-Tony Bennett’s staff is distributing copies of remarks made by President Obama citing Indiana along with two other states for the elimination of “firewall laws” that prevented teachers from being evaluated based on student test scores.  Indiana eliminated the provision in the current budget bill.  A mechanism must still be created to permit the new evaluations.  Meantime, Mitch Daniels, Bennett, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and the President seem to be in line on education reform again.

-The governor will has called a news conference for tomorrow to discuss October revenues.  That can’t be good news.

-Mike Pence is joining GOP National Chair Michael Steele in a 12 hour Internet town hall to battle the Democratic health care plan, putting that talk show experience to work.

-Invitations are out for the Fall GOP State Dinner.  Mitch Daniels is the featured speaker.  Is that because they couldn’t find anyone better, or because there is no one better?

This week’s topics on Indiana Week in Review:

GOP Chairman Michael Steele in Indianapolis

Americans for Mitch (new website)

Prison changes

BMV changes

Young Republicans convention in Indianapolis

Becky Skillman’s remarks at the state GOP Dinner

My story, last night, on the visit of RNC Chairman Michael Steele devoted much of its time to the discussion of Mitch Daniels and a possible run for the White House.  I thought people who weren’t there — Republicans, anyway — might be interested in some of his other comments.  So, here are a few more of the thoughts Steele shared in downtown Indianapolis, Wednesday night:

“Our country is being taken, bit by bit, apart and it’s being reassembled into something we will not recognize. That we will not know. ”

To Young Republicans: This is not your parents’ party any more. “Don’t let anyone ever tell you ‘No’, if you want to say ‘yes’ … Get a little bit involved. Tick a few people off. You never know where it’s gonna lead you.”

“We may be a minority party in America right now. But, believe me, I think we represent a majority of the American people on a host of issues that are important to them. These voters now have an opportunity to see exactly what President Obama and the Democrats are capable of doing: messing things up.”

Democrats are stripping away “individuality, freedom, free markets, the right to make decisions of where you send your kids to school, how to run your business. How to save your money. Are you gonna let them strip that away?”

“There’s no way, ladies and gentlemen, our nation can sustain this level of spending. There’s no way we can allow this administration, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid to carry out this agenda.”

“The Democrats have set in motion an effort to consolidate control over health care, our energy consumption, our economic and business decisions. They’ve put every last decision in the hands of government. Moreover, the liberals are glibly planning an America where there are more people going down the ladder of opportunity than up.”

“Government is getting bigger not smaller. Taxes are going up. Don’t believe the hype … They’re going up. 95% of you are going to get a tax increase — not a tax reduction.”

Indiana “has become a shining example of what Republican principles, when put into action, look like. Currently, Indiana is one of only ten states in the nation that has not raised its taxes. It’s also one of fifteen states that is not cutting education spending…”

About the Obama administration’s handling of the economy: “This is all his, right now. All his, right now. You can’t blame George Bush for this mess.”

Republican National Chairman Michael Steele speaks to the state Republican Dinner tonight.  He will not meet with the local media (though he did a telephone interview on Republican-friendly WIBC this morning.)

Trevor Foughty of the state GOP says Steele is arriving late because of a funeral and has no time for questions.

Could it be that a lower profile will also reduce the comparisons to the ability of Indiana Democrats to bring in Bill Clinton for their fundraiser?  Or, maybe help Steele avoid more Sarah Palin questions?

There is much hoopla over Sarah Palin’s planned visit to the Vanderburgh County Right-to-Life dinner in Evansville on April 16th.  But new GOP National Chairman Michael Steele is also a scheduled speaker that night and his visit could be the one that generates the most news.

Already under the threat of a recall election for his handling of Rush Limbaugh and other issues, Steele recently gave GQ an interview in which he indicated that he is pro-choice on abortion, or, at the very least, considers it a state’s rights issue.

I traded several e-mails this week with an Evansville Republican who is thrilled about Governor Palin coming to her hometown but, she says, she won’t buy a ticket to the dinner because she is pro-choice.  Will the pro-lifers who buy tickets give Steele a warmer reception?