Win Moses is the target of a pro right-to-work super PAC, which has been criticizing the veteran state representative by name and encouraging Hoosiers to call Moses and express support for the right-to-work bill.
Moses isn’t the only Democratic lawmaker in the fund’s sights. The fund is criticizing at least seven other Democratic state reps for opposing right to work, so the anti-Moses TV ads local residents have seen for the past few days aren’t necessarily airing statewide.
Still, Moses is an easy target because he has been adamant, eloquent and consistent in his opposition to the right-to-work bill. It’s no accident that Moses sponsored the key amendment on putting the issue to a referendum. To House Minority Leader Pat Bauer, Moses is a reliable stalwart on right to work at a time when the Democratic foundation is shaky, with some members hesitant to walk out after receiving so much criticism for last year’s walkout.
Northeast Indiana has only two Democratic legislators, Moses and State Rep. Phil GiaQuinta. While both oppose right to work, Moses is the veteran and the more public face on this issue.
Attacking Daniels
Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO is planning its own attack, this one on Gov. Mitch Daniels – to coincide with Daniels’ speech to the nation as the GOP counterpoint to President Obama’s State of the Union address. The labor union is running its ad on Indiana broadcast stations and nationally on CNN and MSNBC before and after Daniels’ speech.
The union rips Daniels for his flip-flop on right to work, showing Daniels clearly opposed right to work in 2006.
Why Daniels?
The Republicans’ selection of Daniels to deliver the party’s response to Obama was likely due to a number of factors.
Daniels’ success with a pro-GOP agenda in Indiana is clear, as is his track record with cutting the size of government and holding the line on expenses. With Obama set to give an address focusing largely on jobs, the articulate and fast-thinking Daniels – who is known for writing his own speeches – is a solid choice to criticize the president’s economic policies.
Daniels has other attributes. He may be a polarizing figure in Indiana, but he isn’t in other parts of the nation. Nationally, many of the Republican power brokers like Daniels, while Democrats haven’t paid that much attention. Plus, Daniels has remained neutral in the GOP presidential sweepstakes.
Brown, again
Two years after deciding not to seek re-election as county commissioner, Bill Brown filed for a GOP nomination for one of the three County Council at-large spots, the only Republican thus far to file for the office.
Correction
On Jan. 16, I incorrectly reported that both Republicans and Democrats will elect precinct committee representatives in May. The Democrats have changed their procedures and will elect precinct committeemen in 2014, and every four years thereafter.
