Indiana State Senators are waiting on a copy of the budget so they can vote. The House is still not in session Meanwhile, a new version of the unemployment insurance bill has been unveiled.  The bill still raises taxes on employers, but the increases are phased in over a longer period.  It also gives employers more means […]

I spoke with House Ways & Means Chairman Bill Crawford this afternoon and got his reaction to the anticipated additional $200 million budget shortfall. Crawford says he doesn’t trust those numbers and thinks someone has been “cooking the books.”  He says two weeks ago the projected shortfall was about $800 million and he says he […]

I’m not totally sure what impact this little bit of news will have on today’s events at the Statehouse, but it can’t be a good one. I just got confirmed from the Governor’s office that Indiana’s actual revenue intake will fall in the ballpark of $200 million below the last forecast.  The last revenue forecast […]

With 12 hours left to go, here’s what I know so far. Governor Mitch Daniels is saying he will veto the current budget unless lawmakers can find $100 million in cuts.  House Speaker Pat Bauer says the Governor is moving the target because they are meeting his goal of having more than $1 billion in […]

The House was supposed to convene nearly an hour ago, but nothing has happened and lawmakers are still milling around on the floor.  Senate Republicans are still in caucus. I am hearing however that the Black Legislative Caucus may not sign onto the budget if the Capital Improvement Board and some Gary economic development matters […]

I’ll be filing these updates over the course of the day as little tidbits of information come in.  Please note everything is fluid and could change at a moments notice so take the information for what it is worth. I am hearing that the votes are not there in the House of Representatives to pass […]

We are now at what hopefully will be the last day of the Indiana General Assembly.   Here are my thoughts on the three big remaining issues… The Budget Lawmakers are spending about the same amount of money and leaving about $1.3 billion in reserves.  The big issue is a $100 million difference in education spending.  […]

In case you care, here are copies of both the House and Senate versions of the budget plans. Senate Version of 1001 House Bill 1001  

With about 30 hours to go before lawmakers adjourn (maybe), House Speaker Pat Bauer and Republican Brian Bosma both offered their thoughts on the final hours.  Here they are.  Draw your own conclusions. House Speaker Pat Bauer Republican Brian Bosma

With 48 hours to go here’s your latest statehouse update, more to follow later today so check back regularly. 4:35 p.m. The House has adjourned for the day.  There is still no budget (although Speaker Bauer told me they are not that far apart), no UI bill passed nor a CIB plan.  They have about […]