Comments on Advance Indiana™: Daniels' Triangulation

The reason major public agencies and office holder...

2007-01-07T13:37:00.000-05:00

The reason major public agencies and office holders need a lobbyist is they are the ones who can be seriously affected by legislation, and often are the ones expected to enforce or implement it. They need to have input and advice ready not just on legislation they want, but hundreds of bills others propose.

The real problem is that you can rarely have effective government employees-as-lobbyists, because you need these people to work their asses off 12 to 18 hours a day during the legislative session, and not much in the summer and fall-- summer and fall are to cultivate personal relationships with lawmakers by going to their golf outings, like it or not. You can't really work that schedule with ghost employment laws as a govt employee. Plus, the salary (40-50K/year at least and benefits (another 25K) are a problem to get a highly educated and politically astute employee. Thus a "contract lobbyist" is a much smarter choice for major public office holders. And, no, I'm not a contract lobbyist and never have been.

Incidentally, Sheriff Frank Anderson has a paid lo...

2007-01-07T09:40:00.000-05:00

Incidentally, Sheriff Frank Anderson has a paid lobbyist--Lisa Hays Murray--the wife of his general counsel, Kevin Murray.

Anon, 8:01, you're the first person I've heard des...

2007-01-07T09:36:00.000-05:00

Anon, 8:01, you're the first person I've heard describe Loftus as "far right". He was always a voice of moderation in the Goldsmith administration. One would hope that civil rights, GLBT and other organizations will step up and provide support for the legislation so he won't be going it alone.

Wilson, as long as I've lived in Indianapolis, the MCPO's office has retained a lobbyist to aid with its legislative efforts.

I'm suspicious of the Loftus connection. He's a f...

2007-01-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

I'm suspicious of the Loftus connection. He's a far-right Republican, and wouldn't likely push a bill like that. Even for money. And, the legislators know his bias...it'd be like Santa pushing Yom Kippur.

Loftus is very talented. But not credible on this issue. And if he is lobbying for Brizzi, I'm very sure he'll list it on his lobbyist reporting forms, and the lobbyist commission will do a fantastic job of monitoring all the expenses he and others incur.

You mean the Marion County Prosecutor's Office has...

2007-01-06T19:26:00.000-05:00

You mean the Marion County Prosecutor's Office has its own separate lobbyist paid for by taxpayer funds? Don't most local officials participate through their statewide associations?

Joe Loftus is the paid lobbyist for Brizzi's offic...

2007-01-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

Joe Loftus is the paid lobbyist for Brizzi's office. It is my understanding he is taking care of those details. He's very competent. I'm sure he'll do his job.

As I recall, both Greg Porter and Bill Crawford ha...

2007-01-06T15:30:00.000-05:00

As I recall, both Greg Porter and Bill Crawford have carried such bills in the past - it's good to see that Brizzi is allegedly finally getting on board...

You, and no one else, hve ocntonually hinted that ...

2007-01-06T15:07:00.000-05:00

You, and no one else, hve ocntonually hinted that Brizzi would push this legislation.

None has been filed. Who will he get to carry it? Rep. Elrod is about the only Marion County Republican who would do it, but he'll need Democrats. And three of them I spoke with last week had no idea Brizzi was behind this kind of potential legislation.

I hope he is. It's needed.