The Indiana Constitution charges the General Assembly with creating a budget and forbids government from going into the red. So, House Republicans believe the session will not be a success unless we pass a budget that provides the necessary services Hoosier expect without spending Indiana into oblivion or raising taxes. The process of creating a budget starts with the House, but the majority party calls the shots, and 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 in recent years 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 usually leads to tax increases. If we continue to spend at the same rate in 2011, we could be looking at less than $161 million in reserves before 2012. I feel as if the majority party depended way too much on the state's reserves and money expected to come from the stimulus package when creating the budget. It is as if they keep trying to go to the same empty well instead of thinking responsibly. The budget covers only one year instead of the traditional two, opening 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, a sin in times such as these. Overall, the majority party did the opposite of what House Republicans would like to accomplish this session. They passed a budget with gimmicks when we have been saying all along Indiana needs a balanced budget with no gimmicks, deficits or general tax increases. They refuse to give a hearing to the property tax cap legislation House Republicans have been working to get passed in order to give Hoosier voters a voice in the debate. I am clearly not proud of the budget or the majority party's choice of action, but I don't want to focus on just bad news. My House colleagues and I have passed legislation intended to keep Hoosiers safer and more secure. For example: # House Bill 1020 allows courts to order ignition interlock devices installed in the vehicles of 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 who is getting on or off the bus. This bill should help 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. # House Bill 1639, which I authored and which was co-authored by Rep. Cleo Duncan (R-Greensburg), would add service utility vehicles to the current Move Over/Slow Down law. The measure would require drivers to proceed with caution when approaching emergency vehicles. House committees now are holding hearings on bills the Senate has passed, and Senate committees are considering bills passed by the House. I encourage constituents to stay tuned to what happens in the second half of session. I am sure it will get more and more interesting; after all, the first half had us on the edge of our seats at times. Contact me by e-mail at h38@in.gov, by calling toll-free at 1-800-382-9841 or by writing me at the Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204. -30-
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