If you missed getting an autographed book from Sarah Palin and still desire one, the ARC of Indiana has a proposition for you. 

A Palin signed book is up for auction at www.arcind.org where an Obama signed book went for $700 last year.  Sally Morris of ARC would love to see a competition for the highest bid.  While in Noblesville, meantime, Palin met with an ARC board member and his family.

Indiana Week in Review topics for today:

-Sarah Palin in Indiana

-What’s behind the Palin book tour?

-Organization Day leads to early start of 2010 session

-Will lawmakers vote on tax caps in 2010?

-CIB bailout talks

-Bush 41 visit to Indy

Here is a schedule of committee meetings supplied by House Democrats in the General Assembly:

Monday, December 7, 9:30 am

HJR 1 – Circuit breakers and other property tax matters (Crawford)

HB 1004 – Assessed value of homesteads and farmlands (Grubb)

Wednesday, December 9, 9:30 am

HB 1002 – Indiana worker preference on public works projects (Kersey)

Monday, December 14, 9:30 am

HB 1003 – Contracting of public assistance eligibility (Riecken)

Former Frank O’Bannon aide Pat Rios reports that an organizing meeting takes place this evening at state Democratic HQ for a new Latino political action committee.   A Latino caucus was formed over the summer.

The goal, Rios says, is to support a Latino candidate for City County Council in 2011 and issue an endorsement in the Mayor’s race that year.  The PAC hopes to have candidates to support in legislative races in 2012.

Marlin Stutzman has a TV ad running already in the 2010 race for U.S. Senate.   The Republican makes reference to an empty suit without ever mentioning Evan Bayh by name.

The ad is running on some cable outlets and a few broadcast stations so it qualifies as a real ad.  Chances are it will have more viewers and a greater effect on the Internet, however.  The obvious goals for Stutzman are  boosting name ID, but more importantly jumpstarting fundraising.  He might also chase off a potential primary challenge or two if he’s lucky.

The negative start is interesting.

The widow of former Governor Bob Orr died on Monday.  Mary Kay Orr had been ill in recent weeks.  Calling will be Sunday afternoon at Crown Hill.  The funeral is at Crown Hill at 2pm Monday.

Mrs. Orr worked for Bob Orr, first in the governor’s office, and then when he worked as a private consultant following his service as Ambassador to Singapore.  Their relationship grew into marriage after Orr divorced his first wife Josie.  Mary Kay Orr will be remembered for her devotion to Governor Orr as well as the class she displayed in public appearances before and after his death.

She was 75.

Congressman André Carson announced staff changes today. 

Ken Nealy replaces Ellen Quigley as Chief of Staff.  Nealy is already on Carson’s staff and previously worked for other members of Congress including California Democrat Barbara Lee.

Justin Ohlemiller moves up to District Director.  He’s a former aide to Mayor Bart Peterson who previously was Carson’s Communications director.

All the discussion in the papers of runaway lobbying followed by calls for limitations will prompt lawmakers to make change.

Nevertheless, it’s a discussion that is being carried out at a surface level.  New reporting thresholds will likely result in more disclosure and limits on gifts could do away with some free tickets to sporting events (don’t these guys ever go the symphony or the opera?) but that ignores the culture that will continue.

For example, lobbyists already get around gift limits by going together and splitting costs on occasion.  Once, recently, when a lobbyist chose to use his own money rather than client funds to avoid a reporting requirement, the folks in the hallway passed the hat to help out.

Lobbyists often entertain lawmakers, not because they need something, but because it shows the people they work for that they are acquiring access.  Likewise, it’s not unheard of for legislators to go to dinner or a ballgame with a lobbyist friend just to create an appearance for the lobbyist’s boss.  Sometimes, lobbyists buy meals and drinks for each other just make use of an unspent lobbying budget.

The problem is not always in the Statehouse.  It’s in society where corporate and public leaders, and even the leaders of charitable organizations think they have to buy access and that if it comes free, it’s not worth as much.

Oh, and by the way, you (no matter who you are) have a lobbyist, and maybe 2 or 3 others, working for you.  I’ll just use myself as an example.  I belong to a church, live in a city, work in an industry, and am active in a couple of charities that all employ lobbyists.

State Senator Connie Sipes (D-New Albany) will retire at the end of her term next year according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. 

Sipes is the minority caucus chairwoman in the Senate.  She is serving her fourth term in the General Assembly.

Marion County Assessor Greg Bowes sent a letter to Democratic party leaders last night announcing his candidacy for prosecutor.

That sets up a potential primary battle involving Bowes, David Orentlicher, possibly others.  To that end, Bowes explains in his letter that he intends to forgo slating and gives a long history of how other loyal Democrats have taken the same route.

Should be interesting.