House Dems budget moves to full chamber

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A Democratic proposal for a 1-year state budget advanced in the special session of the General Assembly Monday.

The budget bill cleared the House Ways and Means Committee with Democrats voting yes and Republicans voting no, but the two parties did come together in a vote to revive the Indiana Soldier's and Sailor's Children's Home .

The committee voted 21 to 4 to spend federal stimulus money to keep the Knightstown facility open for one more year and to conduct a study on the future of the children's home.

It was one of dozens of amendments tacked on to the budget.

Republicans estimate the new spending at $100 million.

"You're passing a budget through this body and I assume through the House that can only be considered a credit card budget, spend now and pay later and the payment can only be a tax increase," said Rep. Jeff Espich (R-Uniondale).

Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville) said, "I just don't think this is the right budget for Indiana taxpayers and so I vote no."

Democrats who control the committee by a 15 to 10 count argued that their version of the budget spends less than the governor's, though it clearly spells out different priorities.

"There are no tax increases in this legislation. We live within our means," said Rep. Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City)

Nevertheless, it's a recipe for a long special session.

Rep. Ed Delaney (D-Indianapolis) said, "Nobody's going to shut this government down or tax Hoosiers out of existence. We need to get off the hobgoblins.”

On Tuesday, the same committee takes up the issue of Capital Improvement Board bailout.

Monday's action amounts to positioning by Democrats for the final negotiation of the special session. The budget bill now goes to the House floor where a final could come as soon as Thursday.

Once it gets to the Republican controlled state Senate, however, all of the new spending will likely come out of it.
A Democratic proposal for a 1-year state budget advanced in the special session of the General Assembly Monday.

The budget bill cleared the House Ways and Means Committee with Democrats voting yes and Republicans voting no, but the two parties did come together in a vote to revive the Indiana Soldier's and Sailor's Children's Home.

The committee voted 21 to 4 to spend federal stimulus money to keep the Knightstown facility open for one more year and to conduct a study on the future of the children's home.

It was one of dozens of amendments tacked on to the budget.

Republicans estimate the new spending at $100 million.

"You're passing a budget through this body and I assume through the House that can only be considered a credit card budget, spend now and pay later and the payment can only be a tax increase," said Rep. Jeff Espich (R-Uniondale).

Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville) said, "I just don't think this is the right budget for Indiana taxpayers and so I vote no."

Democrats who control the committee by a 15 to 10 count argued that their version of the budget spends less than the governor's, though it clearly spells out different priorities.

"There are no tax increases in this legislation. We live within our means," said Rep. Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City)

Nevertheless, it's a recipe for a long special session.

Rep. Ed Delaney (D-Indianapolis) said, "Nobody's going to shut this government down or tax Hoosiers out of existence. We need to get off the hobgoblins.”

On Tuesday, the same committee takes up the issue of Capital Improvement Board bailout.

Monday's action amounts to positioning by Democrats for the final negotiation of the special session. The budget bill now goes to the House floor where a final could come as soon as Thursday.

Once it gets to the Republican controlled state Senate, however, all of the new spending will likely come out of it.