Niki Kelly has an article in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette taking a look at what the Democratic House may mean for the upcoming session. First, there will be a budget battle with school funding likely being a main bone of contention. The Republicans last budget favored a “follow the student” formula which tends to disregard fixed costs and the fact that some students are more difficult to educate than others. Democrats tend to favor a certain minimum guarantee per school for school funding.
(Note: Pat Bauer has said that the Democrats will find common ground with the Governor because the constitution requires it. Just thought I’d mention that, although legislators frequently cite their constitutional duty to pass a budget, the Indiana Law Blog has spent some time searching for and not finding this supposed Constitutional obligation. That notwithstanding, it’s still a really, really good idea to have a budget.)
Brian Bosma’s prayer lawsuit may or may not be dropped. Bauer is religious and apparently wants to pray in the chamber, but doesn’t necessarily see the lawsuit as a priority.
The anti-gay marriage amendment to the Constitution will come up again this year. Bauer has promised a vote on the issue, but may have some tricks up his sleeve to throw some sand in the gears of the amendment’s progress (if I may mix a couple of metaphors.)
There is also some discussion of property taxes, ISTEP & all day kindergarten.
Well worth a read.
This is an interesting subject to follow in the upcoming years. With the pendulum of power swinging to the Dem’s in the country, it will be good to see how Indiana, a historically Republican state, can manage the new change. I think it will be good for us to get opinions heard at least that would not have been heard under a Republican House. Although there may be tension between the House and the Senate, it will be good for Hoosiers!! I am proud to be a Hoosier! and I think it is a good time to be a Hoosier.