[r18] Rep. Wolkins Endorses Budget Proposal (6/2/2009)

STATEHOUSE - State Representative Dave Wolkins (R-Winona Lake) endorsed Gov. Mitch Daniels' budget proposal, saying it protects taxpayers, supports public education and public safety, and maintains a healthy state reserve balance.

"This is a good foundation for the legislation to draft the states next biennial budget," said Rep. Wolkins. "These are principals we should follow if Hoosiers want the state to make it through this recession. I don't want to have any tax burdens put on Hoosiers. That is why I support the budget spending cuts."

Gov. Daniels gave the people of Indiana a glimpse of his proposed budget and Rep. Wolkins supports the principles contained in the budget proposal, which include:

1. PROTECTING TAXPAYERS through across-the-board spending cuts, except for K-12 education and public safety. This ensures the state will live within its means while protecting against future tax increases.
2. CREATING JOBS by an investment of $450 million in capital projects at state universities in addition to $1 billion in road and bridge projects, paving the way for investment and expansion in Hoosier hometowns across our state.
3. PROTECTING EDUCATION. Most schools will see an average increase of 2 percent over the biennium, and all school corporations will get more money per child than they receive today. In addition, should state revenues exceed the amounts forecasted, an "education trigger" would automatically invest $1 for every $2 of excess revenues received.
4. MAINTAINING HEALTHY RESERVES. The plan also calls for preserving $1 billion of the state's emergency funds to help keep Indiana fiscally strong during these difficult economic times.

Currently, there are 35 states cutting education funding, 41 states raising taxes and 31 states doing both.

Under Gov. Daniels' budget proposal, Indiana is doing neither.

"We are all facing tough times and the state is no different," said Rep. Wolkins. "This budget proposal is doing the right thing by keeping safety and education fully funded while maintaining strong reserves and not raising taxes on Hoosiers."