Lawmakers rush toward deadline

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March 10, 2010

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Wed Mar 10, 2010, 06:16 PM EST

Indiana legislators reconvened Wednesday for one mad dash to the end of what so far has been a disappointing session.

Though they’ve made a lot of noise, state lawmakers haven’t accomplished a whole lot this year, at least not in some of the more critical areas.

They did send a proposed property tax amendment to voters, and they have managed to pass much needed lobbying reforms, but they’ve come up short on a measure to take the politics out of the redistricting process and on a measure to deal with the number of Indiana third-graders who move on to fourth grade even though they can’t read.

Legislators are also struggling with a bill related to the state’s bankrupt unemployment system. Republicans want to delay a tax on employers, saying that to enact the tax on schedule would lead to more layoffs at a time when the economy is already struggling. Democrats are willing to go along with that, but they also want to expand eligibility for jobless benefits and increase the maximum weekly benefit — something Republicans oppose.

Legislators are still considering a plan to allow schools to shift some money from dedicated accounts funded by property taxes to help offset $300 million in budget cuts.

House Democrats also want Republicans to accept a series of proposed tax breaks and incentives designed to create jobs. Republicans say the proposals were put together quickly and might end up costing the state tax revenue.

There might also be a glimmer of hope for a measure aimed at reforming the township level of government, a move that is already long overdue.

For weeks, legislative leaders had been talking about finishing up their business and heading home early. They talked about the importance of saving taxpayer dollars at a time when the budget is tight.

Inexplicably, though, House Speaker Patrick Bauer last week abruptly adjourned the House until Wednesday, putting lawmakers behind the eight ball in their drive to wrap things up ahead of Sunday’s legally imposed deadline.

None of this should come as a surprise, we suppose.

State lawmakers last year failed to agree on a budget during the regular session and wound up having to come back for a special session to finish their work.

Let’s hope that doesn’t happen again this year.

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