Renee Wilmeth - Howey Politics

Search only accepts letters and numbers.

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Renee Wilmeth: Libertine's Brown steps up for fed employees

INDIANAPOLIS — As of midnight on Tuesday, the federal government failed to submit payroll, meaning no paychecks will be issued on Friday. We are beyond the “partial” shutdown as funding expires for many agencies, and more than 20,000 federal employees in Indiana go unpaid. Many Hoosiers facing an actual crisis, not the manufactured one coming from the White House. To add insult to injury, federal employees deemed “essential” such as TSA agents and air traffic controllers will continue working without pay for the duration of the stoppage. The failure of leadership on every level during this shutdown hasn’t been the surprise. The surprise has been the incredible lack of empathy from many business leaders, as if getting a paycheck from the United States Government is something employees should consider an honor. It’s as if — somehow — smart, savvy businesspeople have abandoned all common sense when it comes to a political personality they support. If a person could see past political ideology and talk-radio rhetoric to see their neighbors’ suffering, they’d witness a wholly different reality. One where households with one — or even two — government workers will be struggling to pay next month’s rent. A reality where parents are picking up part-time jobs and asking friends and family for childcare support.

Looking for something older? Try our archive search

Beau Bayh makes campaign debut

“The first home I went home to in Indianapolis was the Governor’s Mansion, which is proof that Democrats can win in Indiana.” - Beau Bayh, campaigning on behalf of Democrat gubernatorial nominee Woody Myers. He is the son of former governor and senator Evan Bayh. In October 1984, a young Evan Bayh barnstormed the state with underdog gubernatorial hopeful Wayne Townsend ("Go get 'em, Wayne"). When the pair appeared at the Elkhart Truth, reporter (and future Bayh) staffer Phil Schermerhorn asked Bayh, "Evan, what are you running for?"). In 1986, Evan Bayh won the secretary of state's office, then ended the GOP's 20-year gubernatorial dynasty two years later. With Hoosier Democrats barely above the Libertarians in the party pecking order (Donald Rainwater is running TV and radio ads; Myers isn't), the young Bayh's appearance will stoke up speculation that it may take a third-generation Bayh to restore Indiana Democrats to major party status.

Trump nominates Judge Barrett for SCOTUS

"The flag of the United States is still flying at half-staff in memory of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to mark the end of a great American life. Justice Ginsburg began her career at a time when women were not welcome in the legal profession. But she not only broke glass ceilings, she smashed them. Justices Scalia and Ginsburg disagreed fiercely in print without rancor in person. In both my personal and professional relationships, I strive to meet that standard. Judges are not policy makers and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold." - 7th Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump's U.S. Supreme Court nominee, on the friendly relationship between the late Associate Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who she hopes to replace. President Trump said, "She is a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the Constitution." The South Bend resident and former Notre Dame Law professor will appear in the Senate for her first confirmation hearing on Oct. 12. Republicans hope to have her confirmed prior to the Nov. 3 election. If confirmed, she would become the second Hoosier to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, joining Associate Justice Sherman Minton, who served from 1949 to 1956. Chief Justice John G. Roberts is a native of Long Beach.

HPI Video Feed

The HPI Breaking News App
is now available for iOS & Android!

Renee Wilmeth: Libertine's Brown steps up for fed employees