McCain Jumps off the High Road!

In an attempt to lay down a marker on racially-motivated tactics, McCain campaign sends word that the candidate himself sent a strongly-worded email to North Carolina GOP chair Linda Daves regarding their anti-Obama ad.

Dear Chairman Daves,

From the beginning of this election, I have been committed to running a respectful campaign based upon and honest debate about the great issues confronting American today. I expect all state parties to do so as well. The television advertisement you are planning to air degrades our civics and distracts us from the very real differences we have with the Democrats. In the strongest terms, I implore you to not run this advertisement.

This ad does not live up to the very high standards we should hold ourselves to in this campaign. We need to run a campaign that is worthy of the people we seek to serve. There is no doubt that we will draw sharp contrasts with the Democrats on fundamental issues critical to the future course of our country. But we need not engage in political tactics that only seek to divide the American people.

Once again, it is imperative that you withdraw this offensive advertisement.

John McCain

But, as McCain plainly recognizes above, this is very much a double-edge issue that could bring serious blowback to the Republican party.

Contributor: Jonathan Martin, North Carolina

April 29, 2008

Senator John McCain came out swinging against the Rev. Jeremiah Wright yesterday and suggested Sen. Barack Obama's relationship with the controversial minister was "beyond belief."

We point out that Obama told Fox News Sunday that he thought criticism of his involvement with Wright was fair.

* Wright was asked about his relationship to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and his racially divisive statements: Wright said he doesn't always agree with Farrakhan but praised him as a man to whom black America listen."

* Wright added hes own critique of Obama: "He has to distance himself because he's a politician," Obama has to say what people want to hear and do what they do based on electability, sound bits, and based on polls.

* Why tell your congression that AIDS was a government conspiracy to commit genocide on African-Americans?

* "American chickens are coming home to roost"

* On whether Wright should apologize for shouting in a sermon it's not "God Bless America" but "God Damn America" for it's treatment of minorities.

Will this turn off (white) blue collar working Indiana voters?

Absolutely!

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

The civil war was an apology for slavery and a way to make amends. The Civil Rights movement was a movement that tried to further equalize race relations.

What does Rev. Wright want our country to do?

We have never owned a slave. None of the immigrants who came through Ellis Island had slaves. Don't stereotype all whites as descendants of slave owners. Many of our great grandparents came to America poor and hungry and worked up from nothing.

We agree with McCain when he stated: "Obama's relations with Wright is beyond belief."

Jermiah Wright threw Obama under the bus because he knows Obama is a phony. Wright has known Obama for twenty years and he knows that Obama really agrees with his radical views, but denounced him for political expediency.

What concerns us is Obama condoned the sermons for 20 years. But NOW he's outraged.

Give us a break...Indiana voters will see right through Obama's phony so called outrage!

WHAT'S OBAMA AFRAID OF?

Hillary made the following challenge on April 26, 2008:

"But what I think the people of Indiana deserve is a real one-on-one debate where Senator Obama and I right there in Indiana to discuss these issues."

"Now I have accepted the debates that have been offered, and actually Indiana has a debate commission which kind of organizes this, make sure it's fair and nobody gets any special advantage."

I've said I'll be anywhere anytime in order to debate because I think the people of Indiana after having wandered in the wilderness of American politics for forty years deserve a debate.

So here's my proposal - I'm offering Senator Obama a chance to debate me one-on-one, no moderators.

"Just the two of us going for 90 minutes asking and answering questions. We'll set whatever rules seem fair. I think that it would give the people of Indiana, and I assume a few Americans might tune in because nearly 11 million watched the Philadelphia debate, and I think they would love seeing that kind of debate and discussion."

Obama has already turned thumbs down on a debate for North Carolina and Indiana claiming 21 television debates.

Clinton stated again today, "We've only had four debates" between the two of us.

What's Obama afraid of?

What did some bloggers call candidate Randy Hubbard when he refused to debate England? If our memory is correct, we think you all called him a coward!

So what does that make Obama?

Freedom Of Speech believes a debate would be good for the Democrat Party, it would be good for our democracy and it would be great for Indiana!

MORE CHEERS FOR THE RED, WHITE & BLUE TEAM!

Congratulations to our outstanding 5 marathon runners!

It's not the time you ran, but, you each accomplished your personal goals getting to the finish line.

Due to your hard work, conviction and determination, you 5 did what you said you would one day hope to do. So rest up team, it's time to get back to work on the campaign trail for our favorite candidates.

The clock starts ticking tomorrow for the May 6th Primary Election!

We bet you would rather be skydiving in Greece, than run another 26.2 mile marathon...right?

IT'S OUR TURN ~ INDIANA VOTERS!

Welcome to small town USA Mr. Obama, what happened in Pennsylvania?

You outspent Hillary three to one just on television advertising in Pennsylvania. You spent more than $3 million trying to get your name out and your message out to Hillary Clinton's $1 million.

You still could not beat her!

Hillary has won all of the major states (see below) so why should Obama be the nominee?

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and the Texas Primary.

We all know that if we want a Democrat President we need a Democrat nominee who can win the battleground states, just like Pennsylvania.

Obama supporters will do or say anything to try and discourage people from voting for Clinton.

What are you afraid of?

Could it be that she is a very smart woman?

Probably the fact that she would make a much better president. She sees the big picture and she takes all views into consideration. She will bring this country back to where it needs to be and help us to get back on the road to peace and prosperity.

Hillary has a social conscious that Obama only talks about and social conscious is the reason why people become Democrats!

Do your homework boys...

Obama flip flops on when he would get America out of Iraq. He, also, flip-flops on the gun issue.

He was quoted on fastcheck.com indicating that he "Obama has accepted more than $213,000 from individuals who work for companies in the oil and gas industry and their spouses.

Two of Obama's bundlers are top executives at oil companies and are listed on his Web site as raising between $50,000 and $100,000 for the presidential hopeful.

How does this work for our economy, one lie after another.

Mr. Obama, what is this so called change you keep talking about?

It's scary when the ONLY criteria for being elected/electable is "you will bring change!" Mr. Obama and his surrogate's aka supporters one question for you.

How can you change something you don't understand?

You have NO experience of even being close to the White House, you are a rookie in politics. You don't know how the system works. How are you going to change it.

What are you going to change:

* Are you going to take away a trillion dollar deficit with your slogan?

* Are you going to reduce gas prices with your slogan?

You're in Indiana now!

It's not that you called people bitter, it was the way you portrayed small town Americans as gun toting, bible thumping, ignorant people.

So how do you think the deer hunters and the fundamental Christians of Indiana feel?

The most stark distinction between Senator Clinton and Barack Obama is that she is a centrist and he is a Liberal.

This was quite evident in the last speech he gave when he lost Pennsylvania and spoke about change coming from the bottom. That is, people rising from the bottom in protest because it takes a revolution for change.

Marx is dead and this is 2008.

While Obama's rhetoric is appealing to young minds and intellectuals it does not address the most pressing issues.

American people are now facing such as rise of gasoline prices, food, health issues and the like. Hillary on the other hand is a seasoned warrior who left Marx's behind.

Our real issue is our Economy Obama.

Hillary is by far the best candidate. She understands small town people, bluecollar workers and minorities alike. She has concrete solutions to problems, not just empty rhetoric like Obama. She states how she plans to pay for her solutions unlike Obama.

You lead by example and change starts from the top Senator Obama not the bottom.

We've also traveled to other countries and we are all "damn proud" to be an American everyday!

Good GRIEF! Doesn't anyone do any research for themselves anymore?

Vote Hillary
May 6, 2008

EQUAL PAY DAY ~ APRIL 22, 2008

The US Senate may vote on legislation to fix the Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co as early as Wednesday, April 23rd! The Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would ensure that victims lf pay discrimination have a real chance to pursue their claims.

During the last few months, thousands of people around the country have worked tirelessly to help provide American workers who are victims of pay discrimination their day in court. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831). the version of the Fair Pay Restoration Act that is going to the Senate floor, remedies an erroneous Supreme Court ruling on workplace discrimination. The bill reaffirms that civil rights have legally enforceable remedies. The House has passed the bill and now the ball is in the Senate's court.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Without the "fix," the impact of the Courts decision will likely be widespread, affecting pay discrimination cases under Title VII involving women and racial and ethnic minorities, as well as cases under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and under the American with Disabilities Act.

A letter from Senator Evan Bayh:

April 21, 2008

Dear Freedom Of Speech Staff,

Thank you for contacting me regarding equal pay and pay discrimination I am grateful for your thoughts and always welcome the advice of those I am honored to represent.

I share your concerns and I believe that we must do all we can to ensure that all forms of discrimination are ended. As we approach the 21st century, the wage gap disparity between men and women should be erased. Although women's wages have increased significantly in recent years, we must not settle for better wages, but strive for equal wages.

In 1963, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act attempting to establish fair and comparable wages for African Americans and women in the workplace. The Equal Pay Act was one of several bills passed during the Civil Rights era in an effort to curb existing discriminatory practices and achieve pay equity. Unfortunately, thirty years later, there are still discrepancies in men and women's pay. On average, women earn 76 cents on the dollar of a man's salary for equivalent work.

As you know, on May 21, 2007 the United States Supreme Court ruled in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., that workers must sue for pay discrimination within six month's after the original pay-setting decision. This time limitation applies regardless of how long the unfair pay continues, even if the discrimination is ongoing, and the employee had no way of knowing that others were being paid more for the same work. As a result, workers receiving an unfairly low wages today are unable to hold the company accountable if they did not discover the discrimination soon after it first began.

Two bills dealing with this issue were introduced in the Senate in response to the Ledbetter decision. The First, S. 1928, the Equal Remedies Opportunity Act, would repeal the federal law that imposed a cap on damages awards in cases of intentional employment discrimination.

The second, S 1843, the Fair Pay Restoration Act, would start the clock for filing pay discrimination claims when compensation is received, rather than when the discrimination occurs. Each discriminatory paycheck would restart the clock for filing a discrimination claim. Workers could bring suit as long as they file their claim within six months of their most recent discriminatory paycheck.

Currently, both bills are before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP). While I am not a member of the Senate HELP Committee, please rest assured, if these bills come before the full Senate, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind.

I value your input and hope you will continue to keep me informed of the issues important to you.

Sincerely,
Senator Evan Bayh

NEWS FLASH... WELCOME CHELSEA

Freedom Of Speech is proud to announce that Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Presidential Candidate, Hillary Clinton will be in New Albany on Saturday, April 26, 2008.

Freedom Of Speech is honored to have received an invitation to attend this special event.

Also, we have learned if possible, Hillary will return to New Albany before May 6, 2008.

When:

Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 3:30PM - 5:00PM

Where:

The Grand
138 East Market Street
New Albany, In 47150

Doors open at 3:30 P.M.
Program begins at 4:00 P.M.

With Special guest:

Senator Maria Cantwell
Congresswomen Stephanie Tubbs-Jones
Congresswomen Nydia Velazquez
Dr. Alice Palmer, former State Senator
EMILY's List President and Founder Ellen Malcolm
Dolores Huerta, Community Activist
Erika Alexander, Actress
Heather Tom, Actress

Host:

"Indiana for Hillary"

THE CLOCK IS TICKING...

We property owners have a right to know:

New City Bonds to be issued

1. What funds, fees, or taxes would be used to pay off the new bonds?

2. Would the City Attorney receive a commission on the new bonds and what percent would the commission be?

3. Would the new bonds be used to pay off current bonds?

4. What projects would the new bonds be used for?

5. Would the new bonds issued be under the 2% debt limit on the city?

6. Are these bonds a way to place the debt payments on the backs of our children?

Freedom Of Speech believes we should have the backbone to operate the city like a business and not put this debt burden on our children and grandchildren.

New Tax Laws

Key provisions of HEA 1001 include:

Prohibits issuing refunding bonds after June 30, 2008 that have a maximum maturity date longer than the maximum maturity of the bonds being refunded.

Prohibits the use of savings from a refunding for any purpose other than funding a reserve, reducing levies or reducing outstanding debt.

Provides that the local issuing bodies may use surplus bond proceeds or investment earning only to maintain a debt service reserve, to pay on other bonds or to reduce taxes!

The bottom line is this:

Freedom Of Speech would like to explain the deadline this new adminstration is trying to beat and NOT have to follow the NEW LAWS effective as of July 1, 2008:

Any bonds made on or after July 1, 2008 must be used to:

* reducing levies

* reducing outstanding debt

* to pay on other bonds

* to reduce property taxes

Bond prior to this date can be used to refinance other bond. Only with our Council's approval the new adminstration can borrow all the money they want.

Freedom Of Speech would like to ask why would taxpayers want more debt and higher fees?

The clock is ticking...

NEW WHEEL TAX FOR NEW ALBANY?

Is it true that the Mayor and City Council are considering a new wheel tax on us? Do they plan to use Wheel Tax Funds to help bail New Albany out of our financial mess?

Wheel Tax:

The county council of any county may impose the motor vehicle excise surtax under IC 6-3.5-4 and the wheel tax under IC 6-3.5-5. Neither of these taxes may be in effect in a county unless the other tax is also in effect in the county.

The wheel tax applies to the following motor vehicles registered :

1. passenger vehicles

2. motorcycles and

3. trucks with a declared gross weight that does not exceed 11,000 pounds

The wheel tax may be imposed at annual rates not less than $5 per vehicle and not more than $40 per vehicle.

Freedom Of Speech agrees with Governor Daniels statement:

We need a fundamental review of the efficiency of local governmental costs.

Encourage, Review and Save.

Combine, Consolidate and Improve.

Local government should step forward and try to review and make the changes needed to help relieve the burden of taxpayers.

Combine departments and save!

FINANCIAL MESS...

The City of New Albany is $1.7 million in the red and the City Controller continues to issue checks to pay bills and salaries.

If your bank account was $500.00 in the red, would the bank allow you to write us a $100.00 check?

Our Council, Mayor and Deputy Mayor should be focusing on ways to get us out of this debt.

Don't forget that the State Street Parking Garage TIF Fund owes our EDIT Fund $3.6 million. If this $3.6 million was repaid to EDIT, those funds could be used for city projects.

This could help relieve the general fund.

THE NERVE OF THAT BARACK OBAMA !

Did you hear what he said?

Once again Obama supporters miss the point, which is why so many people are upset.

It is not that he called people bitter, but that he demeaned them by stereotyping people and saying they "cling" to guns, religion, antipathy to people who aren't like them, anti-immigration and anti-trade sentiment because they are bitter.

Barack Obama said all this at a PRIVATE millionaire fundraiser in upscale Pacific Heights CA, in a mansion. the Mansion is owned by multi-millionaire "Pakistan native and ardently Muslin Sohalb Abbasi [CEO of Informatica]"...

Barack Obama did not think anyone else would find out what he was saying since he was across the country and not in front of any cameras.

We see it as an arrogant liberal elitist politician who called small town USA a bunch of gun-toting, bible thumpers, xenophobes who are too racist and too dumb to vote for him, and he thinks they are beneath him AND the rich west coast liberals he was talking to.

Problem is, the USA is mainly small town USA!

Working-class whites don't cling to guns and religion because of a so-called bitterness. Religion and guns are part of many peoples cultural heritage.

Cultural issues like these and the left wing of the Democrat party to either understand them or appeal to those that hold these customs and issues close to their heart is why working-class whites often vote against their economic interests and go with the GOP.

With this new statement made in front of a group of "San Francisco" liberals, Sen. Obama shows just how out of touch he and his supporters truly are and why we need a "centrist" as the Democratic nominee.

If you want to see a repeat of 1972 or 1984 or 1988 or 2004, you go right ahead and vote for Obama.

If you want to save Roe v. Wade, protect the 4th Amendment, protect the environment and prevent the GOP from getting a Supreme Court majority for the rest of our lifetimes, vote for Hillary--It's just that simple.
She's the only one who can fully unite the Democratic Coalition and win the most important election in our lifetime.

We think, as perhaps a lot of other people have since forgotten is that the Clinton years were pretty damn good for everyone!

You, Lame are just another example of a male chauvinist who trembles of the thought of a female in power.

MSNBC, CNN and some local blogs all act like her candidacy is the biggest affront to the male population since "Erectile Disfunction!"

Get over it...

Our final thought:

Here's to you Hillary! Thank God that there is one Democrat left that still loves small town America and working class little people!

We also raise our whiskey glasses to Hillary too--and we are also wearing our "I am NOT bitter" stickers.

Gosh, it doesn't get much better than this in small town America!!!!!!

THERE ARE ALWAYS TWO SIDES TO AN ISSUE:

We here at Freedom Of Speech are all homeowners and we pay property taxes. Our property taxes pay salaries for every city employee and our city council.

We have a right to give our point of view on the issues.

First of all, we don't give a damn if you are a democrat or a republican.

You were elected to do your job and make decisions and vote on ordinances that affect us.

Now, as they say this is not personal, it's the fact that we have an uneducated council.

Every time we read our local newspaper or attend Council meetings, our local administration and Council members think they have a better solution than we have.

All that seems to come out of the newly elected Mayor's mouth is we need priorities.

As they say there are always two sides to every issue.

The first priority in our point of view is that each Council member should know what dollar amounts we have to work with in each fund.

Instead of teaching our new Council members about TIFs and Tax abatements they should be taught how to read the monthly financials.

Council needs to look at the proposed budget as we wait for State approval of the 2008 Budget.

Anyone connected to our current administration can come before the council and say "This is what's best for New Albany.

But is it really?

The Board members like:

Matt Dennison of the Board of Works, Elizbeth Coyle of Sewer Board and Stormwater Board and John Rosenbarger of Redevelopment Board are only a mouth piece for our mayor!

You 9 council members are the ones who "we should demand accountability" from. You make the laws by Ordinances and you appropriate our tax dollars.

Right now it is so obvious several of our new council members are playing politics.

Roll up your sleeves and start by doing your homework.

Based on your voting records, you council members are really appearing NOT to be informed.

You all sit there knowing you have promised to work with England to even get elected and then you have promised certain neighborhood groups this and the progressives that!

Wake up council members, now is the time to start doing your homework.

How can you make decisions and vote on issues, projects and appropriation of tax dollars when you do not have all your facts?

How many of you 9 council members have even contacted Charlie Pride of Indiana State Board of Accounts or anyone at DLGF?

It's obvious maybe 1 or 2 have.

For the rest of you, it is obvious you are sitting on the Council as an extra paycheck every month or because you have to vote on certain issues because you are being told to vote that way.

Just because England thinks it's best to spend 2 million dollars on Spring Street Hill, does that make it right?

England came up with his campaign promises. Does it constitute a priority to turn Spring Street and Market Street into two way streets?

If you 9 council members had done some homework you would know there was a reason why they were turned into one way streets back in the 1960's.

It was turned into one way because of high accident figures. They also have done studies on this issue. Ask yourself if this is an issue that should be a priority?

No, we don't think so!

Yes, England inherited the problems from the previous Garner administration. Can you honestly tell the taxpayers and homeowners that England was sitting out on Hwy. 111 and not knowing all the problems our city was facing?

If he attended some or any council meetings he would have known about these issues, as well as you new council members.

Council members have no clue as to what you all are doing!

Have we not lived through the hardest 4 years of any administration ever?

Tax and spend and misappropriation, 11th hour decisions and many decisions based on just vote for it, and we'll figure out the rest later.

We have selective enforcement, selective billing, selective property taxes and selective parking tickets, all in the name of New Albany politics!

Just because Carl Maylsz thinks it's important to rub elbows and give perks to the developers doesn't make it a good idea.

Just because this administration wants new business into New Albany, it DOES NOT generate a bigger tax base.

Closing Camille Wright Swimming pool is not a good idea. It appears to us to be a way of forcing families and others to join and use the new YMCA.

'That will never fly!"

Wake up council members, not everybody can fit a YMCA membership into their budgets when gasoline is going up to $4.00 a gallon and the average income is less than $18,000 - $22,000 a year.

Property tax increase, sales tax and increase of utilities going up along with other fees.

You are basing decisions on what you are told or directed to do.

You 9 council members are not doing your homework or looking at the big picture and using some good old common sense!

Why does any council or department even have a budget? Why do we even need a council if the Board of Works has the power and can spend funds and have studies done?

A new administration comes in and they point the finger at the previous administration. The new administration retains the previous employees so they can figure out how they shuffled the funds. Then the new administration have their own pet projects and campaign favors and then they come to you 9 members to give them what they want!

It seems like every new administration always wants to refinance bonds. Someone makes a nice commission check on those bonds. Those bonds are what we property owners are paying twice a year.

The police department now wants 15 new police cars.

Indiana State Board of Accounts wants them to keep a mileage log and we property owners want crime out of our city. Get rid of the drugs, meth labs and stop driving our police cars all over Southern Indiana.

We homeowners are tired of paying the gas, wear and tear on police cars and watching them sit around shooting the breeze, talking on their cell phone on the parking lots!

ASK A QUESTION...GET THE CORRECT ANSWER!

STATE OF INDIANA
MEMORANDUM

Clarification of procedure:

TO: Floyd County County Auditor

CC: County Commissioners, County Council, County Assessors, and Freedom Of Speech

Dated: April 8, 2008

Subject: County Auditor Role in Transfer of Township Assessor Duties

1. The purpose of this memorandum is to inform all County Auditors of the various changes instituted by House Enrolled Act [HEA] 1001 that pertain to County Auditor involvement in the transfer of assessing duties from the elected township assessor and trustee-assessor on July 1, 2008 or January 1, 2009 [if referendum provisions applicable] to the county assessor.

2. Auditor Certification of Number of Real Property Parcels in Each Township

a. HEA 1001 was signed by Governor Daniels on March 19, 2008. The new law includes a provision that transfers the assessment duties of an elected township assessor in a township in which the number of parcels of real property on January 1, 2008 is less than fifteen thousand [15,000] to the county assessor on July 1, 2008. See HEA 1001, Section 710. For those townships with at least fifteen thousand [15,000] parcels as of January 1, 2008, a referendum will be held on November 4, 2008 that entitles the registered voters in that township to determine whether to transfer the assessment duties of the elected township assessor to the county assessor on January 1, 2009. See HEA 1001, Section 698.

b. To determine the townships that will have the assessing duties of their township assessor transfer to the county assessor on July 1, 2008, or be subject to the referendum on November 4, 2008, HEA 1001, Section 835 requires each county auditor, before April 15, 2008, to "certify to the county assessor, the executive [as defined in IC 36-1-2-5] of the county, the fiscal body [as defined in IC 36-1-2-6] of the county, and the county election board the name of each township in the county in which the number of parcels of real property on January 1, 2008, is at least fifteen thousand [15,000]."

c. To accurately determine the number of parcels of real property as of January 1, 2008 in each township in the county, the County Auditor is herby directed by the Department to count the real property parcel or tax identification numbers in each township as of January 1, 2008.

See 50 IAC 23; see also IC 36-2-9-18.

3. Funds Transferred to the County Assessor [less than 15,000 parcels]

HEA 1001, Section 834, which is effective as of March 19, 2008, transfers to the county assessor on July 1, 2008 funds of elected township assessors in a township with less than fifteen thousand [15,000] parcels, and the funds of township trustee-assessors in the county, on hand, as of June 30, 2008, for the purpose of carrying out property assessment duties in the amount determined by the county auditor.

4. Funds Transferred to the County Assessor [Referendum]

HEA 1001, Section 834, which is effective as of March 19, 2008 transfers to the county assessor on January 1, 2009, funds of elected township assessor on hand, as of December 31, 2008, for the purpose of carrying out property assessment duties in the amount determined by the county auditor whose assessment duties are transferred to the county assessor as the results of the November 4, 2008 referendum.

5. Transfer of Revenue of a Township Assessor to County Assessor

HEA 1001, Section 834, which is effective as of March 19, 2008, states that township served on June 30, 2008, by a township assessor whose assessment duties transfer to the county assessor on either July 1, 2008 or January 1, 2009 must transfer to the county assessor "all revenue received after the date of the transfer [July 1, 2008 or January 1, 2009] this is received by the township for the purpose of carrying out property assessment duties in the amount determined by the county auditor."

Thank you Freedom Of Speech for bringing this information to my attention. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, or the Assessment Division at [317-232-3777].

Cheryl A.W. Musgrove, Commissioner

Freedom Of Speech would like to thank Commissioner Musgrove for responding to our request and for the following information. See how easy it is to get the correct information.

PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION LAW

Whenever the cost of a public work project will be:

(1) At least $75,000 in:
a. A consolidated city or second class city; or

(2) At least $50,000 in any other city or town:

The board shall prepare general plans and specifications describing the kind of public work required, but shall avoid specifications which might unduly limit competition. IC 36-1-12-4 (b) and (1).

The board shall file the plans and specifications in a place reasonably accessible to the public, which shall be specified in the notice required IC 36-1-12-4 (b)-(2) All plans and specifications for public buildings must be approved by the State Department of Health, the
Division of Fire and Building Safety, and other state agencies designated by statute. IC 36-1-12-10

Upon filing of the plans and specifications, the board shall publish a notice two times, at least one week apart, with the second publication made at least seven days before the date the bids will be received, calling for sealed proposals for public work. IC 36-1-12-4 (b)-(3).

The period of time between the date of the first publication and the date of receiving bids may not be more than six weeks IC 36-1-12-4 (b)-(5).

A bond or certified check shall be filed with each bid by a bidder in amount specified by the board. The amount may not be more than 10% of the contract price. The bond or certified check shall be made payable to the political subdivision. All checks of unsuccessful bidders shall be returned to them by the board upon selection of successful bidders. Checks of successful bidders shall be held until delivery of a performance bond. IC 36-1-12-4.5

There are additional requirements for projects over one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), such as the procurement of a payment bond and retainage. In all projects which are under the bid thresholds mentioned in the first paragraph, the board could solicit bids for such projects.

If a board does not solicit bids, then the board shall invite quotes by mail from at least three (3) persons known to deal in the class of work proposed to be done.

NEWS RELEASE: LINDA MOELLER COUNTY CLERK

Linda S. Moeller, Floyd County Clerk, reminds voters that April 7th is the last day to register to vote for the County Primary Election on May 6, 2008. Registration applications must be received in the office, by mail or in person, by the close of business April 7th. This Election is for all registered voters in Floyd County.

Voters may check their registration status as well as find the location of their polling place by visiting www.IndianaVoters.com. Registration forms and other valuable information are available on the Floyd County Clerk's web site www.floydcounty.in.gov/resident/voting.htm.

April 7th is also the first day to vote in person in the Floyd County Clerk's Office.

Office Hours:

Monday through Friday, 8:00 - 4:00 pm

The Clerks Office will also be open for voting purposes on Saturday April 26th and May 3rd from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm.

New on the ballot this year are changes for Floyd Superior Court and Floyd County Court. Last year the legislature approved the following for Floyd County:

The current Floyd Superior Court will be known as Floyd Superior Court No.1

The current Floyd County Court will be known as Floyd Superior Court No. 2

A new Court is established which will be known as Floyd Superior Court No.3

Each Court will be listed on the ballot separately.

Linda S. Moeller
Floyd County Clerk

Freedom Of Speech Staff supports the following candidates:

President of the United States ~ Hillary Clinton

Governor ~ Mitchell Elias Daniels Jr.

United States Representative in Congress, 9th Congressional District ~ Baron Hill

State Representative District 70 ~ Paul J. Robertson

State Representative District 72 ~ Edward D. Clere

Judge of the Superior Court No. 1 ~ Susan L. Orth

Judge of the Superior Court No. 2 ~ Chris Lane

Judge of the Superior Court No. 3 ~ Maria Granger

County Recorder ~ Darlene McCoy

County Treasurer ~ Bette A Buechler

County Cornoner ~ Leslie E. Knable

County Commissioner District 2 ~ Charles "Chuck" Freiberger

County Commissioner District 3 ~ Dennis Roudenbush

County Council At-Large: Donnie Blevins, Jeff Fessel, Carol Shope

New Albany Floyd County School Board At-Large ~ Patricia Badger-Byrd

New Albany Floyd County School Board - District 3 ~ Neal Allen Smith

Congratulations, Rebecca Gardenour we appreciate your hard work and fairness on the Floyd County School Board!

WHO TRIED TO DISRUPT HILLARY'S VISIT TO NEW ALBANY?

New Albany owes Hillary Clinton an apology!

The Floyd County School Board approved locations for a rally at NAHS, Scribner or Hazelwood School. Citizens of New Albany could have heard Hillary Clinton and formed their own decision on her presidential race.

We, the citizens, of New Albany, were embarrassed for New Albany and for Mrs. Clinton. We were told up until Saturday at 10:00 am things could have changed for a rally at NAHS.

Why did Carl Maylsz choose Southside Inn?

Why because all England and Maylsz are interested in is downtown and "the hell with the rest of our city!"

Why were only some current Council members and some past council members invited?

Why did well over 200 Hillary supporters have to stand out in the cold for over 4 hours and purchase a meal and be herded in the very back room when all other selective officials and other private citizens could just walk in at their convenience and do as they please?

Management told Hillary supporters when they complained: this is what the administration wanted. They're calling the shots!

No wonder the owner of Southside Inn had diarrhea!

Southside Inn had stated. "limited availability is on a first come basis."

Again, we are "all citizens" of New Albany and VOTERS and TAXPAYERS!

Why was this not organized as well as other cities are to welcome any presidential candidate?

What is going on with the local Democrats?

This makes New Albany look bad on the Democrat scene in the State of Indiana.

Other smaller cities have organized the visits in open convenient facilities for Democrat Presidential Candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

One final thought on this issue. Mrs. Clinton was not allowed to visit her headquarters and two other pre-planned visits because of supposedly "death threats called in."

We find this hard to believe!

We believe it was purely "politically motivated."

Who viewed "one stop as a threat" to the current administration?

We were told at the very last minute secret service decided to change her exit route for her safety.

Only this could happen in New Albany and not in any of the other 91 counties in Indiana.

Even though New Albany leaders tried to obstruct Hillary's supporters, Hillary was well aware and made all of her supporters feel WELCOME!

Hillary assured us she will return to New Albany, before the May 6th election!

Shame on you, New Albany!

------

You will never appreciate "Hillary's visit" unless you were at the Southside Inn last Saturday.

Last Saturday, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called it good for democracy.
And that's good news for Democrats, about 400 democrats and republicans arrived early last Saturday to hear Clinton speak.

Yes, republicans as well stood in line to see Hillary!

Clinton, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd at the Southside Inn on the third day of a three-day campaign sweep through Indiana, said, "There are some folks saying, "Well, we ought to stop these elections."

The crowd booed it's disapproval, then roared a cheer as Clinton defied those naysayers.

"I won't quit!" Hillary said.

"I didn't think we believed that in America.

I thought we of all people knew how important it was too give everyone a chance to have their voices heard and their votes counted, and we're going to give Indiana that chance on May 6th," Hillary said. "Because, you see, I have this old-fashioned idea that the more people who get a chance to vote, the better it is for our democracy."

"It's about issues, bread-and-butter issues," Clinton said.

I think this election, particularly here in Indiana, is about jobs, and how we're going to ensure that the economy works for everyone.

Clinton said the lack of health insurance was, for many, a secondary economic impact of job losses. She promised to help the uninsured. Clinton said she would make the health insurance plan for federal employees available to those who do not have employer-sponsored health care and she would make it so that insurance companies could not discriminate against the sick or elderly.

Clinton said the country must deal with soaring energy costs, an issue that is critical to the economy and national security. We need a commitment to renewable, clean energy, a move that if taken seriously, could jump-start the economy and create jobs.

She also talked about ending subsidies to oil companies, noting record profits and high gasoline prices.

Clinton said Americans work hard and can compete in the world economy, yet incomes are dropping and the middle-class lifestyle is slowly eroding. If she becomes the next president, she said, she will take measures to turn the sagging economy around.

"In the final analysis, this is not about race or gender or a minister or memories." Hillary said, referring to the two controversies that have stirred the Democratic primary recently: the comments by Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the comments she made about landing in Bosnia to sniper fire.

"It's about issues, our economy, good jobs, stem cell research, healthcare, and bring our men and women home from Iraq Hillary stated.

Clinton also took questions and comments from the packed Southside Inn crowd.

Hillary even told one citizen of New Albany, what they are doing to you is "fraud" and you need to get an attorney.

Before Clinton left the Southside Inn for a rally at DuPont High School in Louisville, she spent time shaking hands, giving autographs and posing for pictures with some longtime-and brand new-"Hoosiers for Hillary!"

Throughout her visit, there was much applause and many chants of "Hillary, Hillary."

18 Representatives from Freedom Of Speech attended the rally for Senator Clinton at the Southside Inn on Saturday 3/29/08.

The following are some of the comments made by local citizens and elected office holders after Hillary's visit:

Sheriff Darrell Mills stated: he is a "big supporter of Hillary" and added "What a mess", when referring to the effort of local officials. Secret Service said she plans additional stops, how can I protect her if we don't know where she's going?

[Apparently some one found out where Mrs. Clinton was stopping.]

Maria Granger, candidate for Judge of Superior Court 3, said she is a supporter of Senator Clinton and was honored to be able to attend.

I'm so excited -- I'm a big Hillary supporter.
~ Linda Moeller

This is great, we need a woman like Hillary who can fix this country.
~ Darlene McCoy

This is exciting, I've always admired Hillary Clinton. Go Hillary Go!
~ Senator Connie Sipes

It was indeed an honor to meet Senator Clinton and I didn't mind standing in the cold while waiting to go inside. But I think they should have moved the event to a larger facility so more people could have attended.
~ Shirley Baird

Hillary's got my vote!
~ Paul Ethridge

Republican Mathew Miller , a 22-year-old IUS student in the audience, said McCain is much like Bush. He does not think Clinton should bow to pressure to end her campaign. I just switched parties because Hillary is the best one to get us out of this war and back on solid ground as a country.

With all the problems this nation faces, she said, she wants someone with experience and isn't convinced that Obama has it. Hillary's got my vote.
~Kathy Roberts

She supports the working class, the difference between both candidates, he sees is Clinton's experience trumps Obama's oratorical flair. Hillary has my vote.
~ Brad Michaels

I agree with Hillary on several issues: Less dependence on foreign oil. When Hillary said: We invented the car. We can invent the 21st century car. I loved it! I also agree with her putting millions of dollars into Stem Cell research as well as Aids research and creating more jobs. Hillary totally supports small businesses. She promised to provide health insurance that people can afford, and making college more affordable. She's has my vote!
~ Diane Bayh

Of course I'm voting for Hillary. Hillary is the best man for the job.
~ Chuck Freiberger

This woman is smarter than I thought. She sure makes a lot of sense. She has solutions to our problems unlike Obama. She's has my vote as well.
~ Tom Pickett

It's time to put a woman in the White House and as Mayor of New Albany. It will take a strong woman like Hillary to clean up our country and a stronger woman to fix New Albany!
~Jackie Proctor

Just this week:

Clinton likens herself to "Rocky" this week in Philadelphia.

Recalling a famous scene on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of art, Clinton said that ending her presidential campaign now would be as if "Rocky Balboa had gotten halfway up those art museum steps and said: Well, I guess that's about far enough."

"Let me tell you something, when it comes to finishing a fight, Rocky and I have a lot in common: I never quit, I never give up. And neither do the American people.

That's the spirit Hillary!!!!

footnote: Look what happens when you "research the facts" and do your homework ~ you always get your answers!

CAPS ARE DISCRIMINATORY?

Recent reform legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed by Daniels looked skewed from the beginning. The more appearance of segregating people into groups or labeling property based on its utilitarian value smacks against the grain of "uniform and equal" derived from our Indiana Constitution.

How can some people be more equal than others?

How can some property next door to you be worth more or less than yours and be "classed" differently?

Is the new law inherently flawed and discriminatory?

Is this experiment of capping too new to initiate a process for being codified in our Constitution?

Many for repeal say that a fundamental mandate goes too far and too difficult to change once it has been done. Those who attended found solace that some reform was better than nothing, including yours truly who commented that this was an "historic blunder."

Indiana Farm Bureau is disappointed in the "circuit breaker" concept and the three-tier cap system, which discriminates among the classes of property. The multi-tier system will cause a major shift of property taxes away from homeowners to farmland and business.

The farm group is also concerned a constitutional amendment will make the "untested" circuit breaker concept permanent and extremely difficult to change.

"Even simple bills need legislative rewrites annually." Now we are considering amending our Constitution that has endured the test of time, with a legislative proposal that was only debated during one short session.

Another major concern for Farm Bureau members stated was the introduction of a supplemental deduction above the $45,000 standard deduction for homesteads. The first $60,000 of additional assessed value will be entitled to an additional deduction of 35 percent and everything above that to an additional 25 percent deduction.

These deduction will lower the total assessed value in the taxing district and require the levy to be generated on a smaller total assessed value, resulting in a higher tax rate on the assessed value that remains.

Since farmland and farm equipment will not benefit from the supplemental deduction, farmers will pay more.

There will be much discussion on HEA 1001 and SJR1 during the coming months.