For immediate release (670 words)   With Election 2010, the GOP controls the U.S. House with a solid majority, tightened up the Senate and made considerable gains at the state and local levels — from governors’ mansions to city councils.   In one sense, this is nothing new. It is common for the president’s party to lose seats in a mid-term election. In 1982, under President Ronald Reagan, Democrats increased their advantage in the House…

For release noon Nov. 2 and thereafter (557 words) Every few years an issue re-emerges in Indiana, one that deserves more serious, objective public debate but seems mired in emotionalism and politics. That issue this next session is full-day kindergarten for all Hoosier five-year olds. Please know there is more to it than being either for or against children. Most recently, the lead political writer for the Indianapolis Star wrote a front-page appeal to Gov.…

For release noon Oct. 26 and thereafter (670 words) On the eve of the 1800 election, a letter by Alexander Hamilton accusing John Adams of character defects and declaring him “unfit” for the presidency was leaked to Adams’ rivals. In no time, the words went viral. Consider it one of the first examples of negative campaigning. Hamilton, a Federalist like Adams, had been skeptical of the second president’s economic and foreign policy agenda but had…

For release noon Oct. 19 and thereafter (620 words) “Make a Difference Day,” also known as the National Day of Doing Good, will be this Saturday. I confess to being unaware until a year or two ago that “the day” has been an annual event since 1992, co-sponsored by USA Weekend magazine and the Points of Light Foundation. I learned about it from an insert in my electricity bill. The message from American Electric Power…

For release noon Oct. 12 and thereafter A GOP takeover of the Indiana House would put Republicans in control of redistricting in the 2011 legislature. This makes it all the more important that voters get candidates on record now. It would be way too tempting for Republicans to use their majority status to draw lines that favor their party for the next decade. Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a Republican running for the 4th District…

For release noon Oct. 5 and thereafter (780 words) The U.S. government is putting diplomatic pressure on the Chinese to permit the value of the Yuan to rise with respect to the U.S. dollar. The assumption is that if Americans pay more in dollars per unit of Chinese currency, Chinese goods would be less attractive in price, and U.S. imports would decrease. Similarly, the Chinese would find U.S. exports less expensive per Yuan, purchase more…

For release noon Sept. 28 and thereafter (655 words) In Indianapolis, a library volunteer blamed “our shortsighted taxpayer revolt and cap” for reduced hours at the Central Library Downtown. In Anderson, the business manager for the public schools blamed property tax caps for a $7.8-million shortfall. In Columbus, a street department supervisor said the caps were the reason the city ran short on sand and salt last winter to melt snow-covered roads. And in Muncie,…

For release noon Sept. 21 and thereafter In the two decades that the Indiana Policy Review Foundation has been commissioning research on public-sector unions, it has never been made clear to me why such unions exist. And now, in the middle of a recession, with union contracts straining Indiana municipal governments to the breaking point, there is need for the most serious and complete review. For public employment has grown by almost 250 percent in…

For release noon Sept. 14 and thereafter (656 words) As it turns out, the biggest issue on Election Day won’t be tax caps, Evan Bayh’s open Senate seat or Republican hopes of regaining a majority in the Indiana House. It will be turnout itself.            By all indications, voter enthusiasm Nov. 2 will dictate the outcome of all of the above.  If Democrats have a lackluster showing at the polls, if “Tea Party” conservatives turn up as…