Importantville: Holcomb Issues Stay-At-Home Order

Good morning, and welcome to IMPORTANTVILLE. What day is it? They all bleed together now. It feels unessential to be writing about politics in the age of the novel coronavirus. And yet: Documenting how our elected leaders—and aspiring elected leaders—respond to a crisis like this is more essential than ever.

BREAKING: Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb delivered a statewide address Monday to order that Hoosiers remain in their homes except when they are at work or for permitted activities, such as taking care of others, obtaining necessary supplies, and for health and safety. Details of his Stay-At-Home order can be found here.

TOTAL HOOSIERS TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS: 1,494

TOTAL POSITIIVE CASES: 201*

TOTAL DEATHS: 6

DAYS UNTIL INDIANA’S PRIMARY: 71

*Results from ISDH and results submitted by private laboratories.

Around Importantville

My new piece over the weekend for The Daily Beast:

In normal times, the average American’s experience with the U.S. surgeon general amounts to reading the warnings on a packet of cigarettes or a bottle of alcohol. But in the age of the novel coronavirus, Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams has become a regular presence in living rooms—and, recently, not always the most reassuring one.

On March 8, the first time many Americans saw Adams, the 45-year-old sat for an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. Adams, who holds the rank of vice admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and oversees 6,500 public health officers, explained the nature of coronavirus to Tapper as if he was one of his anesthesiology patients. But as Tapper pressed on to more political ground—whether the age of former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and President Donald Trump meant they should stop campaigning in person—Adams careened off message.

“Speaking of being at risk, the president, he sleeps less than I do, and he’s healthier than what I am,” responded Adams, 46, who cuts a trim and athletic figure and runs 5Ks.

His claim did not pass the eye test.

Back in Indiana, where Adams served as public health commissioner under then-Governor Mike Pence during some of the state’s most tumultuous health crises, at least one former aide arched his eyebrow when he watched the interview, texting Adams to see if he was serious.

He was.

INDIANA DELAYS ITS PRIMARY

Indiana became the seventh state to postpone its primary Friday in the wake of the coronavirus. Governor Eric Holcomb, Secretary of State Connie Lawson, Republican Party Chair Kyle Hupfer, and Democratic Party Chair John Zody argued for caution in a Statehouse press conference, pushing the date back from May 5 to June 2.

“The right of citizens to elect their leaders in a free and open election is one of the cornerstones of America. In order to balance that right with the safety of county employees, poll workers, and voters, delaying Indiana’s primary election is the right move as we continue to do all we can to protect Hoosiers’ health,” said Gov. Holcomb.

Democratic Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett:

“In the face of an unprecedented public health emergency, Governor Eric Holcomb and Secretary of State Connie Lawson, with the support of both political parties, are making the right call by pushing back our primary election to June 2. I also support the option of allowing all voters to use mail-in absentee ballots for the primary election to preserve citizens’ rights while protecting Hoosiers.”

Republican Kelly Mitchell, a candidate for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District:

“I applaud Governor Holcomb and Secretary of State Connie Lawson on working out an agreement that not only protects the fairness of our election process, but puts the health and safety of Hoosiers first. While the election date may have changed, one thing has not, my commitment to earn the vote of every 5th district Hoosier and win the Republican nomination in June 2nd.”

Republican House Speaker Todd Huston:

“In the face of an unprecedented public health emergency, Governor Eric Holcomb and Secretary of State Connie Lawson, with the support of both political parties, are making the right call by pushing back our primary election to June 2. I also support the option of allowing all voters to use mail-in absentee ballots for the primary election to preserve citizens’ rights while protecting Hoosiers.”

MYERS’S MOMENT?

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Woody Myers has a new urgency about him these days. You can hear it in his voice.

On Tuesday, hours before the presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee would hold a conference call with Indiana reporters to criticize the state’s slow reaction to the threat of the coronavirus, I could hear it. He seemed more lively. The sentences came more quickly. Since he announced that he would run to challenge popular incumbent Republican Governor Eric Holcomb last year, Myers has run what you could generously describe as a lethargic campaign. He has struggled to fundraise. He hasn’t barnstormed Indiana. And he’s grasped to find some big, bold proposals to garner the kind of earned media he’ll need to raise his profile and defeat Holcomb.

How would you grade Governor Eric Holcomb’s response so far?
I believe that the administration could have done much more, much faster. I think that he has been far more reactive than proactive. This was a crisis. It’s unlike any that has befallen us in recent memory. I believe strongly that the role of the governor is to exert in all dimensions and that includes healthcare or public health. I don’t think that we’ve done a good job. The governor has left far more questions open than he’s been able to answer.

That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. Stay healthy.