A roundup of recent Indiana newspaper editorials

Don't forget 'moderate' U.S. voters

"Moderate" has become something of a dirty word in American politics. It's not quite clear why.

What is clear is that many of the same Republicans who argue, with cause, that Barack Obama is too liberal, that he governs from the far left, are engaged in their own competitive scramble to position themselves furthest to the political right.

Newt Gingrich's campaign might be the greatest manifestation of this. The former House Speaker likes to characterize himself as a "Reagan conservative" facing a "Massachusetts moderate."

Of course, this is the same Gingrich who compares failure by his campaign to not get on the Virginia ballot with Pearl Harbor.

His mastery of political hyperbole might be nearly unmatched in modern-day presidential campaigning.

But Gingrich is hardly alone among the party faithful in characterizing Mitt Romney as too moderate, or pinning the same label on Rick Santorum for his co-sponsorship while in the Senate of major bills with key Democrats, or Jon Huntsman for serving as U.S. ambassador to the People's Republic of China under the administration of President Obama.

And so we are left to ponder: Why has the term "moderate" become part of the language of dirty campaigning?

If the GOP hopefuls insist on a political litmus test that would place them as far to the right as they accuse Obama of being on the left, does that not leave a lot of middle ground?

And isn't that political middle ground where elections are decided and, more and more, where many Americans claim they reside? Self-proclaimed independents now outnumber Americans calling themselves Republicans or Democrats. Is it any wonder why, given the manner by which both major parties and their candidates seem to marginalize themselves?

Yes, these are the primaries, and in primaries, candidates generally aim their appeal to their respective party's base.

But the nomination is likely to be decided not later than Super Tuesday, March 6, when 10 caucuses and primaries will be held atop the 10 scheduled between now and Super Tuesday.

At that point, or some point soon thereafter, the parties' respective nominees will need to begin their migration inward, in search of those more middle -- shall we say, "moderate" — American voters.

The winner is likely to be the candidate who finds the least distance to travel.

- The (Richmond) Palladium-Item | Jan. 14

Another survey rebuts right-to- work impact

The argument that a right-to-work law in this state will bring more jobs rings hollow with release of yet another study, this one from Ball State, that concludes right-to-work is not likely to have much impact in attracting new industry and jobs to the state.

A main conclusion of the study, which looked at the effect of such laws in several states over a 75-year period, was that "the more business-friendly a state is at any given time, the more muted the enactment of a (right-to-work) law is likely to be," said economist Michael Hicks, the study's author. And he pointed out in a news release: "Indiana (now) has some of the most business-friendly regulations in the country."

Gov. Mitch Daniels, particularly, has shouted from the rooftops that Indiana's business climate is top tier, consistently ranking in the top five, or even top two or three, in surveys that measure its favorability for business.

The Republican majority in the Legislature and Daniels are pushing hard for right-to-work, which proponents argue will attract new industry and add jobs. The law is seen by opponents as essentially a union-gutting tactic that would significantly reduce union funding because it would permit workers to drop out of unions while still benefiting from union representation.

But if its effect will be minimal in attracting jobs, why the rush to impose right-to-work here unless the real intent is to further reduce not only the bargaining power of unions but their political clout, which leans heavily Democratic?

One result will be a further shift in power from the workers to the bosses — or put another way, the 99 percent will lose a little while the 1 percent will gain.

With only about one in 10 workers in Indiana belonging to unions, the law's effect will not bring a tidal wave of change. But it will tilt the power paradigm — quieting still further the collective voice of working people. That's not good in a nation where power — and wealth — have shifted so dramatically to the richest over the past 30 years.

Perhaps voters in November will actually open their eyes to that fact, and tell the politicians by way of the ballot box that they don't like it.

- The (Bloomington) Herald-Times | Jan. 17

Chilling CAFO lawsuits

Proposed legislation in the Indiana General Assembly appears crafted to give agricultural businesses special protections and could discourage citizens from exercising their right to access the courts.

House Bill 1091 was authored by Rep. William Friend, R-Macy, and co-sponsored by Rep. Donald Lehe, R-Brookston. It requires courts to award agricultural operations such as confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOs that are the subject of a nuisance lawsuit with payment of their legal fees. The proposed bill recently passed its second reading in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

One person who could benefit is Friend, a CAFO owner. He said he proposed the legislation because "one of the recurring problems that come up over and over is nuisance lawsuits. People try to delay or deter or cause extreme legal fees or just discourage someone who is trying to expand a facility, open a business or just exercise their private property rights."

The problem is, when it comes to discouraging nuisance lawsuits against any business, "there are already laws on the books that apply to everyone," said Kim Ferraro, water and agricultural policy director for the Hoosier Environmental Council. "It's unnecessary and simply serves to frighten people. It gives the CAFO industry special protection."

State law already allows awarding legal fees in the event of a frivolous lawsuit.

Ferraro said agricultural businesses, including CAFOs, are also protected specifically by the Indiana Right to Farms Act, which shields farmers from nuisance lawsuits.

Friend said his bill would change the law for CAFOs so that awarding legal fees is not left to the court's discretion. "This one says the court shall award reasonable legal fees," he points out.

Friend said under this bill, "if you persist in carrying out a lawsuit, you better be very certain you have good reason. The legal system is there for everyone. I don't want to discourage that."

Unfortunately, if the bill becomes law it likely would discourage people from exercising their legal rights.

"This sends a strong message to trial judges that CAFOs are to be protected," Ferraro said. "It adds a whole other level of threat to taking action against a CAFO. It would have a chilling effect."

Friend's bill, as well as one proposed by Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, indicates some state lawmakers want to give large agricultural operations preferential treatment. Holdman's bill would make it illegal to surreptitiously take video while visiting an agricultural operation.

"They are videotaping when they see something bad going on even if the farmer is working to rectify it," Holdman said.

Rather than hold an agricultural operation accountable if it is doing something wrong, Holdman's bill would punish the person filming the infraction.

Ferraro rightly observed that "it's a real dangerous precedent to set to protect one business above others."

- (Fort Wayne) Journal-Gazette | Jan. 16

Spotlight shines harshly on glaring transit problem

Only two predictable problems would appear to stand between a super Super Bowl experience in Indy in three weeks, and one that our visitors and we might like to forget.

The first — an ill-timed blizzard — can be prepared for in many ways, but ultimately is uncontrollable.

The second -- gridlock in Downtown and other areas of the city -- might be avoided through an effective traffic plan, carpooling and other preventive steps, but it's a serious risk in a city that has hit the big leagues in many ways but certainly not when it comes to mass transit.

Weather-related disruptions largely can be forgiven (in part because they can occur anywhere at any time and can ruin even the best host's plans).

Blame for a traffic nightmare, however, would fall squarely and harshly on the leaders and residents of this city, region and state.

It's not a secret that Indianapolis has the worst bus system — which even in its dreadful condition is still our only form of public transit -- of any major city in the nation. That's a problem 52 weeks of the year, but it's especially acute when the world comes to town by the tens of thousands.

It's far too late, of course, to do anything about mass transit ahead of next month's big event. So why discuss it now?

Because the Super Bowl is the biggest reminder yet that central Indiana has the ambition and the ability to play on the largest and most lucrative of stages. But we haven't fully invested in the tools needed to help us stay at our current level and to rise to greater heights in the future.

This year's Super Bowl might not be a one-and-done experience as many have assumed. Do it right — pull it off with the flair Indy has demonstrated with NCAA Final Fours, the Big Ten basketball tournament and major conventions — and we might very well change skeptics' thinking about cold-weather cities.

And the marketing value of the Super Bowl for this city could be unprecedented. The city has accomplished a lot in recent decades and has much to be proud of, but our image too much of the nation is still largely a blank canvas. For that reason, Super Bowl week is Indy's coming-out party — a way to introduce ourselves to talented professionals, entrepreneurs and corporate investors who either will drop in or tune in for the game but could see so much more.

But, like any urban area, we have our weaknesses — and one of our biggest is having no viable alternative to using a car to get almost everywhere we have to go. The lack of a reliable bus system separates employers from potential workers, undercuts neighborhoods in the urban core, makes it harder for students to get to university campuses, and pollutes the air.

A bill now before the General Assembly would enable residents of Hamilton and Marion counties to vote for an investment in a greatly enhanced bus system along with the beginnings of rail service. Unfortunately, it's gained little traction so far.

State Rep. Jeff Espich, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, recently said on that he doesn't think the bill has enough support to pass, even though it doesn't ask legislators to do anything but let local communities decide their own future.

Espich says he wants to hear more support for the bill before he will bring it to a vote.

Central Indiana residents and their leaders should take him up on that request. It's time to put transit on a fast track.

- The Indianapolis Star | Jan. 15