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Monday, April 20, 2009

Ind. Law - "Legislators closing in on budget: Education funds, duration at issue"

Here is Eric Bradner's weekly report in the Evansville Courier & Press on happenings last week in the General Assembly and a look forward.

For another take, see the Louisville Courier Journal's Lesley Stedman Weidenbener's report today, headlined "Ind. legislators face crucial money question before session ends: Special session called possible." It begins:

Republican and Democratic lawmakers have nine days remaining to find an agreement on a state budget and a plan to fix Indiana's bankrupt unemployment insurance system.

Otherwise, they face a special session to finish the work.

Neither goal is likely to be easy.

Although majority Republicans in the Senate and Democrats who control the House say they're not far apart in early budget negotiations, they have yet to tackle the toughest topic -- how to divide some $6 billion in education dollars among the state's school districts.

Meanwhile, they do seem far apart in the unemployment insurance debate. The system is now paying far more in benefits than it receives in premiums and has blown through all its surpluses.

To fix it, both sides agree that employers need to pay higher premiums, but Republicans are seeking cuts in worker benefits while Democrats say no way.

In the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette today, Niki Kelly's story is headed "Deadline looms to fix jobless fund deficit."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 20, 2009 06:10 AM
Posted to Indiana Law