Mark Massa, general counsel to Governor Mitch Daniels, filed to run for Marion County Prosecutor today. 

The filing was announced in an e-mail from county GOP Chairman Tom John that arrived minutes after an attack e-mail from Democratic County Chair Ed Treacy.  Treacy makes the case that the Massa campaign will be “marked by puppetry and surrogacy.”

Massa, the e-mail says, will be available to speak for himself but not until tomorrow.

Treacy is trying to score political points but the GOP actions do appear a little clumsy.

State Rep. Vern Tincher announced this morning that he won’t seek re-election. 

The Terre Haute Democrat held down a seat in a marginal district that is sure to be a battleground now.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has issued the interpretation of the Senate Health Care bill that Richard Lugar requested from him.

Zoeller’s take is hardly definitive.   He says the constitutionality of the measure is “at issue” and  says it “could be struck down” in a court challenge.

Governor Mitch Daniels has reached a Super Bowl wager with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal that requires the losing governor to display the flag of the winning team on his car, in his office, or another public location.

You’ll recall that Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley failed to live up to a similar wager when the Indianapolis Colts beat the Baltimore Ravens.  O’Malley flew a Baltimore Colts flag from his car.

Congressman André Carson (D-7th District) will watch the Super Bowl from the White House at the President’s viewing party.

In a news release Carson says he expects to be in the minority as a Colts fan.  (Barack Obama has already taken sides with the Saints.)  

Rep. Carson also predicts the Colts will win 31-21.

John Gregg will be the Democrat panelist on Indiana Week in Review this week as we discuss:

-Dan Coats for U.S. Senate

-Todd Rokita for Congress

-Mark Massa for Marion County Prosecutor

-5th District CD developments

-School Calendar debate

-Super Bowl picks

January state tax revenues came in short of the most recent forecast again. 

The budget shortfall this time is $75 million below the projection.  Governor Mitch Daniels says it justifies budget cuts already made and provides motivation for lawmakers to pass bills that would create more cuts.

Daniels does say that sales tax revenues give reason for hope.  They were below last year’s collections by just 1.3%

Governor Mitch Daniels disclosed this morning that he has spoken to Dan Coats on the phone twice this week.  He says he doesn’t know where the idea of a Coats Senate candidacy came from but said, “I don’t think it was Dan’s idea.”

Asked if he would support Coats, the governor said, “I support the Republican nominee.”

Daniels says a poll by the Republican Senatorial Committee included a Daniels/Evan Bayh match up and showed Daniels winning by 10. 

No one asked him to run.

Mike Murphy has released a poll that he believes shows 4, if not 5, candidates have a chance to win the GOP primary in the 5th CD.

It says only 28% believe Dan Burton deserves re-election.  Among challengers who have the best chance of beating Burton Murphy is chosen by 16%, John McGoff is at 16%,  and Luke Messer at 15% is in a virtual tie with them.  Brose McVey is at 11% and, apparently, still in the battle with  a huge number of voters (43%)  undecided.

Here are the key phrases in a statement just issued by Dan Coats”

“After much thoughtful consideration, I have authorized my supporters to begin gathering signatures as I test the waters for a potential challenge to Evan Bayh in 2010. Over the next few weeks, I will be talking to Hoosiers from all walks of life, and I will make a formal announcement regarding my intentions in the near future.”

That’s not a commitment to run.  It is an interesting development, nonetheless.