The day starts with word that negotiations on a plan for dealing with the state’s unemployment insurance fund continued into the night.  There is still no deal.

Sources indicate no talks are taking place this morning as Democrats mull the latest GOP offer that could create a 2-year delay of higher unemployment insurance premiums.  Leaders are reported to be optimistic that a deal can be reached.

(If this sounds like news that is two days old, it is not.  It is fresh news that is identical to the news from two days ago.)

This week’s topics on Indiana Week in Review:

-The end (or not) of the General Assembly

-Bills that are sure to die

-Legislative Winners and Losers

-Greg Zoeller takes on the GOP over recorded phone calls

-Hoosier Park bankruptcy

-Pierre Garcon at the White House

Hopes that the 2010 General Assembly would wrap up today just went up in smoke.

The Indiana House passed a motion to adjourn until 1:30 tomorrow just before Senate President Pro Tem David Long headed into the office of House Speaker Pat Bauer.   On his way in the door I posed a one word question to Long, “Tomorrow?”   “Apparently,” was the answer.

Sen. Brandt Hershman and Sen. Luke Kenley just departed the office of House Speaker Pat Bauer after a 2 and a half hour negotiating session with both Kenley and Bauer saying they are on the verge of a deal.

They will take the latest proposals to their caucuses in the next few hours.  Bauer says the 2010 General Assembly could “possibly” end today.  Neither side would go into detail about agreements but both indicated that only minor issues remain unresolved.

Sources report that Republican Senators and the Democratic House Speaker are meeting in private this morning following productive talks last night.

Some lawmakers will lose their rooms tonight to visitors for the Big Ten Basketball Tournament and there is a desire to conclude the 2010 General Assembly today, a desire expressed by legislative staffers, if no one else.

P. S.  We have heard this before.

State Senate GOP Leader David Long just emerged from the governor’s office to say that Republicans and Democrats are “this close” to an agreement that would end the 2010 General Assembly (he held his fingers about 2 inches apart.)

Republican leaders met with Mitch Daniels for about an hour after the governor met with Democratic House Speaker Pat Bauer.

Long says House Democrats canceled a negotiating session this morning but the two sides can solve things if they just sit down and talk.  He wouldn’t predict a timeline.

Democratic House Speaker and Republican Governor Mitch Daniels met for about 40 minutes this afternoon in the effort to find a way to conclude the 2010 General Assembly.

Bauer says the meeting took place at his request.  He emerged calling the meeting “positive.”

He also made it clear that there is no agreement on how to handle the unemployment insurance issue that is the major remaining stumbling block for lawmakers.

Attorney General Greg Zoeller, a Republican, cited the National Republican Congressional Committee today for violating the spirit of the state’s ban on robo calls.

The calls use a live operator who asks permission to play a recorded political message, a legal tactic.

However, it’s the first violation of a treaty signed by all 3 party chairmen (Libertarians included) in January .  The NRCC made calls in 3 Indiana Congressional districts according to the A.G.    Zoeller says he asked the NRCC to stop the calls and it declined.

Democratic House Speaker Pat Bauer and GOP state Senator Luke Kenley held private talks this afternoon aimed at a conclusion to the 2010 General Assembly.

There is no progress being reported but also no apparent animosity.

On that front, Bauer lunched yesterday with Senate President Pro Tem David Long and both appeared cheerful when returning seperately to the Statehouse.

Marion County Democratic Chairman Ed Treacy led a press conference this afternoon that included members of the legislature, township officials, and at least one member of the City County Council.   It lasted less than 10 minutes.

They called for Republicans to accept a Democratic proposal for township reform.  The plan calls for township by township referendums statewide.   The GOP prefers county by county elections to determine if township government should be eliminated.

The two sides appear at loggerheads.