Senate bill gives gov. control by 6/30

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - State lawmakers found an issue to fight over besides the state budget Friday as the special session of the General Assembly continues. The new dispute is over a Republican backup plan to avoid a government shutdown.

It has never been done in Indiana, but Republicans Friday took steps aimed at letting Governor Mitch Daniels continue to operate state government under the existing budget if they fail to pass a new one by June 30.

State Senate Republican Leader David Long filed the emergency spending bill. He said it would, in the event no budget agreement is reached by June 30, "keep the state's lights on."

The so-called “continuing resolution” mirrors practices followed by Congress, Democrats object. Senate Democrats are in the minority and powerless to stop it.

Minority Leader Senator Vi Simpson (D) said the bill would be a self-fulfilling prophecy, of sorts.

"There's no reason to do it now before we even start consideration of the budget. That's admitting defeat before we even start," she said.

House Democrats said the continuing resolution shouldn't even be considered.

"We gotta keep working on a budget. We got a long way to go," said Rep. Scott Pelath (D) of Michigan City.

But as a state Senate committee took up consideration of the budget bill, changing it from a one-year to a two-year spending plan similar to the one proposed by the governor, the Lieutenant Governor gave her endorsement.

"We all need a contingency plan in case there's a worse-case scenario," she said.

Senator Long said he prefers a new budget.

"We hope that this bill never has to pass, that the legislature can produce a fiscally sound budget by the June 30th deadline," he said.

The Senate hopes to pass both a budget bill and the continuing resolution by next Tuesday. That will leave a week for final negotiations on the budget and the continuing resolution.

A government shutdown is still possible unless House Democrats agree to pass one of those measures.