STATEHOUSE - "We have successfully reached many of our goals this session and have fulfilled our promises to Hoosiers. One of our top priorities was to adopt a balanced state budget without raising taxes and we were able to do so while also keeping almost 5 percent in reserves, which is considered to be a best business practice.
"As Chairman of the House Roads and Transportation Committee I authored legislation that creates a joint study committee in order to assess and suggest improvements for our transportation and infrastructure systems. The study committee will give us a reliable framework to identify our actual transportation infrastructure needs for the future and explore the resources available to rebuild our aging highway, rail, port and airport systems. We will be looking at it from a rural, urban and suburban perspective and must do so now in order to plan for the needs of our growing population.
"We have faced unique challenges this year but I am pleased with the results. Indiana will continue to lead the nation out of this recession and be a more prosperous state for all Hoosiers."
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