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From the Indiana Working Families E-Activist Network:

In honor of International Human Rights Day, workers all over the country are spending the week leading up to Dec. 10th speaking out about the need to restore our freedom to form unions and bargain. This past year Indiana’s state workers rights to form a union were taken away by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. In addition workers in many other industries in Indiana were denied the basic right to form a union.

The fundamental human right to form unions is under attack in America. Every 23 minutes, a worker in the United States is fired or discriminated against for trying to join a union and bargain for a better life. For these people, the freedom to form unions is no abstract concept. It’s a tangible necessity—and they’ve proven they’re willing to sacrifice for it.

Please Stand UP For Indiana’s Workers and join us @
Rally at the Indiana Statehouse Rotunda
Tuesday December 6th, 2005@ 11:30 am

Featured Speaker:
Former US Majority Whip David Bonior
Chair Of American Rights @ Work

In addition, you can take action right now by signing the Petition to Restore Human Rights for America’s Workers. State your commitment to our freedom to form unions as a fundamental human right:

• Click here to sign our petition.

Thank you for all that you do.

In solidarity,

Indiana Working Families e-Activist Network

November 2005

The new SUSA 50-state Governors poll is out and Mitch Daniels has dropped 7% to 44% approval, 51% Disapproval. That’s ‘good’ enough to be the 40th most popular governor in the US.

I’m starting to (slowly) fill the Election 2006 page. If you know of any candidates in Indiana at any level who have websites, post them in the comments here or contact me. We hope to have the most comprehensive list of ‘06 candidate websites in Indiana.

Recently added:

• US Congress IN-01: Pete Visclosky for Congress; http://viscloskyforcongress.us
• US Congress IN-03: Tom Hayhurst for Congress; http://www.tomhayhurstforcongress.com
• US Congress IN-06: Barry Welsh for Congress; http://www.barrywelsh.org
• US Congress IN-07: Julia Carson for Congress; http://www.juliacarson.org
• US Congress IN-08: Brad Ellsworth for Congress; http://www.ellsworthforcongress.com
• US Congress IN-09: Baron Hill for Congress; http://www.bringbackbaron.com
• US Congress IN-09: Gretchen Clearwater forCongress; http://www.clearwaterforcongress.com/
• State Senate 31: Russell Brown for State Senate; http://www.russellbrownforstatesenate.com
• Marion County Superior Court: Heather Welch for Marion Superior Court Judge; http://www.heatherwelchforjudge.com

November 22nd was the November General Membership meeting of the Indiana Democratic Club. First off was a special guest (and tentatively January’s featured speaker) Fran Quigley, executive director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union.

• The ICLU is challenging the Voter ID bill (the most restrictive voting regulation in this country sinc ethe Jim Crow era) and has filed their brief. They are expectign a decision in time for the May primary, hopefully sometime in March. There has NEVER been a case of the type of ballot fraud in Indiana that the Voter ID bill was passed to stop. It’s a solution in search of a problem and does nothing to stop real voter fraud issues, only makign it more restrictive to vote for Indiana’s poor, elderly and minorities.
• They are representing Justice for Janitoirs fighting selective application of Marion County’s noise ordinance against their protests. Interestingly enough, they have protested outside of the Emmis COmmunications building, which broadcasts their programming, including the Rush Limbaugh show, at a loud volume onto the street.
• Nationally, there is alot of work going on in cases related to torture, Abu Gahrib, the Patriot Act and more.
• The ICLU gets 1000+ requests per month fo ra staff of 2 lawyers. These requests are initially handled by volunteers, so if you would like to volunteer contact the ICLU

Candidates & elected officials present included:

• Heather Welch, Angela Davis and Jose Salinas for Marion County Superior Court Judge (non-incumbents)
• Judges Mark Stoner and Barbara Collins (incumbents up for re-election)
• Russel brown for State Senate District 31
• Catherine Fox-Carr for Congress 5th District
• Warren Township Legislative Board member Letty Oliver

The Nominating Comittee’s report for members nominated for elected IDC positions will be presented onteh website ASAP. Stay tuned for that information. Voting will occur at the Holiday Party

The night’s program was about President John F. Kennedy, presented by IDC Board members Robert Jackson and Steve Nicewanger.

Tuesday, December 13th is the annual Indiana Democratic Club Holiday Party.
Where: Bona Thompson memorial Center, 5350 University Ave, Indianapolis.
How much: ALl you can eat for $5
Sponsors: Sponsors: Hon. Paula Lopossa, Jean Breaux, Leon bates and Angela Davis. (More sponsors could still be used for the dinner [$70] and wine [$150 for your own label on a case of wine at the dinner]) For more information or to make a reservation, call Ken or Cheryl Kern at (317) 353-6038

Mayor Bart Peterson will be on hand to talk about the past year and the upcoming year in Indy.

More information on how to RSVP coming soon.

Councilwoman Jackie Nytes is re-submitting the anti-discrimination addition to the city’s human rights code. (IDC Coverage: resolution in support, speech by Councilwoman Nytes to the October meeting, resolution showing disappointment with Democrats who voted against first proposal).

The Human Rights Campaign sent out an action email on behalf of Indiana Equality urging email list members to write the council representatives in support of Prop 622. You can use HRC’s website to do that: http://eqfed.org/campaign/indyhro/. Please be polite and replace the standard form text with your own message of why you support equality for ALL Indianapolis residents, regardless of sexual identity and orientation.

• Indianapolis Star story on the resubmission of the proposal
• Indianapolis Star editorial in favor of Prop 622

There are rumors that Emmis Communications has interest in bringing the Air America Radio network to Indianapolis. The problem is finding an A.M. station to carry it. If you want to hear AAR in Indianapolis, contact Emmis Communications and let them know you would be a listener if they brought a station to Indianapolis!

Update Per Shawn in the comments, at least according to Emmis Investor Relations this rumor seems to be untrue. But doesn’t mean we can’t let them know there’s interest.

The November general membership meeting of the Indiana Democratic Club is next Tuesday, November 22nd, at 7:30 pm at the Julia Carson Government Center, 300 E. Fall Creek Parkway 2nd Floor.

This month’s topic will be “The Life and Death of JFK.” The speakers are Steve Nicewanger and Robert Jackson, both members of the Board of Directors of IDC. The sponsor is Martin and Kate Hinman.

Via Think Progress:

On Tuesday — three days before Veterans Day — House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN) announced that for the first time in at least 55 years, “veterans service organizations will no longer have the opportunity to present testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees.”

Contact Rep. Buyer and ask him why he feels our veterans should not have a voice before Congress on Veterans Day:

Washington, DC
2230 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5037

Monticello, IN
100 S. Main Street
Monticello, IN 47960
(574) 583-9819

Plainfield, IN
148 N. Perry Road
Plainfield, IN 46168
(317) 838-0404

Bedford, IN
1801 “I” Street
Bedford, IN 47421
(812) 277-9590

If you are a 4th district constituent you can use the Write Your Representative form here: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

DailyKos talks a bit about the race for cognress in “The Bloody 8th” and how Hostettler’s vote against Katrina aid may just come back to haunt him in light of local events. Also linked and quoted is a story over on The National Journal’s Hotline blog.

First up, kos:

The Indiana 8th CD is known as the “bloody eight”, and it produces some of the tightest races every single cycle. It’s been held by Republican John Hostettler for a few cycles now, but a new sheriff is in town (literally) — Brad Ellsworth — and he aims to clean house (literally).

and Hotline:

Expect to see a lot more of Vanderburgh Co., IN sheriff Brad Ellsworth. He’s been a steady television presence over the weekend, calming nerves and briefing the press after tornados killed at least 22.

The district is represented by GOP Rep. John Hostettler, who was one of eleven in the House to vote against the mammoth Katrina aid package last month.

Hostettler was excoriated by editorial boards (and even a local priest) for his vote.

If you are interested in helping out Sherrif Ellsworth, his campaign website is http://www.ellsworthforcongress.com.