Daniels gives review of 2010 session

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The 2010 General Assembly ended over the weekend and Monday Governor Mitch Daniels (R-Indiana) called it the "least eventful session" since he was first elected.

In many ways, March 15 marks the opening day of campaign season and it was apparent in several of the governor's remarks.

Daniels didn't have much to criticize when it comes to bills passed by the General Assembly but he stopped well short of praising lawmakers.

"It's like pulling teeth but we got a portion of the savings measures that we asked for," he said.

That includes a bill giving flexibility to school districts facing budget cuts, a bill that passed unanimously, the sort of thing that had Democratic House Speaker Pat Bauer (D-South Bend) boasting just after the final gavel.

"I think it's been a very productive and successful session," said Bauer.

But even though he called the school compromise "a pretty good one" the Republican governor made it clear that he hopes the GOP will be in control when lawmakers meet again.

"The taxpayers would be a lot safer if we're able to work with a different General Assembly," said Daniels.

And that means negotiating with someone other than Pat Bauer who now holds a 52-to-48 advantage.

"I like him," said Daniels. "But he's a tough adversary and he looks at the world in a totally different way that is much friendlier to big government."

Look for Republicans to make Speaker Bauer’s leadership a campaign issue in a number of districts around the state.

There is more at stake in the November election than just political philosophy. The winning party gets to draw new districts next year.

That means that while this General Assembly came down to a tough negotiation, expect the campaign to be even tougher.