Daniels Says No Budget Will Equal Shutdown

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is pointing the finger of blame on House Democrats for government shutdowns that could occur if a state budget isn’t approved by midnight June 30th. But some of those Democrats are saying the only thing worse than a government shutdown would be passing the budget Daniels’ endorses. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

House Approves One Year Budget

Indiana’s special session budget bill is now headed to the state senate. Today the House of Representatives voted along party lines to approve a one year budget that Democrats say puts public education first, while Republicans claim spends too much in a bad economy. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Ways and Means Committee Votes on Budget

Members of the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee today worked through a list of thirty two amendments to the one year budget being proposed by House Democrats. There were no amendments filed in the committee hearing that drastically altered the House Democrats budget proposal. But there were a number of changes made regarding spending priorities within the budget. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland has the highlights.

Budget Negotiations Teetering as Midnight Deadline Looms

A last minute gambling proposal is among the issues keeping legislators at the Indiana Statehouse today from reaching an agreement on the state’s next budget. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Senate Budget Bill Takes Another Step Forward

The Senate Republican budget plan took another step forward last night, after clearing its first hurdle on the Senate floor. Senate Democrats offered several amendments, all of which failed. They included changes to the school funding formula to use more federal stimulus money in low income schools and restricting how the budget agency distributes money approved by the General Assembly. Senate Minority Leader, Democrat Vi Simpson of Elletsville said while it’s common for minority party amendments to be voted down, her caucus was trying to raise certain issues.

“The big issue on this bill is not the bottom line. We all know the limitations we have to live under. The big issue is, perhaps, philosophical, about who are winners and who are the losers in how that money gets distributed to the schools.”

Of the amendments that were approved was one from Republican Senator Brent Waltz of Greenwood. That change would create a Department of Child Services ombudsman, to oversee an agency that in his words is quote “woefully understaffed.” The budget’s next deadline is a final vote in the Senate by Wednesday. It’s next stop will be conference committee, where lawmakers from both the Senate and the House will hash out a final plan.

Ways and Means Committee Introduces Budget Proposal

The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee presented its plan for the next budget today at the statehouse. As Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports, it breaks away from the traditional two year budget, calling instead for lawmakers to take it one year at a time.

State Budget Committee Approves Daniels’ Budget Plan

The State Budget Committee today approved a two year, twenty eight billion dollar budget from Governor Mitch Daniels. The vote sends the proposal to the next step in becoming a bill, which makes it eligible for consideration by the state legislature. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Daniels Previews Budget Proposal

In a speech to the Rotary Club of Indianapolis today, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels gave a preview of proposed state budget, which will be released in full later this week.  It’s a plan that means an average of eight percent in cuts for state funded programs.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.