Indiana

Statehouse Update - 3:00 p.m.

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I spoke with House Ways & Means Chairman Bill Crawford this afternoon and got his reaction to the anticipated additional $200 million budget shortfall.

Crawford says he doesn’t trust those numbers and thinks someone has been “cooking the books.”  He says two weeks ago the projected shortfall was about $800 million and he says he doesn’t see how that number could grow by $200 million in just two weeks.

Crawford says right now it’s either pass the Governor’s budget or go to a special session, because lawmakers appear to be giving in to the Governor’s threat to veto any proposal they put forward.

There are 9 hours left before lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on April 29, 2009 (boomark / email).