Last Minute Shuffle
The last day of a legislative session is always filled with mystery and intrigue. But this year’s is breaking all records on those two counts.
First off, what happened to yesterday’s agreement on the state budget? We were told that House Democrats and Senate Republicans were in substantial agreement and just needed to “tweak” it by a hundred million dollars or so. That should be a piece of cake in a $28 billion budget. But now, 24 hours later, nothing has been accomplished.
Republicans want to reduce the amount of new money for schools (Note, that isn’t CUTTING schools, it’s reducing their NEW money.) But Democrats say no and insist on finding the hundred million elsewhere. Except that Ways and Means Chairman Bill Crawford says there isn’t that much elsewhere to trim. So it would have to come from schools, something for which Democrats will not stand.
All this because Republicans have suddenly decided that the $1.3 billion surplus that Gov. Daniels has said is his bottom line all session is now not enough. They want $1.4 billion. Is that something they’ve come up with? Or is it Daniels stirring the pot at the last second?
Meanwhile, what is happening with the unemployment bill? Yesterday we were assured there was a deal. Now, once again, Republicans are talking about tweaking. But tweaking what? If it’s the no-cut-in-benefits provisions, Democrats will flush the whole bill.
And, of course, there’s always that big mystery. What’s happening with the C.I.B. bailout. We keep hearing from sponsors that new ideas are being circulated. But what are they? And are there any that might excite anybody. Here’s an early prediction. Without a last-minute stand by Marion County lawmakers and/or Mayor Greg Ballard, legislators from outside Central Indiana will just go home and let the C.I.B., the mayor, and the Colts and Pacers stew in their own juices.




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