STATEHOUSE - Protecting Hoosiers was at the core of the state budget passed by the House today by a bipartisan vote of 62-37.
"These are tough times for Hoosier taxpayers," said Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville). "The most important thing for the General Assembly to do was to pass a budget that was fiscally responsible. Neighboring states are being forced to consider tax increases or severe cuts, because they have huge budget deficits. "Our budget still leaves a $1 billion surplus. By not spending any more money, we have a cushion that gives Indiana a good chance to ride out these tough times and protect Hoosiers from tax increases."
Rep. Crouch said the budget includes many things are important to her:
"There are items in this budget I do not support and items were excluded that I believe have real merit," said Rep. Crouch. "Those items were not as important as a budget that holds spending and allows the state to make it through this economic downturn without asking Hoosiers for more of their hard-earned money." Education funding was the most controversial issue of the budget during special session. Unlike most states, Indiana will not be cutting state education funding. Several states have cut education spending as much as 20 percent.
Also unlike most states, Indiana will be increasing public K-12 education funding by a statewide average of 1.1 percent in calendar year 2010 and 0.3 percent in calendar year 2011.
"Most states are flat-lining or cutting their education budgets," said Rep. Crouch. "Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly have demonstrated their commitment to education by providing for increases in K-12 education. This commitment recognizes that our young people need to be able to compete globally and will be given the tools to do so."
The state fiscal year ended today. If a budget was not passed today, most state agencies would have shutdown and state employees would have been furloughed.
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