Rep. Woody Burton (R-Greenwood) took home a victory as the 2010 legislation session Sine Die, or adjourned, shortly after midnight on Friday, March 12. In the final hours of session, legislators passed House Bill 1367 by a 97-0 vote to allow schools the flexibility to transfer money between various funds to make up for reduced revenue. In addition, Senate Bill 23 passed by an 85-12 vote to delay the unemployment insurance premium tax increase passed last year. "Members have gone back and forth on the issue surrounding funding flexibility," said Rep. Burton. "Today was the first time we have been able to agree on anything; and tonight, the winners are Hoosiers students and teachers. "No one wants to cut any funding to schools, but when times are tough you do what you have to. However, this bill will really help schools shift money among various funds to be used where it is needed the most."
For the past two years, as the State of Indiana has continued to lose income and sales tax revenue due to the national recession, every state agency and school has undergone severe cuts and employee salary freezes. School corporations have had to make tough decisions to try to avoid teacher reduction. House Bill 1367 will ease some of the financial burdens schools are currently facing. Senate Bill 23 was introduced to delay the unemployment premium tax increase passed in 2009 in House Enrolled Act 1379. Without Senate Bill 23, more than 80,000 small, medium and large businesses would have seen a $300 million tax increase in April 2010. "It's huge we were able to reach across the aisle, come to an agreement and do right by the people of Indiana by delaying the unemployment insurance tax increase," said Rep. Burton. "This delay ensures Hoosier employers the opportunity for their businesses to grow at a time when everyone is struggling due to the economy." Both bills now head to the governor's office to be signed into law. Earlier this session, House Republicans passed two monumental pieces of legislation. House Joint Resolution 1, the constitutional amendment to permanent cap homeowner's property taxes was passed within two weeks of session to allow Hoosier voters the opportunity to decide in the November 2010 election whether permanent property tax caps should be added to the state constitution. In addition, Senate Bill 382 was passed to authorize, but not require, a public-private partnership to build the Illinana Expressway as a toll road. The plan calls to build the Illiana between Interstate 65 in Indiana with Interstate 57 in Illinois with about 10 miles being built in Indiana. It is estimated that every $100 million in highway construction supports 1,200 to 1,900 construction jobs. In the end, the Illiana project would bring in $600 million and approximately 11,400 construction jobs. |
