Indiana Office of Management and Budget Director Cris Johnston offered the following statement regarding the revenue forecast discussed at today’s State Budget Committee meeting:
“We are grateful for the work of the revenue forecasting committee. With this updated information, the state of Indiana can continue its strong fiscal position, protect our AAA credit ratings, fund our priorities, maintain the necessary reserves, and plan responsibly for the future.â€
By John Krull
TheStatehouseFile.comÂ
INDIANAPOLIS – If there was any doubt that we now live in strange, sad times, these last days have dispelled it.
On the day before he was to become only the third president in American history to be impeached, Donald Trump sent House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, a six-page letter. The kindest word one can use to describe the letter is “unhinged.â€
John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com
The letter rambled. It railed. It dropped the f-bomb, decorously clad with asterisks. It sprinkled in other obscenities, uncloaked and naked to the eye. It scattered lies and distortions across its pages with the careless regard of a small child kicking pebbles on a gravel road. It delivered vague, impotent threats.
In all ways, it was a temper tantrum, settled into incoherent prose and printed on the letterhead of the greatest elected office of the greatest nation in the world.
In just about any other circumstance, if someone sent such a missive to a colleague or even a competitor, the result would be dismissal or legal action.
But this is not any other circumstance.
This is life in Donald Trump’s America, where the rule of law, the niceties of common courtesy and basic considerations of human decency have been discarded.
We now are free to be as nasty and disconnected from reality as the worst of us wish to be.
We see that here in Indiana.
At almost the same time the president of the United States was delivering his obscenity-laden letter to the speaker of the House, the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission recommended that Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s law license be suspended for two years.
The commission’s recommendation is the product of another disturbing, depressing saga. At a party marking the end of the 2018 legislative session, Hill – according to more than 20 witnesses – got drunk. He gripped and groped a series of women – including a state legislator – who complained.
Just about every political leader in Indiana called for Hill to resign.
Hill refused.
Investigations have followed, along with litigation. All have confirmed Hill’s boorish conduct – and in fact established that it began long before he became attorney general.
Hill’s defense throughout has been classically Trumpian.
Everyone else is lying.
Everyone else is wrong.
Everyone else is to blame.
At the heart of Hill’s argument is the contention that he’s entitled – that, in fact, he deserves – to be the face of Indiana law enforcement so long as he’s not behind bars.
There are many people who are angry about all of this, and no one should deny them the right to their anger.
But it leaves me with a sense of tremendous sadness.
That the president of the United States has elevated what therapists would call denial into a legal defense and chosen to use projection as a rallying cry is the stuff of tragedy.
Watching relatively low-level hacks such as Curtis Hill, as if infected by a communicable disease, transform the president’s approach into both playbook and Bible only deepens the sense of gloom.
We’re about to watch an impeachment process in which Republicans, to defend this president, say they don’t want witnesses. They don’t want documentation. They don’t want to know the truth.
They even boast that they don’t care about the truth.
This is the party of Lincoln. Of Theodore Roosevelt. Of Eisenhower. Of Reagan.
All were forces, powerful, directed men who approached the great office they inhabited with equally great dignity. They saw the presidency as a public trust, not an entitlement. They rarely, if ever, indulged in the kind of self-pity in which the current occupant of the Oval Office routinely engages.
It is impossible to imagine anyone of them sending a letter to anyone, much less the speaker of the House, like the one Donald Trump sent to Nancy Pelosi.
The commitment Republicans have made to defend this president at all costs now comes more and more to resemble a political suicide pact. The more the president revs up his base, the more he and other Republicans alienate moderates in the suburbs, where the next several elections will be fought and won.
He diminishes a great office and shrinks and demeans a great political party before our eyes, and everyone seems powerless to stop it from happening.
Strange days.
Sad days.
FOOTNOTE: John Krull is the director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
This week, a federal appeals court struck down a key component of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, by ruling that the federal government cannot require Americans to purchase health insurance. This decision comes after Indiana and several other states challenged the law’s constitutionality. In response to Wednesday’s court ruling, Attorney General Curtis Hill today released the following statement:
“This law’s incompatibility with the Constitution is the reason my office chose to challenge it. From the beginning, the Affordable Care Act amounted to federal overreach. Congress should never have imposed this one-size-fits-all mandate in the first place. Choice, freedom and the roles of the individual states must remain part of the health care equation in America.
“Beyond violating the Constitution, the Affordable Care Act also has failed on a practical level to achieve its stated aims. It has narrowed people’s health care options and driven up costs.
“At this point, Americans now must engage with the question of where U.S. policymakers should go from here. Congress, the Trump administration and the 50 state legislatures all have important parts to play. President Trump has expressed support for the latest court decision and pledged to keep working ‘to give the American people the best health care in the world.’
“All Americans — not just the 85 to 90 percent covered by their employers and/or Medicare/Medicaid — should have access to quality health care that they can afford. While remaining true to the Constitution, Congress and the individual states now must develop sound policies that safeguard the health care needs of all individuals, including those with pre-existing conditions.â€
The University of Southern Indiana will host Dr. Angela Davis, a distinguished professor, activist and social justice advocate, as the keynote speaker for its 2020 Nelson Mandela Social Justice Day at 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 5 in Carter Hall. Davis’ presentation, “Democracy and Civil Engagement,†will be free and open to the public as space allows. An activism fair featuring USI and community organizations will be held in the Carter Hall concourse beginning at 2 p.m. prior to the keynote address.
Davis is the author of nine books and has lectured throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America. In recent years, a persistent theme of her work has been the range of social problems associated with incarceration and the generalized criminalization of those communities that are most affected by poverty and racial discrimination. She draws upon her own experiences in the early seventies as a person who spent eighteen months in jail and on trial, after being placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted List.†Davis has also conducted extensive research on numerous issues related to race, gender and imprisonment. Her most recent book is Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement.
Davis’ teaching career has taken her to San Francisco State University, Mills College and the University of California, Berkeley. She also has taught at UCLA, Vassar, the Claremont Colleges and Stanford University. She spent the last fifteen years at the University of California, Santa Cruz where she serves as Distinguished Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness, an interdisciplinary Ph.D program, and of Feminist Studies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French and philosophy from Brandeis University, a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of California, San Diego and a doctorate in philosophy from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.
The University of Southern Indiana has sponsored the Nelson Mandela Social Justice Day and Speaker Series since 2014. The goal of these events is to raise dialogue at USI around current issues of human and civil rights, public service, and activism through diverse, dynamic, nationally, and internationally known public intellectuals and academics. Previous speakers include authors Tim Wise and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, community organizer Tia Oso and activist and academic Dr. Cornel West.
For more information, visit the Mandela Social Justice Day website at USI.edu/liberal-arts/special-programs/mandela-social-justice-day/ or contact Dr. Sakina Hughes, associate professor of history and chair of the Mandela Social Justice Commemoration Committee, at shughes1@usi.edu.
Indiana Medicaid Awarded $5.2 million CMS Grant Addressing Maternal Opioid Use
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration today announced it is receiving $5.2 million in grant dollars to improve the coordination of clinical care and the integration of other services that are critical for maternal and child health, well-being and sustained recovery. The grant is part of the Maternal Opioid Misuse Indiana initiative, which is a cooperative agreement between FSSA and the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that address opioid use disorder in pregnancy. Today CMS announced Indiana as one of ten states selected to receive funding under the Maternal Opioid Misuse model.
“There are many difficulties that pregnant women with substance use disorders face. The goal of this grant is to make sure that navigating health care is not one of them,†said Dan Rusyniak, M.D., FSSA chief medical officer.
FSSA has partnered with its four Medicaid managed care programs (Anthem, CareSource, MDwise and MHS) on a four-pronged approach:
“Through this novel program we will address two critical initiatives in this administration: lowering infant mortality and attacking the drug epidemic,†said Jennifer Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H., FSSA secretary. “This exciting project highlights Indiana’s emphasis on cross-agency and community partnerships to address our most pressing public health issues. Through collaborations like the MOMII project, Indiana continues to be a national leader in health care reform.â€
FSSA will work closely with the Indiana State Department of Health and the OB Navigator program to coordinate services for those women who qualify for both programs.Â
Yolanda Obaze, PhD, assistant professor of supply chain management and director of the UE Center for Supply Chain Management, was awarded Best Theoretical Paper of the Year at the 50th annual Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) Conference, November 23 – 25, 2019.
The Decision Sciences Institute is a global society of more than 2,700 academics and practitioners dedicated to creating, developing, fostering, and disseminating knowledge to improve managerial decisions and decision-making involving systems and people. The Institute, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary this year, hosts an annual conference to achieve its mission. The conference, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, was themed on “Transforming Decision Sciences Through Emergent Technologies.”
Obaze’s paper, titled “The Social innovation of community-based logistics and supply chain management,” was one of more than 200 submitted, and was the winner of the Theoretical Paper Category.
The abstract for the paper reads: “The application of logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) into community-based initiatives allows for the collaboration of mixed social and economic networks and the innovative and improved movement of value-added resources to end-consumers in underserved communities. The literature review paper introduces a conceptual framework, accessible to scholars and practitioners that describe how the existing, dynamic and innovative capabilities of using LSCM supports social innovation and further creates social value in the community-based context. The proposed framework offers a basis for further empirical studies.
The University of Southern Indiana’s Women’s Head Coach Keely Porter announced the newest additions to the 2019-20 team on Tuesday afternoon. Two of the latest signees are Rachel McCorkle (Tulsa, Oklahoma) and Lauren Rowe (Terre Haute, Indiana). McCorkle and Rowe both signed in November.
McCorkle attended Jenks High School before deciding on USI. McCorkle was a member of the LaFortune 18U team that placed third nationally in 2016. At the same venue, McCorkle as a singles player proceeded to go undefeated in the respective tournament. McCorkle has been recognized for her sportsmanship, receiving honors from the USTA Oklahoma District both in 2016 and 2017. She was also ranked among the top 18 girls in the Missouri Valley Section in 2018.
Coach Porter noted, “Rachel will be a nice addition to my team next fall. She will make an immediate impact in both singles and doubles, bringing solid groundstrokes and a nice lefty serve. Rachel has good intensity and focus, and I know she will enjoy the encouraging environment my team provides.â€
Rowe comes to USI after attending South Vigo High School while playing for the varsity tennis team for all four years. In her freshman year Rowe went to the first round of the state tournament where she received an all-state honorable mention and all-district honors. Sophomore year, Rowe was a singles sectional and regional champion which lead to the all-state second team and all-district honors. Junior year, Rowe claimed both singles sectional and regional titles and again was awarded all-state second team and all-district honors.
Rowe currently sits at ninth in the Central Indiana United States Tennis Association 18U rankings as well as 8th in the USTA’s 18U recruit rankings. Rowe was recognized for her display of sportsmanship at the ‘Just in Tennis’ Midwest Regional tournament in 2017. Rowe also helped capture an 18U Midwest Regional title while on the USTA Junior Tennis Team in 2019.
Coach Porter had this to say about Rowe, “I am excited to have another Terre Haute South player join my team next fall. Lauren has been mentored by THS grad Lauren Hambrock, my senior who will graduate this spring. Like Hambrock, I anticipate Lauren Rowe will develop into one of my top players. Lauren also brings solid groundstrokes and continues to work on aggressive game plans and gaining more doubles experience.â€
USI Women’s Tennis will open up GLVC play when they host Bellarmine March 27 after the new year
Aces Open The Seasons On February 7
University of Evansville head softball coach Mat Mundell has announced his 2020 schedule, which includes seven NCAA Tournament participants and is highlighted by the 2020 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament being played at Cooper Stadium.
“We are really excited to be able to release our schedule for the 2020 softball season,†Mundell said. “I feel like we have a really good non-conference slate with some good mid-majors and a few Power 5 teams. We feel like this helps us to prepare for what is always a tough Missouri Valley Conference schedule.â€
Opening weekend will begin on Friday, February 7 when the Purple Aces travel to the Total Control Sports Invitational in Rosemont, Ill. The Aces open up with a tough test against Miami Ohio. The RedHawks were 35-16 last season while going 16-4 in Mid-American Conference play on their way to the regular-season championship. The Aces wrap up opening day with a game against Butler. On Feb. 8, UE faces Western Illinois and IUPUI before taking on Green Bay in Sunday’s finale.
Up next is a trip to Mobile, Alabama for the Jaguar Challenge. Louisiana Tech will be the first opponent on Feb. 14; the Bulldogs won 45 games a season ago and were 19-5 in Conference USA. They won their conference tournament and played in the Baton Rouge Regional. The day wraps up with a game against Austin Peay, who won 33 games last season. On Saturday the 15th, Evansville takes on Louisiana Tech for the second time before facing host South Alabama in the finale of the day and on Sunday.
The third weekend of action will see the Aces head to a tournament in Statesboro, Ga. Hosted by Georgia Southern. Evansville opens up against Furman and Georgia Southern on an opening day before facing Furman and Maryland on Feb. 22. Sunday’s final day pits the Aces against Monmouth, who picked up 36 wins last year and were MAAC Champions, advancing to play in the Baton Rouge Regional.
February wraps up with the Blues City Classic in Memphis, Tenn. On Feb. 28, the Aces take on North Alabama, who was 26-20 a season ago. On the 29th, Evansville takes on a pair of solid squads in Northern Illinois and Northwestern State, who won 27 and 30 games, respectively last year. A contest against host Memphis will open the month of March.
In their final non-conference weekend tournament, UE travels to Louisville for the Red & Black Challenge. A tough field features three postseason teams from 2019. The Aces open up against Oakland University on Friday, March 6 before wrapping up the day against Northwestern. The Wildcats are coming off of a 47-win campaign that saw them go 21-2 in the Big Ten. They fell to Oklahoma in the Super Regionals. On the 7th, UE takes on Oakland once against before facing Illinois. The Fighting Illini had 33 wins last year and earned a berth in the Lexington Regional. Louisville is the final opponent of the weekend and earned 35 wins last year on their way to the NCAA Tournament and the Evanston Regional.
Home action begins with a non-conference game against Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday, March 10. It will be the start of an 8-game homestand. Missouri Valley Conference play begins on March 14 against UNI at Cooper Stadium. The Panthers come to Evansville for a 3-game set and are following up a 28-win campaign in 2019.
Drake is up next on March 21-22. The defending Valley champions were 43-16 in 2019 and won 24 out of 26 games in the league.   The home stretch is completed on March 24 against Austin Peay.
Three road MVC weekends follow with the Aces heading to Illinois State (March 28-29), Loyola (April 4-5) and Valparaiso (April 10-11). A doubleheader at Indiana State on April 15 completes the trip. UE returns home for three games against Missouri State on April 18-19. Indiana State makes the return trip to Evansville for a single game on April 21.
Bradley will mark the final road trip of the regular season. The Aces and Braves meet up in Peoria on April 25-26. Evansville matches up against Western Kentucky on Tuesday, April 28. The Hilltoppers had a strong 37-win campaign in 2019. In the regular-season home finale, UE plays host to Southern Illinois on May 3-4. The Salukis earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament last season.
