tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post16274102535197186..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-35810872762204924092016-02-19T12:57:09.707-05:002016-02-19T12:57:09.707-05:00Great post, Gary. The one thing I would add or emphasize is the stupidity of the Pence administration for how they handled this. The General Assembly enacted the Regional Cities program and funded it at $84 million, and everybody was on board with the program and funding levels. But somewhere, somehow, the dunces in the Governor&#39;s office decided that despite the legislative appropriation for $84 million, they could go ahead and spend an additional $42 million and award a third grant. Say what you want about the current General Assembly, but if there is anything I learned in Govt Administration 101 it is about legislative appropriations/authorizations. I mean, who made the decision that it would be ok to add 50% to a budget authorization without legislative approval? Is the Governor&#39;s policy and budget staff so dense that they would miss the red flags on such a decision? <br /><br />I have no doubts that in the end, the General Assembly will come up with the additional funds, but I think they should make the Pence folks suffer and twist in the wind for this bone-headed decision...and if they can get their roads bill and funding through as a condition to fund the Regional Cities appropriation, so be it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-25794153014899094562016-02-19T09:21:08.744-05:002016-02-19T09:21:08.744-05:00It would be nice to know the prosecutors definition of kickbacks and bribery. <br />I give over $10,000 in Political contributions and receive over 80% of my development public funded and that is not a kickback or bribery? <br /><br />&quot;The project is expected to cost about $40 million. In addition to the $4.1 million from the city, the project is being funded with about $17 million in federal New Markets Tax Credits, about $5 million in local equity, and about $5.5 million in state Community Revitalization Enhancement District (CReED) credits, Brad Toothaker, managing partner of Great Lakes Capital, told the council. The firm has also asked northeast Indiana’s Regional Development Authority for $2.8 million in Regional Cities Initiative funds to fill the final funding gap.&quot; http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Council-OK-s-Skyline-Tower-bond-11529284Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15163383258163507548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-62191299446906915922016-02-19T08:34:37.945-05:002016-02-19T08:34:37.945-05:00<br />BRIAN BOSMA MUST GO!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-43455907128735064762016-02-19T08:29:05.622-05:002016-02-19T08:29:05.622-05:00&quot; Bribes, payoffs and kickbacks are a part of the legitimate process here in Indiana--only because we have prosecutors who refuse to see them for what they are unlike other places in America.&quot; Not exactly &quot;only&quot; because a governor with more smarts would not be so constantly rolled by the permanent thieves in his political party. The hapless Ballard became a well used puppet and Mr. Pence is being used in a similar fashion? As they say in France, an Elephant with no brain and no spine is just a large bag of excrement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-81065169377601955832016-02-19T08:21:20.796-05:002016-02-19T08:21:20.796-05:00Indianapolis, Capi-toll of Corruption? See Dem &quot;Republicans&quot; expanding government by morbid proportion &amp; raising taxes- party of what?Pete Boggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12948800585492289789noreply@blogger.com