Evan Bayh

Report: Ex-Sen. Evan Bayh Signing On With Fox News

Eric Lach | March 14, 2011, 3:40PM

Former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Former Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) is set to become Fox News' latest contributor, according to The Huffington Post.

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Debt

Bayh And Conrad Endorse $20M 'OweNo' National Debt Ad Campaign (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | November 9, 2010, 5:15PM

Ad From Peter G. Peterson Foundation, "Rally"

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) and retiring Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) are giving their endorsement to a new ad campaign called "OweNo," seeking to expand public awareness about the national debt -- and signaling an opening volley in the Social Security debate, the Huffington Post reports,

OweNo? Hasn't she ruined everything she touches?

The ad campaign is being run by the Peter G. Peterson foundation, created by the former Nixon-era Secretary of Commerce and co-founder of the budget hawk group the Concord Coalition. The first ad -- part of a $20 million campaign -- does not feature Bayh or Conrad, but a fictional politician named "Hugh Jidette," and his crowd of supporters who stop cheering once he describes his policies of spending more money and passing the tab on to their kids.

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Bush Tax Cuts

Rep. Brad Ellsworth: I'd Keep All Tax Cuts And I Want To Vote Now (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | September 22, 2010, 5:54PM

Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) said today he wants to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for every income bracket and said he's not sure what House Democratic leaders are going to decide about holding a vote.

"I don't think now is the right time to let those tax breaks expire," Ellsworth told Neil Cavuto on Fox News. "I would vote to extend both all across the board. ... [W]e should pass those directly, and we should do it before we go home, before we recess."

Ellsworth was one of the 31 Democrats to sign a letter asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi to keep the tax cuts for the wealthy. (Our updating list on wavering Democrats and their positions here.) He's also in a unique position among the Democrats on this issue because he is running in a statewide race for the seat of retiring Sen. Evan Bayh (D). His rival Dan Coats (R) wants them extended permanently for everyone.

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IN-SEN

Indiana Dems Officially Nominate Ellsworth To Run For Bayh's Seat

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 15, 2010, 3:03PM

Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)

Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) officially received his party's nomination to replace retiring Sen. Evan Bayh by the Indiana Democratic Central Committee this afternoon.

Ellsworth, who first won his seat in Congress in 2006, has been expected to be the Democratic Senate nominee since shortly after Bayh announced his retirement in February.

As the Indianapolis Star reports, Ellsworth's nomination today was largely a ceremonial affair. Ellsworth will now face former Sen. Dan Coats, who won the Republican nomination in a May 4 primary.

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IN-SEN

Indiana GOP Voters Pick Coats To Flip Bayh's Seat

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 4, 2010, 8:43PM

IN-SEN candidate Dan Coats

There were no surprises in the Indiana Republican Senate primary tonight. Former Senator Dan Coats, who drew fire from conservatives in the final weeks of the primary fight, has been declared his party's nominee, according to both the AP and the Indianapolis Star.

He defeated tea party favorite Marlin Stutzman and Rep. John Hostettler -- who had the endorsement of Ron Paul -- to win his party's nod.

The stage is now set for an open seat battle few expected at the start of the cycle. When Sen. Evan Bayh (D) announced his retirement in February, a race most said was the Democratic party's to lose became a toss-up that some experts say now leans in favor of the GOP. But before Coats can return to Washington a Senator after more than a decade out of office, he'll have to defeat the man who Democrats say has what it takes to keep the seat on their side of the aisle: presumptive nominee Rep. Brad Ellsworth.

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IN-SEN

Establishment GOP Marching Toward Victory Over Tea Partiers In Indiana Sen Primary

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 3, 2010, 1:31PM

Indiana Senate candidates John Hostettler (R), Marlin Stutzman (R) and Dan Coats (R)

With the final day of campaigning in the Indiana GOP Senate primary underway, the national Republican establishment seems headed to a rare victory over the forces of the tea party movement in the race to seize Sen. Evan Bayh's (D) Senate seat. There are actually five candidates running for the Republican nomination, but three have risen to dominate the race, and define the internal battle lines: former Sen. Dan Coats (who is the establishment pick), Rep. John Hostettler (who has the support of Ron Paul) and former state Rep. Marlin Stutzman (who is the tea party choice).

Based on money and recent polling, Coats seems poised to sweep the field -- a rare victory for the party mainstream that's still smarting from Gov. Charlie Crist's collapse in Florida and the conservative insurgency that looks like it might take out Sen. Bob Bennett (R) in Utah.

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2012 elections

Bayh Back? Indiana Dems Say They'd Love It

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 8, 2010, 3:44PM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

First things first: Indiana Democrats are not thinking about 2012, according to state party chair Dan Parker -- they've got enough on their plate with the 2010 elections just few months away. But when I asked him about D.C. rumors that retiring Sen. Evan Bayh (D) is gearing up for a gubernatorial bid in two years, Parker wasn't afraid to let his mind drift a bit past November.

"A lot of folks in the party would love to see Evan back," Parker told me.

Parker said that Bayh would be welcome back to the campaign trail in Indiana, despite his sudden decision to drop his reelection bid this year, which left state Democrats high and dry in a tough year.

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Evan Bayh

Evan Bayh's Next Move: A (Re)Run For Governor?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 7, 2010, 2:38PM

Former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

When Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) announced his retirement from the Senate Feb. 15, the life-long public official gave few hints as to what he'd do next. But a knowledgeable D.C. Democratic source tells me Bayh's intentions are clear to national Democrats: in 2012, he's planning to leverage the independent, outsider cred he's accrued in the wake of his retirement to run for his old job as Indiana's Governor.

Bayh's office told me today that Bayh "has made no decisions about what he might do when he completes his term in the Senate." But national Democrats in Washington say they expect him to return to politics by running for the job that first launched him onto the national stage.

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Health Care

Senate Health Committee Chairman: 'We'll Have The Votes' To Pass Final Bill

Christina Bellantoni | March 19, 2010, 9:52AM

President Barack Obama and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)

Democratic Senators are sounding quite confident that these really are the last, final votes on health care reform and that something will be sent to President Obama's desk for a signature soon. "We'll have the votes to pass this," Sen. Tom Harkin told reporters on a conference call late yesterday, referring to the Senate. He also particularly praised Speaker Nancy Pelosi for pulling in wavering Democrats to secure the needed 216 votes in the House.

"Speaker Pelosi has just done a magnificent job, she has a very tough job keeping all of her troops lined up and it's been amazing to watch her do this," said Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee. (Despite a looming Sunday afternoon vote, she's not there yet, though.)

Is Harkin worried that something could go wrong and the Senate wouldn't pass the final legislation? Nope. He said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has the 50 votes he needs and isn't sweating it. I asked Harkin about Sen. Evan Bayh's objections to including student loan legislation in the health care bill, and he said he wasn't worried.

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IN-SEN

Bayh Pens Fundraising E-Mail For Ellsworth As New IN-SEN Democratic Candidate

Eric Kleefeld | March 11, 2010, 11:52AM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), who is retiring this year, has sent out a fundraising letter to promote the new Democratic candidate to succeed him, Rep. Brad Ellsworth.

"Brad is an independent voice and a fiscal conservative who shares the fierce dedication to public service that you and I value. He has my complete confidence, and I hope you will support him as vigorously as you have supported me," Bayh writes in the e-mail. "But with only eight short months to go until Election Day, your immediate support is critical."

As we have reported, the state Democratic Party's central committee will formally select the new candidate -- who will in all likelihood be Ellsworth -- some time after the May 4 primary, and before a June 30 deadline. This is because Bayh announced his retirement the day before the signatures were due, and nobody filed the petitions necessary to appear on the Democratic primary ballot.

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Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | March 5, 2010, 1:52PM

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA).

• Fox News Sunday: Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN).

IN-SEN

Memo To Progressives: If You Disliked Bayh Just Wait Til You See Ellsworth

Eric Kleefeld | March 2, 2010, 9:16AM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)

The retirement of Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), who was often criticized by progressive Democrats, presents a certain ironic outcome -- that the likely new Democratic nominee to replace him, Rep. Brad Ellsworth, is actually somewhat to Bayh's right.

The various rating systems, and the two legislators' voting records, shows that Ellsworth is generally in the same territory as Bayh on most issues. The difference comes on three key social issues: Abortion, gay rights, and gun control.

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IN-SEN

Dem Rep. Baron Hill Not Running For Senate, Endorses Ellsworth

Eric Kleefeld | March 1, 2010, 2:54PM

Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) and Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN)

Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN) announced over the weekend that he will not run for the the Senate seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, and that he has endorsed Rep. Brad Ellsworth to be the new Democratic nominee.

"I believe my friend and colleague, Congressman Brad Ellsworth, is the right man to fulfill the task of ensuring a Democrat is elected to succeed Senator Bayh," Hill said in a statement.

As we have reported, the fact that nobody filed the petitions necessary to appear on the Democratic primary ballot -- Bayh announced his retirement the day before the signatures were due -- means that the state Democratic Party's central committee has the authority to name a new candidate. That meeting of the committee will come some time after the May 4 primary, and before a June 30 deadline.

IN-SEN

Poll: Potential Dem Candidates Trail GOPers In Indiana Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | February 18, 2010, 11:36AM

Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) and Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN)

The new Rasmussen poll of Indiana, the first survey of the Senate race here since Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh suddenly announced his retirement, finds the two most prominent potential Dem replacement candidates trailing the Republicans.

Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsowrth trails former GOP Sen. Dan Coats by 46%-32%, trails former Rep. John Hostettler by 46%-27%, and trails state Sen. Marlin Stutzman by 40%-30%. Democratic Rep. Baron Hill is behind Coats by 48%-32%, trails Hostettler by 49%-31%, and is behind Stutzman by 41%-33%.

Neither Ellsworth nor Hill are officially in the race at this time, and an actual campaign would likely boost the eventual candidate's name recognition and poll numbers somewhat. But for now, at least, the Democrats appear to start out this open-seat contest significantly behind.

Evan Bayh

FEC Rules Give Bayh Room To Decide What To Do With His $13 Million War Chest

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 16, 2010, 1:37PM

Former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

For years, thousands of donors have poured millions of dollars into Sen. Evan Bayh's (D-IN) coffers, helping him to establish a war chest of contributions that most politicians would give their right arm to have. But now that Bayh's decided not to run for reelection, the decision of what to do with the $13 million in campaign cash he has left will be Bayh's alone. Not surprisingly, people are already lining up to get a piece.

FEC rules dictate what Bayh can do with his campaign money, but within their confines is a lot of leeway for Bayh to reward political allies or establish a beach head for future electoral politics. The choice is his alone.

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Tamyra d'Ippolito

County Official: d'Ippolito Has Only Three Signatures Filed With Us -- Won't Qualify For Ballot

Eric Kleefeld | February 16, 2010, 12:25PM

IN-SEN candidate Tamyra d'Ippolito (D) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) (inset)

Terry Burns, the Democratic member of the Board of Voter Registration in Marion County, Indiana, informs TPMDC that Tamyra d'Ippolito does not have the required ballot-petition signatures needed to run in the Democratic primary for Senate. In fact, he said, she hardly has any in his area.

In Indiana, petitions are submitted within the county where the signatures upon it were collected. The deadline to do this was noon today. Petitions are then reviewed and certified by the counties, and forwarded on to the state. In order to appear on the primary ballot for Senate, a candidate must have collected 500 signatures within each of the state's nine Congressional districts. Marion County, the home of Indianapolis, has the 7th District located entirely within its borders -- so if d'Ippolito doesn't have at least 500 signatures in this one county alone, getting on the ballot would be out of the question.

"We received this morning three signatures. And that is all we have received, so she will not qualify to be on the ballot," said Burns. He also added: "Once the noon deadline passes, that's it." In addition, only two of the signatures came from the 7th District -- the other was from the 5th District, which is partially located within Marion County.

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Tamyra d'Ippolito

Indiana Dem Chairman: No, d'Ippolito Does Not Have 4,500 Ballot Signatures -- She Has 22

Eric Kleefeld | February 16, 2010, 11:16AM

IN-SEN candidate Tamyra d'Ippolito (D)

In an interview with TPMDC, Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker strongly denied that cafe owner Tamyra d'Ippolito has obtained the necessary ballot-petition signatures to appear on the ballot in the Dem primary for Senate -- disputing d'Ippolito's earlier claim to have to have obtained the 500 required in each of the state's nine House districts.

"I am monitoring the situation with our boards of voter registration and our county clerks' offices. Those are the places where petitions have to be submitted for certification," said Parker. "They have to be certified in the counties and then brought to the Secretary of State's office by Friday. As of this moment, other than Evan Bayh, there's one candidate, who is a Democratic candidate [d'Ippolito], who has 22 signatures statewide."

As we have reported, Democrats were apparently expecting that nobody would successfully file for the Senate seat, given the fact that Bayh dropped out a day before the petitions were due. Under Indiana law, the state Democratic Party's central committee has the authority to name a new candidate. If d'Ippolito is indeed able to make the ballot, then the Dems would have to find some other means to get a different candidate -- or else have her as their nominee.

Tamyra d'Ippolito

D'Ippolito: I Have Enough Signatures To Get On The Ballot For IN-SEN Dem Primary

Eric Kleefeld | February 16, 2010, 10:43AM

IN-SEN candidate Tamyra d'Ippolito (D) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) (inset)

Tamyra d'Ippolito, a cafe owner who has been seeking the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat currently held by Evan Bayh, just told TPMDC that she does have the minimum number of ballot-petition signatures need to get on the ballot for the Democratic primary. If her petitions do in fact work out, that would seriously complicate the efforts by the party to pick a new candidate to replace Bayh, the retiring incumbent Democrat, on the ballot this November.

In order to appear on the primary election ballot for Senate, a candidate in Indiana must obtain 500 petition signatures in each of the state's nine House districts -- and the deadline is today. Yesterday, d'Ippolito said she was about 1,000 short of the overall goal of 4,500. However, she said, in the last day signatures picked up considerably -- and she is prepared to fight any potential efforts by the Democratic Party to have enough signatures invalidated to put her below the quota.

"We have enough signatures and we're ready to go to court. We're ready to fight," said d'Ippolito. "And yes it's politics, and I'm sure there are certain Democrats, I hope they are the minority, I'm sure there are certain Democrats who will try those underhanded activities. I hope they would be wiser not to take that road."

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Evan Bayh

Bayh Calls Lack Of Primary To Replace Him A Good Thing On Call With Dems

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 15, 2010, 6:43PM

Former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

On a conference call with county Democratic Party chairs this afternoon, Sen. Evan Bayh and Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker declared that not having a Democratic primary to find a replacement for the retiring Bayh would have its upsides, according to a source who was on the call.

Bayh opened the call by repeating the reasons for not seeking reelection he mentioned in his press conference today, the source said. But in a message tailored for his audience of local party officials, Bayh said the timing of his announcement could be a positive for Democrats. The source said that Bayh told the call that the lack of a primary would mean that the Republican party candidates would attack each other on their own, with no Democrats to get in the way. On the Democratic side of the process, according to the source, Bayh said officials would choose a strong nominee from their "deep bench."

"He said, 'if this goes to the state committee then we'll have selected a candidate without a divisive primary,'" the source told me this evening.

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IN-SEN

Brad Ellsworth Considering Senate Bid

Christina Bellantoni | February 15, 2010, 2:33PM

Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)

Rep. Brad Ellsworth is considering throwing his hat in the ring to run for Sen. Evan Bayh's Senate seat, saying today he wants feedback from his family and his constituents.

Ellsworth (D-IN), elected in 2006 when the Democrats took over Congress, lauded Bayh in a statement just released from his office and says the senator will be missed.

He adds that he's already been encouraged to seek the seat.

"I heard about the news during my annual Open Door Listening Tour this morning, and I appreciate the support of those Hoosiers who have already encouraged me to run for Senator Bayh's seat," Ellsworth said.

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Evan Bayh

Bayh: 'I Do Not Love Congress'

Eric Kleefeld | February 15, 2010, 2:24PM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) just officially announced his retirement from the Senate, with a clear message: He doesn't like Congress.

"For some time I've had a growing conviction that Congress is not working as it should," said Bayh. As a prime example, he referred to the recent filibustering of legislation to create a bipartisan fiscal commission. What particularly bothered Bayh was that it was defeated by Senators who had previously been co-sponsors of the measure itself, but then blocked it for what he described as political reasons.

"To put it in words I think most people can understand, I love working for the people of Indiana, I love helping our citizens make the most of their lives," said Bayh. "But I do not love Congress."

Bayh's full prepared remarks are available after the jump.

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2010 elections

Ouch! Bayh Called Obama But Not Harry Reid

Christina Bellantoni | February 15, 2010, 12:54PM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

The news about Sen. Evan Bayh opting not to seek reelection had been out for an hour before Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid heard from him.

As we reported earlier, Bayh (D-IN) phoned President Obama this morning about his decision.

But an aide to Reid tells us that Bayh called the majority leader at about 11:45 a.m. to let him know.

During his 2 p.m. press conference Bayh will say that partisan gridlock in Washington is one reason he's bowing out.

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Tamyra d'Ippolito

Another Dem Already In Race For Bayh's Seat -- But Doesn't Have The Needed Signatures Yet

Eric Kleefeld | February 15, 2010, 12:39PM

IN-SEN candidate Tamyra d'Ippolito (D)

Indiana Democrats appear to be on a course to name a candidate for Evan Bayh's Senate seat, given the high unlikelihood that another candidate could successfully file the necessary ballot petitions with the state this week in order to enter the primary. But, there is in fact at least one other candidate besides Bayh who was already seeking to get on the ballot.

So, how is Tamyra d'Ippolito, a cafe owner in Bloomington, doing with collecting the 500 petition signatures in each of the state's nine House districts (a requirement that Bayh's campaign had already fulfilled, according to Democratic sources and published media reports)? The deadline to complete the filing process is this week.

On a phone call just now, d'Ippolito told me that she is not yet at the goal: "We're working feverishly here."

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2010 elections

Surprise! Bayh's Choice Leaves State Party Officials Choosing Replacement Candidate

Christina Bellantoni | February 15, 2010, 11:40AM

President Obama and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Sen. Evan Bayh had already collected the 4,500 ballot-petition signatures needed to run in this year's Indiana Democratic primary, and his last-minute decision not to run leaves the Indiana Democratic Party in the position of having to select its candidate itself. There probably isn't a realistic way for anyone to gather the signatures needed by this week's deadline.

A Democratic source told TPMDC that Bayh's campaign did polling last week and found the senator was ahead of Republican Dan Coats, a candidate who just jumped in the race. Bayh had completed all the petitions for the race, which are due this week, the source said.

R.J. Gerard, communications director for the Indiana Democratic Party confirmed to TPMDC that the state Democratic Party would be able to select a new candidate to run in November's general election if no one files petitions with 4,500 signatures (500 within each of the state's nine House districts) to run in the primary.

The petitions must be filed with the county clerk's office by Tuesday. Then candidates have until Friday to file with the Secretary of State for the primary ballot. The lack of another Democrat will mean there is a vacancy, leaving it to the state party's State Central Committee to choose a candidate at its June 30 meeting.

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Evan Bayh

Indiana Dem Sen. Evan Bayh To Retire

Eric Kleefeld | February 15, 2010, 10:57AM

Former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

In a big development for the 2010 elections, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), one of the key centrist Democrats in the Senate, will not seek re-election this year, a Democratic source confirms to TPMDC.

Bayh's official reason is that he simply does not want to serve in the Senate anymore. "After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so in Congress has waned," Bayh will say at a press conference, according to prepared remarks obtained by the Indianapolis Star.

"Even in the current challenging environment, I am confident in my prospects for re-election," Bayh will also say. "But running for the sake of winning an election, just to remain in public office, is not good enough."

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Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | February 12, 2010, 2:32PM

Vice President Joe Biden and former Vice President Dick Cheney

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Former Vice President Dick Cheney.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Vice President Joe Biden.

• CNN, State Of The Union: National Security Adviser James Jones, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN).

• Fox News Sunday: National Security Adviser James Jones, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Vice President Joe Biden.

Al Gore

Gore Group Targets Bayh, McCaskill, Lincoln To Build Support For Climate Legislation (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | February 10, 2010, 12:06PM

Fmr. Vice President Al Gore

Repower America, a project of Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection is upping the pressure on swing-vote Democrats to support legislative action on climate change.

In a spot that's set to run for at least three weeks on cable and local network affiliates in Indiana, "real Hoosiers" tell viewers to contact their senators...including Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)--a long-time hold out on climate legislation.

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Dan Coats

Report: Former GOP Sen. Dan Coats To Seek Comeback Bid Against Evan Bayh

Eric Kleefeld | February 3, 2010, 10:35AM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and former Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN)

Former Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) will reportedly announce that he is running for the Republican nomination for his old Senate seat, which is currently held by Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, Indiana journalist Brian Howey reports.

Coats was first elected to the House in 1980, and appointed to the Senate in 1989 after Dan Quayle's election to the vice presidency. Coats was then elected in his own right in 1990 and 1992, and then retired in 1998, with Bayh picking up the seat.

Coats is a late entrant to the primary race, with former Rep. John Hostettler, state Sen. Marlin Stutzman, and Tea Party activist Richard Behney already in the race. The election is also approaching its filing deadline -- Coats will have to gather at least 4,500 ballot petition signatures, 500 within each of the state's nine House districts, in the next two weeks.

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Budget Reconciliation

Bayhpartisanship: A Glimpse Into Democrats' Aversion To Political Hardball

Brian Beutler | January 28, 2010, 10:23AM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

One of the political difficulties complicating the Democrats' ability to seal the deal on health care is perfectly familiar: moderate Democratic senators have an aversion to playing procedural hardball on an issue that's become deeply polarizing. The option staring members of both chambers in the face involves Senate leaders taking an unusual step--circumventing a filibuster to pass legislation preemptively making some significant changes to their own health care bill. The move--called budget reconciliation--is sure to raise howls and objections from conservatives and Republicans, and, as such, Democrats in contested states are saying, "don't go there."

One of those Democrats is Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), who charged out of the gate this week saying he opposes the process. Scratch the surface, though, and the political rationale for Bayh's decision becomes clear.

"There would be some real consequences from that for the legislative agenda for the rest of the year," Bayh told me last night, "the other things the president called for: cooperation on education, financial reform, a whole host of other things."

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State Of The Union

Dems Laud Obama's Speech As Health Care Breakthrough--But To What Avail? (Video)

Brian Beutler | January 27, 2010, 11:47PM

Democrats in both the House and Senate and beyond hailed President Obama's State of the Union address tonight as a major step forward on health care reform. But when the speech ended, and members filed out of the House chamber, one thing was abundantly clear: no matter how good tonight's speech was, it did not break the congressional health care logjam.

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) said the President sent "exactly the right message."

"He made it very clear that he isn't walking away from health care with his tail between his legs," Wiener added.

That view was echoed by members in both chambers, and at least one powerful Democratic ally.

"This was an important message to get it done," Anna Burger, president of the labor federation Change to Win, told me in a brief interview. "They can do reconciliation...I think it's perfectly doable."

But for all the plaudits Obama's words won tonight, it appears that neither the House nor the Senate--stuck in a health care face-off since Democrats lost a Senate seat in Massachusetts last week--is prepared to blink.

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Richard Behney

Indiana GOP Chairman: 'We Don't Condone' Senate Candidate Who Called For Armed Revolution If 2010 Elections Don't Work Out

Eric Kleefeld | January 27, 2010, 10:57AM

Senate candidate Richard Behney (R-IN)

The Indiana Republican Party is officially disapproving of remarks by Richard Behney, a Tea Party activist who is seeking the GOP nomination to run against Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, and who declared that if the 2010 elections don't turn out right he would be "cleaning my guns and getting ready for the big show."

"We don't condone this type of rhetoric and feel it is unhelpful in promoting constructive debate," said state GOP chairman Murray Clark, in a statement e-mailed to TPMDC. "We continue to encourage anyone seeking political change to do so through the electoral process and to discuss the issues of the day in a civil manner."

In a video that was posted online in late December, but has received wider attention in the last few days, Behney told a political gathering: "I believe personally, we're at a crossroads. We have one last opportunity. And I believe 2010 is it. All right? And we can do it with our vote. And we can get new faces in, whether it's my face or not, I pray to God that I see new faces. And if we don't see new faces, I'm cleaning my guns and getting ready for the big show. And I'm serious about that, and I bet you are, too. But I know none of us want to go that far yet, and we can do it with our vote." (Watch the video here.)

Richard Behney

Tea Party Activist And Senate Candidate: 'If We Don't See New Faces, I'm Cleaning My Guns And Getting Ready For The Big Show' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2010, 7:00PM

Senate candidate Richard Behney (R-IN)

Richard Behney, an Indiana Tea Party activist and candidate for the Republican nomination for Senate against Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, made a striking pronouncement at a meeting late last year of the "Evansville 2nd Amendment Patriots": That if new people don't get elected to Congress in 2010, he'll be getting out his guns to face down the American government.

"That's the beauty of this, folks. We can do it before it gets to guns," said Behney, in praise of the electoral process. "All right, our founders brought out the guns. When they showed up at Lexington and Concord, regular folks, farm boys, doctors, merchant men, and they said you ain't taking our stuff. They stood up to the most powerful army in the world, and they bought our freedom, literally with their blood. And we don't have to do that yet.

"I believe personally, we're at a crossroads. We have one last opportunity. And I believe 2010 is it. All right? And we can do it with our vote. And we can get new faces in, whether it's my face or not, I pray to God that I see new faces. And if we don't see new faces, I'm cleaning my guns and getting ready for the big show. And I'm serious about that, and I bet you are, too. But I know none of us want to go that far yet, and we can do it with our vote."

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Health Care

Lincoln, Bayh Won't Support Passing Health Care Fixes Via Reconciliation

Rachel Slajda | January 26, 2010, 2:32PM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Two Democratic senators, Evan Bayh of Indiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, have declared that they won't support a plan to have the House pass the Senate health care bill whole, then pass fixes to the bill through the reconciliation process.

A third, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, suggested lawmakers give up on the comprehensive health care bill entirely and pass reforms one by one.

"We need to focus on things where we have a consensus," Bayh said."Just ramming through a bill on a purely party-line vote on a strictly partisan basis will not do much to generate the kind of progress around here on other issues that we need."

Bayh also said he doesn't understand why the Senate dropped the version of the bill passed by the Finance Committee with one Republican vote. "Maybe we should take another look at that," he said. "If Sen. Snowe was willing to vote for it, perhaps there were other Republicans who were willing to."

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Mike Pence

GOPer Mike Pence Not Running Against Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2010, 11:22AM

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) has announced on his Facebook page that he will not run for Senate this year against second-term Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh.

"After much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to remain in the House and to seek reelection to the 6th Congressional District in 2010," Pence writes. "I am staying for two reasons. First because I have been given the responsibility to shape the Republican comeback as a member of the House Republican Leadership and, second, because I believe Republicans will win back the majority in the House of Representatives in 2010."

A Rasmussen poll released yesterday had shown Pence with a 47%-44% lead over Bayh in a hypothetical match-up. Against the Republican candidates who are currently in the race, Bayh had a slim lead of 47%-44% over former Rep. John Hostettler, who lost reelection in 2006, and a 45%-33% lead over state Sen. Marlin Stutzman.

IN-SEN

Poll: Pence Leads Bayh In Potential Indiana Senate Matchup

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 25, 2010, 9:22AM

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Add another reason for the rumor mill to churn about a Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) run for Senate this year. A new Rasmussen poll out this morning shows Pence leading the man he'll try to unseat should he enter the race, Sen. Evan Bayh (D), in a head-to-head matchup

The poll shows Pence ahead of Bayh by 3 points, 47-44. Bayh, a moderate who has at times clashed with the White House over spending during the past year, would be a particularly sweet target for the GOP. The prospects of a Pence win is also likely to fire up the tea party base of the GOP, who consider Pence one of their kind of Republicans.

Pence hasn't said whether he'll run or not, but reports show he's been seriously considering it. Last week, Reid Wilson reported Pence met with the NRSC to discuss the possibility.

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Barack Obama

Obama In Tough Spot On Porked-Up Omnibus Bill - Again

Christina Bellantoni | December 14, 2009, 3:48PM

President Barack Obama

When President Obama was forced this spring to sign a $410 billion omnibus spending bill laden with earmarks, he called it "imperfect" and called for a more transparent process moving forward.

And he's about to do it again. With the renewed focus on fiscal responsibility on the horizon, Obama is likely to sign a $1 trillion spending bill that passed Congress and contains about $4 billion worth of more than 5,000 earmarks.

"It's not perfect. The president will continue to try to make progress on those issues," Gibbs said. "There's no doubt we've still got a long way to go."

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Deficit

With Unemployment In Double-Digits, Congress Set To Clash On Debt And Deficits

Brian Beutler | December 11, 2009, 10:44AM

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

If and when health care passes, the White House and the Congress will be tugged in two seemingly different directions. On the one hand, with unemployment in the double digits (and an election around the corner), Democrats will have to do something about jobs--and that means another spending bill. The House has already begun its work and the Senate will have to follow suit if the economy is to improve, and if Democrats want to avoid a political blood bath. But the White House, and a bipartisan bloc in the Senate, have made very clear that they'll pay equal, or greater, attention to addressing the country's perilous fiscal situation. And that could touch off yet another tug of war between liberal Democrats and centrist legislators over the country's priorities.

Last month, liberals were taken by surprise when a number of senators--including several Democrats--issued a chilling ultimatum: let us tinker with entitlement programs and taxes, they said, or we'll block raising the amount of debt the government can take on. According to Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), 11 or 12 senators have said they will not vote for must-pass legislation to raise the country's debt ceiling unless they are authorized to create an external commission with extraordinary power over Medicare, Social Security and so on.

This week, Conrad and several of his supporters unveiled their proposal, and it turns out, liberals may have had less to worry about than it seemed at first blush. Not because the members of the commission would like to be gentle to American welfare programs, but because its authors seem to have set it up to fail.

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