Local News
GOP group breaks ‘treaty’
State parties agreed to no automated telephone calls
The National Republican Congressional Committee is in violation of a 2010 “treaty” among three Indiana political parties to disavow robo-calls.
The Treaty of 2010 was negotiated by Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller in January and signed by Murray Clark, chairman of the Indiana GOP; Dan Parker, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party; and Sam Goldstein, chairman of the Libertarian Party.
“I’m sorry to report that the National Republican Congressional Committee is the first to intentionally violate the treaty and show a lack of respect for the privacy of Hoosiers by blitzing them with unwanted political calls,” Zoeller, a Republican, said in a statement. “This national group fails to appreciate what the three political parties in Indiana readily embraced: that unsolicited and unwanted calls on any subject are an annoying and ultimately counterproductive tactic that Hoosiers neither need nor want.”
Zoeller contacted the NRCC Tuesday, requesting it discontinue the current phone campaign in Indiana. The committee declined.
The NRCC reportedly is initiating automated telephone calls in three Indiana congressional districts, including District 2, represented by Democrat Joe Donnelly.
Donnelly’s campaign committee declined comment.
Parker said Thursday that people still need to follow the rules and noted the law in Indiana prohibits automated or robotic calls.
“The Republican Party candidates in the 2nd District need to step forward and tell the national committee don’t do that in Indiana,” Parker said. “It’s telling that this early in the election cycle, the agreement is already broken.
“I’m disappointed,” Parker said. “Speaks to the fact that they are desperate to get their message out.”
Parker said he hoped Clark would get the NRCC to follow the agreement reached in Indiana concerning automated telephone calls.
The Republican Party didn’t respond to an e-mail requesting comment.
Zoeller said his office’s Telephone Privacy Division already is receiving complaints concerning the NRCC calls.
“Hoosiers have said time and again that they enjoy their telephone privacy and don’t want to be interrupted by the annoying ring of unwanted telephone calls, and that the use of prerecorded messages adds insult to injury,” Zoeller said. “My office has explained to the NRCC that their nuisance calls into Indiana violate the intent and spirit of the state’s telephone privacy laws. They certainly breach the Treaty of 2010 that all three state political parties signed January 5.”
Indiana’s Auto Dialer law prohibits the use of technology that automatically dials residential phone numbers and plays prerecorded messages. The law does not prohibit robo-call messages if a live operator places the call and obtains the consumer’s permission first before playing the prerecorded message.
Obtaining such permission as an opt-in choice is allowed and encouraged. Otherwise, the calls are illegal in Indiana and can result in the attorney general filing a lawsuit seeking civil penalties against those responsible. The penalty is up to $5,000 per violation.
The attorney general’s Office currently has two lawsuits ongoing against outside political groups that illegally used auto-dialer machines to blast Hoosier consumers with robo-calls in 2006.
“This national group and anyone considering similar activities should be on notice that the tactic of tiptoeing right up to the line of illegality in pursuit of short-term gain carries a public penalty as a violation of the Treaty of 2010,” Zoeller said.
• Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at 765-454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com
- Local News
-
-
Attempted child abduction reported
Howard County Sheriff deputies are asking for the public's help to locate a suspect in connection with an attempted child abduction early Saturday morning.
-
Kokomo has benefited from bailout along with Detroit
President Barack Obama on Friday heralded the recent turnaround for U.S. automakers, arguing that thousands of jobs and increased production vindicate his unpopular decision to bailout the industry.
-
Bids are in on fire station
Six bids came in on the future Kokomo Fire Station 2 this week, and anxious contractors won’t have to wait long to hear the city’s answer.
-
Horse still living in town
Kokomo resident Dyanna Neal expects to be recompensed for being led to believe she could keep a horse within city limits.
-
Tipton County receives $1.56 million from INDOT
Tipton County has received $1.56 million from the Indiana Department of Transportation for road work that will better accommodate the future resident of an 80,000-square-foot factory on U.S. 31.
-
Obama hails auto bailout as good news in Michigan
President Barack Obama says his administration's bailout out of U.S. car companies saved more than 1 million jobs and kept communities that depend on the auto industry afloat.
-
New bus service on the horizon
Kokomo city officials are ready to begin work on a downtown transit station for the new city fixed-route bus system, putting a September start date on the horizon.
-
Kokomo Beach filled to capacity for annual Duck Derby
Long before the doors officially opened, and way before Papa John’s Pizza had to call for back up, the 12th annual Samaritan Caregivers Duck Derby was deemed a success by event organizers.
-
Extended jobless benefits starting
Indiana officials says some people eligible for extended unemployment benefits can apply now, rather than wait as had been expected.
-
GM not changing anything for now
General Motors leaders on Wednesday addressed the company’s business operations and competition to its workers in Kokomo, GM said.
GM spokesman Kevin Nadrowski said company leaders spoke to their Kokomo employees during a routine update meeting. The company told the workers it is "assessing its business model," he said, but he would not further comment on the discussion.
“We’re not making any announcements, and there are no immediate changes to
operation,” he said. - More Local News Headlines
-
Attempted child abduction reported
