[r21] Rep. Walorski: 2010 Session a Success (3/12/2010)

According to Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Jimtown), Hoosiers can be proud of what their legislators accomplished at the Indiana Statehouse this year-despite several days of political game-playing. Today marked adjournment Sine Die, or "Last Day".

"As usual, Pat Bauer made the last few days of this session a complete circus by prolonging negotiations and wasting taxpayer dollars," said Rep. Walorski.

"However, in the end, both Republicans and Democrats came together on some key issues-especially some issues affecting teachers and school funding-and overall I think the session was a big success."

Several key issues were passed in the eleventh hour of the 2010 session:

• House Bill 1367, which was finally passed today, allows schools the flexibility to shuffle money between various funds to make up for some of revenue lost to recent education cuts. By allowing schools this flexibility, teachers' jobs across the state may be saved.
• SB 23 will also save businesses up to $748 per employee. This a huge victory for Indiana jobs statewide.

House Joint Resolution 1, one of the most important accomplishments of the session, was also passed earlier this year. It would build property tax caps into the state constitution if approved by voters on the November ballot.

The act of giving homeowners, farmers and business owners the chance to cap their own taxes is the most sweeping tax reform Indiana has seen in several decades. The vast majority of Hoosiers want the opportunity to vote on this critical issue.

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