Ind. congressman feel the heat as health care vote approaches

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indiana congressmen are under pressure from a number of sources as they prepare for a vote this week on the president's health care reform plan. They all received a letter from Governor Mitch Daniels. In it, he calls the bill anti-jobs, anti-taxpayer and anti-Hoosier.

Democrats Baron Hill and Brad Ellsworth are the only two Indiana Congressmen to call themselves undecided in a 24-Hour News 8 survey conducted Tuesday.

It makes the congressmen targets for attack ads like the one calling Ellsworth a rubber stamp.

"Ellsworth votes with (House Speaker) Pelosi and the Democrats almost 90 percent of the time," the ad placed on the Internet by the National Republican Senatorial Committeee says.

Meanwhile, a truck carrying anti-abortion messages through Terre Haute also targeted Ellsworth Tuesday.

Bill Calvin of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform drove it.

"This is the truth and people need to make decisions based on facts and the truth," insisted Calvin. "We're just bringing 'em facts and the truth. We're here to influence Congressman Ellsworth and his constituents today."

A spokesperson for Ellsworth says he will vote "no" if the bill allows taxpayer-funded abortions.

Democrat Joe Donnelly is a "no" vote, at least if the vote is on the Senate version of the health care bill.

All of Indiana's GOP congressmen are also planning to vote "no."

GOP congressman Mike Pence took to the House floor Tuesday to object to a potential Democratic strategy that would prevent a vote on the entire bill.

"What's really remarkable about this whole business," said Pence (R-6th District), "is that not only the American people have rejected this plan but the Democrats are so desperate to pass it that they're willing to trample on the traditional rules of the House and Senate and even trample on the constitution to get it done."

There are just two affirmative votes in the Indiana delegation. Democrat André Carson is a "yes" and Democrat Pete Visclosky didn't respond to our survey, but his Web site indicates that he supports the president's health care plan.

Just getting through to a congressional office Tuesday was tough to do. The volume of phone calls encouraging members to vote one way or another is overwhelming.

Voicemail boxes are full and staffers, as well as members, will be happy to get this vote behind them.