedonTuesdayinMichigan.First,Democraticturnoutexploded.Second,Bidenperformedfarbetterwithkeyde-mographicgroupsthanClintondidfouryearsago.IfeitheroneofthosethingshappensinNovember,Trumpwillhaveadifficulttimewinningthestateagain.Ifboththingshap-pen,thepresidentcankissMichigan’s16electoralvotesgoodbye–andwiththem,morethanlikely,theelectoralvotesofWisconsinandPennsylvania.” “Thebigtakeawayfromtheday’sbigprize,Michi-gan,isn’tthatBidenisaspectacularcandidate,”Albertaexplained.“Thebigtakeawayisthathedoesn’tneedto

be.” Anothercaseinpoint:Sand-ersupsetHillaryinMichiganin2016;Tuesday,hedidn’tcarryasinglecountyagainstBiden.TurnoutintheTexasDemocraticprimarywasdescribedas“staggeringlyhigh”withlonglinesatpolls. Anecdotally,IandpeopleIknowhavebeenapproachedby2016Trumpvoters.Theconversationoftengoeslikethis:“IvotedforDonaldTrumpbecauseIjustcouldn’tvoteforHillaryClinton.Annnnnd I thought that voting for TrumpwouldbegoodfordrainingtheWashingtonswamp.NowI’mhaving

buyer’sremorse.Whatdoyouthink?” Sadly,wenowfaceanengulfingpandemic.TheTrumpadministration’sdecisionnottoaccepttheWorldHealthOrganization’scoronavirustesthasmystifiedandinfuriatedAmericangovernors.TestsremainelusivehereinIndiana.Universities,schools,basketballtournaments,theNBAschedulesuspension,andpoliticalralliesarebeingcancelled.ThebearshavemovedintoWallStreet,stok-ingrecessionanxietyafteran11-yearbullrunandwerenotreassuredbyPresidentTrump’sprimetimespeechlastnightthatfocusedonkeepingtheforeigncontagionout,asopposedtowidespreadtestingwithin. Fear, once Trump’s tool of choice, isnowinducedwithinthepopulationinawaypoliooncedidmorethanahalfcenturyago. WhathasbecomepainfullyevidentisthatPresi-dentTrumpiswoefullyunpreparedforhisfirstnon-self-inflictedcrisis.Thisisnottosaythatincredibleeventsandfatewon’twhip-lashthebodypoliticonceagainbeforethiscyclerunsitscourse.Butwefindourselvesinavastlydifferentplacethanwewereamonthago.v

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Joe Biden campaigning in Michigan this past week. He carried all 88 counties in a state Bernie Sanders carried against Hillary Clinton

Bosma, from page 1

from2004throughthe2006election,thatservedasareferendumonnotonlytheIraqWarnationally,butonthepassageofDaylightSavingTimeandGov.MitchDaniels’tollroadleaseviahisMajorMovesprogram.In2004,Bosmahelpedcreatethe52-48GOPmajoritythatallowedBosmatoreplaceDemocraticSpeakerB.PatrickBauer,withthedefeatofDemocratsMarktLytle,AlanChowning,JohnFrenzandRonHerrellwhileusingtheKarlRove-inspiredanti-gay-marriageissue. IftherewasapoliticalfailinginGov.Daniels’ten-ure,itwashisinabilitytopullaRepublicanHousemajoritywithhis58%landslidereelectionvictoryoverDemocratJillLongThompsonin2008.ThatwastheyearBarackObamabecamethefirstDemocrattocarryIndiana’s11ElectoralCollegevotessince1964andDemocratswereabletopickoffReps.AndyThomasandJonElrodinadowntown

Indianapolisdistrict Thatsetthestageforwhatbecamethetransfor-mative2010election,whenanucleusofSusanEllsper-mann,MikeKarickhoff,KevinMahan,CindyKirchhofer,MattUbelhor,JimBairdandRebeccaKubackihelpedforgea60-40majority. WhileSenatePresidentsProTemRobertGartonandthenDavidLonghadrulingtenuresmeasuredindecades(Gartonfrom1980to2006;Longfrom2006to2018),Daniels,deputychiefofstaffEricHolcombandBosmacreatedwhatwouldeventuallybecomethesupermajorityHousein2010.Itwassolidifiedbythe2012(in-cludingthearrivalofToddHuston)and2014electionsthatcrossedthesupermajoritythreshold. Actually,Bosmabeganlayingthepoliticalground-workforasystemicapproachafterhebecameHouseminorityleaderbackin2001.“Startingin2002,therewasn’tacyclewherehedidn’thaveanagenda,”explained

MikeGentry,whoheadstheHouseRepublicanCampaignCommitteeandtheMarkItRedconsultinggroup.“Healwayshadanagendathathewouldtakeintothecycleandthenthatwouldbecomethecaucuspolicyagenda.” BosmatraveledtoFlorida,PennsylvaniaandIowawherehepickedthebrainsofRepublicanspeak-ers.Hethentraveledextensivelyacrossthestate,recruitingcandidates,oftenintheirlivingroomsandkitch-ens.Hewouldenlistthehelpofotherlocalelectedofficials,andafterGov.Danielstookoffice,hadhelpfromabove.OnarecenttriptoLakeCounty,Bosmanotedthathehadbeenthereover90times. “Weusedallthatbenchmark-inginformationtocreateasystem,”saidGentry.“Wefocused–withlimitedresourceswiththeDemocrat-drawnmaps–onwherewecouldwin.Wewouldsay,‘Theseareseatswethoughtwecouldwin’,andthenmusteredresources.ItwasbecauseofBriansettingoutearlyontoputtogetherasystem,thenhavinganagendathatpushedIndianaforward.” “Hewasfocused,”Gentrysaid. BosmaworkedevenhardertodevelopthisenduringHouseGOPmajority.Gov.MitchDanielsformedtheAimingHigherPACthatpumpedmorethan$1millionintoHouseracesduringthe2010cycle.Daniels,Bosma,HolcombandtheHoosiersforEco-nomicGrowthPACbeganrecruitingtheclassof2010(whichalsoincludedtheunsuccessfulcampaignsofcur-rentRepublicanChairmanKyleHupfer,andformerDLGFCommissionerCherylMusgrave)in2009. While2010wasthetransformativeyear,itwas2006thatmayhavebeenBosma’smostinfluentialyear.HoosierRepublicanU.S.Reps.ChrisChocola,JohnHostet-tlerandMikeSodrelalllostinthatDemocraticwavethatdevelopednationallyduetotheIraqWar.“Wecouldhavelostacorresponding30Houseseats,”Gentrysaid.In-stead,HouseRepublicanslostoneseatheldbyRep.TroyWoodruff.Notfallingintoadeepholethensetthestagefor2010whenRepublicansretooktheHouseandthedriver’sseatwhenitcametodrawingupthe2011maps.TheRepublicanshaven’tbeenintheminoritysince,withthesemapsthefirstinmoderntimeswhentheIndianaHousehasn’tshiftedcontroltotheDemocrats. PurduePresidentMitchDanielstoldHPIon

WednesdaythattheAimingHigherPACwasactuallyformedtofundthe2004transitionteam.“In2006itwasrevivedasaPACanditraisedsomemoney,”Danielsexplained.“ThatyearthemoneywasgiventoBosma’scommittee,theHouseRepublicanCampaignCommittee.Wesupportedthem,buttheyidentifiedthecandidates.Andthenitsatbecausein2007and2008wewerecampaigningforourselves. “Itwasbroughtbackforthe2010cycle,”Danielscontin-ued.“Thedifferencetherewaswerecruitedthecandidatesourselvesandwechosewhichonestosup-port.Wecoordinated,wetalkedtoBrian’sgroupallthetime,butwedidn’tjustgivethemthemoney.We operated as an independent identity.Wewerelookingforre-form-mindedpeoplewhonotonlywouldwinelections,butwouldhelpusmakereformswehadnotyetmade.Inthatcycle,wesup-portedsomepeopletheythoughtcouldn’twin.Weendedupwinning60seats.Eventheydidn’timaginethat.Wesupportedsomeweretoolongofshotstoback.WebetonsomereallongshotslikeWendyMcNamaradowninthesouthwestcorner,andSueEllspermann.Ourcritieriawerealittledifferent.Wewerelookingforallieswhowouldstandupforchangesandreformswewantedtoadvocate,notjustgetelected.” Danielsadded,“Wewerecertainlygladtoseethatmajority.Wewantedtofinishstrong.There

werethingswewantedtodo.Youheardmesaylameduckscanstillfly.Wewantedtobeasactiveaswecouldberighttotheend.Wewereabletodeliversomeofourbiggestchangesinyearsevenandyeareightwhenyou’resupposedtobeoutofgas.” EricHolcomb,thenDaniels’sdeputychiefofstaff,toldHPIaftertheresultshadcomein,“The2010electionsputonstage,frontandcenterstage,justhowdifferentthetwomajorpoliticalpartiesaretoday.TheDemocratschoseatwo-frontstrategy:One,demonizejobcreatorsbyattackinglocalemployers,andtwo,smeartheiroppo-nents.Evenwhenthegoinggottough,Republicansstayeddisciplinedandstayedonmessagetalkinginsteadaboutjobs,spending,andtaxes.”

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Holcombadded,“TheIndianaRepublicanPartyhasbecomethe‘PartyofPurpose’whiletheDemocrats,bothnationalandstateparties,havedriftedawayfromtheirfoundingprinciples.ThiswillbethesinglebiggestreasonReaganDemocratsdefectindroves.” “Thiswasnotaboutwinninganelection,”BosmasaidonElectionNightinNovember2010.“That’stheeasypart.Now,wearepreparedtomakethetoughdecisionstobringIndianaintothe21stCenturyalltheway,tobal-ancethebudgetwithoutataxincrease,toprioritizetheitemsthatwe’regoingtohavetodealwithineducationandjobcreation. “SomanydifferentareasneedourattentionasRepublicanstobeinnovative,reform-mindedandconser-vative,andthat’swhatthisteampledgestodoandwe’regoingtodoitwithyou,”Bosmacontinued. AfterthemiddlefouryearsofGov.Dan-iels’tenurewithSpeakerBauerintheway,Bosma’selevationignitedthe2011educationreforms.WithHustonasSupt.TonyBen-nett’schiefofstaffandBosmasponsoringlegisla-tionthatexpandedcharterschools,allowedstudentstoenrollinanydistrict,andcreatedthenation’sfirstvoucherprogram,thepent-upRepublicanagendabarreledforth. ItalsocreatedSEA1,theteacherevaluationbillthatDanielsandlegislativeleadersdescribedas“land-mark”andeven“revolutionary.” “Thegovernormadethecommentthatthisisnoordinarymoment,thisisnoordinaryGeneralAssembly,”BennettsaidasDaniels,BosmaandSenatePresidentDavidLonglookedon.“ThisGeneralAssemblyandthisgovernorhaveopenedthedoortohonorIndiana’strulyinspiredandinspiringteachersinnowaylikewe’veeverdonebefore.Thisparticularmeasurehasthemostdi-rectimpactonstudentperformanceinourschools,hasthemostdirectimpactoneconomicdevelopmentforourstate’sfutureandithasthemostdirectimpactonmak-ingsurethatwehaveahumancapitalsystemthatcarriesforwardalegacyofgreatinstructionforthisstate.” Bosma’s final speech BosmadispensedotheradviceduringhisfinalspeechonMondayafterhandingthegaveltoHuston.“Thisisanunbelievablywonderfulinstitution,”Bosmasaid.“Itisliterallythecrucibleofdemocracyinthisstateandyoumustworkhardtoprotectit.” HenotedaweekendWallStreetJournalstory:“Headline,Illinoisracestowarddefault.IwentthroughthedetailsofwhatIllinoishasattemptedtodoandwehaveadoptedtheexactoppositepath:Fullyfundingpensions,

notraisingexpendituresasrevenuesplummet,notmakingpromisestofuturepensionersthatcannotbekeptwithoutfuturetaxincreases,andthelikelihoodofanIllinoisbank-ruptcy.Idon’twishthatonthem.Iwishwehad50healthystates,butwedon’t.Thisisahealthystatebecauseoftheinstitutionofthelegislature.UnderRepublicanleadershipandDemocrats,it’sbeenthekey.” BosmawasextremelyprotectiveofnurturinghisHousemajority.WhenGov.MikePencesoughtanincometaxcutin2013ascheckingoffaboxonafuturepresiden-tialbid,BosmaandLongappliedthebrakes,givingPencejustafractionofwhathehadoriginallysought.Bosmadidn’twanttodefendafuturetaxhikeduringthenextrecession. “IwanttotellyouaboutwhatIwantyoutorememberaboutthisinstitution,”Bosmacontinued.“First

ofall,youyoungerlegislators,youneedtoprepareyourselftolead.Itdoesn’tjusthappen.Youneedtostudy,youneedtoreadbillsandlistentothemoreseniormembersastheydebatethem,andyouneedtolearnyourareaandfindyourareaofexpertise.Asmyteamknows,youhavetohavealong-termvisionhere. “Mynextadmonitionis,becou-rageous,”Bosmasaid.“Stepoutandbebold.IamconfidentinSpeakerHuston’sabilitytotakethereinsandhitthegroundrunning,andIhavenodoubthisstrongleadershipandexcitementforIndiana’s

momentumwillservethischamberandourstatewell.” AclassicexampleofBosma’sleadershipasspeakercameduringthe2016sessionwhenthestatewasrackedbythousandsofclandestinemethamphetaminelabsthatwereinjuringfirstresponders,werehometohundredsofchildren,andwerecontaminatinghundredsofhousesandmotelrooms.ForseveralyearsIndianaledthenationonmethlabs.HealthcommitteechairsMikeYoungintheSen-ateandCindyKirchhoferintheHouseattemptedtoblockthebillsinFebruary2016,sayingtherewasn’tenoughtimeontheschedule.ThisiswhenBosmasteppedin,signalingbehindthescenesthatthelegislationneededtobeheardontheHousefloor. AsHPIreportedin2016:“Hiscloutwasessential.”Withinayear,thenumberofreportedmethlabshadfallenmorethan70%in2017andtheremovalofchildrenfromsuchenvironsdropped80%. AfterhewassworninbySupremeCourtJusticeMarkMassa,Hustonsaid,“Myfamilyhasalwaysstressedtheimportanceofpublicserviceandconservativeleader-ship,andIamhonoredandblessedtobeplacedinthispositiontohelpmakesureIndianastaysontherighttrack.IlookforwardtocontinuingtoworkwithmycolleaguesintheHouseandSenateandGov.EricHolcombtofuelIndi-ana’seconomicengine,andmakeourstateadestinationforall.”v

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Visclosky backs Mrvanbut McDermott claimsendorsement edgeBy BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS—LastSaturday,retiringU.S.Rep.PeteViscloskyendorsedNorthTownshipTrusteeFrankMr-van.“IknowthatFrankMrvanwillfightwitheachbreathandeveryfiberofhisbeingtofurthercollaborateandimplementhisvisionforthenexttransformationalinitia-

tivesthatwillbringthepeopleofNorthwestIndianatogetherinor-dertogrowourregionaleconomy,createmoregood-payingjobs,andimproveourqualityofplace,”Viscloskysaidinapreparedstate-ment.

ThatpromptedMrvantotelltheNorthwestIn-dianaTimes:“He’snotpassingaway;he’sjustlevitatinghimselftobeabletoadviseandbeabletohelp.” TheViscloskynodcameintandemwiththeUnitedSteelworkersDistrict7endorsement,withPresidentMikeMillsapadding,“WehaveprofoundstrengthinelectingthenextmemberofCongress.Frank,IhopeyouandtheSteelworkerswillbefriendsforaverylongtime.” Thefrontrunnerinthisopen1stCDprimaryisHammondMayorThomasMcDermottJr.,whotoldHoweyPoliticsIndianaonWednesday,“WeknewPetewascomingoutforFrank.You’dthinkthatendorsementwasthebig-gestthing,butI’mclearlyleadingtheendorsementgame.”

McDermott,thefive-termmayorandformerLakeCountyDemocraticchairman,hasanimpressivelistofen-dorsements,includingLakeCountySheriffOscarMartinezJr.;LakeCountyProsecutorBernardCarter;LakeCountyTreasurerPeggyKatona;LakeCountySurveyorBillEm-ersonJr.;LakeCountyAuditorJohnPetalas;LakeCountyCommissionerMikeRepay;LakeCountyCouncilmanDavidHamm;CrownPointMayorDavidUran;HobartMayorBrianSnedecor;HammondCouncilmembersBillEmersonSr.,ScottRakos,BarryTylerJr.,JanetVeneczandDaveWoerpel;HobartCouncilmanDavidVinzant;GaryCouncil-manMichaelBrown;LakeStationCouncilmanRickLong;andEastChicagoClerkAdrianSantos. McDermotthasalsobeenendorsedbytheNorth-westIndianaBuildingandConstructionTrades;HammondFraternalOrderofPoliceLodge51;HammondFirefightersLocal556;PortageFirefightersLocal3151;HobartFire-fightersLocal1641;PaintersandAlliedTradesDistrict91;andRoofers,WaterproofersandAlliedWorkersLocal26. ThemayortoldHPIhe’sabout“60%”tohis$500,000fundraisinggoalandhopestodoadvertisingintheChicagoTVmarket. HewasjustreelectedtoafifthterminHammond,whichmakesupabout10%ofthedistrict.“IfIcomeoutofHammondwithtwo-thirdsofthevote,with10,000votes,it’sgoingtoberealtoughtobeatme,”hesaid.“Ihaveapathtovictory,it’sgoodandit’sreasonable.” McDermottaddedthatTrusteeMrvanisn’twellknowninPorterCounty.“Iwillgetgoodcrossoversupportthere,”McDermottsaid.“I’mgettingatremendousamountofRepublicanvotes.It’sveryencouragingI’mgettingoutofPorterCounty.” TheotherkeyforceintheraceisStateRep.MaraCandaleriaReardon.WiththeGeneralAssembly’ssinedie,

U.S. Rep. Visclosky and United Steelworkers President Mike Millsap endorsed North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan on Saturday. At right at some of Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.’s list of endorsers, including Lake County Prosecutor Ber-nard Carter, Sheriff Oscar Martinez and Treasurer Peggy Katona.

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ReardonwasexpectedtoskipthepartylastnightinIndianapolisandmoveintofullcampaignmode.ShehasbeenendorsedbytheLatinoVictoryFund,theCongressionalHispanicCaucus’BOLDPACandtheSMART-TDrailworkersunion.HPI Primary Horse Race Status: LikelyMcDermott.

Governor

Holcomb, Myers on the coronavirus Gov.EricHolcombdealtwiththespreadingcoronavirusbydeclaringonMonday,“We’reremark-ablypreparedandyou’reseeingthatplayoutrightnowinourcoordination.Again,thisisallaboutstayinginformedtothefactsonthegroundastheychangeandtheywillcontinuetochange.Weplanto,throughthestatedepartmentofhealth,continuetoputoutup-to-dateinformationonadailybasis.” Atthiswriting,ISDHsaidthat10HoosiershavecontractedthevirusinMarion,Johnson,Boone,Noble,Howard,HendricksandAdamscounties.OnMonday,Avonschoolsclosedbasedononeelementarystudenttestingpositive,“Theymadetherightdecisionforthemandthatshouldunderscorethemainpointthatweallneedtotake

fromthis:Weneedtoadaptto the facts on the ground andthereisno‘onesizefitsall,’”Holcombsaid. DemocraticgubernatorialcandidateDr.WoodyMyerscalledforIndianatotakeadditionalmeasurestoprotectHoo-siersfromthecoronavirus,specificallyCOVID-19.“Stateofficialsmusttakeimmediatestepstofacilitatelaboratorytestingwithinthestate,”Myers,aformerIndianahealthcommis-sioner,said.“Wehaveapublichealthemergency,so

thetestingshouldbefreetothosewhoneeditbecauseofsymptomsorexposure.Thatwilleliminatethedelaysinreceivingconfirmationofpositivecases.” MyersproposedstepsthatIndianashouldtakeim-mediately.Myersurgedthestateto: 1.Createaninventoryandreal-timedatabaseof

Gov. Holcomb and ISDH Commissioner Kristina Box.

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allnegativepressurehospitalroomsinIndianaandmakeitavailable24/7toallIndianaphysicians; 2.Createcontingencyplansnowforthoseindivid-ualsinconfinedsettingsnoteasilymoved–cruiseships,nursinghomes,jailsandprisons; 3.GiveHoosierteachersandschooladministra-torsmoretoolsnow,withweeklywebinarsconductedforallIndianateachersandadministratorswherefactualin-formationispresentedandwherequestionscanbeaskedandansweredbymedicalprofessionals.Weshouldmakenon-invasivethermometers(thatdonottouchthepatient)availableineveryschool; 4.UseallofIndiana’sconsumerprotectionassetstobothreportandpreventpricegouging; 5.Withfederalhelp,determinewhenandhowmajorpublicevents,wherethousandsofpeoplewillgather,shouldbemodifiedorpostponedorcancelled; 6.Advocateforapaid-sick-leavelaw. “IndianamustpulloutallofthestopswhenitcomestopreparednessandnotwaitfordirectionfromWashington,wherecontradictionsbetweenfederalofficialscontinuetofrustrateandconfuse,puttinglivesatrisk,”saidMyers.“It’stimeinthissessionofthelegislaturefordecisiveaction.It’stimeforinformedleadership.”

Libertarians nominate Rainwater TheLibertarianPartyofIndianahasnominated

DonaldRainwaterofWestfieldforgov-ernorandWilliamHenryofPlainfieldforlieutenantgovernor.Rainwaterisa1981graduateofWarrenCentralHighSchool,servedeightyearsintheNavyandhasworkedinsoftwareengineer-ingandinformationtechnologyforthepast20years.Heranunsuccess-fullyforWestfieldmayorin2019.HiscampaignplatformpledgestoreduceorabolishtaxesforIndianaresidents.

Congress

5th CD: Mitchell to host virtual events Inresponsetothepostponementofmultiplepreviouslyscheduledopportunitiesfor5thCDresidents,theKellyMitchellforCongresscampaignannouncedavirtualtownhallseriestoconnectwithvotersamidthecoronaviruspandemic.“ThehealthandsafetyofHoosiersisimportanttome,”Mitchellsaid.“Wearelaunchingthistownhallseriestogive5thDistrictvotersavoice.Ourgoalistoengagevotersandgivethemtheopportunitytoaskquestions,hearmyplatform,andlearnwhyIamthebestcandidatetorepresenttheminCongress.”ThefirstvirtualtownhalldateisWednesday,March18thfrom7:00-8:00pm.Tojoin,dial317-342-8568.Youcansubmitques-tionsinadvanceviaemailtoQuestions@HoosiersForKelly.com.

Statewides

Lake County Dems endorse Weinzapfel DemocraticIndianaattorneygeneralcandidateJonathanWeinzapfelannouncedhehasbeenendorsedbytheLakeCountyDemocraticCentralCommitteecityandtownchairs.“BeingfromEvansville,Iunderstandthefrus-trationsofmanyLakeCountyresidentswhofeelneglectedandignoredbyIndianapolis,”Weinzapfelsaid.“Asattorneygeneral,I’llbeavoiceforthemandforcommonsensere-formsthatimprovethelivesofallHoosiers.”“FromLakeCountytoVanderburghCountyweareputtingtogetherthestatewidecoalitionneededtosecuretheDemocraticParty’snominationthissummerandtodefeatCurtisHillthisfall,”addedWeinzapfel,whofacesStateSen.KarenTallianofOgdenDunes.

Presidential 2020

Sanders to continue campaigns BernieSandersonWednesdayannouncedhewillcontinuehiscampaignforpresident(Politico).“Lastnight,obviously,wasnotagoodnightforourcampaignfromadelegatepointofview,”Sandersacknowledgedinanad-dressdeliveredfromhiscampaignheadquartersinBur-lington,Vermont.But“whilewearecurrentlylosingthedelegatecount”intheracefortheDemocraticnomination,“wearestronglywinningintwoenormouslyimportantareaswhichwilldeterminethefutureofourcountry.”

Biden has huge lead in Florida TALLAHASSEE—JoeBidenisinlinetodeliveraknockoutpunchtoBernieSandersinFloridainTuesday‘sDemocraticprimary,accordingtoanewpollthatgivestheformervicepresidentastaggering44%lead.Bidenislap-pingSandersinvotersupport,withsupportfrom66%oflikelyDemocraticprimaryvotersto22%Sanders,accord-ingtoaUniversityofNorthFlorida.v

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Mayor Pete’s impactcame Super MondayBy JACK COLWELL SOUTHBEND–SuperMonday,notSuperTuesday,waswhenPeteButtigieghadrealimpactonthepresiden-

tialrace. MayorPete’seloquentendorsementofJoeBidenontheeveofcrucialvotingin14stateswasanimportantfactorinhelpingtobuildmomentumandtoclearawinningpathforwhatwasindeedasuperTuesdayforBiden.Theformervicepresidentwonin10ofthosestates,insomebyland-slides. AndBiden’shighestofpraiseforButtigiegonMonday,

likeninghimtoBiden’slatesonBeauintermsofcharacter,courageandintellect,enabledButtigiegtoendhiscandi-dacyinasuperratherthandishearteningway.Thathighpraisealsosignaledbrightfuturepossibilities;MayorPetecouldbecomeSecretaryPete,holdingakeyCabinetpost,ifBidenwinsthepresidency. MondaywasindeedasuperdayforButtigiegasheclosedouthisimprobablebutimpressivecampaignattherighttime.Heleftamidpraiseandwithpurpose,astrategicallytimedboostforBidenonelectioneve.Hethuswasn’tsubjectedtotheembarrassmentsufferedbyMichaelBloomberg,heofthehalf-billion-dollarcampaign,andElizabethWarren,sheoftheplummetfromearlyfrontrunnertoirrelevancy.Thosetwosufferedhumili-ating defeats. But Tuesday wasn’tsuperfortheBut-tigiegcampaign.Itwasover.Buttigiegwouldhavewonsomeadditionaldelegatesifhehadstayedintherace.Notalot.Notenough.Hewasn’tposi-tionedinstaffingorfundingtocompeteinallofthosestatesTuesday.Hewouldnothavewonanystate.Therewasnopathtothenomination. Thatpath,thoughneverwide,seemedpos-sibleafterearlysuccessinIowaandNewHampshire.

Buteachsuccesswasdiminishedbyadevelopmentbe-yondcontroloftheButtigiegcampaign. IntheIowacaucuses,thefirsttestwithvot-ers,Buttigiegwonthemostdelegates.Thatshouldhavebroughtelectionnightfocusbythenationalnewsme-diaonthestartlingvictorybyayoung,formermayorofSouthBend.ItshouldhavebroughtthebounceinthepollsthatusuallycomesfromIowavictory.Instead,withthemessed-uptabulation,focuswasoninabilityfordaystoaddupthetotals.IttooknearlyamonthfortheIowaDemocraticPartytoconfirmButtigiegasthedelegatewin-ner.Notenoughbounce.MostlyjokesaboutDemocratsnotknowinghowtocount. In New Hampshire,Buttigiegcamewithin1.3%ofamonumentalupsetofBernieSandersinastateSand-erswassupposedtowinbig.ButAmyKlobuchar,downtosingledigitsinpollsalmosteverywhereduringthecampaign,surgedonetime,inNewHampshire,aftershewashermostimpressiveinadebate.TheNewHampshirepercentages:Sanders,25.7;Buttigieg,24.4;Klobuchar,19.8. SinceButtigiegandKlobucharwerecompetinginthesame“moderate”lane,ifshehadnotsuddenlycaughtfiretogetnearly20%ofthevote,headlinescouldhavebeenthatSanderssufferedastingingdefeatandButtigiegwasforrealasatopcontender,thefrontrunner.That’snottosaythatButtigiegwouldhavegoneontosolvehisproblemswithAfrican-Americanvotersandwinthenomination.ButaButtigiegwininNewHampshirecouldhaveshowedweaknessintheSandersefforttoexpandhisbasebeforethatbecameapparentonSuperTuesday,andcouldhaveenabledButtigiegtocompeteinmostofthose14 states. WhatnowforMayorPete,nolongermayor,no

longerapresidentialcandidate?Bidenwillwanthimasasurrogatespeaker throughout thenominationprocessandbeyondifBidenisthenominee.But-tigiegalreadyissendingoutemailstohisownextensivedonorliststourgecontributingnowtothemoney-strappedBidencampaign. AftertheNovem-berelection?Youhavetoguesstheoutcomein order to guess the prospects.v

Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five decades for the South Bend Tribune.

Pete Buttigieg endorsed Joe Biden in Dallas earlier this month.

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Hill bill dies in SenateHowey Politics Indiana INDIANAPOLIS—DespiteapushfromIndianaHouselawmakerstoclarifyinstatecodewhetherAttorneyGeneralCurtisHillcouldremaininofficeifhislawlicenseissuspended,statelegislatorsfailedtopassabillbeforeadjourningthisyear’ssessionWednesdaynight(Erdody,IBJ).TheRepublican-controlledIndianaHouseearlierthis

monthaddedlanguagetoabillthatwouldhaverequiredtheat-torneygeneraltoforfeittheofficeifheorsheweredisbarredfromorsuspendedfrompracticinglawfor30ormoredays.Suchaforfei-turewouldcreateavacancyinthe

office,whichwouldbefilledbythegovernor.Theamend-ment,addedtoSenateBill178,wouldhavealsopreventedanyonewhohadbeendisbarredorhadhisorherlawlicensesuspendedfor30daysormorewithinthepastfiveyearsfromrunningfortheoffice.Gov.EricHolcombsaidhesupportedthemeasure.ButtheRepublican-controlledIndianaSenatedidnotagreewithit.OnWednesday,Re-publicansenatorsofferedacompromisethatwouldhaveonlyaddressedwhethersomeonecouldrunforofficeifhisorherlawlicensewassuspendedwithoutautomaticrein-statement.ButtheoverallSenateGOPcaucusdidnotsup-portthatlanguage,andHouseRepublicansalsorejectedit.SenatePresidentProTemRodricBraysaidhiscaucustalkedatlengthaboutit,but“attheendofthedaytherewasconcernsaboutthetimingofit.”BraysaiditwillbeuptovoterstodecidewhetherHillshouldserveanotherterm.

Session ends with 14-hour kick Ina14-hourfinishingkick,legislatorsvotedtolim-itsurprisemedicalbilling,nullifylocallandlord-tenantor-dinances,andraisetheminimumageforsmokingandforgettingmarried(Berman,WIBC).Theyalsovotedtomakeiteasierforschoolstoseekrelieffromstateregulations,andtorepealaneight-month-oldexternshiprequirementfiercelyopposedbyIndiana’steachers’unions.Legislatorsdidn’tpassanybillsrelatedtothecoronaviruspandemic.HustonandBraybothsaIDGov.Holcombassuredthemthestatehealthdepartmenthasalltheauthorityandcashitneedstofighttheoutbreak.Buttheybothsaythey’llbewatchingtheoutbreak’seffectontheeconomy.TheysayIndiana’sstrongreserveshavethestatewellpositionedtorideoutarecession,asentimentechoedbyGov.EricHolcombinawrittenpost-adjournmentstatement.

IndyGo funding bill dies in House AftertheIndianaSenatepassedacompromiseontheIndyGofundingfeudWednesdaynight,theIndi-anaHousekilledthemeasurebynotvotingonitbeforeadjourningfortheyear(Erdody,IBJ).TheSenatepassed

HouseBill1279,whichwouldhaverequiredthetransitagencytoraise$220,000inprivatedonationsbytheendoftheyear.Thatwasasignificantdropfromthe$6millionIndyGoinitiallyneededtofundraiseinordertocomplywitha2014law.SincetheHousedidnotvoteonthemea-sure,thebilldiedWednesdaynight,whichmeansIndyGoisstillexpectedtoraise$6millionannually.

Governor signs micro-chipping bill t’sofficial—Indianacompaniescannotrequiretheirworkerstobeforciblymicrochippedasaconditionofemployment.RepublicanGov.EricHolcombsignedintolawHouseEnrolledAct1143Wednesday.ThenewstatutetakeseffectJuly1.IndianasenatorsOKbanoncompaniesforciblymicrochippingtheiremployees.Thenewlawwasapproved97-0intheHouseand47-0bytheSenate.

Speaker Huston deems successful session HouseSpeakerToddHustonsaidatsinedie,“Wesuccessfullybroughtthelegislativesessiontoacloseaftertakingourprioritiesacrossthefinishline,includingsup-portingoureducatorsandschools,andtakingimportantstepstoaddressrisinghealthcarecosts(Carden,NWI Times).“Buildingoffourstate’shistoriceducationinvest-mentlastyear,wewereabletodecouplestudenttestscoresfromteacherevaluations,andensureschoolsandeducatorswillnotbenegativelyimpactedbyILEARNscoresduringthetwo-yeartransitionperiod.Ouractiononhealthcarewillallowpatientstorequestgood-faithestimatesontheirmedicalbillsupfront,sotheycanmakemoreinformeddecisionsandshoparoundforbetterpric-es.Wealsoprotectconsumersfromreceivingunexpected,out-of-networkmedicalbillsthatcanunfairlycrushfamilybudgets.”

Holcomb lauds session GovernorEricJ.Holcombofferedthefollowingstatementregardingtheconclusionofthe2020legislativesession.“Thislegislativesession,SenatorBray,SpeakeremeritusBosma,SpeakerHustonandtherestoftheGen-eralAssemblynavigatedaseriesofimportantissuesthatmattertoHoosiers.I’mgratefulforallthelegislativesup-portmyNextLevelAgendaachieved.Whileshortsessionsgofast,wegotsignificantworkdonewhilecontinuingourtrackrecordoffiscalstability,whichpositionsourstatetofaceanyunexpectedchallenges–includingthecurrentcoronavirusoutbreak.”

Election financial report bill signed LegislationauthoredbyStateRepresentativeChuckMoseley(D-Portage),whichwillincreasetranspar-encybyallowingcandidatestofilecampaignreportson-line,wassignedintolawbythegovernortoday.PublicLaw24givesallcandidatestheoptiontofiletheircampaignfinancereportsonlinethroughasecurevendor.v

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Young, Yovanovitch,Burns talk about valuesBy BRIAN A. HOWEY BLOOMINGTON—U.S.Sen.ToddYounggavethefirstRichardG.LugarLectureatIndianaUniversitylastFriday,callingfor“threeboldactions”withanAmerica“leadingwithitsvalues,”includingabolsteringofthena-tion’sdiplomaticcapabilities. Butthedaybefore,formerambassadorWilliamJ.Burnstoldtheconferencethatof28StateDepartmentassistantsecretarypositionsintheTrumpadministra-tion,onlyoneisfilled,andtherehasbeena40%dropinForeignServiceapplications.AndlaterthedayofYoung’sspeech,formerU.S.ambassadortoUkraine,MarieYova-novitch,receivedtheLugarAwardandmadeanappealfor“maintainingourprinciples”and“moraltraditions.” ThelateSen.Lugar,inavideobeforeherspeechatI.U.Auditorium,added,“IwouldsaythebestadviceIcouldretrieveistobehonest,maintainyourintegrity.” Youngwasoneof53RepublicansenatorswhoblockedYovanovitch’stestimonyattheSenatetrialthatendedinPresidentTrump’simpeachmentacquittalinFebruarythatstemmed,inpart,fromherdismissallastsummerasTrumptriedtoshakedownUkrainePresidentZelenskyforpoliticaldirtonJoeBiden. HamiltonLugarSchoolDeanLeeFeinsteinaskedYovanovitchwhatitwasliketobeinthespotlightdur-ingTrump’simpeachmenthearingslastfall.Yovanovitchresponded,“Itisimportanttotellthe truth and then hand it over to politicalleaderswhotaketheirownactions.Weareinthistogether,andweneedtofindthesolutiontogether.We can never forget that our foreign policyneedstobeAmericanforeignpolicy.” Sen.YoungsaidattheHamil-tonLugarAmerica’sRoleintheWorldConference,“Americahasnochoicebuttoleadwithourvalues.WithoutthesteadyhandofAmericansup-portandreassurance,newleaderswillemerge.Andthosenewleaderswillseektoremaketheworldinlinewiththeirinterests,nottodefenddemocracyormarketcapitalism,nortoadvancetheuniversalhumanrightsonwhichthisnationwasfounded.” Young added, “Fortunately, Americaislead-ing.IcommendPresidentTrumpandmycolleaguesinCongressforenactingnewtaxandregulatorypolicies.Increasinginvestmentintheskillsrequiredtofuelour21stcenturyworkforce.Andimplementingnewbipartisanfreetradeagreements.Collectively,thesepoliciesarethetablestakesrequiredtocontinuegrowingoureconomy,andthereby,asPaulKennedyremindsus,tostrengthen

America’sglobaleconomicposition,expandandenhanceoursphereofinfluence,andpreserveoursystemofgov-ernmentandcapitalismasthesourceofbothoursharedprosperityandournationalsecurity.” Youngsaidthat“ourworkisfarfromover”andsaidthatAmericanleadershipwillrequireboldactiononthreeadditionalfronts.“First,instrategictechnologicalin-vestment,”Youngsaid.“Second,insmart,flexiblenuclearmodernization.Andthird,inensuringChinaremainsthetoppriorityofourmilitaryandourdiplomats.” On Thursday, Burns told the conference that in additionto27undersecretarypostsgoingunfilled,therearenowa“recordnumberofpoliticalambassadors.”BurnscalledPresidentTrump’sdiplomacy“asanexerciseinnar-cissism”sayingit“hollowsout”theForeignService. AskedaboutTrump’sviewthattheForeignServiceisakintothe“deepstate,”Burnsresponded,“That’sacrock.” BurnspointedtoPresidentTrump’s2018pressconferenceinHelsinkiwithRussianPresidentPutinwhereTrump“essentiallythrewthe17U.S.intelligenceagenciesunderthebus.”HesaidthatPutinwastrainedasaKGBagentandadded,“Iftherehadbeenaquoteballoon”itwouldhavePutinsayingofTrump,“Whataneasymark.” InacceptingtheRichardG.LugarAward,Yova-novitchsaid,“Wealsoneedtosetanexample.SenLugarbeliefsinAmerica’smoraltraditions,ruleoflaw,humanrights,theBillofRightsincludingfreedomofthepress,areallasourceofourinternationalpower.Hebelievedthatexcertingauthorityinthepresentagerequiresoutreachandtheabilitytobuildcoalitions.TheU.S.maintainsrespectthatderivesfrommoraltraditions.Maintainingour

principlesistherightthingtodo.Itisalsothesmartthingtodo.” She added in the age of pandemic,“WeneedastrongandresilientDepartmentofStatethatisfullyfunded,fullystaffedandfullyempoweredtomeetthechallengesofthe21stCentury.” “Sowhatdoweneedtodo to reinvigorate the State De-partment?”sheasked.“Ibelieve

weneedtorecommittoourprinciples,ourruleoflaw,generosityofspiritandunderstandingthatwearestron-gertogether,bothinternallyandexternally...tomaketheworldmoredemocraticandmoreprosperous.Weneedtobeprincipled,consistentandtrustworthy.” “Weneedtore-empowerdiplomatstodotheirjobs.Governmentofficialsshouldnotbeafraidtochal-lengeassumptionsorsharetheirexpertiseandexperience.Workingonthebasisoffactandrigorousanalysisisnottheworkofthedeepstate,itistheworkofthedeeplydedicatedstate,”sheadded,acknowledgingaquotefromformerU.S.ambassadorMichaelMcFaul.v

Federal stimulus andlocal leadership are keyBy MICHAEL HICKS MUNCIE—TheunfoldingresponsetotheCo-vid-19diseaseishelpfulinclarifyingboththelimitstogov-ernmentandthewisdomofourfederalsystem.Whatmostofusarenowlearningisthatourmostusefulgovern-

mentsarelocal.Thefartherawaygovernmentgetsfromus,thelessusefulitbecomesinmattersthatdirectlyaffectourlives.Thisisnotonlyagoodlesson,butafinefactof governance. Manyofuslooktothefederalgovernmentforguidanceinallmattersofpolicy.Inreality,thefederalgovernmentisrespon-sibleforverylittleofthepublicsector’sinfluenceonourlives.Theeventsofthedayshould

makeitclearthatthisisafortunatetruth.WhileitistruethereisaCenterforDiseaseControl,mostoftheworld’sexpertsoncommunicablediseasesworkinuniversitiesaroundthecountry.Thereareeconomistsinthefederalgovernmentwhocanhelpdesignpolicyresponses,butmostofthenewideascomefromuniversitiesandthinktanksdispersedaroundthenation.Ourexpertiseonthesecriticalissuesisbroadanddiffuse. Likewise,wecannotrelyonthemilitaryforbroadassistanceinapandemic.Ourmilitaryforcesaretoofewtotakeonthischallenge.And,andastherecentNorthKoreanmissilelaunchdemonstrated,ourenemiesarelikelytotakeadvantageofanycrisis.Thiswillbeespeciallytrueifdiseasethreatenstheirregime’sstability.Ourmilitaryhasanationalfocusunconnectedtolocalspreadofdisease. The federal governmentreallyonlyhastwoimportantroles;offeringreassuranceandspendingmoney.Ontheformer,therearemixedresults.Onthelatter,theyaremovingtooslowly.Inthecomingweeks,theU.S.economymayneedsignificantstabilization.Thisisanunprecedentedexamplewherefiscalpolicycansupportpublichealth.Thereiscompellingreasontomovequicklytomakeourpreventioneffortsandeconomicstabilizationworktogether. ManyAmericanworkerswillbejustfinewhilewetakeeffortstopreventthespreadofCovid-19.Factoryworkerswillbeprovidedprotectiveclothingandmanyofuscanworkfromhomeforlengthyperiods.But,itismostlythebetterpaidwhowillbeeconomicallyunaffectedbyCovid-19.Folksworkinginrestaurants,retailorparttimepositionsareatgreatestriskofeconomicdisruptionfromthecomingrecession.Theseworkersarealsoleastlikelytohavesickleaveorvacation.Itispreciselythesepeoplewhowillfacethestrongestfinancialpressureto

workwhenill,andironically,willalsobethemostneededtostayhomeiftheyaresick.Fiscalpolicymusttakeintoaccounttheseworkers. Taxcuts,firmbail-outs,monetarypolicyandevenpayrolltaxcutswilldonothingforpeoplewithoutsickleave,orthosewholosetheirjobsinrestaurantsorstores.Theseworkersmostdirectlyneedastimulusplan.Iadmiretheideaofadirectpaymentof$1,000amonthperperson($500perchild),asproposedbyJasonFurman.Thispaymentwillhelpkeepsickpeoplehome,withoutfinanciallydevastatingthemfordecisionsthatbenefitthepublicgood. There are easier programs toimplement,suchasapayrolltaxcut.Thosewouldbebetterthannothing,butdirectaidtolow-incomeworkersandthosemostatriskofjoblossesshouldbetheoverwhelmingpriorityinCongressandtheAdministration.Ironically,withlong-termbondyieldsinnegativeterritory,itishardtoimagineafiscalstimulusthatwouldnothavebenefitsthatexceedits costs. Wealsoneedtohelpsustainsmallbusinessesthroughthis.Animmediatelineofcreditforsmallfirmswhowereincorporatedpriortothelawwouldpreventnumerousbankruptcies.Thisisacomplementarypolicybecauseitwouldalsokeepmoreworkersemployedatacriticaltime.Weshouldalsoofferarebateforsickleave,whichwouldallowsmallbusinessestorecoupthecostofsuchapolicy. Thefederalgovernmentcandothesestimulusplansbecausetheycanprintmoneyandborrowatanegativeinterestrate.Beyondthat,thereislittlewecanexpectfromWashington,D.C.Anyotherhelpwillcomefromstate,andespeciallylocal,leaders.Theexperiencethusfarshouldbeencouraging.HereinIndiana,thegovernor’sannouncementofourfirstcaselastweekwasamodelofcommunications. Thelocalpublicschoolsareprovidingsuperbcommunicationtoparentsandstudents.Mylocalschool,Yorktown,hasreviewedpreventivemeasureswithstu-dentsandaretalkingaboutitinscienceclasses.Throughavarietyofcommunications,familiesareinformedenoughtobereadyforwhateverhappenstomorrow,muchlessweeksfromnow. I’m especially proud ofBallState,whichhasprovidedclearinformationandreviewedtravelandcon-tingencyplansforclassesanddormitories.They’veeveninstalledhandsanitizersineveryhallway,andpreventionpostersacrosscampus.They’vedonethiswithoutpanicoralarm,respectingabroadsetofconcernsbyfaculty,staff,studentsandourfamilies. Anyonewhohasparticipatedincrisismanage-mentknowshowgoodcommunicationinstillsconfidence.Colleges,schoolsandemployerswillmaketoughcallsinthecomingweeksandmonths.Becauseoftheirrespect-fulandclearcommunication,IhavenoreasontosecondguessthedecisionsbyIndianastategovernment,BallStateorYorktownschools.Ihopemanyreadersfeelthe

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sameabouttheirlocalgovernmentsandemployers. The next few weekswillrevealagreatdealabouttheeffectivenessofCongressandtheTrumpAd-ministrationinhandlingCovid-19.Itistooearlytomakeadefinitivejudgementabouteither,butitisclearthatstateandespeciallylocalgovernmentsaredoingjustfine.v

Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Cen-ter for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University.

This pandemic exposesneed for family leaveBy ERIN MACEY INDIANAPOLIS—It’sinevitable. Fluseasoncomesaround,andsodothestandardrecommendations:Washyourhands,andstayhomeifyoudevelopsymptoms.Thisyear,healthofficialsaredoubling

downonthisadviceascorona-viruscasesemergeintheUnitedStates,includinghereinIndiana. Thatadviceismucheasiertofollowifyouhavepaidsickdays.TheUnitedStatesisanoutlierwhenitcomestopaidleave.Nationally,policymakershavesetnobaselinestandardsforwhatemployersshouldoffer.Andwhilesomeemployersrecognizethatitisnottotheirbenefitforsickemployeestocometoworkforavarietyofreasons–including

thattheyarelessproductiveandcouldinfectfellowem-ployeesandclients–fartoomanystilldonot.AccordingtothemostrecentBureauofLaborStatisticsdata(2019),aboutoneinfourworkersnationally,andasmanyasoneinthreeworkersinIndiana,donotearnpaidsickdays. Diggingdeeper,thestatisticsonwhodoesanddoesnotearnpaidsickdaysbecomesevenmoreprob-lematic.Fewerthanhalfofworkersinthelowestwagequartile–often,thepeoplewhocareforchildrenandtheelderly,preparefood,orhandletransactionsatacashregister–lacktheabilitytoearnpaidsickdays. When workers lack paid sickdays,theyarefarmorelikelytogotoworksick.InoneCenterforDiseaseControlstudy,nearly60%ofworkerswhopreparefoodreportedgoingtoworksick.Parentswithsickkidsandnopaidsickleavearemuchmorelikelytosendthosekidstoschoolwhentheyarecontagious,ortotakethemtoemergencyrooms

ratherthandoctors’officesfortreatment.Theydosoforgoodreason;beyondaninabilitytopaythebillswithoutapaycheck,nearlyoneinfourworkerswithoutpaidsickdayshavereportedeitherlosingajoborbeingthreatenedwithjoblossasaresultofneedingtimeoff. Fortunately, some statesandlocalitiesaresteppinguptotheplate.Currently,33jurisdictions–including11states–requireemployerstoallowwork-erstoaccruepaidsickleave.Often,theselawsrequireaminimumofonehourpaidsickleaveper30hoursworked,althoughvariationsexist.TheonlylawIndianahaspassedconcerningpaidsickdaysispreemption,barringlocalitiesfromrequiringemployerstoprovidethisvitalworkplaceandpublichealthbenefit. Inmyfirstsessionatthelegislature,alawmakeraskedmewhyanemployershouldpaypeopleforthetimewhentheyarenotatwork.Thereareanumberofgoodreasonstoprovidepaidleave.Vacationsmakeworkersmoreproductiveandmorecommittedtotheirjobs.Paidmaternityandpaternityleaveincreasemorale,satisfaction,andretention.Stayinghomewhensickcanreduceinfec-tionandtheriskofworkplaceinjuries.Thelistgoesonand on.Nowwecanadd“reducingtheimpactofaglobalpandemic”tothelist.v

Erin Macey, PhD, is a senior policy analyst for the Indiana Institute for Working Families and the In-diana Community Action Association.

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How Hoosiermetros stack upBy MORTON MARCUS INDIANAPOLIS—Thefirstwarmishdaybroughtforthgreenshootsofnascentflowers.And,lo,FayeoftheForestwasonmydeckrailing,feistyasever.“Youwastea

lotoftime,”sheannounced.Notwaitingformydefensivecounter-thrust,shecontinued,“Everyweekyouturndatasetsintokindlingforyourwritingfire.Youspendhoursonspreadsheetmanipulations.Whatyouwantisalreadyoutthere,donebyothersandavailableforfree.”“Andyouknowthishow?”Iasked.“Ihavemyways,”shesaidcoyly,tossedherhairaswomendo,andflittedoffintotheforest.

Shewasright!Lastweek,theBrookingsInstitutepostedeconomiccomparisonsofthenation’s192largestmetropolitanareas.Indianapoliswasinthegroupof53metroswithoveronemillionpersonsandranked27thingrowthofjobs,GrossMetroProduct(GMP)andchangeinjobsatyoungfirms,from2008-18. That’ssmackinthemiddleofthoseverylargemetros,acomfortableHoosierrockingchair.Yet,that’sbetterthanFortWaynewhichwas45thamong83mid-sizedareas(250,000to500,000).Nonetheless,FortWaynestillout-performedEvansville(58th)andSouthBend(70th)inthesamegroup. Suddenly,Fayereturned.“But,”shesaid,“whatifyou’renotseekinggrowthasmuchasprogressonclosingthegapbetweenwheretherichandthepoorlive?” “Brookings,”Ireplied,“doeslookatthechangeinthegapbetweenthetopandthebottomofneighborhoodmedianhouseholdincomes.” “And?”sheprompted. “And,” I answered,“theIndianapolismetroareasawitsgapwidenby$4,402(12thworstinitsgroupof53metros).FortWayne’sgapwidenedby$1,002(39thworstinitsgroupof83metros).SouthBend’sgapwidenedby$2,227(22ndworstinthatgroup).” “You’renotsaying?”Fayedemanded. “Evansville,”Istuttered,“withagapwidenedby$4,778.Itwasthe10thworstinthatmid-sizegroupof83metros.” “Therearetwothingswronghere,”Fayesaidintutorialmode.“First,”shecontinued,“you’rebottom-surfing.Eachofthosemetroareaswasinthetop10inatleastoneofthe15measuresconsidered.Indianapoliswasseventhinclosingthegapoftherelativepovertyratebetweenwhitesandpersonsofcolor,Evansvillefourthin

changeinmedianincome,FortWayneeighthinchangeofstandardofliving.SouthBendwasfirstinclosingtheem-ploymentrategapbetweenwhitesandpersonsofcolor. “Second,” she continued,“Brookingsisfocusedonchangewithnothingsaidaboutstatus.Littlechangeinsomethingwherethestatusisverygood,isnotbad.Ifyou’remaking$200,000andyougouponly1%that’sa$2,000bump,doublea10%increaseon$10,000.” Shewasright,again!ButgonebeforeIcouldadmitit.v Mr. Marcus is an economist. Reach him at mortonj-marcus@yahoo.com. Follow his views and those of John Guy on “Who gets what?” wherever podcasts are available or at mortonjohn.libsyn.com.

·

Did gender play a rolein Warren’s defeats?By KELLY HAWESCNHI News Bureau ANDERSON—ItwouldhavebeenfuntowatchElizabethWarrengotoetotoewithDonaldTrumponadebatestage. ShehadmadeclearinherencounterswithfellowDemocratsthatshecouldholdherowninapolicydiscus-

sion. WarrenwasoneofthreewomenIthoughthadachancetowinthe2020Democraticpresiden-tialnomination. Atonepoint,itlookedlikethechoicemightbeKamalaHarris.Shehadkickedoffhercampaigninfrontof20,000supporters,butshewoundupdroppingouttwomonthsaheadoftheIowacaucuses. ThentherewasAmy

Klobuchar,whoparlayedastrongdebateperformanceaheadoftheNewHampshireprimaryintoasurprisethird-placefinish.Hermomentinthesunendedquickly,though,andshesuspendedhercampaignjustaheadofSuperTuesday. Warren, though, seemed toshowthegreatestpromise.Shewonsupportwithhersharpintellectandaseeminglyendlessstreamofpolicyblueprints.Shewasthefrontrunnerinnumerouspolls,andshewasdrawinglargecrowdsatcampaignappearances. Thingsbegantounravel,though,ontheissueofhealthcare.Rivalspointedoutsheseemedtohaveaplanforeverythingexcept“MedicareforAll,”andtheproposal

Democratic votersclosing door on SandersBy KYLE KONDIK and J. MILES COLEMAN CHARLOTTESVILLE,Va.–Tuesdaynight’sDemo-craticpresidentialprimaryresultsweretheequivalentofadinermotioningacrosstherestauranttoawaiterandmouthingtwowords:“Check,please.” WhileasignificantchunkofthepartysupportsBernieSandersinhishead-to-headmatchupwithJoeBiden,aconsiderablylargerpor-tionbacksBiden.ThesizeofthatlargergroupisindicativeofapartythatisreadytomoveontothegeneralelectionagainstDonaldTrump. Biden’ssmashingvictoriesinMichigan,Mississippi,andMissouriweresototalthatSandersdidnotwinasinglecountyinanyofthethreestates. Washingtonstateisbasicallytied,withSandersupacoupletenthsofapercentagepoint,asmail-inballotstricklein.Thereareaboutamillionvotesin,whichwesuspectissubstantiallymorethanhalfofthetotalvotes

evenifturnoutisveryhigh.Theeventualdelegateedgethatthewinningcandidategetswhenit’sallsaidanddonewillendupbeingrelativelynegligible.TheBidencampaignissurelycomfortablewiththatoutcomegiventhatSand-erswonotherwesternstatesCalifornia,Colorado,andUtahlastweek.BidenwonWashington’seasternneighbor,Idaho,whileSanderswonNorthDakota. Inthisnewlyconsolidatedtwo-personrace,BidenappearsstrongerthanHillaryClintonfouryearsago,andSandersweakerthanhispreviousincarnation.InMichiganamidstsignificantlyhigherturnout–closeto1.6millionballotscastthistimeasopposedtojustabout1.2millionlasttime–BidengotmorevotesthanClintoninevery

singlecounty,whileSandersranbehindhisvotetotalin70of83counties,perMichiganreporterJonathanOosting(thesefiguresmaychangeasthevoteisfinal-ized;Michiganisusingahugely-

expandedabsenteeballotingsystemforthiselection). MI-3,aRepublican-leaningcongressionaldistrictrepresentedbyRepublican-turned-independentRep.JustinAmash,coversmostofGrandRapids’KentCountyandotherpartsofwesternMichigan.Thetrendtherehelpstodemonstratewhathappenedstatewide.ThiswasSand-ers’bestdistrictinthestateagainstClintonin2016;Bidenendedupcarryingitthistimeamidstsignificantlyhigher

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shefinallyputforwardleftbothmoderatesandprogres-sives disappointed. AftercomingupshortinthefirstfourstatesandonSuperTuesday,Warrenfinallycalleditquits. “Iwillnotberunningforpresidentin2020,butIguaranteeIwillstayinthefight,”shetoldthecrowdgath-eredoutsideherhomeinCambridge,Massachusetts. The announcement effectivelynarrowedthechoicestoJoeBidenandBernieSanders,twowhitemenintheir70s.ForthosewhohadcelebratedtheDemocraticprimaryfieldasthemostdiverseinAmericanhistory,itwasdisappointing. Warren’sdeparturewouldseemtobegoodnewsforSanders,whotoldreporterstherewas“noquestion”Warren’splatformwasmoreideologicallyalignedwithhispoliciesthanthoseofBiden. “Andso,today,Iwouldsimplysaytohersupport-ersoutthere,ofwhomtherearemillions,weareopeningthedoortoyou,andwe’dloveyoutocomeonboard,”Bidensaid.“Togetherwecanwinthisprimaryprocess.TogetherwecandefeatthemostdangerouspresidentinthehistoryofAmericanpolitics.” Warrenmadeclear,though,thatshewasinnohurrytoendorseanyone. “WhywouldIoweanybodyanendorsement?”shetoldJessBidgood,nationalpoliticalreporterfortheBostonGlobe.“Isthataquestiontheyaskedeverybodyelsewhodroppedoutofthisrace?”

Whatdidshethinkoftheremainingcandidates? “IthinkIwouldhavemadeabetterpresidentthaneitheroneofthem,”shetoldBidgood.“That’swhyIwasrunning!” Thelosswasharder,shesaid,preciselybecauseshehadsuchdetailedplans. “Thepiecesarefarmorereal,”shesaid.“Itmakeslosingthischancetoleadourgovernmenttomakethosechangesfarmorepainful.” Inspeakingtoreportersabouttheendofhercampaign,Warrenmentioned“allthoselittlegirlswhoaregoingtohavetowaitfourmoreyears.” Shecalledtheissueofgender“atrapquestion.” “Ifyousay,‘yeah,therewassexisminthisrace,’everyonesays‘whiner,’”shesaid.“Andifyousay‘therewasnosexism,’aboutabazillionwomenthink,‘whatplanetdoyouliveon?’” The pundits will argueaboutwhetherfemalecandidatesaretreateddifferentlybecauseoftheirgender,butwhenitcomestopresidentialpolitics,thefactsspeakforthemselves. Thisyearmarks100yearssincewomenearnedtherighttovote.Howlongwillitbebeforewegiveawomanachancetoleadthiscountry?v

Kelly Hawes is a columnist for CNHI News Indiana. He can be reached at kelly.hawes@indianamedia-group.com. Find him on Twitter @Kelly_Hawes.

turnout(closeto110,000totalvotes,upfromabout75,000fouryearsago). ThereweresomebrightspotsforSanders:Itappearsthathedidbetterthanfouryearsago,forin-stance,inboththecityofDetroitandEastLansing(homeofMichiganStateUniversity),butthenegativetrendsfaroutweighedthepositiveones:nosurprisewhenanarrowvictoryfouryearsagoturnsintoa15-pluspointdefeat. ThefocusonMichigantookattentionawayfromMissouri,whichClintononlywonby.25pointsoverSand-ersin2016.Bidenpushedthedecimalpointtwoplacestotheright,winningby25points.Biden’sdominationofthestatewasthorough.HeevencarriedBooneCounty(Columbia),homeoftheUniversityofMissouri,albeitjustbysixpoints(Sanders,thenandnowafavoriteofyoungerandcollegiatevoters,wonthecountyby22pointsfouryearsago). Missouri’sturnoutwasonlyupalittlebitfrom2016,morethan660,000votesthistimecomparedtoabout630,000fouryearsago,amodestchangecomparedtosomeotherstates.ThisisperhapsunsurprisinginastatethathastransitionedfromcompetitivetosafeRe-publicanoverthepastcoupleofdecades.Of114counties,72sawturnoutdrops,withvastswathsofthenorthernandsoutheasternpartsofthestateseeingadrop.ThisisindicativeoftheweakeningDemocraticbrandinruralpartsofthestate,somethingthathasbecomeobviousinrecentstatewidegeneralelections,too.Meanwhile,somecoun-tiesclosetothestate’smajorurbancenters,KansasCityinthewestandSt.Louisintheeast,sawturnoutincreases.ThisissuggestiveofthebroadertrendofincreasedDemo-craticengagementinsuburbanareasacrossthecountry. ThereweresomebrightspotsforSanders.Itappearsthathedidbetterthanfouryearsago,forin-stance,inboththecityofDetroitandEastLansing(homeofMichiganStateUniversity),butthenegativetrendsfaroutweighedthepositiveones,nosurprisewhenanarrowvictoryfouryearsagoturnsintoa15-pluspointdefeat. Mississippiwasverysimilartofouryearsagoover-all.Thestatewiththenation’smostheavilyAfrican-Amer-icanprimaryelectoratevoted82%-17%forClintonand81%-15%forBiden.Technically,themostrecentreportinghasSandersat14.8%inMississippi;thatisimportantfordelegate-counting,becauseifheremainsunder15%,hewon’tgetanystatewidedelegates.Regardless,MississippisuggestsBidenwillenjoylandslidesinthetworemainingDeepSouthstatesthathavenotyetvoted,GeorgiaonMarch24andLouisianaonApril4. TherearenosignsthingswillgetbetterforSand-ersnextweek,whenfourmorelargestatesvote:Arizona,Florida,Illinois,andOhio.SandershasnevershownanystrengthinFlorida,andBidenshouldrouthimthere.SanderslostIllinoisnarrowlyandOhionotsonarrowlyin2016.Biden’ssweepofbothMichiganandMissouri’scoun-tiessuggestsweshouldexpectsomethingsimilarintheirregionalneighbors.SanderscarriedmuchofdownstateIl-linoisandalsosomeoftheChicagocollarcountiesin2016.

Theresultssofarthisyearsuggesthewon’treplicatethat.SandershasdonebetteroutWest,andhehasalsodonewellwithHispanicvoters,whichgiveshimaglimmerofhopeinArizona.ButArizonaalsohasalotofoldervotersandwell-offsuburbanites,high-turnoutgroupsthathavebeenflockingtoBiden. Biden’sdelegateleadisincreasing.AsofMondaynight,hewasup608to532inourCrystalBall/Deci-sionDeskHQcount;thatisnow777to636.SoBiden’sleadhasnearlydoubled,goingfrom76to141.Basedonproportionalallocationrules,theonlywayforSanderstoreallygaingroundistowinlopsidedvictoriesinbigstates.Buttheoppositeseemslikelytooccurnextweek. PerhapsSanderscanholdouttotrytoscoreavictoryinWisconsinonApril7,astatewithaliberalDemocraticelectoratewherehewondecisivelyin2016.Butatthisrate,Bidenisprobablyfavoredtheretoo,giventhathewonMichiganandMinnesota,twostatessimilartoWisconsin,afterSanderscarriedthemin2016.AndevenifSandersweretowinWisconsin,whatwouldthatreallygethim?Sandersalsoisdisadvantagedbythenation’spublichealthcrisis,whichlimitshisabilitytocampaignandholdthebigralliesthathavedefinedhiscampaignboththiscycleandlast. Yes,thereisadebatescheduledforSundaynight.Biden,ashakyperformer,couldfallonhisfaceandgiveDemocratsbuyer’sremorse.ButthecushionBidenhasbuilt,andwilladdto,isgettingsolargethatSanderscan’treasonablyhopetocatchup.OverthepasttwoTuesdays,statesthatpossessmorethan40%ofthetotalpledgeddelegateshavespoken.NextTuesday,fourmorestateswith15%ofthedelegateswillamplify,inalllikelihood,themessagefromthosestates:TheDemocratshaveseenenough,andtheypreferBidentoSanders.

Virus on the elections In1845,Congressestablishedthe“TuesdaynextafterthefirstMondayinNovember,ineveryfourthyearsucceedingeveryelectionofaPresidentandVicePresi-dent”asthedaytoholdapresidentialelection.In2020,that’sTuesday,Nov.3.ButjustasCongresssetthisdate,Congresscanchangeit.TheUnitedStatesConstitutiongivestheCongresstheauthoritytoregulatepresidentialelectionsandprovidesthattheCongressmaydeterminethe“time”ofchoosingpresidentialelectors.Withanyluck,virusfearswillbewellbehindusbythetimeAmericanscasttheirvotesinthefall.Butjustasthepublicbenefitsfromarenewedfocusoneffortstoreducethespreadofgerms,theCongressandU.S.electionadministratorswillalsobenefitfromthisopportunitytofocusonaddressingtheseissuesinthevotingprocessmanymonthsaheadoftheactualelection.ThecloserthisdiscussioncomestoElectionDay,themorepartisanitwillbecome.SonowisthetimetodiscussfromapublichealthperspectivewhetherandhowtoconductapresidentialelectioninthetimeofCOVID-19.v

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Mark Bennett, Terre Haute Tribune-Star:VigoCountyhasbuiltareputationforbeingamirrorofAmeri-canpresidentialpolitics.It’staken132yearstodevelopthatniche.Itmaytakejustfouryearstoendit.Ironi-cally,Vigocouldloseitsstatusasthenation’sbellwethercountyforthesamereasonitearnedthatdistinc-tion—thecountymirrorstherestofthecountry.Americansgrewmorepolarizedthroughthe21stcentury.Somehow,VigoCountyvotersavoidedsuchheightenedpoliticalrigidity.Until2016.PoliticalflexibilityhadallowedamajorityofVigovoterstofavorthewinningpresidentialcandidateineveryelectiondatingbackto1888,excepttwo.NootherU.S.countycomesclose.“Vigoactuallyisprettyimpressive,”saidDaveLeip,anMIT-trainedengineerwhooperatesthe“AtlasofU.S.Presiden-tialElections”websitefromMassachusetts.Indeed,VigoCountiansbackedRepublicanGeorgeW.Bushtwice,thenDemocratBarackObamatwice,andthenRepubli-canDonaldTrumpin2016.Thatpendu-lumswungjustaswidelythroughoutthelate-19thand20thcenturies,too.Trump’s2016victorybroughtanewtwist.Ofthe40,699peoplecastingballotsinVigoCounty,16,844votedstraight-party—allRepublican,allDemocraticorallLibertar-ian,accordingtoVigoCountyClerk’sOfficefigures.Straight-partyballotsaccountedfor41.5%ofallballotscast.Twoyearslater,in2018’snon-presidentialmidtermelection,analmostidentical41.4%ofVigoresidentsvotedstraight-party.That’sasignificantsurge.Isincreasedpartisanshipthecause?It’shardtoknowforsure.Butstraight-partyvotingnevertopped34%inanymidtermorpresidentialelectionfrom1998through2014.StaunchRepublicansinVigoCountyseemtohavegrowninnumber,too.Straight-partyRepublicanvotersslightlyoutnumberedstraight-partyDemocratsin2016and2018forthefirsttimesinceatleast1998andperhapsever.“InTerreHaute,that[growthinstraight-partyvoting]hasbenefitedRepublicansandwillcontinuetobenefitRepub-licans,”saidJimBopp,aTerreHauteattorneyforTrump’snationalcampaign.Infact,Boppadded,“Ithinkit’sper-fectlyconceivablethatinarelativelyshortamountoftime,TerreHautewillbemoreRepublicanthanthenation.”v

Robert Schlesinger, NBC News:Themiddleofthecoronaviruscrisisisoneoftherarecircumstancesduringwhichthepresidentialbullypulpitcouldreallymakeadifference,thankstoacombinationofaneedforpubliceducationandreasonedcalm.Trumpfailsinbothaspectsofthatcalculus.Hehasoftenbeenafontofdangerousnonsense,ashewasFridayduringhisramblingandoftenmisleadingcommentsattheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionortheappearancewhereheseemedtobelievethatthenovelcoronavirusisjustanexoticspe-ciesofflu(it’snot).Andhehasconsistentlydownplayed

thesituation’sseriousness,mixingbothnothing-to-see-hereassurancesaimedatpacifyingthestockmarketandself-congratulationaimedatvoters.Forinstance,“We’vehadtremendoussuccess,tremendoussuccessbeyondwhatmanypeoplewould’vethought,”hesaidinaFeb.26

pressconference,assertingthattherisktoAmeri-cansfromthecoronaviruswas“verylow.”Sincethen,thenumberofconfirmedU.S.coronaviruscaseshasgrownfrom60tomorethan500andthenumberofU.S.deathshasgonefromzeroto22.ButTrump’stunehasnotchanged:“Wehave

aperfectlycoordinatedandfinetunedplanattheWhiteHouseforourattackonCoronaVirus,”hetweetedSunday.(HisNeromemeonSundayanddeaths-happen-but-life-

goes-ontweetMondaydidnotimprovematters.)Meanwhile,thepresidenthasopenlytalkedaboutkeepingU.S.passengersonacruiseshipincoastalwatersbecause“Ilikethenumbers[ofinfections]wheretheyare”andhedidn’twantthemtorise.Optics,inotherwords,aremoreimportanttohimthanreality.Butthecoronavirusisnotamarketingchallengeon“TheAp-prentice”;it’safast-movingpub-lichealthemergency.Andwhile

TrumplongagoshreddedwhateverpersonalcredibilityhehadwithmanyAmericans,hisobsessionwithshort-termperceptionsparticularlyhampersthegovernment’sabilitytodealwiththecrisis.”v

Mitch Daniels, Washington Post: Thecheerywomangrabbedmeonmywaytothestage.Shecouldn’twaittotellmethat,afteralongcareerintheWashingtonarea,shewasmovingtotheMidwest.Aboutthegreathouseshefoundathalfthepriceandafractionofthepropertytax.Thequick,easytripstowork,storesandeverywhereelse.It’sanincreasinglyfamiliarstory.TheeventIwasattendingwasaCNBC-sponsoredprogramtitled“GrowthintheHeartland,”acontradictionintermsformostofthepasthalf-century,butnowarealphenom-enonandapossiblelong-termtrend.StudiesnowdetailtheresurgenceofahostofMidwesterncitiessuchasKan-sasCity,Mo.,andMinneapolis,includingsomeinwhathasbeencalledtheRustBelt,suchasColumbus,Ohio,andMadison,Wis.NetdomesticmigrationfromtheNortheastnowrunsmorethan350,000peryear;Californiaislosingpopulation,andlikelyacongressionaldistrict,forthefirsttimeinitshistory.Thesechangesaremorethanjustapendulumswinging.Someoftheturnaroundistheprod-uctofconscious,thoughtfulpublicpolicy.PlacessuchasWisconsin,Michigan,OhioandmyhomestateofIndianahavebuiltsomeofthecountry’smostbusiness-friendlyclimates.Manyhavereformedandstrengthenedpubliceducationandseenpositiveresults.v

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5 new virus casespushes state to 11 INDIANAPOLIS—FivemorepeopleinIndianahavebeensickenedbythecoronavirus,includ-ingthreeinthesamesuburbanIndianapoliscounty,boostingthestate’stallyofcasesto11,healthofficialssaidWednes-day(IndianaPublicMedia).JohnsonCountyhasthreepresumptiveposi-tivecasesofCOVID-19,thediseasecausedbythevirus,andnorth-centralIndiana’sHowardCountyhasone,thestateDepartmentofHealthsaid.AfifthnewcaseofCOVID-19wasannouncedWednesdayafternoonbyhealthofficialsinnorthernIndiana’sSt.JosephCounty-anadultmalewhoisquarantinedathishometestedpositiveforthecoronavirus,saidDr.MarkFox,thecounty’shealthofficer.Hewastestedoutsideaprivateoutpa-tientclinicin“adrive-throughsitu-ation,”Foxsaid.“Hecametothepark-inglotofanoutpatientfacilityandthehealthcareprovider,inappropriatepersonalprotectivegear,wentouttotheindividual’scarandobtainedthenecessaryspecimensfortesting,”Foxsaid.ThestateDepartmentofHealth’sonlinedashboardforCOVID-19casesstillshowed10casesstatewideasofWednesdayeveningbasedontestsperformedbytheagency’slaboratory,butspokeswomanJeniO’Malleysaidithopes“toexpanditinthefuturetocapturetests”thatprivatelabsreportto the state.

Big 10 bans crowdsfor tournament INDIANAPOLIS—TheBigTenConferenceannouncedWednes-dayeveningthatbeginningThursday,March12,2020,attendanceatallBigTenMen’sBasketballTournamentgameswillbelimitedtostudent-athletes,coaches,eventstaff,es-sentialteamandConferencestaff,TVnetworkpartners,credentialedmedia,

andimmediatefamilymembersoftheparticipatingteams(WLFI-TV).Addi-tionally,allfurtherBigTenConferencewinterandspringsportcompetitions,includingchampionship/tournament

events,willalsobelimitedtostudent-athletes,coaches,eventstaff,essentialteamandConfer-encestaff,TVnetworkpartners,credentialedmedia,andim-mediatefamilymembersoftheparticipatingteams.

NBA suspendsseason due to virus NEWYORK—TheNBAsus-pendeditsseasonafteraUtahJazzplayertestedpositiveWednesdayforthe coronavirus (ESPN).“TheNBAissuspendinggameplayfollowingtheconclusionof[Wednesday’s]sched-uleofgamesuntilfurthernotice,’’theleaguesaidinastatementissuedshortlyafter9:30p.m.ET.“TheNBAwillusethishiatustodeterminenextstepsformovingforwardinregardtothecoronaviruspandemic.’’

Trump announcesEurope travel ban WASHINGTON—PresidentTrumpannounceda30-daybanonsometravelfromEuropeintotheU.S.andsaidhewouldacttoofferfinan-cialassistancetothoseaffectedbythecoronaviruspandemicrapidlyspread-ingacrossthecountryandaroundtheworld(WallStreetJournal).Mr.Trump,inanationaladdressfromtheOvalOfficeonWednesday,saidthetravelsuspensionwouldbeginFridayat11:59p.m.andwouldexcludetheU.K.Hesuggestedtherestrictionswouldalsoapplytocargo,buttheWhiteHouselatersaidtheyappliedonlytopeopleanddeclinedtoanswerotherquestions.“Therestrictionstopspeoplenotgoods,”Mr.Trumplatertweeted.Hoursaftertheaddress,theStateDepartmentadvisedU.S.citizensagainstalltravelabroad,eventocountriesnotyetexperiencinganoutbreak.Thedepartmentwarnedofmandatoryquarantines,travelrestric-

tionsandothermeasuresthatcouldcomplicateinternationaltravel.“Thisisnotafinancialcrisis,”Mr.Trumpsaid.“Thisisjustatemporarymo-mentintimethatwewillovercomeasanation,andasaworld.”U.S.stockfuturesandglobalstockmar-kets dropped after the president announcedthenewtravelrestrictions.

BSU cancelsin-person classes MUNCIE—BallStateUniver-sityonWednesdaycanceledin-personclassesfortherestofspringsemesterinresponsetogrowingconcernwiththecoronavirusthatisnowaglobalpandemic(Muncie Star Press).Presi-dentGeoffreyS.MearnsannouncedonWednesdaynighttheuniversityishaltingface-to-faceinstructionaswellassuspendingfromMarch16untilApril30alluniversity-sponsored/fundedeventsof100peopleormore.Nodecisionhasbeenmadeyetoncommencementthisspring.

Biden cancelsChicago rally CHICAGO—JoeBiden’spresi-dentialcampaignhascanceledeventsplannedforhereonFriday,includingtwohigh-profilefundraisersandapublicrally,inthewakeofgrowingfearsaboutthecoronavirusoutbreakandjustdaysbeforeIllinois’March17primary(Politico).“Thehealthandsafetyofthepublicisournumberonepriority,”Biden’scampaignsaidinastatement.“Wehavebeenandwillcontinuetoconsultwithrelevantofficials,includingourrecentlyan-nouncedPublicHealthAdvisoryCom-mittee,regardingstepsthecampaignshouldtaketominimizehealthrisksforstaffandsupporters.”

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