Budget, Transportation on Indiana General Assembly Agenda
By: Michael Pickett
Updated: January 6, 2013
A new budget and transportation funding are two of several items the General Assembly will discuss starting Monday.
Lawmakers begin the new session in Indianapolis on Monday. The biggest item will be the new state budget, especially with the Affordable Care Act adding a few wrinkles to it. Another issue is incoming Gov. Pence's proposed 10% income tax cut. But State Sen. Jim Tomes of Wadesville warns against cutting too much.
"We'll have to see how we implement a tax cut and still maintain the support that Indiana gives to these different elements in our state agencies," he says.
State Senator Lindel Hume of Princeton supports adding more people to medicaid because it would save Indiana money.
"The federal government picks up 100% in the first 5 to 6 years. It makes sense for us to cover the citizens of the state, as many as possible, and save the state money in the long run," Hume says.
Transportation funding is also expected to be discussed, especially with I-69 not fully completed. Lawmakers may look at ways to pay for the new highway, including a toll bridge over the Ohio River. But Tomes isn't sure what will work.
""There are a certain amount of resources, I suppose, but how you access it, that a question that I don't think anybody can answer right now," says Tomes.
Lawmakers begin the new session in Indianapolis on Monday. The biggest item will be the new state budget, especially with the Affordable Care Act adding a few wrinkles to it. Another issue is incoming Gov. Pence's proposed 10% income tax cut. But State Sen. Jim Tomes of Wadesville warns against cutting too much.
"We'll have to see how we implement a tax cut and still maintain the support that Indiana gives to these different elements in our state agencies," he says.
State Senator Lindel Hume of Princeton supports adding more people to medicaid because it would save Indiana money.
"The federal government picks up 100% in the first 5 to 6 years. It makes sense for us to cover the citizens of the state, as many as possible, and save the state money in the long run," Hume says.
Transportation funding is also expected to be discussed, especially with I-69 not fully completed. Lawmakers may look at ways to pay for the new highway, including a toll bridge over the Ohio River. But Tomes isn't sure what will work.
""There are a certain amount of resources, I suppose, but how you access it, that a question that I don't think anybody can answer right now," says Tomes.
