Governor Mitch Daniels (R-Indiana) issued a news release today quoting a letter he sent to Indiana members of Congress.   It says, in part, “I ask your leadership in preventing this disastrous national mistake.”   It is a reference to the coming vote on Health Care reform.

Daniels spoke out against the President’s plan previously.  He says it will expand Medicaid, eliminate the Healthy Indiana Plan, increase insurance premiums, place taxes on the life sciences sector, and add to the national debt.

Brose McVey is encouraging supporters to buy gear that promotes his GOP campaign for Congress.

The 4th District candidate sells t-shirts for $12, yard signs for $5, lapel pins for $2, and bumper stickers for $3 (guaranteed to peel off easily.)  You can get all of them for $22 (a savings of $2.)

The Tea Party rally at the Statehouse is a fraction the size of last year’s rally.

Nevertheless, GOP candidates for Congress are easy to spot (Mike Pence, Jackie Walorski, Dan Coats, Mike Sodrel, Marvin Scott, Carlos May, let me know if I missed any.)

One Congressional candidate, Brandt Hershman, walked past.   Another, Todd Rokita, can see the rally from his office but told me he wasn’t attending.

Quotes from Mitch Daniels today that point up how he will sell the idea of the need for GOP control of Indiana House:

-”It’s like pulling teeth but we got a portion of the savings measures that we asked for (from the House.)”

-”The taxpayers would be a lot safer if we were able to work with a different General Assembly.”

-”I like him (Democratic House Speaker Pat Bauer), but he’s a tough adversary and he looks at the world in a totally different way.”

Governor Mitch Daniels gave his review of the General Assembly this morning.

“The legislature came and went without doing any harm,” he said.  Daniels did say he was disappointed in the Indiana House for the failure to pass some cost saving measures he sought, but said he has no current plans to veto any bills.

The Republican governor says he will now concentrate on keeping the state’s budget balanced.  He also made it clear that he would like to see the GOP win control of the House next year saying, “The taxpayers would be a lot safer.”

Senate GOP Leader David Long confirms a tentative deal on all remaining issues in the General Assembly.

Lawmakers have gone to caucus to consider proposals that are not yet printed out.  Long says he plans to wrap up the work for the year yet tonight.

On the key bill to delay the bailout of the unemployment insurance system Republicans have agreed to drop demands for a 2-year delay.  The bill will mandate a 1-year delay.

The state Senate power trio, Kenley, Long, and Hershman, just went pack into the House Speaker’s office.

They were upbeat and trying to avoid reporters as they came down the stairs from the 4th floor.  A key House Democrat, meantime, gave a thumbs up sign to lobbyists.

Spirits are rising among people wanting to go home for the year.

State Senate GOP Leaders just left House Speaker Pat Bauer’s office after a lengthy private meeting.

President Pro Tem David Long declined to talk to the media, saying that only, “We’re talking.  We need to let things percolate.”

Long promised more information later and said he wouldn’t shut reporters out of the process.

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