Jun 19
The Senate has a plan. Not everyone may be in agreement, but at least there is a plan. And the Appropriations Committee fulfilled its part of the mission this afternoon by passing a budget bill (expectedly much more similar to the governor’s proposal than the legislation that passed the House on Thursday) in just over two hours.
Sure, the amendment and full bill were approved on 8-4 party-line votes and the real differences have yet to be heard. While most on both sides applauded the work of the committee in preparing the budget bill, Sen. Earline Rogers (D-Gary) did offer that "it’s not as bad as it could have been."
Limited testimony came from a wide variety of sources (including the Chamber’s Bill Waltz and Derek Redelman), most of whom have worn out a path to the Statehouse for similar sessions the past six months. Redelman, by the way, was questioned by Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton) about the role of the Chamber and why the organization is so interested in education and charter schools. Redelman eloquently answered (no need for further details), Hume lauded the Chamber for its overall work and life went on. An interesting and strange sidebar it was.
Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) outlined a plan for second reading amendments to the budget Monday (session begins at 2:30 p.m.; Republicans in caucus at noon and Democrats at 1:30) and third reading passage on Tuesday, leaving one week for conference committee negotiations. Long also introduced a bill that puts a contingency plan in place in case an agreement is not reached by June 30. He explained that the process needed to be initiated today to maintain the rules for bill passage and not force legislators into session (when not needed) and costing the taxpayers more money.
Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington) expressed concern that the language gives the state budget director too much power, considers the movement of this bill as "admitting defeat" and called Long’s reasoning for needing to introduce the bill today as a "straw man" argument. Her concerns will likely appear in amendment form on Monday.
The day ended with the full Senate accepting the committee reports on the budget bill and contingency legislation. The drama resumes on Monday.
Jun 18
The elephants and donkeys drew their usual (party) lines in the sand before the House vote this morning on SS 1001, the budget bill. The result: Everyone looked petty. In the end, no surprise, the measure passed 52-48 – all on the back of Democrat votes. The parties were on such opposite sides it was hard to believe they were still in the same room.
Among the verbal gems:
House Minority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis: “I found out before I came in here that this budget we’re about to vote on (the House Democrats’ proposal) spends $200 million more in the first year than the bill that was defeated at the end of April … and that was at the end of session with a gun to our head.”
Representative Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City: “Don’t let anyone tell you that we’re not reigning in our budget on this side of the aisle. We ought to be proud of this budget; I am. But I know – it’s my guess – there will be no votes coming from over there (the Republicans). (That’s because) we have different priorities. We believe in helping the poor, public education and giving people a chance to earn a living.”
Representative Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale: “(The Democrats) seem to think it’s unthinkable for government to flatline spending. Anyone here not tightened their own belts the past few months? … Good news is we’re going home today, saving taxpayers’ money (on the special session). The bad news is the Democrats are going to pass a budget that will lead to tax increases.”
One of the most unique visits to the microphone came thanks to Rep. Vernon Smith (D-Gary), who led off his remarks touting that several media outlets in Fort Wayne, Lafayette, South Bend and elsewhere have come out in support of the House Democrats budget proposal. Smith thought this was significant. Really?
Sifting through all the banter, the great divide centers on the Republicans’ view that the Democrats are being free-wheeling with spending, while the Democrats contend that the Republicans and the governor are trying to “decimate school funding” with their approach to the state budget.
“I don’t want to get into the governor’s alleged 2% increase in education spending,” remarked Pelath. “It counted all sorts of things that have never been counted before” in terms of federal sources. “It’s unsettling, gimmicky and didn’t meet his own criteria for what a budget should look like.”
Meanwhile, Espich predicts the state “could have another budget crisis four or five months from now – and that budget crisis in November or January will be worse than the one we have today.”
Agreeing with that assessment, Rep. Randy Borror (R-Fort Wayne) warned that if the Legislature ultimately passes a one-year budget, “We will become full-time legislators.”
Borror went on to list many of the digs Democrats made about Gov. Daniels during the proceedings and then closed with, “ At least you can’t accuse him of being stupid. He knows how to balance a budget. Maybe you should have listened to him a little more.”
All in all, another proud day for the Legislature. Look for Act II from the Senate.
Jun 17
I don’t know who wouldn’t want these work hours. The House of Representatives is done for the day – at noon.
Heard today were amendments to the budget bill. Among them were pet projects and technical tweaks – many of which involve additional funding requests. House Republicans did register their complaints, saying this session is about establishing the state budget and not a time to keep spending on other things.
The budget measure (SS 1001) was moved to third reading; the House could vote on it as soon as tomorrow, when it is set to reconvene in the morning.
One added bit of drama came courtesy of Rep. Jeff Espich of Uniondale and Rep. Bill Crawford of Indianapolis, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, who exchanged barbs on the House floor.
The topic was the way the Capital Improvement Board (CIB) bill was handled/manhandled – you can choose your own term – in committee yesterday.
Espich wanted it known that the Republicans didn’t want the measure withdrawn as Crawford had done (due to lack of bipartisan support). In his rebuttal, Crawford stated emphatically that “the CIB business now must be addressed in the Senate … it was my call to kill it and my call is it’s dead.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, marked the end of today’s proceedings.
Jun 16
Another day, another thought along the lines of: "Is there a prayer we will have a new state budget within the next two weeks?"
Actually, the budget was not even a topic of discussion as the House Ways & Means Committee once again took center stage. But there was no reason for optimism. A brief recap:
- The best idea came from freshman Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis), who called for giving the governor the power to use millions in township government reserves to solve the Capital Improvement Board (CIB) funding shortfall. Only problem was it made too much sense. A lack of support prevented full consideration and a vote
- Democrats on the committee did pass numerous other amendments that had little, if anything, to do with the CIB situation. There was random testimony before and after the fact. Only it really didn’t matter. Republicans opposed the bill when it came to a final vote and committee chair Bill Crawford (D-Indianapolis) pulled the bill because he wanted bipartisan support. Like that old Saturday Night Live skit, "Never mind!" Of course, it will be revived in some form in the Senate
- Ways & Means did pass SS 1003 (audit of administration’s public assistance privatization efforts). House convened for less than five minutes to accept commitee report and called it a day
The drama resumes on Wednesday — full House at 9 a.m. (presumably for second reading on the budget bill) and Ways & Means at 11 a.m. Those around the legislative process, however, know these times mean little.
Four days of special session activity, a lot of people talking and very little accomplished. What’s so special about that? Stay tuned for the next installment.
Jun 16
The governor wasn’t there and neither was Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. So both missed the latest round of questions this afternoon over the multi-million dollar funding proposal to assist Indianapolis’ Capital Improvement Board (CIB).
Instead, Indianapolis city controller David Reynolds and a CIB contractor from the CPA firm London Witte drew the short straws.
Reynolds told the House Ways and Means Committee that the funding on the table will keep the CIB going through 2011; he couldn’t state with certainty, however, that enough efficiencies would be realized to sustain it going forward.
To say the least, that troubled the committee.
“The CIB has no ability beyond what’s given to it to raise revenues. We don’t see any other options short of what’s being proposed here (in SS 1002),” Reynolds offered. “(If that doesn’t pass), the CIB will enter into a very precarious situation with the Pacers and of notifying conventions that there may not be a facility there (for the events).”
The London Witte representative revealed that the financial cost of expanding the convention center was not factored into any analysis for the CIB. This seemed to baffle some on the committee.
Testimony has concluded on SS 1002 with amendments now being heard. One that won’t play a factor: a provision for a Gary casino; Rep. Charlie Brown announced at the start of today’s proceedings that he was not going to introduce it. That likely means gambling will not factor into this special session.
Time change: The full House is expected to convene at 5 p.m., to allow for the Ways and Means Committee to finish business.
Jun 16
The budget discussion yesterday in the House Ways and Means Committee proved just how far apart the House Democrats and Republicans are in their views of how the state’s fiscal picture should play out.
Republicans voiced concerns that the numerous (25 passed) amendments to the House Democrats’ proposal collectively spend another $100 million on top of an initial $500 million (beyond projected revenues) in the one-year spending plan – severely draining the state’s $1 billion surplus. They also suggested that the spending levels established, particularly the way the stimulus money is used, will put the state in such dismal shape that taxpayers will be hit hard down the road.
The House Democrats, on the other hand, feel the amended bill simply reflects a different set of priorities than that of their Republican counterparts. They say much of the state’s reserve will remain intact and that, given our economic climate, it is prudent to hold off on the fiscal year 2011 budget until next session, after revenue revisions are made at the December forecast.
The two parties remain at such odds that the chance of the session going into July was (gasp!) openly suggested.
Of course, it’s only the beginning of a game we’ve seen before with the Senate stripping what the House passes and inserting its own priorities. Thus, we seem to be inevitably headed down the all too familiar path – one that failed two months ago – to conference committee negotiations.
Before the full House meets today on the budget at approximately 4 p.m., the Ways and Means Committee will hear two other measures, SS 1002 (on the Capital Improvement Board) and SS 1003 (involving public assistance).
Jun 15
“It’s a credit card budget. Spend now, pay later. And, the payment will be in (the form of) tax increases.”
That was the warning from Rep. Jeff Espich of Uniondale, the ranking minority member on the House Ways and Means Committee, prior to the budget bill passing 15-10 along party lines this afternoon.
Espich also asserted that the House Democrats’ “one-year budget frightens me and should frighten every citizen.”
Earlier in the proceedings, more than 30 amendments were considered and most passed – some of which had little or no connection to state fiscal matters. Case in point: alternative labeling on drug prescriptions to assist those with limited or no eyesight.
The full House took up the budget bill shortly before 5 p.m. today and adjourned promptly after adopting the committee report. Any fireworks will have to wait until the full House reconvenes tomorrow at 4 p.m.
