Winners & losers of new state budget

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A new state budget went into effect Wednesday, just a few hours after the governor signed it into law.

The budget battle lasted for six months. In the end, Mitch Daniels walked away a winner. He not only avoided a government shutdown, he kept the billion dollar surplus he demanded, and can take credit for increasing school funding if only by 1%.

"Hoosier taxpayers, I think, should be enormously glad and relieved at this outcome," said Gov. Daniels.

When the state Senate passed the final version of the budget much of the debate was over rural and urban schools who will suffer cuts that will lead to teacher layoffs, but the governor insists that schools are winners too.

Daniels said, "Indiana schools are faring better than schools in almost any state in America and, ah, we wish we could do more of course, but those are not the times we are in."

In the House debate Democrats attacked wins by charter schools, a cap on them was removed and private schools. They benefit from new tax credits. House Speaker Pat Bauer sounded like a loser on Wednesday.

"You don't always get what you need but you have to decide whether you want to live to fight another day," said Bauer.

Fight they will. The governor told reporters he and the speaker haven't talked about the budget.

"Uh, no, he hasn't called," said Daniels.

While the speaker showed off a Daniels campaign button.

"I think, I think he's thinking of me," said Bauer.

They will all be back in six short months.

Additional losers include the racinos in Anderson and Shelbyville who sought tax changes. The Indiana State Teachers Association who fought changes in education policy and Mayor Greg Ballard. He got a Capital Improvement Board bailout that he believes is inadequate.