[r45] 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 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.

"This budget spends money out the wazoo," said Rep. Bruce Borders.  "Overall, it would spend us into the red by more than $195 million. And that's not chump change, especially when you're in a recession.

"And that's not all.  The budget would let universities and state entities go unchecked when they're spending Hoosier tax dollars.  And they want to limit the budget to one year, so they're free to do even more damage next year.

"This looks like a recipe for disaster to me."

The proposed budget includes:

• 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 House Republican Leader Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) claimed it could not salvage the Democrat's budget.