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Victory Bloggers is a place for the Rightroots in Indiana to unite in support of a Republican majority in the Indiana House of Representatives. Sign up to receive special insider updates and be added to our blogroll. We will periodically feature the best content from internet activists all over the state. We will also be posting announcements of special blogger events and conference calls. Get the Inside Track! Become a Victory Blogger today!
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February, 2008

  • The Thursday Blowup
    02/22/2008 - 5:27pm
    Friday, February 22, 2008 - 5:27pm
    The legislative session ended with a walkout yesterday when House Republicans refused to return from caucus after House Speaker Pat Bauer got a bit too liberal with his application of House rules. This blowup was brewing all day long.

    The shredding of the House rule book began when Rep. Dave Crooks, who we here at FH just love, convened the House Commerce, Energy, and Utilities Committee without the necessary quorum to conduct business, a blatant violation of House rules. As for the walkout, here's the part you won't read in this morning's Star.

    The walkout was triggered when House Speaker Pat Bauer refused to consider the committee report for SB 335, the immigration bill. Committee reports reflect changes made to legislation. Until the reports are adopted, the bills cannot be considered by the full House. Yesterday was the last day to pass a committee report or the bill was dead. Bauer refused to call SB 335 because Rep. Eric Turner filed a minority committee report that would have included language in the bill to restrict public benefits for illegal immigrants, an issue democrats don't agree with but would be forced for political reasons to support if it came to a vote.
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  • Political Cannibalism: South Bend Dems turn on Bauer
    02/16/2008 - 9:49am
    Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 9:49am
    We're guessing that Pat Bauer was none too happy when he read his hometown paper this morning. If you're the most powerful person in the House of Representatives, it's bad enough that the local press doesn't realize you've ascended to the position of Speaker after 30-some years in office and calls you the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman (just wait for it). But then to read that members of your own party (including Bob Kovach, a guy that used to serve in the legislature with you) are beating you up? That just makes for an ugly start to the weekend. Here's what the South Bend Tribune and South Bend Democrats had to say about Bauer's handling of HB1001 and the property tax mess:
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  • You're Welcome: Tax Relief Taxable
    02/12/2008 - 2:45pm
    Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 2:45pm
    If I had to say something nice about tax season it would be that this is the last time we'll have to think about the House Democrats' property tax rebate scheme.  We've talked about this before so we won't belabor the fine points.  The latest debacle with the program, designed to shower political love on Pat Bauer, is that the tax rebates are taxable.  Well, maybe they are.  The bottom line is that it has to be a wash for the federal government.  So if you deducted your property taxes last year and then received a rebate, it's technically untaxed income.  The South Bend Tribune does a little Q&A to help you figure it all out:
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  • Poll Position: Indiana Republicans Strong for 2008
    02/05/2008 - 8:47am
    Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - 8:47am
    A new poll commissioned by the HRCC shows republicans in a strong position to take back the House and hold onto the governor's office in 2008. As you would suspect, the property tax issue is driving voter opinions in approval of Mitch Daniels and the legislature in general. Have a look.

    Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mitch Daniels is handling his job as Governor?

    56% TOTAL APPROVE
    39% TOTAL DISAPPROVE

    Mitch Daniels

    57% TOTAL FAVORABLE
    37% TOTAL UNFAVORABLE
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  • A Mule by Any Other Name...
    02/04/2008 - 9:23am
    Monday, February 4, 2008 - 9:23am

    Funny campaign trail story from Mark Messmer, a Republican running for state representative over in Jasper:

    I thought I would share a funny story that came up on one of my door-to-door visits in Pike County. I was in the area of Yellow Rose Horse Park where my daughter was competing in some barrel racing. In between her races I was driving around the area and stopped at a house not too far away.

    When talking to the couple, I told them about my daughter’s interest in horses and they started to tell me about a pony and a mule that they had on their small farm.

    The pony is about 36 years old and they are very fond the animal. They have had him for over 30 years. The mule on the other hand, they got about 3 years ago.

    The husband said he has had a real tuff time taming down the mule. She bites and kicks the old pony on a regular basis, and has bitten him in the back several times.

    He said to me, “do you know what that mule’s name is?”

    I said “no, what is it.”

    He said “Hilary” and smiled.

    We got along pretty well that afternoon!

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  • New Poll Shows Hoosiers Looking Right
    02/02/2008 - 10:01am
    Saturday, February 2, 2008 - 10:01am
    There has been a poll in the field recently from American Viewpoint for the House Republican Campaign Committee.

    AV is a generally Republican pollster that did polling for George Bush’s reelection campaign, Dick Lugar, former senators Phil Gramm and Fred Thompson, Roy and Matt Blunt in Missouri, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Campaign Committee, and (surprisingly) the Log Cabin Republicans.

    The results from the poll of 800 Hoosiers, unsurprisingly, show a state that is looking rightward and is angry about taxes.
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  • Quote of the Day
    02/01/2008 - 2:12pm
    Friday, February 1, 2008 - 2:12pm

    “Do you think the people we serve are stupid or dumb?”

    - State Representative Jeff Espich, during the debate on school construction referendums

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