Traditionally, the Indiana General Assembly is charged with one job every other year - create a balanced budget. For House Republicans, we are not successful unless we can pass a budget that provides all the necessary services Hoosier expect without spending us into oblivion or raising taxes. The process of creating a budget starts with the House, which means our House Ways and Means Committee is very busy during a budget year. However, as is the case in every committee, the majority party calls the shots. This year, that could be very bad news for Hoosier families. During the first half of session, the House passed a budget that House Republicans could not support. The budget, in its current form, not only spends an estimated $800 million more than what the state is expected to take in, but it appropriated only $1 for the $150 million the state is anticipated to spend in new legislation. After all the good work the General Assembly has done to bring the state back into the black financially, this budget would put our general fund more than $195 million in the red. History shows that red ink in Indiana's general fund usually leads to tax increases. If we continued to spend at the same rate in 2011, we could be looking at less than $161 million in reserves before 2012. The budget doesn't even ensure long-term stability to Hoosier tax payers because it only accounts for one year, instead of two. This opens the door for a full-time legislature, a terrible idea for any voter who values a citizen legislature over the prospect of a Statehouse full of professional politicians. The budget does not focus on bringing jobs to Indiana. In tough times like this, the legislation needs to do all it can to create incentives and opportunities for business to bring jobs to our Hoosier workers. I am clearly not proud of this bill or the economic mess it could leave Indiana in if it does not change before April, but I don't like to focus on just bad news. After all, the House passed many other bills that should have a more positive effect on Indiana, such as: # House Bill 1020 allows courts to order ignition interlock devices installed in first- and second-time DUI offenders. This bill should reduce the number of drunken drivers endangering innocent Hoosiers and themselves. # House Bill 1021 increases the penalties for the motorists who ignore the extended "Stop" arm on a school bus and then hit and injure a child that is getting on or off the bus. This bill should keep Hoosier school children safer. # House Bill 1121 creates an identity theft unit in the attorney general's office to investigate consumer complaints related to identity theft and help identity theft victims. My personal bill House Bill 1639 House R objectives
Democrats, time and time again, keep going to the well that makes up Indiana only to come back with an empty bucket. Democrats passed a budget with gimmicks, when the House Republicans have been diligently working to do the opposite. Spending reserves-way too early in the economy crisis to be spending the state's reserves.
Contact me through e-mail at h38@in.gov, by calling toll-free at 1-800-382-9841 or write me at the Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204. -30- |
