[r28] Indiana House Passes Budget (2/20/2009)

(STATEHOUSE) Feb. 20, 2009 - The Indiana House of Representatives voted 52-44 Friday afternoon to pass the state budget.  The vote fell along party lines, with nearly all Republicans voting 'No.'

Republicans opposed the plan, saying it would harm Hoosiers by increasing taxes in a recession.  The proposed budget would also increase property taxes.

The proposed budget includes:

"Passing this budget is not smart," said Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton).  "It's harmful to taxpayers, who would end up paying more taxes when this budget spends our reserves. It's harmful for the unemployed because it stops funding programs currently creating jobs, and it's harmful to government transparency, which will be marred under this single-year budget.

"In all, this budget is in the red and will cause property tax increases. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee have a tough job in front of them, as they work to clean up this mess."

• Increased spending on education.
• Spending $324 million more than Gov. Mitch Daniels' proposed budget.
• Authorizing bonding for $600 million of new university capital projects.
• No funding for new high security prison beds at Miami and Wabash Valley Correctional Facilities.
• No funding for the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund.
• Only a one-year budget instead of the traditional two-year budget.

The proposed budget will now be heard by the Senate, where major revisions are expected.  The Republicans offered one amendment but withdrew it after Republican Leader Brian Bosma claimed it could not salvage the Democrat budget.