Dueling Budgets
Indiana House Democrats today said they will present their own budget on June 11 when the special session begins because they don’t trust the Republicans’ numbers.
In a media availability today, House Speaker Pat Bauer and Ways and Means Chairman Bill Crawford said they wanted to re-craft the budget so schools would be held as harmless as possible. The two said schools are losing millions of dollars under the current GOP plan. They plan to present a one-year spending plan as opposed to the traditional biennial budget.
They plan to hold their own budget hearing on Tuesday, in the House Ways and Means room which is the same room where the current joint sub-committee on the budget is holding its hearings. Since the room is controlled by the House the joint committee is getting booted. Exactly where is unclear. Democrats walked out of the budget hearing yesterday, saying they did not like the way the hearing was being conducted and they did not trust the Republicans.
On a side note, I asked Bauer and Crawford about reports of the two of them feuding behind the scenes. Chairman Crawford me “that does not deserve an answer.” Draw your own conclusions.
