The Indiana delegation split along party lines in the Health Care vote with Democrats voting yes and Republicans voting no.  No big surprise there but the consequences will vary. 

Democrat Brad Ellsworth, for example, got his name attached to an amendment barring the use of taxpayer funds for abortion.  Pro-life forces like it and that means the vote likely won’t hurt Ellsworth, who appeared jubilant on C-Span last night.

Democrat Baron Hill, meantime, issued new releases all the way up to yesterday afternoon sending the message that he was undecided.  His vote will be a campaign issue next year and opponents will tie it to his early support of President Obama in 2008.

Republicans are all banking that the current public mood is on their side.

Baron Hill won’t wait to see how things go in New Albany (see previous post.)   His office just announced a town hall in Bloomington on Wednesday.

Congressman Baron Hill (d-9th District) promised to hold at least one public town hall meeting and now has one on the schedule.  It will be next Monday evening in New Albany.

Holding it in the Louisville media market may reduce the odds of  TV coverage.

Hill’s spokeswoman last week suggested he might have more than one.  I’m guessing he sees how the first one goes before he schedules another.

Topics to be discussed on Indiana Week in Review today:

Evan Bayh’s voting record.  Is there a shift to the right this year?

Cap and Trade opponents rally in Indianapolis

Baron Hill’s Tele-town hall plans

André Carson’s lack of town hall plans

Dress Code protest at Richmond High School

Mitch Daniels’ misunderstood remarks about motorcycle helmet use

Topics on Indiana Week in Review today:

-Baron Hill’s use of the term “political terrorists”

-Mike Pence town hall meeting

-CIB bailout/hotel tax

-BMV about face by the governor

-Renovations of the Indiana House Chamber

-State fair    #fb

Protesters confronted Congressman Baron Hill this afternoon as he tried to get into the Lawrenceburg American Legion to honor World War II veterans. 

Hill is in the middle of the health care debate and has so far avoided holding a town hall meeting while calling some opponents of reform “political terrorists.”

Hill Press Secretary Katie Moreau says that Hill’s entrance to the building was blocked for a time.  Says Moreau, “I honestly never thought it would come to this.”  

She says Hill is working on plans for a town hall meeting.

Republicans think health care reform could be THE issue in the 2010 election and that may be the case in the 9th Congressional District.

Democrat incumbent Baron Hill’s description of vocal health care reform opponents as “political terrorists” is inspiration for a potential 2010 Hill opponent, Todd Young.

Young plans to hold his own town hall meetings starting with one on August 20th in Jasper.

Young also calls the opponents “patriots.” #fb

The Republican National Committee began running radio ads in Congressman Baron Hill’s district today.  They accuse Hill of flip-flopping on the health care reform bill.

In reality, Hill said he was against the bill until a compromise (that he sought) was reached.  Then he voted yes.  He got what he wanted.

It tells me the ad may just be an indicator that the Democratic Hill will be a target of the GOP again in the 2010 election.  At the very least, his district is the most likely target in Indiana.

#fb

Thoughts I felt I should share based on recent and upcoming news events: 

-The recent firing of two Republican ward chairs supports my theory that GOP leaders  worry about the conservative direction of the party at a time where is opportunity for growth in the middle of the political spectrum.

-Rep. Henry Waxman’s (D-California) planned subcommittee hearing in New Albany tomorrow points up that Rep. Baron Hill (D-9th District) really does have clout in the health care debate.  Will the hearing convince Hill to support President Barack Obama, or give him political cover to vote against him?

-Sarah Palin’s exit from office causes Mitch Daniels national profile to rise even more.

Maybe you already thought of this but current events in Washington are a great lesson in democracy.

It’s government action bracketed by two elections.

Barack Obama seeks the change he was elected to deliver in 2008 through cap and trade legislation and health care reform.   He feels he has a mandate.   He is making good on campaign promises, at least attempting to make good. 

Meantime, members of Congress look ahead to the 2010 election and how it will affect them, not Obama.  Rep. Baron Hill (d-Seymour) endorsed Obama early on and supported him on cap and trade.  Now, with Republican Todd Young showing fundraising success in Hill’s 9th District and the GOP questioning campaign contributions to Hill on the eve of the cap and trade vote, he announces opposition to the current health care reform bill.  The President needs to help him now.

Sen. Evan Bayh, enthusiastic in support of Obama at Indiana rallies last year, is suddenly his old, cautious self again.  Republican Senator Richard Lugar beat him to the punch announcing support for Sonia Sotomayor.  Bayh won’t take a public position on cap and trade or health care reform.  The Democrat is on the ballot in 2010 and, though a prohibitive favorite for re-election, is taking no chances.  He’s guy in the spotlight now.

The policy issues of 2009 will be campaign issues in 2010 and Barack Obama is not on the ballot.  But, maybe you already though of that.