The Indiana Barrister has a State House update. Abdul says that
[House] Republicans are demanding an addition $50 million in property tax relief, $5 million in education tax credits and the removal of language that would mandate no more than 55 percent of the 14-member Ivy Tech State Community College Board be of the same political party.
Bosma says the tax relief can be paid for by reducing spending increases in certain programs such as the Indiana Public Defender Commission and Tobacco Use and Prevention program.
Abdul then goes on to note Bosma’s indication that there are no House Republican votes for the budget in its current form and that Democrats control the House by a 51 to 49 margin. Party line budget votes seem to be the rule rather than the exception in the House. But, the fact is, this can’t be strictly an ideological party division on the budget — after all, the Senate Republicans will have to approve this thing too. With the margins so thin and with his past voting record this session, I’m afraid the hard line by the House Republicans might put dollar signs in Rep. Craig Fry’s eyes.
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