Post by Hope on Jun 11, 2009 18:49:36 GMT -5
Lawmakers start special session
Kevin Rader/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - Indiana's elected lawmakers have a "hard deadline" to meet. They must come up with a budget by the end of the month or there's no money to keep the state running.
Shortly after gaveling in the 31st special session in state history since 1851, the House voted by party lines by voice vote to waive the rules on three bills. The budget, a bill requiring an audit of FSSA's privatization efforts and the CIB.
"It's an issue that folks where I live, they don't give a hoot about quite frankly, they could care less," said Rep. Russ Stillwell (D-Boonville). "There are folks in the northern part of the state and they could care less."
Minority Leader Brian Bosma insists the Speaker kept the CIB bill from passing during the regular session.
"To keep that on the table for leverage in the special session, for what we weren't certain and now it is quite clear. It is for expansion of gambling," Bosma said.
Specifically, according to Rep Bosma, to free up a Gary gaming license, change the four-dollar gaming entrance fee to a $4 a day fee and a "racino" provision which could include table games or a tax cut. Speaker Bauer said he agreed with the governor and Senator David Long that gaming should be kept out of the budget.
But the CIB, he says, is different.
"All session long, you heard about gaming going into that bill and all of the sudden there is, surprise, it might be speculated on now. Come on," said Rep. Pat Bauer. "I thought we were just going to do budget and then they add this CIB bill. That parameter was immediately blown when you add CIB. I am not against the CIB, because I actually like to fix problems the governor created."
"It is the speaker's call. He is charting this course. He will either chart us to a state shutdown, a special session after June 30 or we will spend within the states means," Bosma said.
The game is on when the House Ways and Means convenes at 9 a.m. Friday. Gaming amendments are expected to be inserted into the CIB bill in committee.
From the Associated Press:
The General Assembly has started a special, budget-writing session amid discord between majority House Democrats and Gov. Mitch Daniels and his fellow GOP lawmakers.
House Democrats filed a one-year state spending plan Thursday that they say will give all school districts more money in the next school year than they got this year. It also would increase higher education spending.
Republicans are insisting on a traditional two-year budget. They also say the House Democrat plan spends so much in one year that it would leave the state without enough money to sustain a second year of spending.
House Democrats plan to have a public hearing on the plan Friday.
The Republican-ruled Senate met briefly Thursday and adjourned, with plans of reconvening after the House passes a budget bill.
Kevin Rader/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - Indiana's elected lawmakers have a "hard deadline" to meet. They must come up with a budget by the end of the month or there's no money to keep the state running.
Shortly after gaveling in the 31st special session in state history since 1851, the House voted by party lines by voice vote to waive the rules on three bills. The budget, a bill requiring an audit of FSSA's privatization efforts and the CIB.
"It's an issue that folks where I live, they don't give a hoot about quite frankly, they could care less," said Rep. Russ Stillwell (D-Boonville). "There are folks in the northern part of the state and they could care less."
Minority Leader Brian Bosma insists the Speaker kept the CIB bill from passing during the regular session.
"To keep that on the table for leverage in the special session, for what we weren't certain and now it is quite clear. It is for expansion of gambling," Bosma said.
Specifically, according to Rep Bosma, to free up a Gary gaming license, change the four-dollar gaming entrance fee to a $4 a day fee and a "racino" provision which could include table games or a tax cut. Speaker Bauer said he agreed with the governor and Senator David Long that gaming should be kept out of the budget.
But the CIB, he says, is different.
"All session long, you heard about gaming going into that bill and all of the sudden there is, surprise, it might be speculated on now. Come on," said Rep. Pat Bauer. "I thought we were just going to do budget and then they add this CIB bill. That parameter was immediately blown when you add CIB. I am not against the CIB, because I actually like to fix problems the governor created."
"It is the speaker's call. He is charting this course. He will either chart us to a state shutdown, a special session after June 30 or we will spend within the states means," Bosma said.
The game is on when the House Ways and Means convenes at 9 a.m. Friday. Gaming amendments are expected to be inserted into the CIB bill in committee.
From the Associated Press:
The General Assembly has started a special, budget-writing session amid discord between majority House Democrats and Gov. Mitch Daniels and his fellow GOP lawmakers.
House Democrats filed a one-year state spending plan Thursday that they say will give all school districts more money in the next school year than they got this year. It also would increase higher education spending.
Republicans are insisting on a traditional two-year budget. They also say the House Democrat plan spends so much in one year that it would leave the state without enough money to sustain a second year of spending.
House Democrats plan to have a public hearing on the plan Friday.
The Republican-ruled Senate met briefly Thursday and adjourned, with plans of reconvening after the House passes a budget bill.