Ind. House leader expects school spending boost

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The leader of the Indiana House says he expects its budget plan will direct more money to education and transportation than is included in Gov. Mike Pence's state spending proposal.

Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said Thursday he believed the Legislature should try to restore more of the $300 million that was cut from school funding in recent years because of the recession.

Pence's budget proposal released this week calls for a 1 percent increase in school funding each year of the two-year state budget. That would add about $65 million a year to school funding.

Bosma says the state's "critical needs" will make it difficult for legislators to approve Pence's proposal for a 10 percent cut in the state's personal income tax rate.