by Jim Love and Brian Daggy, Indiana Capital Chronicle
Hoosiers deserve more than platitudes, conflicts of interest and unbid contracts. We deserve leaders who answer to the people, not to a select circle of insiders with the right connections. Unfortunately, the unfolding scandal at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) proves yet again that when politics, money, and power collide, it is everyday Hoosiers who are left footing the bill.
The recent revelations about “The Three Kings” — former IEDC executive Dave Roberts, Purdue Research Foundation President Chad Pittman, and former advisor to Gov. Mitch Daniels, Paul Mitchell — should concern every taxpayer in Indiana. Over six years, entities tied to these men collected more than $180 million in taxpayer-funded grants and no-bid contracts. These weren’t isolated missteps. They were patterns of behavior, aided and abetted by a quasi-public state agency that operated in secrecy and with little accountability.
Let us be clear: while Gov. Mike Braun’s audit may have reportedly found “no criminal activity,” that is hardly a stamp of integrity. Ethical impropriety does not need to rise to the level of criminality in order to erode public trust. Rules were clearly bent, disclosures were kept behind closed doors, and oversight was bypassed. Ordinary citizens know that if you break the rules, there are consequences. Yet when politicians or their allies do it, the refrain is always the same: “Mistakes were made, but let’s move on.”
We reject that.
What message does it send if those responsible are allowed to continue cashing in on state contracts? Is the message that corruption is acceptable as long as you wear a suit and call it economic development? A factory worker who cuts corners would be fired. A farmer who failed to meet reporting requirements would lose subsidies. But insiders with access to millions in public funds are excused with a shrug. That double standard is corrosive to democracy. These findings need to be referred to the Inspector General and an investigation launched.
Braun has dubbed himself as a reformer, but his actions suggest otherwise. His administration’s first instinct was to control the narrative by hiring an out-of-state firm for nearly a million dollars to conduct a tightly managed audit, then withholding findings until after a legal review. That is not transparency; that is damage control. And when it came time to answer questions from the press, the governor literally walked away. Hoosiers see through this.
The Boone County Preservation Group cares about this issue because the IEDC was less than transparent on plans for the LEAP district in our community. The recently-released audit shows that during the review period, one-third of overall IEDC expenses went to the LEAP Project — about $495 million. Of that, $77 million went to Pure Development, which kept about $18 million for its work and paid the remainder to subcontractors. The Pure contract was awarded to them with no competition.
We believe the solution is not another round of half-measures or insider promises of “better controls.” The solution is independent oversight, free from political ties. We need further investigation from the Inspector General and an executive order banning the individuals who violated ethical norms from participating in future contracts, grants, or state business. Otherwise, bad behavior is not punished: it is rewarded.
We also believe it is time for the governor to stop pretending that this scandal is someone else’s mess. The LEAP District, the IEDC’s crown jewel, continues to swallow up farmland, deplete water resources, and saddle Hoosiers with billions in hidden costs. These deals weren’t coincidences; they happened because Indiana’s leaders, both past and present, placed secrecy and speed over accountability and stewardship.
Braun cannot phone in reform. He cannot duck out of press conferences. He cannot promise transparency with one hand while delaying reporting with the other. If he truly serves the people of Indiana, he must stand up to the very insiders who built their empire on the backs of Hoosier taxpayers.
Until that happens, we will continue to speak out. Because preserving Indiana’s farmland, our water, and our communities requires more than ribbon cuttings and glowing press releases; it requires honest leadership. And right now, that’s what’s missing at the Statehouse.
