Indiana

?Republican-Flavored? Budget Leaves Bad Taste in House Democrats Mouth

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Only a handful of Democrats joined almost all Republicans in the Indiana House of Representatives to pass a budget that was the center of a storm which nearly led to a government shutdown.

The final vote was  62 to 37 .  All 48 Republicans voted yes, joined by 14 Democrats.

Lawmakers tried several times to pass a budget during a regular session, but failed to reach and agreement and shrinking state revenue forecasts only made life more difficult.  To make matters worse lawmakers deadlocked over school funding, with Democrats wanting a formula that favored school districts while Republicans wanted money to follow the student.

At the end of the day, the threat of a government shutdown as outlined by Governor Mitch Daniels, gave a lot of lawmakers a new motivation to get things done.

The final House floor arguments were pretty standard.  Democrats said the budget would hurt schools, Republicans said the state couldn’t spend money that it didn’t have.

Some of the budget highlights include…

• A two-year spending plan at $28 billion.
• No caps on charter schools.
• Creates a pilot on-line charter school program and limited tax credit for education expenses.
• A 1.3 percent increase for schools over the next two years, half of extra new revenue over projections goes to schools
• Higher Education is flat-lined.
• Keeps $1 billion in reserves.
• “Funds” the CIB through short-term loans, a hotel tax increase, and expanding the professional sports development area.

The budget is easily expected to pass the Senate with token opposition.

You can hear Pat Bauer and Brian Bosma’s comments below…

bauer-budget-3

bosma-budget

Here some additional audio from Luke Kenley and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman…

kenley-budget

becky skillman

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on June 30, 2009 (boomark / email).